Chrysler is pulling more than 450,000 vehicles back to the shop after discovering a problem that can keep trailer brake lights from working when drivers hit the pedal. It is a classic modern-car headache, a small electronic module buried in a wiring maze that suddenly turns into a big safety story. For owners of affected Jeep and Ram models, the recall is less about panic and more about moving quickly to get the fix done.
The issue centers on how the vehicles talk to the trailers they tow, and what happens in that split second when a driver slows down and the rig behind is supposed to light up. Regulators treat that moment as non‑negotiable, and the scale of this recall, more than 450,000 vehicles plus thousands of separate parts, shows how seriously Chrysler and federal safety officials are taking the risk.
What Chrysler says is going wrong
At the heart of the recall is a design flaw in trailer brake control modules that can interrupt the signal to a trailer’s brake lights. Chrysler has acknowledged that more than 450,000 vehicles are affected, a figure that covers a wide swath of its recent truck and SUV lineup. The problem is not with the main vehicle lamps themselves, but with the way the add‑on module handles power and communication to a trailer plugged into the rear connector.
Regulatory filings describe how the defective hardware can prevent the trailer’s brake lamps from illuminating when the driver slows, which in turn raises the risk of a rear‑end crash for anyone towing a camper, boat, or work trailer. One analysis notes that the recall covers 456,287 vehicles and 2,871 tow‑trailer modules, underscoring that the defect is tied to a specific component rather than the entire electrical system. Chrysler’s own description of the failure, echoed in multiple recall notices, frames it as a safety risk that needs a formal remedy rather than a quiet service bulletin.
Which Jeep and Ram models are on the list
The recall does not hit every Chrysler product on the road, but it does sweep in some of the company’s most visible nameplates. Company filings and recall summaries describe a campaign that spans Jeep and Ram models, including popular pickups and SUVs that are frequently used for towing. One detailed breakdown notes that Chrysler, also known as FCA US LLC, is recalling more than 450,00 vehicles and highlights that the action touches both Jeep and Ram badges, along with newer entries such as the 2024–2026 Jeep Wagoneer S. That mix reflects how widely the suspect trailer‑brake hardware was used across platforms.
Other reports put the total at exactly 450,000 vehicles, a round figure that Chrysler itself has repeated in public statements about the campaign. The overlap between those counts and the more granular 456,287 tally reflects the difference between shorthand and regulatory precision, but the takeaway for owners is the same. If a Jeep or Ram in the driveway is equipped for towing, it is worth assuming it might be involved until a VIN check proves otherwise.
Why a trailer’s brake lights matter so much
On paper, a trailer brake light glitch can sound like a minor nuisance, but safety regulators treat it as a core visibility problem. When a truck slows, drivers behind are trained to react to the red glow in front of them, and that instinct extends to the trailer being pulled. If the vehicle’s own lamps work but the trailer’s do not, the driver behind may misjudge distance or closing speed, especially at night or in bad weather. That is why federal rules spell out strict performance standards for lighting and why the NHTSA tracks even small deviations as potential defects.
In Chrysler’s case, the concern is that the faulty module can silently fail without any obvious warning to the person behind the wheel. One technical summary explains that the affected modules may result in the trailer brake lights not illuminating when the driver presses the pedal, a scenario that regulators flagged as a crash risk in formal filings linked to 450,000 affected vehicles. That is the kind of problem that rarely shows up in daily driving until the worst possible moment, which is exactly why regulators push for proactive recalls instead of waiting for crash data to pile up.
How Chrysler plans to fix it
Chrysler’s remedy centers on inspecting and replacing the suspect trailer brake modules, along with updating software where needed. Owners of impacted vehicles are being told that the fix will be performed at no cost, a standard practice for safety recalls that involve design defects. One notice describes how Chrysler is recalling more than 450,000 vehicles and more than 2,000 trailer modules, and that dealers will swap out the flawed hardware with updated parts that restore proper brake‑light function to the trailer circuit.
Owners will not have to guess whether they are included. Chrysler has said that notification letters will be mailed, and other reporting notes that letters are expected to go out around late March, with one account pointing to notices being mailed on March 24, 2026, for the 450,000 vehicles whose trailer brakes could fail. Until then, dealers can look up individual VINs and confirm eligibility, and Chrysler has indicated that separate tow‑trailer modules, the 2,871 parts sold over the counter, will also be replaced if they are brought in.
What owners should do right now
For drivers who tow regularly, the first step is to check whether their vehicle is part of the recall, then decide how comfortable they are towing before the fix is done. Chrysler owners can plug their VIN into the company’s recall portals or into federal databases to see if their Jeep or Ram is flagged. One earlier recall notice, labeled as an IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL, walks owners through a similar process, advising them to visit a recall website, find a nearby dealer, and review scheduling options, and the same playbook applies here. Until the repair is completed, some safety advocates suggest limiting towing or at least double‑checking trailer lights with a second person before hitting the road.
Local coverage has emphasized that Chrysler is recalling more than 450K vehicles due to a faulty trailer brake issue and has urged owners to contact dealers promptly, with one report from Tampa Bay spelling out what drivers can do to get ahead of the rush. Another regional account from Philadelphia notes that Chrysler is recalling more than 45 models tied to the same brake issue, a reminder that the campaign spans multiple trims and configurations. For anyone still unsure, federal recall lookup tools and Chrysler’s own customer service lines can confirm status in a few minutes, which is a small investment of time compared with the risk of towing a trailer that does not light up when it should.
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