Stellantis recalls Jeep SUVs with damaged tail lights

Stellantis recalls Jeep SUVs with damaged tail lights

August 13, 2022 Senamile Nkosi ,

Auburn Hills, MI – August 13, 2022 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), which owns the Jeep and Chrysler brands, is recalling 99,186 vehicles with tail light side markers that do not illuminate, increasing the risk of a crash.

The following SUVs are included in this recall:

  • 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  • 2021 – 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

Recall summary

Tail light assemblies contain the brake lights, turn signals, reverse lights and marker lights. Side marker lights make the vehicle more visible and help other drivers judge its position, dimensions and direction.

The tail light assemblies in the subject vehicles may have been built with damaged side marker lights that do not illuminate as expected.

The components in question are the left and right side tail light lamp assemblies, with part numbers 68421132AD and 68421133AD.

Recall risks

A tail light side marker that does not illuminate can reduce the vehicle’s visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

Other recent Jeep and Chrysler recalls

In July, the U.S. government announced an investigation into Stellantis over stalling PHEV minivans. The investigation could lead to a Chrysler recall for the 2019-2021 Chrysler Pacifica  and 2019-2020 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid.

One of the most recent Jeep Grand Cherokee recalls was in June, when the 2014 – 2020 models were recalled over a fuel pump failure.

Earlier in June, more than 200,000 2018 – 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles were recalled over a problem with the brake system.

Repair

To address these Jeep tail light issues, dealers will inspect and, if needed, replace the tail lamp assemblies free of charge. Owners will be notified about the repair program on or around September 16, 2022.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Nearly 100,000 vehicles are included in this recall. To perform a Jeep recall check on your vehicle, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Senamile NkosiStellantis recalls Jeep SUVs with damaged tail lights
US government investigates Stellantis over unintentional braking

US government investigates Stellantis over unintentional braking

July 31, 2022 Bojan Popic

Auburn Hills, MI – July 31, 2022 – The U.S. government auto safety regulator is investigating a series of incidents with Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) vehicles whose parking brakes may activate while driving.  If that happens, the car would stall and stop on the road, increasing the risk of a crash and injury.

This investigation, if it leads to a parking brake recall, could affect an estimated 1.34 million 2014-2020 Jeep Cherokee SUVs. 

Investigation summary  

The regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), opened an investigation on July 22, 2022, following 80 complaints about unexpected and sudden handbrake activation in affected Jeep Cherokees.

These SUVs have an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB), which allows the driver to activate it by a push of a button instead of pulling a lever. Parking brake activation is performed by an electric motor, with an EPB module controlling its operation. Based on initial findings, water may find its way into the module and cause electrical shorts. This could lead to unintended parking brake activation while driving.

It appears that Jeep was aware of the problem as early as 2016 when it issued dealer communication advising dealers to check for “corrosion” if there was an issue with the parking brake not releasing. There was also a recall issued in 2015 which dealt with short circuits inside the liftgate module caused by water leaks. Although the “symptoms” are unrelated, both modules are located in a similar area within the SUV.  

Risks

A vehicle that unexpectedly activates its parking brake may be hit from behind by oncoming traffic. In addition, a sudden activation may confuse the driver and cause it to lose control of the vehicle. 

Potential warning signs

Drivers have reported that either the parking brake or ABS light or “most warning lights” would come on prior to the handbrake activation. However, in some cases there was no warning.

Other Jeep recalls 

Apart from this ongoing investigation, there were several other Jeep Cherokee recalls in the past. Among them, the one from May 2022, caused by a transmission leak, is the most recent. 

In addition, some Grand Cherokee and Durango models also suffered from parking brake issues, leading to a recall in June this year. 

Is your vehicle part of a recall?

This investigation into the Jeep electronic parking brake issue may eventually lead to a recall, possibly affecting over 1.3 million vehicles. In the meantime, you could do a Jeep recall check for your vehicle using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicUS government investigates Stellantis over unintentional braking
Stellantis recalls Jeep, Ram vehicles over fuel pump failure, crash risk

Stellantis recalls Jeep, Ram vehicles over fuel pump failure, crash risk

June 30, 2022 Joseph Estabillo ,

Auburn Hills, MI – June 30, 2022 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), which owns the Chrysler and Jeep brands, has issued a recall for 138,645 Jeep and RAM vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines due the risk of stall while driving. This increases the risk of a crash.

