Auburn Hills, Mich. – July 7, 2017 – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has recalled nearly 13,000 vehicles containing user guides with inaccurate jump-starting instructions, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2017 Jeep Compass sport utility vehicles produced between Oct. 17, 2016 and April 28, 2017. FCA estimates 100 percent of the models named in the recall are equipped with the faulty information.

The Defect

Affected vehicles contain user guides with inaccurate jump-starting instructions. These flawed reference materials feature an image of the Jeep Compass battery terminal with reversed polarities. This not only confuses owners in need of assistance, but also creates a serious safety hazard, as attaching jump starting cables in the manner shown in the instructions may produce a dangerous electrical charge. However, the FCA has not received reports of any accidents or injuries connected to the inaccurate user guides.

Timeline of Events

On May 31, an FCA supplier reported that the user guides installed in some 2017 Jeep Compass models might contain inaccurate information. The car company’s Vehicle Safety and Regulatory Compliance group immediately launched an investigation into the supposed issue. Roughly one week later, FCA engineers reviewed the user guides and confirmed that the instructions did indeed contain an error. The VSRC group then initiated an internal review in search of customer complaints, injury reports or warranty claims connected to the defective user guides. This review ultimately uncovered one customer complaint mentioning the inaccurate materials.

On June 30, the FCA Vehicle Regulations Committee reviewed the findings and recommended an immediate voluntary safety recall.

The Solution

FCA will order dealers to distribute accurate user guides containing correct jump-starting directions. The automaker has pledged to reimburse owners for the amended instructions, provided they can submit proof of purchase in the form of a receipt or other documentation. FCA plans to notify dealers and owners Aug. 21, 2017. Individuals in need of more immediate assistance can contact Chrysler customer service at (800) 853-1403 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

Auburn Hills, Mich.—May 22, 2017—Structural issues have led to a new Jeep recall this month, with drivers at possible risk of their vehicles suddenly slowing or failing to park. According to CNet, the recall isn’t scheduled to begin until next month but could affect 1,178 Compass vehicles with the model year of 2017.

The Defect

The source said that these vehicles may not have axles in the correct place, potentially leading to transmission connection problems. Though it could manifest in different ways, the axle that fails to connect with the rest of the transmission could make it difficult to operate the vehicle normally, making basic functions involving the car difficult.

Timeline of Events

• February 2017: The 2017 Jeep Compass first became available for sale, according to Forbes.
• May 2017: Inventory availability increased, the source said, while the CNet piece appeared on May 22.
• June 2017: CNet said this was when the recall itself would actually take place, sometime around June 23.

The Resolution

Before the fix even happens, owners can try engaging the parking brake, since this is not affected by the issue prompting recall. For a long term solution, dealers plan to replace any defective half-shafts in these vehicles to offset the risk of disengagement. The problem is specifically said to be with the “left front half-shaft,” CNet said. Cars.com confirmed that the recall won’t cost owners.

An earlier article from the same source mentioned a December recall launched for a different reason. Some 2016 Jeep Compass models were part of a larger recall that affected a total of 43,000 vehicles from the same year, including other brands, such as Dodge. In addition to stalling, these vehicles could have possibly experienced instrument cluster errors, due to camshaft or crankshaft connector issues.

Fiat Chrysler has announced the recall of certain Jeep Cherokee vehicles after a problem was discovered that could prevent airbags from properly inflating. Takata Corporation, the maker of these airbags, has already been involved in a major safety recall.

The Defect

Some 2017 Jeep Cherokees manufactured between Oct. 13, 2016 and Oct. 17, 2016 may have improper welds on the driver’s knee airbag inflator. During a crash, these defects could stop the airbags from opening and protecting the driver.

Timeline

Sept. 24, 2016 – The Tier 2 ARC Automotive Inc. KAB inflators were produced. Maintenance was done on the optical lens covers of the welders used on the inflators.

Oct. 14, 2016 – The Takata Corporation reported two inflator failures in tests.

Oct. 17, 2016 – Takata notified Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US Supplier Quality that some inflators had been welded improperly.

Oct. 18, 2016 – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US Suppliers Quality told Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US Vehicle Safety and Regulatory Compliance that an investigation would be needed.

Oct. 18-24, 2016 – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US, Takata and ARC considered their immediate response, as well as correctives that could be taken in the long term to address this issue and prevent the problem from spreading to additional parts.

Oct. 23, 2016 – Takata made plans to keep inflators and ensure that they are all validated before being shipped out.

Oct. 24, 2016 – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US determined that it would be best to issue a voluntary recall.

Resolution

Fiat Chrysler will conduct a voluntary recall on all affected vehicles in order to replace the defective inflators. The company also plans to reimburse drivers for any expenses associated with repairing this problem on their own.

Auburn Hills, Mich. — June 23, 2016 — Two new voluntary Fiat Chrysler recalls will target issues in a range of different vehicles. In a pair of press releases published May 18, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles explained the conditions leading to each recall. Neither of these are connected to any known injuries or accidents, and both of them have repercussions outside of North America, although the majority of vehicles in each case are within the United States.

