2014 Ram 1500 Tradesman/express on 2040-cars

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FCA recalls 1.1 million vehicles worldwide due to confusing shifter

Fiat Chrysler is recalling 1.1 million vehicles worldwide to address the problematic shifter used on cars with eight-speed automatic transmissions. The issue is that the console-mounted shifter acts like a rocker switch and always returns to the middle position after moved. This has been deemed confusing to drivers – confusing enough to cause some to exit their vehicles without first selecting Park and leading to the car rolling away. FCA says 41 injuries are related to the shifter problem, and no evidence of equipment failure has been found. The company will enhance warning chimes and alter the shift strategy, meaning alert messages will be displayed in case the driver door is opened while the engine is running. With the door open, the transmission will prevent the car from moving even if Park is not selected. The affected vehicles are certain model-year 2012–2014 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 sedans, as well as model-year 2014–2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs, an estimated 811,586 US vehicles in total. The recall also affects 52,144 vehicles in Canada, 16,805 in Mexico, and 248,667 vehicles elsewhere. The shifter is used with ZF-designed and ZF-built eight-speed automatic; Audi uses a similar shifter setup in some of its vehicles, including the current-generation, which predated Chrysler's use of it. Chrysler uses a different, a rotating-dial-type shifter on eight-speed-equipped Rams. The company moved away from the problem shifter design in 2015 for the Charger and 300, and the Grand Cherokee's shift lever was modified for 2016. Owners of affected vehicles will be notified of the recall when service is available. Fiat Chrysler urges customers to follow the instructions in the vehicle's owner's manual in the meantime. Related Video: News Source: FCAImage Credit: AOL Recalls Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM Ownership Safety SUV Sedan

2017 Ram Power Wagon starts at $53,015

Ram has finally released pricing for the new 2017 2500 Power Wagon, and it won't come cheap, starting at $53,015. The good news is that you still get plenty of hardware and appearance upgrades. The better news is that there's also a way to get the same capability for a discount. Every Power Wagon model still gets a bevy of off-roading features, including Bilstein shocks, 33-inch tires, locking front and rear differentials, electronically disconnecting sway bars, chassis armor, and a 12,000-pound Warn winch. Each one also comes with the Ram 2500's 410-horsepower V8. This year, the standard grade Power Wagon also gets a much more aggressive exterior thanks to the Ram Rebel-style black front grille and trim. The black trim is complemented by a retro Power Wagon stripe just behind the rear doors, as seen on late '70s Power Wagons and the recent Macho Power Wagon SEMA concept. Inside, the Power Wagon also gets seats with embossed tire tread patterns, like the Ram Rebel. Buyers who want to be coddled on the trail can then upgrade their Power Wagons with the Leather and Luxury package for $4,495, which adds satellite radio, UConnect, heated leather seats and steering wheel, and voice control, among other things. With the introduction of the Leather and Luxury package, Ram will also phase out the fancy, $59,465 Laramie Power Wagon trim. However, if you don't need the extra style of the Ram Power Wagon, there's a cheaper way to get the substance. The way to do this is to order a Ram 2500 Tradesman in crew cab, four-wheel-drive configuration, and then choose the $8,450 Power Wagon package. When added to the Tradesman's $39,865 starting price, you'll have a Power Wagon for $46,995 provided you don't add anymore options. That's a substantial savings of just over $6,000. Now you won't get the fancy interior or the Rebel-style exterior appointments, but all of the important mechanical bits are the same. In a way, it's the off-road version of a " sleeper." So whether you want style or savings, there's a Power Wagon for you. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery 2017 Ram 2500 Power Wagon: Chicago 2016 View 18 Photos Image Credit: Ram RAM Truck power wagon ram 2500 power wagon

3-row Jeep Wrangler, V8 Kaiser ambulance, and more from Mopar for SEMA

SEMA is back this year, and as is tradition, the American Stellantis brands Jeep, Ram, Dodge and Mopar are bringing some truly amazing concepts to the show. The brands have come up with seven vehicles, four from Jeep, two from Ram and one from Dodge. Some of them show off the current Mopar catalog and possible future parts, while others are just really cool customs. Let's check them out. Jeep Wrangler Overlook Jeep Wrangler Overlook concept View 8 Photos We're starting off with perhaps the most interesting of the concepts on display, the Jeep Wrangler Overlook. And you'll notice right off the bat that it's longer than your average Wrangler Unlimited. It's actually a full foot longer. And it doesn't just add cargo space, it adds passenger space. There's a third row of seats in the Overlook. Those seats also necessitated the safari-style custom rear roof. It's 5 inches taller than a regular Wrangler roof to provide headroom for rear occupants. It also made room for the extra windows. Front passengers also get a fancy single-piece roof section with a pop-up glass section, and the interior features black leather and bronze accents. Other body changes include a custom hood, a narrower front bumper for improved approach angle and a widened rear bumper to protect the longer tail. It also gets custom front bumper lights, Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) A-pillar lights and tubular side steps. The Overlook also rides on the Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) 2-inch lift kit with Fox shocks and 20-inch wheels with 37-inch tires. We wouldn't have thought a three-row Wrangler would be something that would reach production, and it's still unlikely. But, this looks really good. And when Land Rover already offers a third row in the Defender, and is working on a stretched version, we're starting to wonder if Jeep should think about an even more stretched Wrangler. Kaiser Jeep M725 Kaiser Jeep M725 concept View 11 Photos Next up is this year's resto-mod from the Stellantis crew. They found an old Kaiser Jeep M725 military ambulance and did a few things to make it a more modern, go-anywhere super tailgater. Under the hood is a 485-horsepower 6.4-liter V8 paired to an old-school TorqueFlight 727 automatic transmission, shifted by a B&M shifter housed in a repurposed ammunition box. It's still four-wheel drive and has the old axles, but they're attached via a coil-spring suspension instead of the original leaf packs.