NHTSA Complaint #11231499 — 2015 RAM 1500

I OWN A 2015 RAM 1500, WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN AUGUST OF 2015. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE ECODIESEL ENGINE AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THIS SAME ENGINE WAS THE TOPIC OF A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FILED AGAINST FIAT/CHRYSLER. THE AGREEMENTS IN THE SETTLEMENT OF THAT SUIT REQUIRES RAM DEALERS TO UPDATE THE ENGINE SOFTWARE SO THAT IT WILL MEET THE ORIGINAL EMISSIONS SPECS. THE UPDATE IS ALSO NOT SUPPOSED TO EFFECT DRIVABILITY. MY TRUCK WAS UPDATED WITH THE V08 RECALL FOR THIS PURPOSE. SINCE THIS UPDATE, WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD, THE TRUCK HAS A VERY LONG DELAY (4~7 SECONDS) BEFORE IT STARTS TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. THE ENGINE THEN ACCELERATES VERY SLOWLY. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. ONCE THE ENGINE COMES TO FULL OPERATING TEMPERATURE, IT COMES CLOSE TO ORIGINAL PERFORMANCE, BUT IT NEVER PERFORMS AS IT DID BEFORE THE RECALL WAS DONE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MY LOCAL RAM DEALER HAS VERIFIED THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ANY PART ON THE ENGINE, AND THE PROBLEM IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE V08 RECALL. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND EXHIBITED NO PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THIS RECALL. THE SETTLEMENT REQUIRED THAT THE UPDATE DID NOT EFFECT DRIVABILITY, BUT IT DID SO IN A DANGEROUS MANNER.