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Forward collision sensors malfunction on overhead metal structures/overpasses.

dstates

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My 2019 Ram 1500 has repeatedly had false alarms and puts the brakes on and beeps when on cruise on interstate when we go under a metal overpass. It's consistently the same structure and does not do it on cement highway overpasses. The structure is a museum placed over the interstate 80 near Kearney, NE. It's a massive steel structure but at same height as all the cement overpasses. Have taken it in, they replaced some faulty "Park Sensor" and updated the "PTS", "module out of date". It didn't fix it. If there is a car behind us then it could cause an accident. I read that Toyota had a similar issue with false alarms years ago and had to replace sensors and software. Truck going back in Wednesday anyway for 3rd visit on constantly squeaky brakes that I have read about similar issues. But at least the engine hasn't seized up like my 2016 Ecodiesel did with 57,000 miles in March 2018.
 

LouCap

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Is it possible that the museum is using some sort of sonar for a display or to monitor the overpass? If so, maybe it's the same frequency the collision sensors use and it's confusing them.
 
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jdmartin

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Is it possible that the museum is using some sort of sonar for a display or to monitor the overpass? If so, maybe it's the same frequency the collision sensors us and it's confusing them.
That's what I'd vote for as well if it doesn't happen under any other metal structure. In a case like that if you drive that pass every day you may just have to turn the feature off until you get past it. There's a lot of airborne signals out there, it wouldn't surprise me in the least about interference.
 

ldoh

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Are you talking about this metal bridge or an actual museum located on an overpass?

 

ldoh

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If it's the bridge above then...

It should be able to handle that even though there are many radar returns caused by the 100 or so vertical/horizontal rib junctions.

It might be nice to have another 2019 Ram 1500 with ACC drive through under it for a comparison.

Possible issues include: the radar has performance limitations (i.e. it's working as designed), out of spec antenna vertical lobe, radar front end gain issue, radar processing algorithm has a bug or sucks, etc.
 

Skud

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I've had the forward collision warning go off on me three times:

One is similar to yours - I was driving under an overpass. There didn't seem to be anything special about it except it was kind of a "curved" overpass. which takes traffic from N-S to E-W.

Another I was making a right-hand turn and the traffic "in front" of me while I was turning was stopped at a red light. I assume the truck didn't realize that I was turning and would avoid the vehicles in front of me.

The last was when I was in a construction zone. I was in the left most lane and there was a construction truck, separated by orange cones, driving against traffic that I passed. I find this one strange though since the incident should be less likely than driving on a two-way highway..


Riley
 

DeanKing

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This happened to me three times going on the Commodore Barry bridge from PA to NJ. Then twice coming back. It’s one of those erector set kind of bridges. It was freaking me out and annoying my wife. I completely forgot about it until I read this. It was a sunny day and traffic wasn’t real heavy. Turning off the front park sensor didn’t stop it either. Very unsettling. You have to go deep in the settings to turn off forward collision and that isn’t practical driving over a bridge. It never actually applied the brakes it just started yelling at me and then it was quiet a second later. But it’s loud and the dash starts flashing red. Lucky I didn’t slam on the brakes reacting to it. I think it was getting confused by the cross members as I ascended.
 

2wd

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Can you disable the autobraking and just let the sensor warn you? That way the false alarm won't get you rear ended.

I was just watching video of someone testing Tesla Autopilot (which is arguably the best sensor system, even though they've had some fatalities with it) and it too was confused by an overpass with a curve.
 

RamCares

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My 2019 Ram 1500 has repeatedly had false alarms and puts the brakes on and beeps when on cruise on interstate when we go under a metal overpass. It's consistently the same structure and does not do it on cement highway overpasses. The structure is a museum placed over the interstate 80 near Kearney, NE. It's a massive steel structure but at same height as all the cement overpasses. Have taken it in, they replaced some faulty "Park Sensor" and updated the "PTS", "module out of date". It didn't fix it. If there is a car behind us then it could cause an accident. I read that Toyota had a similar issue with false alarms years ago and had to replace sensors and software. Truck going back in Wednesday anyway for 3rd visit on constantly squeaky brakes that I have read about similar issues. But at least the engine hasn't seized up like my 2016 Ecodiesel did with 57,000 miles in March 2018.

I’m very sorry to hear of the concern you’re experiencing, dstates. I would be more than happy to escalate a case on your behalf and connect you with a Case Specialist who can work alongside your dealer to find a potential solution. Please follow up with us via private message if this would be of interest.

Mark
Ram Social Care Specialist
 

tdager

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This happened to me three times going on the Commodore Barry bridge from PA to NJ. Then twice coming back. It’s one of those erector set kind of bridges. It was freaking me out and annoying my wife. I completely forgot about it until I read this. It was a sunny day and traffic wasn’t real heavy. Turning off the front park sensor didn’t stop it either. Very unsettling. You have to go deep in the settings to turn off forward collision and that isn’t practical driving over a bridge. It never actually applied the brakes it just started yelling at me and then it was quiet a second later. But it’s loud and the dash starts flashing red. Lucky I didn’t slam on the brakes reacting to it. I think it was getting confused by the cross members as I ascended.

Almost identical to when it has happened to me...same bridge in Cinci, same place, every time. I just have the warning turned on, no auto brake, so after the 2nd time we now just play a game to see who guesses the best when it will go off when we cross the bridge. LOL
 

Mikemarshallau

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can i ask if you took ramcare up on the offer here in the forum
i have this issue and many others and have had minimal progress toward any resolution to date.
My case has been with Ramcare since June
 

Twister

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I have turned most of those sensors off as I find them very disturbing, my truck reacts terribly when backing on any kind of incline braking hard
 

OSUPokes

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My 2019 Ram 1500 has repeatedly had false alarms and puts the brakes on and beeps when on cruise on interstate when we go under a metal overpass. It's consistently the same structure and does not do it on cement highway overpasses. The structure is a museum placed over the interstate 80 near Kearney, NE. It's a massive steel structure but at same height as all the cement overpasses. Have taken it in, they replaced some faulty "Park Sensor" and updated the "PTS", "module out of date". It didn't fix it. If there is a car behind us then it could cause an accident. I read that Toyota had a similar issue with false alarms years ago and had to replace sensors and software. Truck going back in Wednesday anyway for 3rd visit on constantly squeaky brakes that I have read about similar issues. But at least the engine hasn't seized up like my 2016 Ecodiesel did with 57,000 miles in March 2018.
I have the exact same issue with my 2019 Limited. Overpasses cause it to auto brake. Have nearly caused two accidents.
Rear braking in parking garages also auto brakes randomly with nothing there.
Very dangerous! Has anyone heard any update from FCA on this?
 

rdtompki

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Interesting. I have a new 2020 Limited and the brakes snapped on when backing out of my shop on a very slight gravel slope.
 

duke2001

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Hopefully FCA is paying some attention to this issue and giving consideration to some type of fix, be it hardware or software. More than likely not, given the small universe of this Forum compared to the overall ownership of new Rams. In the meantime, I have turned off the Auto braking function but kept the warning on. Not my first choice because it is definitely a feature I wanted, but having experienced a sudden braking on a Freeway at 60 mph, I did not wish to go through that again. Luckily, there were no vehicles riding my bumper when it occurred.
 

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