2022 Ram 2500 Tradesman on 2040-cars

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Fiat Chrysler to get $105M fine from NHTSA for recall woes

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is about to send a powerful message to automakers doing business in the United States, assuming reports of an upcoming $105 million fine against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles comes to fruition. In addition to the record-setting monetary fine, according to The Wall Street Journal, FCA will have to accept an independent auditor that will monitor the company's recall and safety processes and will be forced to buy back certain recalled vehicles. In other cases, such as with Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty models with gas tanks that could potentially catch fire in certain types of accidents, FCA will offer financial encouragement for owners to get their recall work done or to trade those older vehicles in on new cars, according to the report. FCA could reportedly reduce its fines if it meets certain conditions, though those remain unclear at this time. These actions against FCA are being taken after NHTSA began a probe into the automaker over almost two dozen separate instances where the government claims FCA failed to follow proper procedures for recalls and safety defects. Included in those safety lapses are more than 11 million vehicles currently in customer hands. These penalties and fines are separate from the investigation over security problems with Chrysler's Uconnect system that allowed hackers to obtain remote access into key vehicle systems in 1.4 million vehicles. Related Video: Image Credit: Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty Earnings/Financials Government/Legal Recalls Chrysler Dodge Fiat Jeep RAM Safety fiat chrysler automobiles fine

Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #321 LIVE!

We're set to record Autoblog Podcast #321 tonight, and you can drop us your questions and comments regarding the rest of the week's news via our Q&A module below. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.
Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #321
Unibody Ford Ranger replacement

Color match your 2018 Ram to your tractor with new Harvest Edition

Though pickup trucks have become increasingly civilized and more common in cityscapes, they're still indispensable equipment as work vehicles, especially on farms. Recognizing this, Ram created a truck package aimed specifically at the agricultural sector called the Harvest Edition. The package features a variety of equipment as standard, like mud flaps, side steps, a rear bumper step, skid plates, rubber floor mats, a spray-in bedliner, 4G WiFi, navigation, and access to weather via Sirius radio. Rams with four-wheel drive also get tow hooks, and 1500 models receive a one-inch suspension lift. Ram 2500 and 3500 retain their normal ride heights. The Harvest Edition includes visual enhancements, most notably the addition of Case IH red and New Holland blue paint colors. But if you prefer John Deere, you won't find its signature green – instead you'll have to settle for white, black, or silver. The Harvest Edition features loads of shiny trim. The mesh grille is chrome, the mirrors and door handles are chrome, the bumpers are chrome. The wheels are chrome on 1500s, and simply polished on heavy duty models. The only visual changes that doesn't involve shiny metal are the body-color fender flares. The package is available on all four-door Ram trucks from 1500 to 3500. It's also available with two- or four-wheel drive and every engine option from V6 to Cummins diesel. The 1500 model starts at $41,305, and the 2500 starts at $47,630. The package becomes available in the third quarter, so farmers and even wannabe farmers should be able to pick one up very soon. Related Video: