Recall Alert: 2013 Ram 2500, 3500 Pickup Trucks

Chrysler is recalling 1,253 2013 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks due to a problem in the exterior lighting system that could reduce the driver's visibility and blind oncoming traffic, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Affected vehicles were manufactured between Jan. 7 and Feb. 28, 2013, and are equipped with optional premium headlamps. The headlamp shutters may function improperly when in high-beam mode and fail to conform to federal safety standards; the problem could reduce the driver's visibility and possibly blind drivers of oncoming vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.

Chrysler will begin notifying owners next month, and dealers will reconfigure the central body controller for free. Owners can call Chrysler at 800-247-9753 or the NHTSA vehicle-safety hotline at 888-327-4236, or go to www.safercar.gov for more info.

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Recall Alert: 2013 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 Pickup Trucks

Chrysler is recalling 30,197 model-year 2013 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks due to a problem with the exterior lighting system that may prevent the driver from being notified of a turn-signal malfunction, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Affected vehicles were manufactured between Sept. 9, 2012, and March 5, 2013, and are equipped with optional premium taillights. The turn-signal indicator may not flash at a double rate to alert the driver that the signal is malfunctioning, which is in violation of federal safety standards. Without the malfunction warning, the driver may continue to use the vehicle, unaware that other drivers on the road are not being notified of a turn, increasing the risk of a crash.

Chrysler will notify owners starting in July, and dealers will reprogram the central body controller software for free. Owners can call Chrysler at 800-247-9753 or the NHTSA’s vehicle-safety hotline at 888-327-4236, or go to www.safercar.gov, for more info.

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Ram 'Man of Steel': Photo Gallery

It's not a bird or a plane — it's a Ram. Actually, it's not just any old Ram; it's the Man of Steel Power Wagon. Chrysler teamed up with Warner Brothers to create the truck to promote the "Man of Steel" Superman movie opening in theaters this Friday.

The Dark Ceramic Gray truck wears a high-gloss black roof and a red-accented grille and rides on satin-black forged-aluminum 17-inch off-road wheels. Superman's S shield is front and center on the grille, and Man of Steel badges are peppered inside and out.

Oddly, the Power Wagon doesn't have a role in the film; rather, Chrysler said that several vintage Ram trucks make cameos. You can put your wallet away, however. The one-of-a-kind truck isn't for sale. Chrysler says it'll be auctioned for charity. Check out the gallery below for more pictures.  

Most-Watched Videos of the Week

In what has recently proved a pickup- and SUV-crammed most-watched videos list, the 2013 Toyota Camry still managed to find its way to the top spot in its debut week and was the lone newcomer. Whether it finds commensurate success with drivers in another question, as Cars.com reviewer Mike Hanley says the sporty version of the reliably best-selling Camry doesn't quite live up to the excitement to which it aspires. Check out what else was popular:

1. 2013 Toyota Camry SE
2. 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
3. 2013 Ram HD First Drive and Impressions
4. 2014 Chevrolet Silverado: Impressions
5. 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet

Most-Watched Videos of the Week

The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee used its formidable off-roading prowess to climb over last week's most-watched video, the 2013 Ram Heavy Duty pickup. The Jeep claims the No. 1 spot in its second week. In the video, Cars.com reviewer Joe Bruzek, using the top-trim Summit model as an example, notes how subtle changes have made a good SUV a great one. Newcomers to this week's list include the 2013 Volvo S60 T6 at No. 4 and the 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet at No. 5. Check out what else was popular:

1. 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2. 2013 Ram HD First Drive and Impressions
3. 2014 Chevrolet Silverado: Impressions
4. 2013 Volvo S60 T6
5. 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet

Most-Watched Videos of the Week

Cars.com sister site PickupTrucks.com put another feather in its cap of dominance of our most-watched videos this week. PickupTrucks.com Editor Mark Williams invited viewers along on his first drive of the 2013 Ram 2500/3500 Heavy Duty in Michigan. The video debuted at No. 1, followed by Cars.com reviewer Joe Bruzek's critique of the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which bowed at No. 2. PickupTrucks.com's pair of 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 videos held over from last week, as did the 2014 Mazda6. Check out what else was popular:

1. 2013 Ram HD First Drive and Impressions
2. 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
3. 2014 Chevrolet Silverado: Impressions
4. 2014 Chevrolet Silverado
5. 2014 Mazda Mazda6

Used-Car Prices Fall to Lowest Level This Year

After rising slightly in April, late-model used-car prices dipped again in May. The average price for 2010 to 2012 used cars on Cars.com stood at $22,508 on May 1, a $159 decrease from April 1 and the lowest average price so far this year.

