Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV plans to recall a total of 10,789 Ram and Jeep vehicles to fix defective front brakes and steering rack gears, according to letters of acknowledgment dated Sept. 18 addressed to the carmaker from the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Starting Oct. 18, Fiat Chrysler is expected to recall 5,495 2019 Ram 2500, 3500 and 3500 Cab Chassis trucks to allow dealers to replace free of charge the front brake calipers and brake hoses and to bleed the brakes of the affected vehicles.
The brake calipers may have been manufactured with an incorrect assembly fluid, which can cause the caliper's rubber seals to swell, according to one letter. Swollen seals can cause the brakes to drag and overheat, increasing the risk of a crash, according to the NHTSA.
Separately, Fiat Chrysler plans to recall 5,294 2019-2020 Jeep Cherokee vehicles whose steering rack gears are at risk of breaking, causing a loss of steering control, which could raise the risk of crashes.
The company will start recalling the Jeep Cherokee vehicles Oct. 18 to allow dealers to replace the steering gear for free.
On Sept. 9, the company expanded its recall of Ram pickup trucks to about 693,128 more vehicles over concerns that the tailgate locking mechanisms could cause tailgates to open unexpectedly.