The first recall: Clockspring assemblies
This action concerns the systems that may prevent some Jeep Wrangler SUVs from deploying their air bags correctly. The statement said that exposure to contaminants could weaken the clockspring and interfere with the circuit that controls air bag function. Drivers are particularly at risk, since the driver-side air bag is the one that could be disabled through this action.

The SUVs featured in this recall have model years between 2007 and 2010, with an estimated 392,464 of these vehicles inside the United States. Owners may see a lit air bag warning lamp in their vehicles if the clockspring has been compromised. This condition could be especially prevalent inside vehicles used for off-roading, the source said.

Dealers will resolve the issue by modifying the steering wheel, installing a new steering-column shroud and back cover. Though no schedule was listed, the release did say that customers will receive notification once the recall progresses.

The second recall: Clutch release updates
The other recall centers around gradual changes that could hurt vital transmission functions in Fiat 500 cars with model years between 2012 and 2016, but only the models that don’t use turbocharged engines. The statement mentions that approximately 39,217 vehicles are affected by this.

Unlike the other recall, this one has some reports of damage to the vehicles involved. The source said that .01 percent of the affected cars have been damaged, according to recent investigations, and that the recall notices sent out will give customers the necessary guidance for updating their vehicles as necessary.

If left unchecked, these affected vehicles can potentially see a moving clutch, which prevents the driver from using standard manual transmission functions. No specific remedy was described in this statement.

Previous related issues
In addition to these recalls, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration features some information about other issues that could also affect the same vehicles. One complaint about a 2016 Fiat 500 filed in September 2015 stated that a vehicle suddenly shut off while the drivers were in the middle of the highway. The anonymous driver stated that the parking brake, service engine soon and transmission lights all turned on at once after the vehicle stalled.

The Jeep Wrangler has also been subject to previous recalls similar to the most recent one. A report from May 2013 described a clockspring issue in Wrangler right-hand-drive vehicles manufactured between February 2007 and October 2011. Investigations associated with that case found that dust contamination led to circuit fatigue, a condition that may have caused steering column problems and also triggered air bag warning lights.

The initial recall acknowledgment letter for this issue referenced 5,400 potentially affected vehicles. As with the newer actions, these vehicles were at risk of air bag circuit issues that could have left occupants less safe. The chronology of this action dated back to May 2011, when the NHTSA opened its investigations. The decision to conduct an official safety recall was made that October, after months in the wake of the safety issues.

Originally, the remedy for this problem involved a steering wheel dust shield and a new clockspring, both of which the dealer was slated to replace beginning in May 2013. There were no accidents or injuries traced to this condition, either.

Auburn Hills, MI — January 20, 2016 — On December 23, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received report of a recall from Chrysler concerning 60,107 Jeeps from 2015. According to this statement, both Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass vehicles may contain improperly placed power steering hose retention clamps, which could trigger a fluid leak and fire risk if not corrected.

Although the risk of fire was noted as being “rare,” it nevertheless makes this a crucial act for the manufacturer to prevent possible injuries. Only one percent of the recalled vehicles are believed to suffer the defect.

The investigations into this issue began this past October, when the manufacturer decided to look closer at Compass and Patriot vehicles that had suffered fires. The fault was traced back to the hose clamp on October 21.

In the Part 573 Safety Recall Report, the NHTSA notes the purpose of the remedy program. This reflects the manufacturer’s need to “conduct a voluntary safety recall, on all affected vehicles to inspect the return power steering hose for proper placement of the hose clamp, and reposition the hose clamp as needed.”

A chronology document from the same source notes that the failures all took place when the vehicles were operating at slow speeds, 50 miles or lower. This led to the discovery that the power steering hose was the cause of the problem, confirmed by later testing.

Another series of Chrysler recalls recently affected thousands of Jeep Cherokee vehicles last month for a water leak problem that could have led to a fire risk due to electrical damage.

Auburn Hills, MI — January 07, 2016—According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 32,784 Jeep Cherokees with 2015 and 2016 model years are part of a new recall. Although the start date is currently unknown, a good amount of information has been revealed, including the recall number (R67) and the possible threat from water gathering on the vehicle’s control module.

If a leak were to cause this module to short circuit, the affected vehicles could potentially catch fire. To keep the module safe and reduce the chance of corrosion, the manufacturer calls for the mastic shield to be replaced with a specialized water shield. Despite this, no injuries have been reported in connection to this problem.

This remedy is meant to improve upon a previous water shield that didn’t provide enough coverage. The NHTSA features a Part 573 Recall Report that explains the way the new shield has been a response to the old one.

“The mastic water shield was designed to protect the Module from pooling water in the spare tire tub as the original investigation showed this condition as the primary source,” the document states. “As the corrective action identified in the original investigation, a water shield that fully encapsulates the Module was introduced into production on September 10, 2015.”

The recall was announced on December 9 after the manufacturer determined that a recall was the best course of action on December 1. The “fully encapsulating” water shield first began production in September and will be installed free of charge. If necessary, corroded modules and connectors will be fully replaced.