Auburn Hills, MI — December 09, 2015 — At least seven accidents may be due to a fault within Dodge Dart vehicles produced by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA).

The manufacturer is recalling thousands of autos internationally, with the majority in North America, in light of a defect that could negatively impact the braking system in these vehicles due to “oil migration.”

As the Associated Press describes, oil can “degrade” the braking systems, making it harder to bring the vehicle to a stop, although it reportedly does not affect “regular brake functions.” Two injuries may also have been traced to this fault. The remedy for this issue will require dealers to replace the vacuum tubes in affected vehicles as well as the vacuum pumps and other parts and needed.

The total amount of Darts involved in this recall exceeds 121,000, with approximately 105,458 in the United States. According to the Detroit News, drivers may hear a “pop or a sound consistent with a vacuum leak.” This action specifically affects Darts made for the 2013 and 2014 model years.

Earlier this year, Chrysler recalls for 23,629 vehicles were issued, 15 percent of which may have been subject to a transmission failure because of weak internal solder joints. That problem was reported on August 26, 2015 and traced to Darts manufactured between February 24, 2012 and June 16, 2015.

Since the transmission in these vehicles could shift to neutral without warning, drivers would be at risk of sudden disruption. This action called for dealers to replace the transmission control module to fix the situation.

Detroit, MI — October 07, 2015 — Inadvertently deployed airbags aren’t just inconvenient, but dangerous as well. According to a recall acknowledgement posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US (FCA US) has instituted a new airbag-related recall that may affect as many as 284,153 Dodge Chargers. In these vehicles, something as common as slamming a door could cause side airbags to inflate. This could also be triggered by what the safety recall report terms “kick events or heavy road inputs.”

The actual source of the fault is sensitive impact sensor calibrations, and the effects could also include activating seat belt pre-tensioners. The report also states that a mere 1 percent of the entire vehicle population is estimated to have the defect, and while the majority of the cars are distributed among the United States, several thousand others are in Canada, Mexico and other countries. Despite this varied area, the recall concerns just one make and model year range: Chargers from between 2011 and 2014.

Unlike some similar recalls, there have reportedly been some incidents connected to this danger. The Associated Press said that the manufacturer has acknowledged “three potentially related injuries,” which, although minor, indicate some of the possible seriousness of this fault. The report doesn’t indicate a timeframe for this recall, but does state that the fix will involve updating calibration.

“To ensure consistency, FCA US, as part of the owner letter, will request that customers send the original receipt and/or other adequate proof of payment to the company for confirmation of the expense,” it reads.

When a vehicle fault is tied to an easy trigger or occurrence, the best course of action is a comprehensive recall solution that communicates this properly.

Auburn Hills, MI — October 2, 2015 — Approximately 23,688 Dodge Darts in the United States with model years between 2013 and 2015 are part of a new auto recall from Fiat Chrysler. According to documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), conditions within selected vehicles could lead to a problematic Transmission Control Module fault that forces cars into neutral.

The recall traces back to last May, when 12 claims related to clutch problems in these vehicles were discovered. In July, engineers noticed the solder joints within the transmission module related to the difficulty and the following April the Vehicle Safety and Regulatory Compliance department began monitoring the interim bracket design warranty. The recall was decided upon as of August 18, and the Part 573 Safety Recall Report was submitted to the NHTSA on August 26.

As this report describes, 15 percent of the total target vehicle population are thought to be affected. The report also listed some of the problems related to this issue that could harm drivers and passengers.

“If a transmission shift to neutral event occurs, the customer may experience a loss of motive power,” the source describes. “In the event of a transmission shift to neutral event, the engine does not shut off, and safety systems, like airbags continue to function.”

The Fiat Chrysler recall includes a corrective replacement of the module and the bracket in these vehicles. Dealers will be informed through the “established methods used in the past,” according to an announcement from the Customer Services Field Operations of FCA, also dated for August 26.

Detroit, MI — May 20, 2015 — On July 2, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration plans to conduct a public hearing regarding the recall-related actions of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. According to a statement from this organization, the hearing will review several recalls over different features, including ignition switches, air bag inflators and other elements in the company’s vehicles.

The total amount of recalls pertain to millions of vehicles, including such models as Dodge Chargers, Dodge Challengers and Jeep Grand Cherokees. The NHTSA is concerned that Chrysler has not sufficiently addressed the individual problems and is acting partly in response to consumer complaints.

Among this group of recalls, the highest amount of vehicles addressed in a single action is the December 2014 recall, issued in response to defective Takata airbags, which affected more than 2.9 million vehicles.

In the statement from the NHTSA, Administrator Mark Rosekind said that the organization intends to encourage proper behavior from Chrysler that extends beyond the initial recall announcement when a defect is detected.

“It is not enough to identify defects,” he said. “Manufacturers have to fix them. Significant questions have been raised as to whether this company is meeting its obligations to protect the drivers from safety defects, and today we are launching a process to ensure that those obligations are met.”

The Detroit News also quoted Rosekind, who said that the officials will “use all available tools” to spur on compliance from the manufacturer. Some of the vehicles included in older recalls are no longer produced by the company.

To support the NHTSA’s vision for sustained improvement after a recall commences, manufacturers have to commit to making changes and promoting proper information among car dealers and consumers alike. With the proper recall systems, disseminating information is more achievable.