FCA expands Jeep Cherokee recall to 68k more vehicles
Wed, May 13 2015
The original campaign to repair these vehicles was announced in early February. Engineers found a small number of cases where dramatic changes to the angle of the vehicle that upset its balance caused the side-curtain and seat-mounted side airbags to deploy because they anticipated a rollover. This especially occurred when driving off-road.
According to FCA, there're no additional reports of this happening, and the company isn't aware of any injuries or accidents. The fix is simply a software upgrade that recalibrates the airbags' deployment.
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Statement: Restraint-System Software Upgrade
May 12, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US LLC is expanding by an estimated 62,148 vehicles its recall of U.S.-market SUVs** to upgrade air-bag software.
The action follows a routine review of the originally reported vehicle population by FCA US engineers. There have been no additional incidents and FCA US is unaware of any related injuries or accidents.
The campaign will upgrade software that governs side-curtain and seat-mounted side air bags following a small number of inadvertent deployments – most of which occurred in harsh, off-road environments. They were prompted by maneuvers that dramatically changed the vehicles' angle of operation, relative to the ground, and the air-bag systems – sensing potential rollover conditions – automatically activated.
The software upgrade will recalibrate the threshold for deployment and the vehicles will remain compliant with all applicable safety regulations.
Affected are certain 2014 and 2015 Jeep Cherokees. The revised estimate for the U.S. totals 230,240. Revised estimates for other markets are as follows: 28,110 in Canada; 6,367 in Mexico and 52,057 outside the NAFTA region. The revised global total is 316,774 – a difference of 68,593.
The Company will notify affected customers. Software will be available at that time.
Customers with additional concerns or questions may call 1-800-853-1403.
** http://media.chrysler.com/newsrelease.do?id=16332&mid=431
May 12, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US LLC is expanding by an estimated 62,148 vehicles its recall of U.S.-market SUVs** to upgrade air-bag software.
The action follows a routine review of the originally reported vehicle population by FCA US engineers. There have been no additional incidents and FCA US is unaware of any related injuries or accidents.
The campaign will upgrade software that governs side-curtain and seat-mounted side air bags following a small number of inadvertent deployments – most of which occurred in harsh, off-road environments. They were prompted by maneuvers that dramatically changed the vehicles' angle of operation, relative to the ground, and the air-bag systems – sensing potential rollover conditions – automatically activated.
The software upgrade will recalibrate the threshold for deployment and the vehicles will remain compliant with all applicable safety regulations.
Affected are certain 2014 and 2015 Jeep Cherokees. The revised estimate for the U.S. totals 230,240. Revised estimates for other markets are as follows: 28,110 in Canada; 6,367 in Mexico and 52,057 outside the NAFTA region. The revised global total is 316,774 – a difference of 68,593.
The Company will notify affected customers. Software will be available at that time.
Customers with additional concerns or questions may call 1-800-853-1403.
** http://media.chrysler.com/newsrelease.do?id=16332&mid=431
By Chris Bruce
See also: FCA seeking new trial in Jeep fire case, calls $150M judgement 'grossly excessive', Retro Review covers that Jeep Wrangler TJ you wanted in high school, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango still catching fire after recall.