Fiat Chrysler Recalls Vehicles For Airbag & Braking Issues

Fiat Chrysler is issuing a safety recall for nearly 900,000 SUVs for airbag defects and electrical problems that could affect anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control.

According to a Detroit News report, the automaker is recalling 352,000 2003 Jeep Liberty and 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs to replace their Occupant Restraint Control modules and side-impact sensors.

Apparently, these defective parts can cause inadvertent airbag deployments, which have so far resulted in seven injuries.

Most of the injuries include bruises and concussions.

Airbag and Electrical Problems

In January, Fiat Chrysler said it would recall 928,000 vehicles for the same issue to upgrade a repair performed as part of a 2012 recall. That recall covered some 2002-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees, 2002-2003 Jeep Libertys and 2003-2004 Dodge Vipers.

The company emphasized that the vehicles are not equipped with Takata airbags, which have been linked to eight deaths and 100 injuries.

In a separate recall, Fiat Chrysler is recalling 542,000 2012-15 Dodge Journey and Fiat Freemont SUVs for potential electrical issues. Some of these vehicles may be subject to moisture buildup that may affect the vehicles’ anti-lock brake system modules and disable the ant-lock braking and electronic stability control systems.

The automaker is not aware of any related injuries or accidents related to these issues. So far, Fiat Chrysler has issued 38 recalls covering 11.4 million vehicles in the United States, a record for the company.

Auto Product Liability Issues

The vehicle defects that have prompted this massive recall of close to a million vehicles have the potential cause catastrophic injuries or even fatalities. While airbags that fail to deploy in the event of a crash can cause serious injuries, airbags that deploy inadvertently can also cause severe trauma to vehicle occupants.

Also, when the anti-lock braking system or electronic stability control fails in a vehicle, there is the serious risk of a crash, which could result in life-threatening injuries.

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of these or other vehicle defects, it would be in your best interests to preserve the vehicle unaltered so an expert can thoroughly examine it for defects, malfunctions and design flaws.

Victims or families would also be well advised to contact an experienced auto product liability attorney who will be able to prove the case and hold the negligent automaker accountable.