FCA Recalls 160,000 Ram 1500s for Mats That Could Interfere with Gas Pedal

FCA has issued a recall for 160,229 of its 2019 and 2020 Ram pickup trucks because of the possibility that the all-season floor mats could interfere with the accelerator pedal and increase the risk of a crash. According to a report on Car and Driver, the automaker said that the adjustable pedals could be positioned in such a way that leaves too little clearance between the floor mats and pedals, which may lead to their coming into contact. Ram 1500s in Canada and Mexico are also affected by this recall.

Details of the Recall

FCA has said it is unaware of any injuries or accidents resulting from the pedal interference and noted that it estimates only 1% of the recalled 1500s may have this particular defect. The recall was issued after an investigation, which was prompted by customer complaints about the issue.

An FCA spokesman explained to Car and Driver that the floor mats in the recalled vehicles have ribs and the pedals in the vehicles are adjustable. So, when the pedal is set at certain positions, there may be interference with some mats. An estimated 43,148 all-season floor mats that were sold as aftermarket options are also affected by the recall.

FCA advises owners of vehicles with the all-season mats to bring them to a dealer so they can be modified. Consumers are asked to remove the mats from the vehicles until they can be modified. Ram owners can check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) website or NHTSA’s new recall app to see if their vehicle is involved in this recall.

FCA is not the only automaker to recall vehicles for floor mat issues that could interfere with the gas pedal. In 2009, Toyota recalled nearly 4 million vehicles due to the potential of the floor mat interfering and causing the gas pedal to become stuck in the open position.

Auto Product Liability Issues

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident caused by a defective vehicle or a defective auto product, you may be able to seek compensation for the injuries, damages and losses caused. Injured victims or families of deceased victims in such cases would be well advised to contact an experienced auto defect lawyer who will be able to conduct the necessary investigations, hold the negligent automakers accountable and ensure that they receive maximum compensation for their losses.

Source: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a33835511/fca-recalls-160000-ram-1500s/