Autoblog

Chrysler resolves recall issue with NHTSA, will inspect, upgrade affected Jeeps

Jeffrey N. Ross — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:25:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Jeep

Chrysler made big news earlier in the month by refusing a recall request from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty. Last week, NHTSA boss David Strickland countered by defending his agency's request for the recall of 2.7 million Jeep SUVs. Today marked the deadline for Chrysler to formally respond to NHTSA, and it seems that both parties have met in the middle with Chrysler inspecting and upgrading some of the affected vehicles without using the word "recall," which would constitute the admission of a defect; instead, Chrysler said that it is conducting a "voluntary campaign."

At issue on these vehicles is the positioning of the fuel tank behind the rear axle that could get damaged during a rear-end collision. NHTSA has stated that at least 51 people have been killed in rear-end collisions involving these Jeeps after the vehicles caught fire, to which Chrysler countered by pointing out that both models "met and exceeded" the requirements for fuel-system integrity.

As a compromise on the situation, Chrysler says that it will inspect all pre-2004 Grand Cherokees and pre-2007 Liberty models and, "if necessary, provide an upgrade to the rear structure of the vehicle." According to Automotive News, this upgrade will consist of adding a trailer hitch that will presumably better protect the rear-mounted gas tank. Vehicles already equipped with a factory or Mopar hitch will not be modified. Chrysler's official statement on the matter is posted below, but no additional information has been released, such as when the campaign will begin and how many vehicles could be affected.

Continue reading Chrysler resolves recall issue with NHTSA, will inspect, upgrade affected Jeeps

Chrysler resolves recall issue with NHTSA, will inspect, upgrade affected Jeeps originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHTSA boss Strickland weighs in on Jeep recall fracas

Michael Harley — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 17:01:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Jeep

Adding yet another chapter to the ongoing Jeep recall story, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) head David Strickland has gone on record to defend the government's request that Chrysler recall 2.7 million out-of-production Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Liberty vehicles after the agency investigated fiery rear-end collisions that have reportedly killed at least 51 people over the years. In statements made to The Detroit News, Strickland said, "We felt very strongly that the process that we undertook and the findings that we made and ... we made the decision to issue a recall request. We do not take that very lightly." The top US auto safety regulator stopped short of telling owners to park their cars until the automaker takes action. "They can make their own risk assessment and their own choices," he said.

Chrysler does not intend to recall the models, insisting the "vehicles met and exceeded all applicable requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, including FMVSS 301, pertaining to fuel-system integrity" when they were manufactured and sold. "The company does not agree with NHTSA's conclusions and does not intend to recall the vehicles cited in the investigation. The subject vehicles are safe and are not defective," Chrysler announced last week in a statement. "We believe NHTSA's initial conclusions are based on an incomplete analysis of the underlying data, and we are committed to continue working with the agency to resolve this disagreement."

Legally, Chrysler has until June 18 to formally respond to NHTSA's request. If the automaker does not take action, NHTSA is expected to issue a formal finding and seek a recall.

NHTSA boss Strickland weighs in on Jeep recall fracas originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Jun 2013 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bob Lutz, UAW rep commend Chrysler for not bowing to NHTSA recall pressure [w/poll]

Zach Bowman — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Government/Legal, Safety, Jeep, Celebrities

Bob Lutz, the well-known executive with a range of automakers including both General Motors and Chrysler, says he supports Chrysler for not caving under federal pressure to issue a recall on 2.7 million Jeep vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is arguing that the plastic fuel tanks positioned behind the axles of certain 1993-2004 Grand Cherokee models and 2002-2007 Liberty models may become punctured in a collision and potentially catch fire, so it has called upon Chrysler to recall the vehicles. 15 deaths and 46 injuries have been attributed to the issue. For its part, Chrysler has maintained that its models "met and exceeded" all safety applicable mandates when they were manufactured, and furthermore, they argue that the government agency's own data proves that the vehicles are no more dangerous than similar SUVs produced by other automakers at the time. As a result, it is taking the unusual step of refusing to recall the vehicles.

According to The Detroit News, Lutz says Chrysler is right to push back when the government is out of line. Lutz also said that he wished he could have done the same when NHTSA urged Chrysler to issue a recall on certain minivans back when he was with the automaker 25 years ago.

Meanwhile, United Auto Workers Vice President General Holiefield also defended Chrysler by saying, "Our legendary Jeeps are crafted with pride by our dedicated UAW American workforce who work tirelessly to ensure the utmost quality of each Jeep that is produced for customers."