The recall covers the following models: 

  • 2014 – 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee 
  • 2014 – 2019 RAM 1500  

Recall summary

Apart from regulating how much fuel should be injected during combustion, the high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) is responsible for delivering fuel to the engine In the affected vehicles, a defect in the HPFP could cause the component to fail and stop working while the vehicle is being used.    

Recall risks

When the fuel pump fails, it can let debris and other contaminants into the fuel system, clogging it so that fuel does not reach the engine. If this happens, the engine may suddenly stall, affecting other functions such as the power steering and service brakes. This leads to an increased risk of a crash.    

For more on risks of this recall, please visit a previous article on a Mazda fuel pump recall over the same issue. 

Warning signs

Drivers may notice the malfunction indicator lamp or service electronic throttle control warning light flashing on the dashboard. Other signs include “excessive noise” from the fuel pump or even fuel leaking from the component. 

Other Jeep and RAM recalls 

There was a Jeep recall in October 2021, involving 56,180 vehicles because of a faulty rearview camera that prevented drivers from seeing beyond the vehicle’s rear, as reported.

The 2022 RAM trucks were recalled earlier this month also because of faulty rearview cameras, as reported.

Both the Jeep Grand Cherokee and RAM 1500 were part of an earlier recall in 2020 for a similar risk of stalling.    

The repair

Dealers will inspect and replace the high-pressure fuel pump on affected vehicles at no charge to owners. Stellantis will reimburse customers who paid for repairs out of pocket. 

Affected owners will be notified by mail by July 29, 2022

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 138,000 vehicles are included in this fuel pump failure recall. To see if your vehicle is affected, run a Jeep or Ram recall check using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.  

Joseph EstabilloStellantis recalls Jeep, Ram vehicles over fuel pump failure, crash risk
Stellantis recalls Durango, Grand Cherokee SUVs that may roll away

Stellantis recalls Durango, Grand Cherokee SUVs that may roll away

June 28, 2022 Bojan Popic ,

Auburn Hills, MI – June 28, 2022 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), which owns Jeep and Dodge brands, is recalling 270,904 vehicles with a fault in the brake control system. The malfunction can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash and injury.

The recall includes the following SUVs:

  • 2018 – 2019 Dodge Durango
  • 2018 – 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Recall summary  

When pressing the brake pedal, the driver pressurizes the hydraulic fluid, which activates the brakes. The operation of this system is controlled by Antilock Brake System (ABS) modules. This device uses system data to keep the vehicle from skidding by adjusting the brake pressure as needed to ensure optimum braking performance. 

On affected vehicles, the ABS module could receive inaccurate brake fluid pressure readings. In some cases, it may falsely appear as if the driver is pressing the brake. If that happens, it can be possible for the driver to start the engine or shift the transmission out of Park without pressing the brake pedal. 

Recall risks

Shifting out of Park can cause the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash, injury and property damage. 

Warning signs 

There will be no warning signs before the defect occurs. But once it does, there will be a range of brake/ABS-related warning lights on the dashboard. In addition, owners may notice that brake lights stay illuminated after turning off the vehicle. 

Other Stellantis recalls 

In April 2022, Stellantis recalled a batch of the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs due to a child seat issue. In addition, the 2020-2021 Dodge Durango model-years were affected by a March 2022 recall caused by faulty indicators.

The repair

Currently, the manufacturer is still working on a solution for this problem, which should be available by the time the owners visit authorized dealers. Once available, the repair will be free of charge. 

Notifications to the owners will be sent on July 29, 2022. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Jeep and Dodge rollaway recall affects more than 200,000 SUVs. To do a Jeep recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicStellantis recalls Durango, Grand Cherokee SUVs that may roll away
Stellantis recalls Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators for burnt-out clutch

Stellantis recalls Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators for burnt-out clutch

February 11, 2021 Rebecca Rand , ,

Auburn Hills, MI – February 18,  2022 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), has remedied 26,389 vehicles including the 2020 Jeep Wranglers with clutch pressure plate issues that might overheat in certain conditions. In addition to this, 849 of these models have been categorized as unreachable and 380 have been removed from the recall. All these 2018-2021 Jeep Wranglers that had these Clutch Pressure Plate issues were remedied during 2021.   

