Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to recall 150,000 Jeep and Dodge Vehicles

 

U.S. – Aug. 24, 2018 – Due to potential breaking system issues, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) announced a recall for certain Dodge and Jeep models. More than 150,000 vehicles are part of this recall, where Chrysler suggests replacement of parts and fixes to avoid potential risk and injury. It is part of a series of recalls this year relating to the breaking system in the Jeep and Dodge models.

The Defect

Coating on the rear break caliber pistons is said to be default on some of the Dodge and Jeep models. Included are select models of the 2018-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan and 2018 Journey, as well as the 2018-2019 Jeep Compass and 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The piston issue can cause gas pockets to form, which may compromise the use of the rear braking system. As of now, no injuries or accidents have been reported in relation to this particular recall.

According to Haynes Manuals, the break pistons work by allowing the break pads to connect with the brake discs. There are often several found in each breaking system in modern cars. If this part has flow issues, it can cause the breaks to operate incorrectly, such as having break pads stick or unbalanced amounts of brake fluid reaching the metal parts. It can be from common wear and tear, or an issue in manufacturing. This puts the driver and passengers at risk for not having full control in the vehicle.

Timeline of Events

This week, the Chrysler company announced the recall of 154,335 Jeep and Dodge vehicles for the break problems, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). By September 28, owners and dealers will be notified of the defect and offered solutions for repair.

In May of this year, there was a recall of more than 4.8 million Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles from the FCA, according to Cars.com. The large recall affected models from 2014-2018 that have automatic transmissions and gas engines. There was an issue with the cruise control and its electrical components, which ran the risk of the vehicle potentially accelerating and brake disengagement not working when in a cruise control mode. The automakers offered to fix the issue free of charge.

The Solution

So far, the only models affected by this recall announcement are Dodge Grand Caravan, Jeep Compass, Dodge Journey and Jeep Cherokee from 2018-2019. Chrysler plans to contact owners and dealers starting September 28. If consumers have any concerns and would like to find out more details, they can contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-800-424-9153. The NHTSA website also can be consulted for facts at www.safercar.gov. Owners and dealerships can contact Chrysler directly at 1-800-247-9753. The number for this recall is U86.

Sean ReyesFiat Chrysler Automobiles to recall 150,000 Jeep and Dodge Vehicles

293 Subaru SUVs to be Fully Replaced by Automaker

 

USA – Aug. 18, 2018 – In an unlikely move, the automaker Subaru has chosen to replace nearly 300 vehicles with defects, rather than reimbursing or repairing the offending SUVs. The faulty 2019 Ascent SUV model is missing key welds on the back-door hinges, and spokespeople from Subaru have chosen to pull the cars with the issue from the market.

The Defect

In key areas of the weld, there are spots missing along the B-pillar, which is located on the second-row door hinges. Subaru stated that the issue was due to incorrect programming in the welding software for the robots that manufacture the vehicles. If these doors or other car parts came loose due to the defect, it can cause risks of injury and accidents.

According to a Subaru representative, only nine of the defective vehicles were sold to the general public. They will replace all vehicles made and sold due to the severity of the defect. However, there have been no reports of any crashes or injuries of the Ascent SUV falling under this specific issue.

Timeline of Events

On July 21, the issue of defective welds was discovered on-property at a routine inspection. Due to the manufacturing error being contained swiftly, vehicles made between July 13-21 are affected. The total is 293 SUVs that are part of this specific recall.

There are 383,101 Subaru vehicles involved in the massive Takata airbag recall this year, which does not include the new Subaru Ascent SUV, according to Edmunds. Six models between 2003-2011 were affected.

The Solution

If consumers or retailers would like to contact Subaru’s customer service department directly, they can do so at 844-373-6614. Also, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) can provide additional information with the claim number 18V-508 on the NHTSA website. Subaru stated they plan to inform owners who bought the SUVs directly.

Sean Reyes293 Subaru SUVs to be Fully Replaced by Automaker