ADA Safety Issue & STAR Case

[Bar]

Following because mine centers fine. It’s the sweeping turns that always hug the lines. I’m right on the lines, bumps through the turns but it’ll center afterwards.

 

[slimfl08]

Ive seen a few of these threads. Are these issues occurring on the green routes Ram has on their map? If you use map on Rams website and zoom in theres really not alot of routes its set for.

Also from the site. Seems like its not the best option and probably why they named it “Assist” ha

The available Hands-Free Active Driving Assist SystemDisclosure offers partially autonomous driving and lane centering on approved roadways

https://www.ramtrucks.com/active-driving-assist.html

Stellantis quietly launched its hands-free driver-assist system

Jeep Grand Cherokee buyers can get a hands-free driver-assist system that hasn’t been officially announced.

www.motorauthority.com

 

[RiviantoRHO]

How is it a joke? Let me tell you. Forget curves. Lane centering is horrible. The adaptive cruise is harsh as hell for costing / accel

You want to see self driving in action? Drive a new Tesla. It’s unbelievable and after you do you’ll be thinking how behind Stellantis is.

And how do I know ?

I just bought a model 3 performance. It comes to you. Parks itself. Drives anywhere. Auto changes lanes etc etc etc. it’s absolutely ridiculous how far ahead they are compared to my RHO. My RHO can barely make it around a gentle bend on a highway without cancelling and Still can’t get Apple car play to connect in the truck. Lmfao.

That’s why the auto driving is brutal. Tesla is light years ahead of Stellantis. Not even close.

You're comparing it to the company that does it best. Stellantis doesn't have point-to-point, but it works as well as Rivian's current implementation. Teslas look like melted jellybeans or, in the case of the Cybertruck, Elon's ketamine fever dream. I'll keep my RHO's lane keep assist if it means I don't have to deal with that low-quality interior and ugly styling.

 

[D7ar]

Following because mine centers fine. It’s the sweeping turns that always hug the lines. I’m right on the lines, bumps through the turns but it’ll center afterwards.

Yes, I’m only talking about green on the map major highway driving.

 

[Chris3058]

I’ve got my RHO and a perf model 3. I love the 3. And it’s damn nice inside.

 

[TT BeastMode]

You're comparing it to the company that does it best. Stellantis doesn't have point-to-point, but it works as well as Rivian's current implementation. Teslas look like melted jellybeans or, in the case of the Cybertruck, Elon's ketamine fever dream. I'll keep my RHO's lane keep assist if it means I don't have to deal with that low-quality interior and ugly styling.

If Tesla wouldn't have made the Cyber Truck look like a jackass mobile, I would have possibly considered a Tesla truck. What could have been.

 

[RiviantoRHO]

If Tesla wouldn't have made the Cyber Truck look like a jackass mobile, I would have possibly considered a Tesla truck. What could have been.

Same here. I had an R1T before my R1S, and it was too small. A full-size decent EV truck could have been on my purchase list. Nothing like that exists.

 

[26MoltenRHO]

I think it works a bit better than Ford’s BlueCruise but they’re pretty similar.

 

[D7ar]

I think (or at least am hoping) there’s something that can be done to improve or fix mine. I have a ford with blue cruise and it’s light years ahead of how mine is currently functioning on the RHO.

 

[26MoltenRHO]

I think (or at least am hoping) there’s something that can be done to improve or fix mine. I have a ford with blue cruise and it’s light years ahead of how mine is currently functioning on the RHO.

Sounds like something is out of calibration.

 

[JeeperJohn]

Sounds like something is out of calibration.

You are exactly correct, and this is my point. I'm not expecting Tesla levels of precision. I'm not expecting it to make a turn from one road to another. I am however expecting it to negotiate a curve on a mapped interstate (I-80) designed to be driven at a posted speed limit of 70 mph. I fully understand I need to be ready to take control at any time but what does that have to do with the issue?

I've attached a verbatim transcript of the phone call from the service rep telling me the system is designed to give steering assist on a straight road BUT IS NOT DESIGNED TO GO AROUND CURVES! I've removed his name only on this version for the forum. If the truck is in hands free mode and on a left hand curve goes barreling over the left fog line into the rumble strips before telling you to take control, this is a serious safety issue and I'm going to pursue this further. At the very least this is a gross misrepresentation of what we are paying for in a $10,000 upgrade package and $18 a month or whatever Ram Connect costs.

When I first took the truck in the service manager said RAM doesn't offer hands free, after it being available for 2 years. Nobody knows what this system should or shouldn't do. The STAR people never even responded. When I showed him the window sticker and the hands free section in the owners manual, he just walked away.

This doesn't make the truck dangerous of course since I can just not use hands free. Since I drive from Florida to PA regularly, this is one of the reasons why I bought the thing in the first place. I could have purchased a Durango with a 392 for less money or a Hellcat Durango for the same money. Two different vehicles for sure but one with no tech to speak of and one with tech that doesn't work.

I'll pursue this further with Stellantis beyond the first form letter that will inevitably come and I'll report back when I get something of substance.

