Fiat Chrysler Automobiles U.S. LLC, which produces the Ram truck brand, is to pay a record-high settlement of up to $105 million in civil penalties to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and others for allegedly mishandling 23 recalls of some 11 million vehicles.
Terms of the settlement state that FCA must also offer to buy back more than 500,000 Ram and other trucks that were recalled in 2013 for faulty tie-rod assemblies and rear-axle pinion nuts. However, FCA claims that more than 60% of those vehicles, which include 2008-2012 chassis cab, 2009-11 light duty and 2008-2012 heavy-duty Ram trucks, have already been repaired.