Who do you think is in the right, Chrysler or NHTSA? Vote in our poll below, then have your say in Comments.

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Bob Lutz, UAW rep commend Chrysler for not bowing to NHTSA recall pressure [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Jun 2013 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler recalling 630k Jeep models worldwide

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Recalls, Crossover, Chrysler, Jeep

Despite its refusal to recall 2.7 million Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty models this week over a gas tank fire risk, Chrysler will be recalling 630,000 Jeep Compass (pictured), Patriot and Wrangler vehicles around the globe for a pair of entirely different reasons.

The affected Compass and Patriot models are all from the 2010 to 2012 model years - 254,000 in the United States, 45,400 in Canada and 109,000 elsewhere in the world. In these models, a software error may result in the late deployment of the side airbags and seatbelt tensioners. In the event of a crash, failure of these systems could result in more serious injuries for the vehicle's occupants.

Jeep's go-anywhere Wrangler also faces a separate recall due to power steering fluid lines that can possibly wear a hole in the transmission oil cooler line. According to Chrysler, the vehicles could then leak fluid, possibly damaging the transmissions. Roughly 221,100 Wrangler models are being recalled because of this issue, all of which are fitted with Jeep's 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine. In the US, 181,000 vehicles are affected, with an additional 18,400 in Canada and 21,700 additional units worldwide. A Chrysler spokesperson said that no crashes or injuries have been reported with either case, according to the Associated Press.

Both recalls campaigns are expected to begin in July, where dealers will fix these problems free of charge. Scroll down to read the official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notice on the Compass and Patriot recall, and head over to AOL Autos for the full AP report.

Continue reading Chrysler recalling 630k Jeep models worldwide

Chrysler recalling 630k Jeep models worldwide originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler recalls 468,700 Jeep Grand Cherokees, Commanders over rollaway risk

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 13 May 2013 08:45:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Recalls, Safety, Jeep

Chrysler has issued a recall covering a combined 469,000 units of the 2005-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the 2006-2010 Jeep Commander (inset). Of that number, 295,000 are in the US, roughly 33,000 in Canada and Mexico and the remainder in other markets. It seems an electrical fault in the transfer case can allow the affected SUVs to shift into neutral on their own, while an Associated Press report says that Chrysler had "found cracks in a circuit board that turns the four-wheel-drive system on and off." The issue was discovered when an owner started his car remotely and it rolled away.

Chrysler is expected to begin notifying owners in June 2013, who can then take their cars to dealers. The dealer will reflash the final drive controller free of charge. There's a bulletin from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration below with more information.

Continue reading Chrysler recalls 468,700 Jeep Grand Cherokees, Commanders over rollaway risk

Chrysler recalls 468,700 Jeep Grand Cherokees, Commanders over rollaway risk originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 May 2013 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler recalling over 200k vehicles across its brands

Jeffrey N. Ross — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram

With more than 200,000 units across six separate recalls and almost all of its brands, it appears that Chrysler has officially jumped headfirst into the recall pool this month. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued three official recalls for the automaker, and The Detroit News is reporting that the automaker itself has announced three more.

The biggest of the recalls applies to about 120,000 Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger and Chrysler 300 models for 2011 and 2012 due to faulty wiring harnesses for the seat-mounted side airbags, which could lead to these airbags not deploying in the event of a crash. A little more than 60,000 two-wheel-drive versions of the 2007-2008 Dodge Nitro and 2008 Jeep Liberty SUVs are being recalled due to a heat shield that could cause the driveshaft to break, which if that isn't bad on its own, could then hit underneath where the airbag sensor is mounted, causing the airbags to deploy. Wrapping up NHTSA's recall notices, about 20,000 Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass models for 2012 are also being recalled due to a problem with the fuel tank transfer tube that could lead to the vehicle stalling. The LX car recall campaign is going into effect this month, while the other two will start next month - all three notices are posted below.

In addition to the official NHTSA recalls, The Detroit News is also reporting that Chrysler is recalling more than 16,000 Ram trucks and a small number of Dodge Dart sedans. Around 6,500 2013 Ram 1500 trucks will be recalled due to an improper adjustment of the parking brake cable from the factory, while 7,000 Cummins-powered 2013 Ram Heavy Duty trucks are being recalled due to an engine cover that does not have as much heat resistance as it is supposed to. Finally, a total of 46 Dodge Dart sedans are being recalled due to a problem with the brake calipers and/or parking brake.

