NHTSA Complaint #11241788 — 2016 RAM 2500

RECALL V06 CALLS FOR PART THE STEERING COMPONENTS TO BE WELDED. IF THE JAM NUTS ARE LOOSE OR THE THREADS ARE BAD THE DRAG LINK IS REPLACED. I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH A NOT CERTIFIED WELDER WELDING A STEERING COMPONENT THAT WAS NEVER DESIGNED TO BE WELDED. I AM ALSO NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE FACT THAT ONCE THEY ARE WELDED I CAN NEVER HAD MY TRUCK ALIGNED AGAIN. FCA ALSO UPDATED THE DESIGN FOR THE 2019 MODEL YEAR INDICATING THAT THEY FELT THE WELDING IS NOT THE BEST SOLUTION. FCA DOES NOT KNOW WHY THE DRAG LINKS ARE SEPARATING. THE THREADS COULD BE BAD AND WELDING THE JAM NUTS WILL NOT PREVENT A SEPARATION. FURTHER MANY STATES WILL FAIL A VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION IF ANY OF THE STEERING SYSTEM HAS ANY WELDED REPAIRS. VIRGINIA CODE 19VAC30-70-470 THE STATE OF UTAH WHERE I LIVE HAS MANUAL TO INSPECT VEHICLES. IT ALSO STATES TO REJECT A VEHICLE IF A WELDED REPAIR IS PRESENT. SO HOW CAN FCA PUT OUT A RECALL FIX THAT WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO FAIL A SAFETY INSPECTION? FCA SHOULD REPLACE THE DRAG LINK WITH THEIR UPDATED VERSION THAT DOES NOT HAVE A SEPARATION ISSUE.