NHTSA opened an investigation into reports that the brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI) failed on some Ram trucks after earlier recall repairs. The agency’s July 2025 query covers an estimated 1,187,232 model-year 2013–2018 Ram trucks; it is a review of reported failures and remedy effectiveness, not a new recall or a finding that every truck in that population is defective.
What NHTSA is investigating
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation opened Recall Query RQ25003 on July 3, 2025. It is examining allegations of post-recall BTSI failures involving column-shift Ram trucks and reviewing the effectiveness of earlier remedies.
The affected population listed in the opening resume is an estimate of 1,187,232 vehicles: model-year 2013–2018 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500 and 5500 trucks with column-mounted shift levers. That is the scope of the investigation, not a count of confirmed defects. NHTSA’s RQ25003 opening resume describes the alleged condition and the population under review.
How a BTSI failure could create a rollaway risk
The brake transmission shift interlock is intended to prevent shifting out of Park unless the required conditions are met. NHTSA says reports describe a stuck locking pin that may allow a truck to shift out of Park without the brake pedal depressed and/or without a key in the ignition. A vehicle that shifts out of Park without the brake applied could roll away.
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The earlier recall filing for 17V-821 described a possible mechanism: prolonged energizing of the BTSI could raise its temperature, swell the plastic housing and degrade grease, causing the locking pin to stick open. Chrysler’s 2017 filing listed a bracket with solenoid as the remedy component. That filing concerned the earlier recall; it is not a repair instruction for RQ25003. The 17V-821 recall record lists 1,482,874 potentially involved vehicles in that earlier action.
What the complaint counts do—and do not—show
In its opening resume, ODI listed 14 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire reports and six Early Warning Reporting death-and-injury reports, for 20 reports total. The resume also listed 12 crashes or fires, six injury incidents, seven injuries and zero fatality incidents or fatalities.
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These are counts in the investigation’s opening summary. They do not establish that NHTSA found the alleged BTSI condition caused every reported crash or injury.
How this relates to recalls 17V-821 and 18V-100
The owner reports identified in the opening resume concerned vehicles that had received repairs associated with recalls 17V-821 and 18V-100. RQ25003 asks whether those remedies were effective and what may have caused additional incidents. NHTSA’s September 5, 2025 information request to FCA sought information about the allegations and relevant systems and replacement components; an information request is part of fact-gathering, not a final determination. The RQ25003 record includes the opening resume and information request.
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The title’s characterization of the fixes as “shoddy” is not an agency finding. NHTSA said it was reviewing the remedies and seeking to understand the root cause of additional incidents. The available records cited here do not establish that the earlier repairs were proven inadequate.
How to check whether your Ram needs recall work
Recall status and repair history are specific to each vehicle. Check the truck’s VIN rather than relying only on its model year or on the investigation’s population estimate.
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- Find the vehicle identification number (VIN), commonly visible through the windshield at the driver’s-side dashboard or on the driver’s door-jamb label.
- Enter the VIN in NHTSA’s recall lookup. NHTSA says an unrepaired recall will appear in the VIN search.
- If the result or repair history is unclear, contact a Ram dealer or the manufacturer and ask whether recalls 17V-821 or 18V-100 apply and whether their repairs are recorded as complete.
- Check the RQ25003 record and manufacturer or dealer notices for any later update. An open investigation alone does not mean a new recall repair has been ordered.
NHTSA says that if a safety-related defect exists, the manufacturer must fix it for free. Confirm eligibility and available repair work for the individual VIN through official recall information; do not assume the investigation itself provides coverage or a repair appointment.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about the investigation’s status
The official records cited here include the July 2025 opening resume and a September 5, 2025 information request. They do not establish a closing resume or final determination, so the investigation’s later disposition as of October 5, 2026 is not verified here. For the latest status, check the RQ25003 entry on NHTSA’s site.
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