2014 Ram 1500 Longhorn on 2040-cars

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Hero gets his truck back better than new thanks to community support [w/video]

You ever hear a story and start cringing before you hear the end because you know how it's going to turn out? That could very well have been the case with the story from a few weeks ago in West Valley City, Utah, where a 14-year-old kid stole his grandfather's Hyundai Veloster and took it for a joyride - through a park full of children. But instead it turned into a heart-warming tale of heroism and a community banding together to do what's right... and then some.
Bryson Rowley was that hero who identified the danger and, rather than sit idly by and watch the joyrider potentially run over a child, got into his truck and drove it into the menacing runaway hatchback. The collision caused some $7,500 to his 2008 Dodge Ram 2500, but instead of getting stuck with the bill - one which his insurance may very well have refused to pay since the crash was, technically speaking, intentional - his community pitched in a helping hand.
Bryan Ellison, who owns West Valley Carstar with his brother, saw the news on television and wanted to help. So he brought Rowley a rental car, picked up his truck and brought it back to his auto repair shop. People from around the community donated parts, and when all was said and done, some $15,000 of work and upgrades were performed on the Ram that was returned to an overwhelmed Bryson Rowley better than new. Watch the video below for the full story.

FCA recalls 2 million Ram trucks over airbag issues

Airbag issues have prompted Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to issue another pair of recalls. The two separate issues both affect Ram pickups, one campaign stemming from oversensitive sensors, the other from a wiring harness. Between them, the problems affect an estimated combined total of some 2 million units. The first recall affects 2013-15 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks, specifically four-door models, manufactured between June 20, 2012, and January 26, 2015. The calibration of the side impact sensor in those affected units may to be too sensitive. As a result, if the door is slammed too hard, the side-curtain airbag and seatbelt pre-tensioner may inadvertently activate. FCA reports that this issue affects an estimated 667,406 units in the United States, plus 153,011 in Canada, a further 8,272 in Mexico, and another 14,847 in markets outside of North America, amounting (in Chrysler's estimation) to less than 0.005 percent of those vehicles produced. The automaker says it is aware of two minor injuries (but no accidents) that may have resulted from the glitch, and is taking action to have the Occupant Restraint Control module recalibrated in the affected units. The second issue also affects Ram pickups, including 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500-series models from the 2012 to 2014 model years, built between January 18, 2011, and October 7, 2014, and fitted with the optional Electronic Vehicle Information Center. The problem here stems from a wiring harness in the steering wheel that may rub against a retainer spring in the air bag control module, which in turn could cause an electrical short and deploy the driver's side air bag unexpectedly. In the United States alone, the issue is estimated to affect 1,060,531 units, which will need to be inspected and, where necessary, have their steering wheel wiring harnesses secured, with protective caps added to the ends of the airbag retainer spring. These do not represent the first issues we've seen from Fiat Chrysler in recent days. The automaker recently issued a recall for approximately 1.4 million vehicles to have their Uconnect software updated to prevent hacking. A few days ago it also announced a recall for 350,000 Dodge Journey (and Fiat Freemont) crossovers to secure loose engine covers. And the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is expected to issue Fiat Chrysler Automobiles a $105-million fine for mishandling other recent recalls and safety issues.

Watch the 702-horsepower Ram 1500 TRX terrorize the Nurburgring

Warning: Video above contains NSFW language. Ram's massive, Hellcat-powered 1500 TRX views performance differently than, say, the 2022 Audi RS3. It was designed for the dunes, not for the track, but that didn't stop a British YouTuber from taking the behemoth to the Nurburgring in Germany to find out what it can do. While the famously challenging track is often open to anyone willing to pay to get in, regardless of whether they're in a Porsche 911 GT2 RS or in a rented Kia Rio, officials have reportedly started turning away folks who show up in massive trucks, so getting the TRX past the gates was a small victory. Once on the track, the supercharged, 6.2-liter V8's prodigious 702-horsepower output quickly pelts the pickup towards its 117-mph speed limiter. Ram conservatively quotes a 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds, and the TRX has no trouble pulling it off. That's great on a drag strip, but on the 'Ring? You need to turn, and sharp handling doesn't appear on the TRX's resume; you may as well ask a Honda Civic Si to blast across the desert at 90 mph. It leans into turns like a fighter jet, but the Hellcat V8 pulls it out of a bend with ease as it completely dwarfs every car it passes — except a first-generation Land Rover Defender, which looks equally out of place. Interestingly, it sounds like the biggest issue the 6,400-pound TRX ran into while lapping the 'Ring was related to its braking system. There's no word on what shape the different parts were in before the run, but the front brakes can be seen smoking — and smelled, according to the man in the camera car — relatively early on in the run. But, here again, this is not the type of situation they were developed to perform in. "My brake pedal is about halfway down the floor at the moment, but it still has some functionality ... a little bit," the driver says at one point. And yet, the overall experience was positive. "This was a great thing to do! I'm really glad I did it," he concluded. As a bonus, the off-road-tuned suspension lets the TRX pass other cars (including a lot of high-end models) by simply moving two wheels from the track to the grass. We've embedded the full, 17-minute-long video above; note that it includes some NSFW language. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.