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Chrysler recalling over 200k vehicles across its brands

Jeffrey N. Ross — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram

With more than 200,000 units across six separate recalls and almost all of its brands, it appears that Chrysler has officially jumped headfirst into the recall pool this month. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued three official recalls for the automaker, and The Detroit News is reporting that the automaker itself has announced three more.

The biggest of the recalls applies to about 120,000 Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger and Chrysler 300 models for 2011 and 2012 due to faulty wiring harnesses for the seat-mounted side airbags, which could lead to these airbags not deploying in the event of a crash. A little more than 60,000 two-wheel-drive versions of the 2007-2008 Dodge Nitro and 2008 Jeep Liberty SUVs are being recalled due to a heat shield that could cause the driveshaft to break, which if that isn't bad on its own, could then hit underneath where the airbag sensor is mounted, causing the airbags to deploy. Wrapping up NHTSA's recall notices, about 20,000 Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass models for 2012 are also being recalled due to a problem with the fuel tank transfer tube that could lead to the vehicle stalling. The LX car recall campaign is going into effect this month, while the other two will start next month - all three notices are posted below.

In addition to the official NHTSA recalls, The Detroit News is also reporting that Chrysler is recalling more than 16,000 Ram trucks and a small number of Dodge Dart sedans. Around 6,500 2013 Ram 1500 trucks will be recalled due to an improper adjustment of the parking brake cable from the factory, while 7,000 Cummins-powered 2013 Ram Heavy Duty trucks are being recalled due to an engine cover that does not have as much heat resistance as it is supposed to. Finally, a total of 46 Dodge Dart sedans are being recalled due to a problem with the brake calipers and/or parking brake.

Continue reading Chrysler recalling over 200k vehicles across its brands

Chrysler recalling over 200k vehicles across its brands originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler thinking about offering air suspension on its Ram pickups?

Zach Bowman — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Chrysler, Dodge, Rumormill

2011 Ram Truck 3500 HD - Click above for high-res image gallery

Word on the web is that engineers at Ram are dabbling in air-ride suspensions. PickupTrucks.com has pointed out that the company's gargantuan Long-Hauler Pickup Concept rocked an impressive auto-leveling and load-sensing air-suspension package from the people at Kelderman. It's no secret that Ram has been trying to civilize its full-size pickup offerings. The company recently abandoned the traditional rear leaf-spring suspension setup for heavy-duty coil springs, and the addition of an air-ride option would provide even greater versatility.

As PickupTrucks.com points out, air suspensions use pneumatic bladders in place of springs, and an onboard compressor can vary the amount of pressure within each vessel. Lower pressure delivers a comfortable ride, while more pressure can give the vehicle additional ride height and load capacity. As a result, the vehicle can offer a comfortable ride while still being able to handle heavy cargo. It's the same technology found on road tractors and trailers.

The fact that Ram is dabbling in the systems on its concept vehicles leads PickupTrucks.com to believe that we may eventually see air suspensions on the company's heavy-duty hardware. The move would seem to be the perfect compromise between civility and capability.

Chrysler thinking about offering air suspension on its Ram pickups? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dodge and Cummins reach multi-year contract extension

Chris Shunk — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Chrysler, Dodge, Diesel

2010 Dodge Ram HD - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's tough to sell a heavy-duty pickup truck without a diesel engine offering. Ford uses Navistar, General Motors has worked with Isuzu Motors and Chrysler has Cummins. Of all the automaker diesel offerings, Chrysler's pact with Cummins has lasted the longest (since 1989), and word from Chrysler's official blog is that the two companies will continue to play nicely together into the future. According to a new post on the website, Cummins and Chrysler have agreed to extend their cooperation on a multi-year basis.

Cummins currently builds the 350 horsepower, 650 pound-feet of torque 6.7-liter diesel, which is optional on the Ram 2500 and 3500 and standard on the Ram 4500 and 5500 commercial trucks. Chrysler brags that the very capable powertrain is the only big diesel in the US without a selective catalytic reduction system that requires the owner to add diesel exhaust fluid. The Cummins 6.7 has been able to pass 2010 EPA emissions standards since its 2007 introduction.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Dodge Ram HD

Photos by Chris Shunk / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Chrysler Blog]

Dodge and Cummins reach multi-year contract extension originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2010: What a Feeling! Dodge Ram is Dancing on the Ceiling

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 09:41:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Truck, Etc., Dodge

2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty Dancing on the Ceiling - Click above for high-res image gallery

Entering the Chrysler display promised to yield few surprises here at the Detroit Auto Show. The automaker doesn't even have a press conference scheduled - mostly because there isn't a lot happening new product-wise. But that doesn't mean The Pentastar doesn't have anything to be proud of, including the latest iteration of the Dodge Ram Heavy Duty, which was recently named the Motor Trend Truck of the Year.

Ostensibly to celebrate that award, but probably more likely to add a little excitement to its booth area here in Detroit, Chrysler has somehow managed to attach a brand-new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty to the ceiling of its display. So, if you plan on visiting Detroit this week to see all that the world's finest automakers have to offer, make your way to the Chrysler booth... and keep your eyes skyward.

Oh, one more thing. How many people were thinking Toyota when they read the headline for this post? What a feeling!

Gallery: Detroit 2010: Dodge Ram on the ceiling

Follow our coverage of the 2010 Detroit Auto Show live all day on Twitter at http://twitter.com/therealautoblog

Detroit 2010: What a Feeling! Dodge Ram is Dancing on the Ceiling originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 09:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty named Motor Trend Truck of the Year

John Neff — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:41:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Dodge

2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty - Click above for high-res image gallery

Motor Trend magazine's 2010 Truck of the Year competition was an odd one this year. Only four models met MT's criteria of being new or substantially changed from the previous model year. Of those, only two were actual work trucks: the 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty and Toyota Tundra 4.6-liter work truck. The other two contenders, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor and Transit Connect, likely won't ever do much of the work that we normally associate with trucks (hauling, towing, etc.). Perhaps that hindered their chances at winning the coveted Golden Calipers, because the truck that did win was the purest pickup of them all.

If you hadn't guessed yet, the Motor Trend 2010 Truck of the Year is the Dodge Ram Heavy Duty, which was substantially redesigned for the 2010 model year. We'll let the MT editors explain why the Ram HD was their unanimous choice, but the gist is that it arrives to market a full year ahead of substantially new versions of Ford and General Motors' heavy-duty trucks. As such, it will be the reigning HD truck in nearly every category that matters to heavy-duty pickup buyers, at least for a model year or two.

Not to take away from the Dodge's victory, but we would've chosen the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor if it were our award to give. While the Ram HD no doubt beats it in every measure as a work truck, the Raptor is extra special if for no other reason than that it shows this industry of ours still has a little spark of life left. Ford deserves credit for not only driving out on a limb with the Raptor but also handing its development over to SVT, which guaranteed the final product offer legitimate high performance.

What about you? Did Motor Trend get it right or is there a more deserving Truck of the Year? Sound off in the comments. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Dodge Ram HD

[Source: Motor Trend]

Continue reading 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty named Motor Trend Truck of the Year

2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty named Motor Trend Truck of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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