2013-06-07 10:54:11

Chrysler Announcement: 620,000 Jeeps Returned

Airbags and power steering issues are the main reason of a recall around 620,000 new Jeep vehicles.

Chrysler informed today that it will return about 400,000 2010-12 Jeep Patriot and Compass SUVs because of a software error that can postpone or prevent seat belt pre-tensioners in the vehicles from deploying in certain rollover crashes. Approximately 254,000 of these are in the U.S. while 45,400 are in Canada and 109,400 all over the world.

Additionally, the automaker is also addressing a problem in around 220,000 Jeep SUVs that may cause premature wear to a transmission oil cooler line featuring only over 180,000 in the U.S.

A power-steering part can rub against the line, causing a hole and subsequent harm to the transmission.  The brand informed it is aware of 81 reports of the issue.

Dealers will install a refreshed power-steering component to solve the problem. Cars with lines that are not affected will be fitted with a protective sleeve as an additional precaution and Chrysler will start notifying clients on July 1.

On Monday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration asked Chrysler to return 2.7 million Jeep SUVs and the company rejected. Neither of these problems are connected to that issue, which features fires resulting from rear-end accidents in the 1993-2004 Grand Cherokee and 2002,07 Liberty.