Chrysler Recalls More Than 50,000 Jeep and Ram Models

Chrysler Group is recalling 45,961 Ram 1500 trucks in the U.S. due to a software issue that can disable the Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The recall affects 2013 model-year trucks with four-wheel drive. ESC systems use sensors to detect when a vehicle is losing control, and then helps the driver maintain control by applying the brakes to certain wheels to keep the car moving along its intended path. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “A disabled ESC system may result in loss of directional control, increasing the risk of a crash.”
Affected owners should hear from Chrysler in August and dealers will update the ESC software for free. If you have any questions about the recall, you can call Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753 and mention recall campaign number N37.

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokees with LED headlamps have been recalled. (Chrysler Group)

Chrysler is also recalling 4,458 Jeep Grand Cherokee models for a problem with the vehicle’s parking lamps. NHTSA says that the recall affects 2014 Grand Cherokee Limited, Overland and Summit models that are equipped with premium headlamps and LED daytime running lights. When the driver turns the parking lights on, a software glitch immediately turns them off again. This can result in reduced visibility, which increases the risk of a crash. Without parking lamps, the vehicle also fails to conform to federal safety standards, according to NHTSA.
The fix involves a software update, which dealers will do free of charge. Chrysler will start contacting owners of affected vehicles in August. If you have any questions for Chrysler, you can contact them at 1-800-247-9753 and mention recall campaign number N42.

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Up to 1.56 Million Jeep Owners Will Get Free Trailer Hitches

2007 Jeep Liberty (Chrysler Group LLC)

Chrysler Group has agreed to honor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s request to recall Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty SUVs, but only after NHTSA cut the number of affected Jeeps from 2.7 million to 1.56 million. The automaker says in a blog post that it “will conduct a voluntary safety recall of 1.56 million 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-07 Jeep Liberty vehicles for supplemental improvement in low-speed crashes.” The fix? A trailer hitch assembly, which Chrysler says will “better manage crash forces in low-speed impacts.”
[RELATED: Chrysler Has Limited Time to Respond to NHTSA Recall Request]
Grand Cherokee and Liberty SUVs that already have trailer hitches will be inspected and the hitch will be replaced if necessary, but Chrysler says that Grand Cherokee and Liberty SUVs with factory-installed or Mopar-branded trailer hitches probably won’t need to be replaced.
Chrysler’s recall excludes about 1.1 million 1999-2004 Grand Cherokee SUVs, which were part of NHTSA’s original recall request. The automaker will perform a customer satisfaction action on these SUVs, inspecting and replacing aftermarket trailer hitches if necessary. However, owners without trailer hitches, as well as those with Mopar or factory-installed hitches, do not need to bring their SUVs in for inspection.
[RELATED: Chrysler Denies NHTSA’s Request to Recall 2.7 Million Jeep Vehicles]
USA Today reports that NHTSA says the Jeeps in question are prone to life-threatening fires after rear-end collisions, but Chrysler maintains that the vehicles in question are safe and defect-free. Additionally, USA Today says that Chrysler does not have to say the recalled SUVs are defective, which “will help Chrysler defend itself in any lawsuits over those Jeeps.”
CNNMoney reports, “Chrysler still faces liability risks in numerous wrongful death suits. NHTSA says there have been [at] least 37 accidents that caused fires and resulted in at least 51 deaths.”

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