Chrysler to recall 1.2 million Ram trucks

DETROIT Chrysler is recalling 1.2 million Ram trucks to fix front-end problems that could lead to steering troubles.

The company announced three recalls on Friday. It wants to inspect the trucks and says only 453,000 will likely need repairs.

"The campaigns target an estimated 453,000 vehicles with steering-system tie rods that may have been misaligned during assembly or steering-system service," Chrysler said in a statement. "Chrysler Group is casting the net wider than necessary to identify those vehicles that require repair. Any found to have suspect tie-rod assemblies will have those components replaced at no cost to customers."

The first case covers 842,400 Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks from 2003 through 2008. Chrysler says 116,000 were repaired with tie-rods in the steering system that could be out of alignment. It says the problem can lead to steering failures.

The other two involve trucks with tie-rod assemblies that were replaced in previous recalls. They cover 294,000 Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks from the 2008 through 2012 model years, and 2008 Ram 1500 four-by-four mega cabs. Also included are 43,000 Ram 4500 and 5500 four-by-four chassis cabs from 2008 through 2012.

Chrysler said it is aware of six accidents and two injuries involving 2500 and 3500 trucks in the affected model years. The company will notify owners of the vehicles by mail next month regarding how to make service appointments for any needed repairs.