Ram 2500 and 3500 Transmission Fires

What happens when America's best-selling heavy-duty truck develops a flaw that can turn a routine highway drive into a fireball? Join Alice and Zach as they investigate a design defect that left Ram owners watching their six-figure trucks melt on the roadside—and the three-year gap between the first fires and corporate action. Discover how a 2019 engineering change created an invisible time bomb under the hood, learn about the "geyser effect" that turned transmission fluid into a blowtorch, and find out whether the recall fix actually solved the problem or just redirected it.

SOURCES:

• NHTSA Safety Recall Report 22V-835 (Recall ZA3) - Stellantis transmission fire recall
• NHTSA ODI Preliminary Evaluation PE22-003 - Internal investigation documentation
• NHTSA Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ ID 11463132, 11425998, and related complaints)
• Stellantis Part 573 Defect Information Report - Technical breakdown of pressure buildup mechanism
• NHTSA CAIRS (Consumer Assistance Inquiries) - Field reports and warranty claims
• "Ram 2500 and 3500 Engine Fire Recall: What Owners Should Know" - Lemon Law Help by Knight Law Group
• TFLTruck (The Fast Lane Truck) - Early investigative reporting on 68RFE overheating
• MoparInsiders - Technical history of 68RFE transmission and 2019 valve body redesign
• Ram truck owner forums (HDRams, Turbo Diesel Register) - Near-miss incidents and owner experiences
• Class-action litigation documents (Top Class Actions, Robins Kaplan LLP)

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CREDITS: Final Boarding Call is hosted by Alice Stern and Zach Stemas, researched and written by Alice Stern, produced and edited by Alice Stern and Zach Stemas.