Of the 10 models with the biggest price drops in May, half of them were from luxury brands. Leading the list with the biggest price decline was the Lexus ES 350 sedan. After experiencing a run-up last month, its average asking price fell $2,682 to $30,735, an 8% decline. Lexus alone had three of the top 10 models, with the LS 460 full-size sedan and HS 250h hybrid both experiencing 3% price drops.

The top used-car price gains in May were more closely grouped than in prior months, ranging from 2% to 4%. Most of the top 10 advanced 2%, but two pickup trucks — the full-size Ram 2500 and compact GMC Canyon — saw 4% and 3% increases, respectively.

The chart below details the top 10 used cars from the 2010 to 2012 model years with the biggest price drops — as well as the 10 with the biggest increases. To be eligible for the list, a model had to have 500 cars in Cars.com's national inventory.

Recall Alert: More Than 300,000 Jeep and Ram Vehicles

Chrysler has issued three separate recalls for 301,283 Jeep and Ram brand vehicles to address electrical, airbag and coolant issues, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The first affects 295,345 model-year 2005-10 Jeep Grand Cherokee (models manufactured from Feb. 11, 2004, through March 9, 2010) and 2006-10 Jeep Commander vehicles (models manufactured Jan. 31, 2005, through March 10, 2010). A transfer case electrical failure could make it possible to unintentionally shift the vehicle into Neutral, and the car could roll away. The automaker initiated an investigation after a customer reported that a 2007 Grand Cherokee rolled away after it was remotely started, Chrysler said in a statement. The automaker will notify affected owners starting in June and dealers will install a software update for free.

Chrysler Really Connects With 8.4-inch Touch-Screen

Chrysler's massive 8.4-inch touch-screen available in Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, Ram and SRT models is one of the few multimedia systems to integrate dozens of tasks without overwhelming users. Tasks including smartphone integration, navigation, Satellite radio and more pair with climate control functions in one easy-to-use 8.4-inch command center versus an unwieldy combination of knobs, buttons and touch-screen complexity.

Testing Chrysler's latest Uconnect 8.4 system in the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee reminded us how seamless Uconnect works and why it's one of our favorites. Below are five aspects of the Uconnect 8.4 system that give it an advantage over not only direct competitors of Chrysler products, but in the grand scheme of all automotive multimedia offerings.

Top 10 Best-Selling Cars: April 2013

Nissan and Ford led a strong month for the auto industry, with sales up 23.2% at Nissan and 17.9% at Ford thanks to big gains among both carmakers' strongest sellers. Nissan Altima sales gained 35.4% while Ford Escape sales spiked 52% — despite similar year-over-year incentives on both and lower dealership supply for the Escape.

It may seem bizarre that the Altima, then, isn't among the top 10 best-sellers. It's been there for ninth months straight, and in March it was the best-selling car (not truck) in America. But a year ago, sales were dismal — less than 17,000 in April 2012 — so even a healthy spike kept Nissan off April 2013's top 10.

The Toyota Camry and Honda Accord had higher-profile struggles. The Camry's sales drop could signal plateauing demand for Toyota's seventh-generation family sedan, whose year-over-year sales have declined for three straight months. The new Accord, meanwhile, is just 7 months old, and shoppers found significantly lower discounts versus the 2012 Accord a year ago. It's a factor that could affect Accord sales through autumn. Still, Ford didn't seem to have a problem with that. Anyone considering the new Fusion found a similar situation — lower discounts versus year-ago levels — but it didn't stop shoppers from flocking toward the popular sedan, whose sales boomed 23.7%.