Chrysler Recalls 467,000 SUVs For Possible Stalling
Chrysler Recalls 467,000 SUVs For Possible Stalling
Fiat Chrysler has issued an auto defect recall for more than 467,000 Dodge and Jeep SUVs worldwide to fix a defective fuel pump relay said to be at the root of a potential stalling problem.
According to an Associated Press news report, the same problem called an earlier recall of 189,000 SUVs in September 2014.
The recall this week brings the total number of vehicles affected by the stalling issue to more than 656,000.
A safety advocate says the recall should be expanded even further and says that the issue actually affects 5 million Chrysler vehicles with similar parts.
What the Recall Covers
The recall announced February 27, 2015 by Chrysler covers 2012 and 2013 Dodge Durangos and 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs. The Jeeps have diesel engines.
Chrysler says the fuel pump relays can deform and cause the pumps to malfunction resulting in unexpected stalling. It could also prevent the engines from starting.
So far, the company has not received reports of crashes or injuries as a result of the problem. When the recall begins, dealers will install a new relay circuit.
Safety Advocates Call for Expanded Recall
The Center for Auto Safety, a safety advocacy group founded by Ralph Nader, maintains that Chrysler’s recall is inadequate because millions of other Chrysler vehicles have the same fuel pump power control module as the Grand Cherokee and Durango.
Last year, the group filed a petition asking the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to investigate power system failures in Chrysler vehicles that could cause them to stall while being driven.
The center states that an electrical power control module used by Chrysler in millions of vehicles since 2007 can malfunction causing them to stall in traffic and cut off devices powered by electricity.
The center claims this covers vehicles including Ram pickup trucks, Chrysler and Dodge minivans, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango and Dodge Journey SUVs, the Jeep Wrangler and other models.
The group also said it received over 70 complaints and that the government has received hundreds.
As auto product liability attorneys who represent victims of auto defects and their families, we hope federal safety regulators pressure Chrysler into expanding the recall and repairing all of the defective vehicles.
If you or a loved one has been injured by these or other defective autos, please contact an experienced auto defect lawyer to obtain more information about your legal rights and options.
