Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) announced a voluntary recall of select units of the Ram 1500 full-size pickup from the 2014 to 2018 model years as well as the Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV from 2014 to 2016. The reason: a problematic crank position sensor component.
The recall affects a total of 58,016 vehicles equipped with the 3.0-liter Ecodiesel engine.
According to documents shared by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there is a possibility for the crank position sensor tone wheel in the engine, also known as the relocutor ring, to delaminate.
The component is responsible for synchronizing the timing between the engine’s fuel-injector and camshaft. And if it delaminates, it increases the chances of the engine stalling, creating a safety risk for the driver, passengers, and other motorists on the road.
FCA is looking to fix the problem without replacing the crank position sensor tone wheel, saying that the part can be difficult to access. Instead, it plans to update the EcoDiesel engine’s powertrain control module in order to “maintain vehicle propulsion by reading the camshaft position signal in the event that the crankshaft position signal is lost.”
The engine update will be done by Ram and Jeep technicians without additional costs to owners of the affected vehicles. However, it remains unclear if this fix can alter the engine’s ability to detect misfires or cause changes to its performance.
At present, FCA says it is not aware of any crashes or injuries that may have been caused by the issue.
Recall notifications are scheduled to be sent out to affected customers beginning October 2.
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