John

 

[JeeperJohn]

Looks like the attachment didn't work so here is the transcript;

Hey John, John over at XXXXXXX XXXX. Just wanted to give you a quick call in regards to the RHO. Um, so, from what we’ve found in terms of the self driving, not really self driving, the steering assist issue. Um, so per our tech rep, star took 2 days, no response. They couldn’t give us any information, unfortunately. So my technician got fed up with them. Just contact their tech rep directly. Um, tech rep did respond. Let us know. So with this, it is a assist. The vehicle is not designed to be able to fully handle those turns. It’s going to be able to handle slight deviations in the road, but it is not meant to be able to maintain control of the vehicle in those scenarios. So it’s unfortunately gonna be a little bit of a hit or miss thing with those, um, hands free driving. Um, I used to work for BMW. It had the same thing. Um, it will deviate between lanes, especially on big turns. Um, but, you know, uh, normal little slight, uh, deviations in the road will be easy enough for it to handle. It’ll do those no problem. Um, but full turns, its likely going to struggle. I’m not sure why it can handle rights but not lefts, but again, its not really technically supposed to be able to handle either fully. Um, but again, you let me know on this. Um, but again, so far no issue now you did have a recall come out when the vehicle was here. We did get that knocked out for you as well. Um, so at this time, vehicle is all set ready to pick up. Um, again, I was hoping to have a better answer for you on that, but per the tech rep, that is how this system is designed. Give me a call, any questions, concerns at all.



Transcript of voicemail

 

[RiviantoRHO]

Looks like the attachment didn't work so here is the transcript;

Hey John, John over at XXXXXXX XXXX. Just wanted to give you a quick call in regards to the RHO. Um, so, from what we’ve found in terms of the self driving, not really self driving, the steering assist issue. Um, so per our tech rep, star took 2 days, no response. They couldn’t give us any information, unfortunately. So my technician got fed up with them. Just contact their tech rep directly. Um, tech rep did respond. Let us know. So with this, it is a assist. The vehicle is not designed to be able to fully handle those turns. It’s going to be able to handle slight deviations in the road, but it is not meant to be able to maintain control of the vehicle in those scenarios. So it’s unfortunately gonna be a little bit of a hit or miss thing with those, um, hands free driving. Um, I used to work for BMW. It had the same thing. Um, it will deviate between lanes, especially on big turns. Um, but, you know, uh, normal little slight, uh, deviations in the road will be easy enough for it to handle. It’ll do those no problem. Um, but full turns, its likely going to struggle. I’m not sure why it can handle rights but not lefts, but again, its not really technically supposed to be able to handle either fully. Um, but again, you let me know on this. Um, but again, so far no issue now you did have a recall come out when the vehicle was here. We did get that knocked out for you as well. Um, so at this time, vehicle is all set ready to pick up. Um, again, I was hoping to have a better answer for you on that, but per the tech rep, that is how this system is designed. Give me a call, any questions, concerns at all.



Transcript of voicemail

This is a common issue on all driver assist systems. Ram's implementation is pretty decent. Most of them are using the MobileEye platform so they work similarly.

 

[Chris3058]

Rams system barely holds a straight line at the best of times. It’s really bad. Oh and more good news - another recall (3 now) just popped up. Awesome.

 

[D7ar]

I know it’s possible. The blue cruise I’ve used on an expedition worked very well. If it wasn’t going to hold the lane it would warn you ahead of time. This has me a foot or two over into the median before it even signals (I’m only trying this on empty roads and am ready to take over immediately.)

I’m also referring to slight curves in roads. I don’t it expect in lane, nor would I feel comfortable letting it so a big curve or inner change. I know it’s not “self driving” it’s hands free cruise. And that’s all I expect of it. But I’d like for it to be safe.

It seems like others have had better experiences. With its function Hoping someone will take it seriously and inspect the sensors or module.

If anyone had this problem and then later got it repaired I’d love to hear what happened.

 

[JeeperJohn]

This is a common issue on all driver assist systems. Ram's implementation is pretty decent. Most of them are using the MobileEye platform so they work similarly.

If RAM's system sends you over the fog line, far into the rumble strips, and only then says take control of the vehicle, I don't consider that "pretty decent". I actually consider that a safety issue worthy of NHTSA attention. If I hadn't been in the left lane and someone would have been in the lane to my left I would have hit them. For Stellantis to say this is the way the system has been designed is beyond absurd.

 

[Dano]

I sent this to RAM Cares a while back.

Ever since new, and I know this for a fact. (I had told them I had an Eibach level on it previously) On roads that I can use the hands free it works absolutely phenomenal, my favorite feature of the entire truck! Except for one thing, “sharp” highway turns it hugs the inside line so close the tires will get too close or even cross the line and upset the hands free system requiring you to put your hands on the wheel and take over.

It’s 100% the hands free system causing this. If I drive the same corner, not in the hands-free driving but in the hands-on driving and just barely touch the wheel to keep the sensor happy, but not actually steering it will be perfectly centered all the way through the corner. If I hit that same corner in hands-free, it will steer down to the inside until the system gets upset and shuts off. I have tested being in the hands-on mode and then allowing the truck to switch into hands-free mid corner and the second it does it immediately steers down to the inside until it’s too close to the line or goes over the line and shut the system off and requires you to take over.

Let me know what you know or what I can try. I absolutely love the truck, just little gripes. Whatever further questions or info you need from me feel free to reach out anytime.

Their response was, "We will take note of this for feedback. Thank you for relaying this information." June 29

 

[JeeperJohn]

Thank you so very much, that helps immensely. That's information I wasn't aware of. I sent a note to Tim and Nick and we'll see what they come back with, I'll keep you in the loop. I really believe this is not some minor glitch but a safety issue. I love the truck as well and want it to work. Fingers crossed.

 

[Chris3058]

They looked at it for the ghost breaking. Could not replicate. So I reported it to Transport Canada - like NHTSA - and they stated they’ve had a few other safety complaints about the same thing.

 

[RamCares]

We recognize that ADAS-related concerns can create uncertainty and inconvenience, and we want to ensure your voice is heard. If you are experiencing any issues, please reach out to us so we can document your concerns and better understand your situation. This not only helps us provide the most appropriate support possible, but also allows us to explore any extended assistance options that may be available to you. We're here to help and support you every step of the way.

Chris,
Ram Cares