Jeep Recalls | Page 10 | MotorSafety.org

More than 1 million Chrysler vehicles recalled for hacking concern

Detroit, MI — July 26, 2015 — Vehicle recalls can occur not just because of faulty components, but out of fears for outside attacks on vulnerable systems. According to the Detroit Free Press, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ (FCA) latest recall addresses cybersecurity issues within affected vehicles that could have massively damaging consequences for owners. Dodge Ram, Jeep Grand Cherokee and other vehicles from model years 2013 to 2015 reportedly have potentially dangerous software flaws in their “radios.”

While most of the recalls this blog has covered concern internal problems with defective autos, this issue is a concern because of the way it could potentially be exploited by hackers. The official recall acknowledgement from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that outsiders could gain “unauthorized remote modification” of vehicle systems through these vulnerabilities.

As alarming as that may sound, there are some factors that mitigate the potential danger somewhat. For one, the manufacturer has already taken steps to prevent outsiders from accessing the vehicle, leading to real risk for only 3 percent of mobile hot spot subscribers.

The recall safety report issued for this action also emphasizes the unlikelihood that an exploit might take place, given how much knowledge is needed to put one into action. The remedy for this problem is a software update that can be downloaded to a USB drive.

“Some 2013-2015 MY vehicles equipped with RA3 or RA4 model radios have certain software security vulnerabilities which could allow unauthorized third-party access to some networked vehicle control systems,” the source says. “Exploitation of the software security vulnerabilities required extensive technical knowledge, physical access to a subject vehicle and a long period of time to write applicable code.”

Along with acknowledgment and government action, recalls should be supported through education and informative services that encourage drivers and owners to respond correctly.

Chrysler recalls cars for rear control arm problems

July 7, 2015 Recall Masters Dodge Recalls, Jeep Recalls

Detroit, MI — July 8, 2015 — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has received attention from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) over outstanding recalls, and a new action reported last month will add to the list of current issues the manufacturer is addressing.

According to an acknowledgement statement featured on the NHTSA website, a suspension issue in certain Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles has led to 5,608 being recalled. The specific fault concerns the rear lower control arms in these vehicles, which may break off during use.

Both of the models were produced earlier this year, and the concern reportedly stems back to a notification on June 16, when suppliers informed the manufacturer that the materials “may have been incorrectly heat treated.” This led to an attempt at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant to stall shipment of vehicles with faulty parts on that same day. The component manufacturer is listed by the NHTSA as Chassix.

The safety recall report on this issue went into further detail about the heating problems that affected the supplier’s materials.

“The root cause was determined to be a non-standard heat treating process in which the supplier began hand loading materials in the heat treat oven due to a conveyor issue,” the document states. “The supplier’s manual process adversely affected the heat treat profile. The supplier subsequently shipped materials prior to completion of all required material property testing.”

To remedy this condition, the source reports that vehicles will be inspected before control arms are replaced at the car dealer. FCA will reimburse owners for this inconvenience as part of its “longstanding policy” towards these actions.

Government queries after Chrysler recall

May 6, 2015 Recall Masters Dodge Recalls, Jeep Recalls

Detroit, MI — May 6, 2015 — According to Reuters, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles recalled 900,000 SUVs due to a possible risk of fire last year. Faulty wiring inside the vehicles’ sun visor vanity mirror lights were found to cause fire via an electrical short in Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Durangos.

To fix this, the company ordered plastic guides be installed on the visor to direct the wiring away from problem points on the visor. Despite this action, the problem seems to persist, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating the aftereffects of the recall.

An Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) Resume released this month noted that eight complaints have been filed related to fires in affected vehicles since the original remedy was put into place, prompting a recall query from the NHTSA. Some of these reports described “smoke sometimes followed by flames” inside.

A New York Times Article on this recall quotes an owner of one of the faulty Jeep Grand Cherokees, who contributed a complaint last month.

“My car filled with smoke and I could not breathe in the car,” this unnamed person said. “The fire could have burned me had I been on a highway and unable to stop. I think it is incredible that I did my part, took the car to get the recall fixed and was returned a car that was clearly not fixed.” The source adds that there have been no official reports of injury, and that Fiat Chrysler is working with the NHTSA in response to the query.

In addition to the original recalls, recall queries and other follow-up actions also have to be communicated to the right dealerships and owners, to ensure that the latest, most relevant actions are taken to fix a possible risk.

Efforts continue to address Jeep fire safety after recall

April 15, 2015 Recall Masters Jeep Recalls

Detroit, MI — April 15, 2015 — According to the Associated Press, the aftermath of a recall from 2013 still leaves room for further improvement and perhaps further awareness from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator. Just over 30 percent of the Jeep Liberty and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles found to be at risk of combustion have been repaired since the initial recall notice was issued.

The original concern centered around the way gas tanks were placed on affected Chrysler vehicles: because they were located behind the rear example, a collision with the bumper could result in fire spreading.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has seen multiple cases where Jeep fires led to deaths, and the NHTSA is reportedly considering taking action to prompt further response. The near 1.56 million suspected SUV’s recalled were produced in different ranges of years, from 1993 to 2007. The roots of the recall go as far back as 2010, when regulators first started investigating Jeep susceptibility to fire.

The source quotes from a letter from the manufacturer which addresses the flaws and directs dealers to take action to avoid further incidents. To fix the fault, the company is installing protective trailer hitches on the back of the vehicles.

“If there are barriers that are preventing your dealership from completing these important repairs, please contact your factory representative for assistance,” the manufacturer said. “FCA wants to know and will make every effort to eliminate any barriers.”

The dealership and the vehicle owner will have needs in the wake of a recall that both need to be addressed, even if that recall began years in the past. Outstanding recalls have to be responded to in a professional manner, not to mention fast and accurate.

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