According to a report in Automotive News, FCA US (what used to be the Chrysler Group) announced that nearly 67,000 older-model Ram, Dakota, and Raider pickup trucks that were equipped with manual transmissions will be recalled due to a clutch engagement problem.
The recall covers 2006- and 2007-model year Dodge Dakota, Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500, and Mitsubishi Raider pickup trucks. According to FCA US, engineers have found clutch interlock switches that may have been equipped with a different type of spring wire than was used in the previous switches.
The company said that this wire may break, causing the vehicle not to start or, in rare cases, result in unintended movement when the ignition key is turned. Switches with the different wire were not used in vehicles made before July 2005 or after June 2006.
This comes in the wake of nearly 257,000 Dodge Ram pickups in the United States being recalled because a loose nut may cause the rear axle to seize.
The company said it is recalling 256,956 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 pickups built from January 2004 through August 2005. Chrysler dealers will begin installation of a retention feature to the pinion nut beginning Feb. 13.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the pinion nut can loosen, which can make the rear axle seize up, and the driveshaft may detach. The NHTSA said it is opening an investigation into 260,000 Ram pickups over reports of rear axle failures. This is the agency’s second investigation (In 2012, the NHTSA looked into the same issue in 2009 to 2010 Ram trucks), which prompted Chrysler to recall 48,058 Ram 1500 and Dodge Dakota trucks.