Continue reading Chrysler recalling over 200k vehicles across its brands

Chrysler recalling over 200k vehicles across its brands originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeep supplier denies responsibility for airbag recall

Zach Bowman — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 10:45:00 EST

Filed under: Recalls, Safety

Kemet Corporation, an electrical component manufacturer, has denied claims by Chrysler officials that it is responsible for a massive Jeep recall. On November 9, Chrysler announced it was recalling 920,000 Jeep vehicles after receiving more than 100 reports of unintended airbag deployments.

While no crashes or injuries were reported, Chrysler filed documents with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration saying that supplier TRW Automotive had made a material change in the airbag module, and that the change was responsible for the deployments. According to The Detroit News, Chrysler said TRW Automotive changed from precious metal electrodes to base metal electrodes due to the fact that the old design allowed for electrical voltage fluctuations.

Kemet supplies the sub-capacitors to TRW Automotive, which in turn supplies the airbag modules to Chrysler. Kemet said neither the precious metal nor the base metal electrodes were the cause of the trouble. TRW didn't say the parts were out of specification or make any warranty claims. Furthermore, the recall covers 2002-2004 Jeep SUVs. The material change took place in the middle of that timeframe.

Chrysler, meanwhile, has reiterated that "a design change to a supplied component was linked to a small number of inadvertent airbag deployments."

Jeep supplier denies responsibility for airbag recall originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Nov 2012 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeep recalling nearly 1M Grand Cherokee and Liberty SUVs over airbag fault

George Kennedy — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Recalls, Safety, Chrysler, Jeep, Off-Road

A recall has been issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for select model year Jeep Grand Cherokee models and Liberty vehicles over airbag concerns. The recall extends to 2002-2004 Grand Cherokee and 2002-2003 Liberty models, affecting nearly a million vehicles worldwide.

The central recall issue is a faulty sensor in the airbag control module that may result in the inadvertent deployment of front or side curtain airbags while vehicle is in motion. This obviously has the potential to be quite dangerous.

Specifically, Liberty vehicles built between January 9, 2001, and March 28, 2003 are in question. As for the Grand Cherokee, potentially affected vehicles were built between February 13, 2001 and May 23, 2003. The number of recalled Jeep vehicles in the US totals 744,822, though when factoring global sales, that number swells to over 919,000.

Chrysler plans on notifying owners beginning in January. The repair program will involve installing a supplemental jumper harness to the airbag control module at no cost to the owner.

Continue reading Jeep recalling nearly 1M Grand Cherokee and Liberty SUVs over airbag fault

Jeep recalling nearly 1M Grand Cherokee and Liberty SUVs over airbag fault originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler recalling 11,000 new vehicles over steering concern *UPDATE

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Recalls, Safety, Chevrolet, Dodge, Jeep

Chrysler's recalled vehicles for 2011 steering defect - Click above for high-res image gallery

Chrysler has issued a recall that spans across its family lines. A missing or incorrectly installed rivet on the steering column could result in a loss of control.

The recall affects the following 2011 model year vehicles:

In total, 11,351 Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep vehicles need to be inspected by a dealer. Affected vehicles will have their steering column inspected and adjusted as needed, at no cost to owners. The recall will begin this month. Click past the jump for the full National Highway Traffic Safety Administration bulletin.

*UPDATE: Chrysler has corrected NHTSA on the effect of the missing or incorrectly installed rivet. This issue has no affect on a vehicle's steering ability, but could cause the steering column to improperly bear the driver's weight in the event of a front-end crash.

Continue reading Chrysler recalling 11,000 new vehicles over steering concern *UPDATE

Chrysler recalling 11,000 new vehicles over steering concern *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dodge recalling 22,000 2010MY trucks, SUVs over brake issue

Dan Roth — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Dodge, Jeep

Chrysler has found a defect with certain 2010 Dodge Nitro, Dodge Ram 1500, Jeep Liberty and Jeep Wrangler models that could hinder braking. An improper flare on a brake tube that connects the master cylinder to the hydraulic control unit is being blamed for the problem. The HCU is part of the anti-lock braking system, and the faulty flare may leak and lead to a loss of brake fluid, which could lead to reduced braking performance and heighten the risk of a crash.

