Chrysler recalling over 80,000 Wranglers and Nitros
Chrysler is issuing a recall for 80,894 examples of its hot-selling Jeep Wrangler and not-so-hot Dodge Nitro. The recall will require the power module for each vehicle be reprogrammed to prevent a situation that could cause a brief interruption of electrical power to the engine and instrument panel. This interruption has been reported to cause stalling in 180 separate complaints that have been received by Chrysler. It's only a brief stall, however, and if the vehicles are moving at the time, their engines will reportedly immediately restart. Of course, owners will not be charged for the service to their vehicles, and Chrysler expects to get the world out to them all by the end of the week. Hopefully Greg, the winner of our Autoblog Celebration Sweepstakes featuring the All-New 2007 Dodge Nitro, didn't get one of the 80,894 being called back.
Thanks for the tip, Barney!
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
srivendel 5:48PM (7/03/2007)
Crap American iron.
Just kidding. I figured I would say it before the trolls swooped in. This sounds pretty minor. Kudos to Chrysler for the quick fix.
Reply
whofan 6:07PM (7/03/2007)
Good job Chrysler! for being quick and prompt at fixing this minor hiccup. My replacement for my 99 voyager may very well another fine Chrysler product.
Reply
Scott Morgan 6:24PM (7/03/2007)
I have had my 05 Jeep Grand Cherokee do this about a dozen times. I have the 4.7 litre. Will have to check on it. I have mentioned it to the dealer but who knows where it goes from there.
Reply
Noe 6:35PM (7/03/2007)
GREGS time will come!!! j/k or am I ???
Reply
Seminole 7:17PM (7/03/2007)
I'm actually looking at the Wrangler. But man do those things get expensive if you add options. As much as I hate Toyota, I really like the looks of the FJ Cruiser, and the price ain't that bad to boot.
Reply
Barney 7:29PM (7/03/2007)
"As much as I hate Toyota, I really like the looks of the FJ Cruiser, and the price ain't that bad to boot."
I am a fan of Toyota BUT the FJ runs best on premium gas and a manual transmission is begat with only a full time 4 WD. Toyota the makes you have a part time four wheel drive if you don't like shifting gears. I could see the opposite but why would Toyota do it like that?
Seminole 7:40PM (7/03/2007)
It actually only "recommends" premium, but can run on Regular. I don't know how to drive stick (I know, shoot me :-)...) so I was going to go automatic anyways. Most likely the FWD version to save me money. I'm not looking for an offroader, just a tough little SUV that can take some abuse.
... 7:56PM (7/03/2007)
the fj is made for offroading, thats why people like consumer reports bashed it for its overly soft suspension. i hate it when people buy it as a daily driver, just like when people buy wranglers as daily drivers
Seminole 9:41PM (7/03/2007)
Oh I'd take it offroad. But not anything hardcore like the Rubicon or big boulders. Most of the time it would be spent on road though. I actually like the soft suspension, makes for a nice ride.
Guenther 1:43PM (7/04/2007)
FJCruisers are cool, but cost just as much as the wrangler with options. I've only seen one so far that stickered for less than 29k. Visibility is horrendous. Fuel econ on both trucks is piss poor. Both wheel quite nicely though, especially with some better tires
Owen 8:34AM (7/05/2007)
I have an FJ (manual awd) and I came out of a wrangler sport. I've been out wheeling with many of my jeep buddies and the FJ manual is more capable than all but the Rubicon, which it matches in everything except ground clearance and breakover.
However, now I'm looking to switch back to the 4 door wrangler (which came out after I bought the FJ). Why? Because my gas mileage stinks either way and there's no beating the off road experience with the top down and the doors off.
When it comes down to it, they both cost about the same with options but the wrangler is a convertible for that same price, that's all there is to it, even if you get the freedom hard top, you still get to take off the panels. That being said, my FJ has been 100% problem free.
Barney 7:24PM (7/03/2007)
Electronics! If there is anything I won't tackle. Hopefully this won't ruin the big party.
Reply
El Norte 8:05PM (7/03/2007)
Love the new Wrangler, and have been driving Jeeps for fifteen years. However, DCX's response to this has been anything but prompt. This problem has been reported to them since people began taking delivery. This started out as a TSB and only after the matter was escalated with the government did this become a full-blown recall.
Awesome rig, but the company leaves something to be desired. Hopefully the Cerberus acquisition will alleviate some of the problems...
Reply
Barney 10:37PM (7/03/2007)
Cerberus is not a car company but an investor. Other than a band of accountants (bean counters) Chrysler will get little influence from Cerberus. Profits must go up or heads will roll.
Brad 10:12PM (7/03/2007)
PCM flashes are some of the most routine fixes out there. One reason it gets turned into a recall is that people that have no complaints might never come in to get the procedure done. Better to be safe than sorry and at least give them notification that it needs to be done.
Reply
El Norte 11:21PM (7/03/2007)
"Cerberus is not a car company but an investor. Other than a band of accountants (bean counters) Chrysler will get little influence from Cerberus. "
Hardly. Cerberus will have a profound effect on management, on labor relations, and ultimately the strategic direction of the holdings. Look at the two marquee names that Cerberus is bringing to the table: Wolfgang Bernhard and Tom Gale. To think that there won't be a shakeup of upper management to address weaknesses (perceived or not) is absurd.
The Toyota Effect is evident in the machinations of GM and Ford in their (thus far) vain attempt to restructure their culture. You honestly don't think this mindset is foremost at Cerberus?
All to build value, of course.
Reply
Barney 11:43PM (7/03/2007)
Cerberus don't make cars. They hire new management to make profit. How the profit is made is in the checks and balances. Hopefully the new management will discover that profit can be made on good cars.
Don 4:43PM (7/05/2007)
Ah, bollocks...just needs a reflash.
Reply