2014 Ram 1500 Slt on 2040-cars

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2015 Ram ProMaster recalled for ignition switch issue

The Basics: Ram is recalling a total of 18,121 examples of the 2015 ProMaster with production dates between October 1, 2014, and June 17, 2015. These include 16,114 of them in the US, 1,498 in Canada, 503 in Mexico, and 6 outside the NAFTA region. The Problem: The ignition switch can intermittently lose electrical contact, and this can potentially cause the vans to stall. If the problem occurs, the vehicles might also lose functionality of the airbags, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, and instruments. Injuries/Deaths: None reported. The Fix: Dealers will replace the ignition-switch contact holder. If You Own One: FCA filed the recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on November 25, and it has 60 days to notify owners about the campaign under federal rules. Until the repair, the company says that turning the ignition off and then back on can fix this problem if the switch loses contact. RECALL Subject : Intermittent Loss of Ignition Switch Contact Report Receipt Date: NOV 25, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V799000 Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Potential Number of Units Affected: 16,114 All Products Associated with this Recall Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) RAM PROMASTER 2015 Details Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) SUMMARY: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ram ProMaster vans manufactured October 1, 2014, to June 17, 2015. The affected vehicles have an ignition switch that may experience an intermittent loss of electrical contact. CONSEQUENCE: An intermittent loss of contact can result in a vehicle stall and/or a partial or complete loss of the air bags, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control and/or instrument panel cluster. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash. REMEDY: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch contact holder block, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R64. NOTES: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov. Statement: Ignition Contacts November 27, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US LLC is voluntarily recalling an estimated 16,114 full-size vans in the U.S.

The 2019 Ram 1500 Classic is new but is also old

If you've been following the interesting strategy that Jeep employed by keeping the old Wrangler on sale alongside the brand new JL Wrangler ( at least until the Scrambler needed the production line), Ram's move here – slapping a "Classic" badge on the end of the old 1500 – shouldn't be all that surprising. And that's what's happening. Not all the trim levels will be available, and the move is targeted at fleet buyers and those on a tight budget. For those cost-conscious buyers, snagging a Classic rather than a new Ram might be a prudent move. After all, while the brand new Ram 1500 is a very nice truck and a decided upgrade from the old one, there's nothing fundamentally wrong with the outgoing truck – particularly if your needs are utilitarian. So, onto the changes. The reduced trim level spread on the 1500 Classic goes like so: Tradesman, Express, Big Horn (or Lone Star if you're in Texas), and SSV (Special Services Vehicle) intended for law enforcement. You'll notice that some trims are missing, and there's nothing fancy here. If you want anything beyond the Big Horn, like a Laramie, Rebel, Longhorn, or Limited, you'll need to step up to the newer truck. There's good news, though. Some stuff from the higher trims that are now out of production can be had on 1500 Classics through some new packages. The Chrome Plus package offers some upgrades to the Tradesman trim, like body-color bumpers, 17-inch wheels, keyless entry, and carpet. The Tradesman SXT gets chrome bumpers, fog lamps, dual exhaust (on V8 models), and 20-inch chrome wheels – some of which is new to the Tradesman trim, even as an option. And the Express Black Accent Package blacks out the badges wheels, and headlight bezels. So while there's less choice overall, you can still add some up-level touches to the 1500 Classic. The powertrain and bed/cab configurations are still robust. You can get the Regular Cab with a regular or long bed, the Quad Cab with the regular bed, or the Crew Cab with the short or regular bed. The 3.6L Pentastar V6 and 5.7 Hemi V8 are both available with 2- or 4WD, and the EcoDiesel will go on sale later. We don't have the all-important pricing information to tell you how good of a deal the Ram 1500 Classic will be, but buyers dragging their feet on buying a lower-trim 2019 Ram 1500 might want to cool their heels until later this year when the 1500 Classic goes on sale to see if it better fits their needs. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party.

GM also sheds parts from its pickups to boost payload ratings

The row between Ford and Ram over who boasts the best-in-class tow rating for heavy duty pickups has revealed a number of things. Chief among them is a report that Ford removes items like the spare tire, jack, radio and center console from its vehicles in a bid to lower its base curb weight and therefore keep the truck's gross vehicle weight rating down.
For those that need a refresher, GVWR is the vehicle's curb weight plus its maximum payload. A lower GVWR allows Ford to station its F-450 among the so-called Class III pickups, despite the fact that internally, it has the makings of a more brutish Class IV truck.
Ford explains away these deletions, saying a customer could order their vehicle in such a manner. It has also come to light that Ford is not the only automaker to engage in such practices.