Chrysler will replace the tubes on 22,118 vehicles at its own cost under safety recall starting in August. Concerned owners can also phone in at 800-853-1403 or visit The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's safercar.gov website. NHTSA is tracking this effort under campaign ID number 10V315000.

[Source: NHTSA]

Dodge recalling 22,000 2010MY trucks, SUVs over brake issue originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeep recalling nearly 300k 2006-2010 Wrangler models over possible brake fluid leak

Chris Shunk — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Recalls, Safety, Chrysler, Jeep, Off-Road

2010 Jeep Wrangler - Click above for high-res image gallery

Chrysler is quietly racking up quite a few recalls so far in 2010, with a pair of 300,000 unit minivan recalls, a Dodge Caliber sticking gas pedal concern and now a brake issue with the Jeep Wrangler. The Pentastar is calling home 288,968 2006-2010 Jeep Wrangler models due to front fender liners that could make contact with the right front and left rear brake tubes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the friction caused by the fender liners could "cause wear of the tubes causing a brake fluid leak." That leaking fluid could cause partial loss of service brakes at the affected wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.

The NHTSA website states that Jeep Wranglers build between May 15, 2006 and August 9, 2010 are affected by the recall. August 9, 2010 is still two months away, so we're thinking NHTSA made a mistake since Chrysler will begin repairing vehicles beginning in June. If your Wrangler is covered by the recall, you can take your Go Anywhere off-roader to the local Jeep dealer for a free fix. Hit the jump to read over official NHTSA press release.

Gallery: 2010 Jeep Wrangler

[Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]
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Continue reading Jeep recalling nearly 300k 2006-2010 Wrangler models over possible brake fluid leak

Jeep recalling nearly 300k 2006-2010 Wrangler models over possible brake fluid leak originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeep recalling over 161k 2007-2008 Wrangler AT models due to tranny temp. sensor absence

Michael Harley — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:57:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Recalls, Safety, Chrysler, Jeep, Off-Road

Owners of model year 2007-2008 Jeep Wranglers with automatic transmissions may have to visit their local dealers as Chrysler is recalling 161,450 of the SUVs over potential transmission overheating problems. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), Wrangler models manufactured between June 2006 and July 2008 with automatic transmissions were not fitted with a transmission fluid temperature warning system. If the AT fluid in the affected vehicles overheats, it may boil over and come in contact with hot engine or exhaust components - possibly leading to a fire.

To help alert drivers that their Jeep's transmission is overheating, dealers will inspect and install a visual "Hot Oil" message in the instrument cluster accompanied by an audible chime to indicate the elevated fluid temperature. The service will be performed free of charge starting in December. For more information, owners of the affected models may call Chrysler at 1-800-835-1403, NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236, or visit www.safercar.gov. Full press release after the jump.

[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading Jeep recalling over 161k 2007-2008 Wrangler AT models due to tranny temp. sensor absence

Jeep recalling over 161k 2007-2008 Wrangler AT models due to tranny temp. sensor absence originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bad brakes cause Jeep to recall 28k vehicles

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:36:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Recalls, Jeep

Those of you rolling in a new 2007 or 2008 Jeep Commander or Grand Cherokee, take note. Chrysler is recalling 28,755 vehicles due to front-brake calipers made out of gray iron, instead of ductile iron, which could cause the clamper to fracture and cease halting forward progress.

The recall affects models built between May 17 and July 13, and we'd expect Chrysler LLC to have letters in the mail as you read this. Currently, there have been no crashes as a result of the problem.

[Source: Detroit News]

Bad brakes cause Jeep to recall 28k vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler recalling almost 300,000 Nitros, Wranglers, Commanders

Chris Tutor — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 02:55:00 EST

Filed under: Recalls, Safety, Dodge, Jeep

Chrysler will be sending letters to owners of 2006 and 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokees, Commanders, and Wranglers, as well as 2007 Dodge Nitros. Those vehicles fall under the company's latest recall to fix a potential problem with their brakes.

The vehicles' electronic braking system can cause "momentary braking delays" when traveling uphill, which, as we all know, is hardly ever a good thing. The recall affects just over 296,000 vehicles, and owners who have already experienced brake problems are asked not to wait on letters, but seek their nearest Chrysler dealership ASAP.

Thanks, Mavkato, for the tip!

[Source: CNN Money]

Chrysler recalling almost 300,000 Nitros, Wranglers, Commanders originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Sep 2007 02:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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