Ram recalls nearly 1.3 million pickup trucks over seatbelt anchors, NHTSA upgrades older Fords investigation
Ram has issued a voluntary seatbelt recall, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation (NHTSA ODI) has elevated its investigation of some older-model Ford vehicles that pose an “unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.”
Chrysler (FCA U.S. LLC) has issued a recall on an estimated 1,271,294 U.S.-market model year (MY) 2019-2026 Ram 1500 pickup trucks “to address a potential issue affecting the second-row center and/or second-row driver side seatbelt buckle anchor.”
“Some 2019-2026 Ram 1500 vehicles may have been built with a second-row center and/or second-row driver side seatbelt buckle anchor that was not properly attached to the vehicle body structure,” the recall notice states. “In certain collision scenarios, this condition could affect the performance of the second-row seatbelt system and increase the risk of injury to occupants.”
The importance and necessity of conducting safety system component inspections in collision repair was covered in depth two weeks ago during the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) meeting.
FCA US says it will notify affected vehicle owners to contact their dealer to schedule an inspection appointment.
“Dealers will inspect the second-row center and second-row driver seat belt buckle anchor and, if necessary, properly attach it to the vehicle’s body structure,” the notice states. “This service will be performed free of charge.”
According to a safety recall report on NHTSA’s recall site, the suspect period for the recalled U.S. market Ram 1500s began on Feb. 17, 2018, when the first 2019 MY vehicle was produced, and ended on April 27, 2026, when the last vehicle was produced with a seatbelt buckle anchor not properly attached to the body structure.
“Vehicle production and service records were used to identify the suspect period,” the notice states. “Similar vehicles not included in this recall have no repair orders related to this condition, were built after the suspect period, or were confirmed to have properly attached seatbelt buckle anchors prior to release from plant control.”
More trucks will be recalled in Canada (an estimated 156,138), Mexico (an estimated 15,088), and certain markets outside North America (an estimated 74,084), according to the notice.
Nearly 136,000 certain MY Ford Fiesta, Focus, and EcoSport vehicles are now under an Engineering Analysis by NHTSA’s ODI because the timing belt may fail, causing them to lose power or engines to seize, without warning to drivers.
An investigation launched in December on MY 2014-2017 Fiesta and 2015-2018 Focus vehicles equipped with 1.0-liter engines and manual transmissions, as well as 2018-2021 EcoSports and 2016-2018 Focus vehicles with 1.0-liter engines and automatic transmissions, was upgraded last week.
The latest data from S&P Global Mobility puts the average age of passenger cars in the U.S. at 14.5 years and of trucks at 11.9 years. Overall, the average age is 12.8 years.
ODI says the engineering analysis was opened to perform component-level and vehicle testing.
A July 31 ODI notice states there have been 355 reported incidents involving timing belt failures, including those collected by Ford and ODI.
“Based on NHTSA’s analysis of the data, failure rates, information provided by Ford, preliminary engine teardown analysis, and precedent recalls regarding loss of engine oil pressure with the presence of driver-facing warnings, ODI believes there is an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety,” the notice states.
On Dec. 18, 2025, ODI opened a Preliminary Evaluation to investigate timing belt failures in MY 2015-2017 Fiestas and MY 2015-2018 Focus vehicles. MY 2018-2021 EcoSports and 2016-2018 Focus vehicles with a 1.0-liter engine and automatic transmission were analyzed as peer vehicles because they have wet timing belts made of similar materials to timing belts in the subject vehicles.
“Through the PE, ODI investigated a potential failure/degradation of the timing belt that may affect oil pump function, resulting in a lack of engine lubrication and potential loss of motive power,” the July 31 notice states. “The complaints commonly allege a low engine oil pressure warning lamp immediately preceding a complete loss or reduction of motive power while the vehicle is in motion. Some complaints allege that a sudden loss of motive power or engine seizure occurred without warning or prior detectable symptoms.”
ODI states that its analysis shows failure can occur without sufficient and advanced warning to the driver that engine power/seizure is imminent. It found that timing belt material may degrade, creating debris that clogs the mesh oil pump pick-up screen, resulting in reduced engine oil pressure.
“The failure data provided in response to this investigation revealed an average failure mileage of approximately 70,000 miles, and that 98% of the failures occurred prior to the 150,000-mile timing belt replacement interval per the vehicles’ maintenance schedule,” the notice states. “Based on evidence collected via consumer surveys and an engine teardown, failures have occurred despite evidence of proper and routine oil maintenance. The oil pump pick-up screen is not serviceable, so debris accumulation cannot be inspected or manually removed without removing the engine from the vehicle.”
On June 2, ODI says Ford informed it of a non-safety customer satisfaction program for global vehicles with the 1.0-liter engine Fox Classic Timing Belt.
“This program will notify customers globally of a revised maintenance interval for the timing belt, reducing the original 150,000-mile interval down to 100,000 miles/6 years,” the notice states.
ODI says the program would reimburse eligible customers who previously paid to have their engine repaired or replaced due to a timing belt-related issue.
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Featured image: 2026 Ram 1500 interior (Provided by Stellantis)