Auburn Hills, MI – February 11,  2021 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), which owns the Jeep brand, is recalling 42,887 Jeeps because a part of the clutch may overheat and fracture, creating the risk of a fire. The recall includes the following manual transmission vehicles:

  • 2018 Jeep Wranglers
  • 2019 Jeep Wranglers
  • 2020 Jeep Wranglers
  • 2021 Jeep Wranglers
  • 2020 Jeep Gladiators
  • 2021 Jeep Gladiators

Recall summary  

The recall concerns the clutch, specifically the clutch pressure plate, which temporarily stops the “transmission of engine power” to allow the driver to switch gears. Due to excessive friction because of a design error, the plate may overheat. The heat may fracture the pressure plate and the resulting hot debris could land on flammable parts of the car, causing a fire.

Prior recall

All vehicles that were part of a similar Jeep recall in 2020 are included in this latest recall. In this recall, Jeep blamed the problem on “air in the hydraulic system,” and the repair involved rerouting the vehicles’ wiring. Testing performed for this recall showed that with excess friction, the clutch could reach 2,012 degrees Fahrenheit, plenty hot to ignite other parts of the car. It is not clear whether this latest recall supersedes the first one.

Recent Jeep recalls

In December of 2021, 2,903 2021 Jeep Wranglers were recalled due to faulty odometers that may fail to display the distance traveled.

A Jeep recall in 2019 of 2011-2018 Wranglers concerned a weak seat belt mount which could fracture and separate from the seat, rendering the belt useless. 

‘The entire vehicle was burned to ashes’

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has received numerous complaints describing burning clutch smells, fractured clutch pressure plates and clutch-related fires in vehicles included in the 2020 and 2021 recalls.

Many drivers reported a “burning clutch smell.” This odor may be a sign that the clutch pressure plate is about to fail, according to Chrysler’s report to NHTSA.

Other complaints illustrate the worst-case scenario. “While my 16-year-old daughter and I were driving on the FL 528/Beachline Expressway, the entire clutch pressure plate assembly exploded off my vehicle,” said one Florida driver’s report. “Fluids drained and ignited. The entire vehicle was burned to ashes.”

Despite the dramatic nature of the accident, no injuries have been reported thus far in connection with the latest recall.

Safety concerns

Chrysler acknowledged that a fractured clutch pressure plate could also generate road debris, creating a hazard for other drivers on the road.

Vehicle fires increase drivers’ and passengers’ risk of injury or death. You can read more about what to do if you smell something burning while driving in this article about a 2020 Audi recall.

Repair

Chrysler will add software to affected Jeeps that will reduce the engine torque – essentially how hard the engine works – if the clutch starts getting too hot. Owners who have already paid to repair their clutch pressure plate may be eligible for reimbursement. Recall notification letters will be sent to owners on March 21.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 42,000 vehicles are included in this Chrysler recall. To see if your Jeep is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandStellantis recalls Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators for burnt-out clutch
Jeep Grand Cherokees recalled for engine cooler issue

Jeep Grand Cherokees recalled for engine cooler issue

December 14, 2020 Ken Boyd , ,

Auburn Hills, MI – December 14, 2020 – Fiat Chrysler (NYSE:FCAU) has recalled 28,884 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles with 3.0L EcoDiesel engines and an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler. The cooler may crack and release coolant that may cause an engine fire. The recall includes 2014-2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs.

Recall summary  

The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler is a car part designed to absorb heat to reduce emissions from an engine. Due to a supplier error, the recalled vehicles are prone to “thermal fatigue,” which may cause coolers in them to crack.

Vaporized coolant can then flow through the crack and into the EGR system while the engine is running. There it may interact with hydrocarbons and air in an area called the intake manifold, which forms part of the engine. This may lead to an engine fire.

This is not the first time Chrysler’s cars are having issues with EGR coolers. In 2019, Chrysler recalled a number of Ram 1500 trucks for the same EGR cooler issue. This past August a number of owners filed a class action lawsuit, alleging that the manufacturer “botched” the recall, not making enough parts available for replacement.

Risks 

Vehicle fires are not uncommon. It is estimated that 212,500 vehicle fires occurred in 2018, causing 560 deaths, 1,500 injuries and $1.9 billion in property damage. If the EGR cooler issues cause a fire, the driver will receive very little warning. If you suspect that there is a fire in your engine compartment, pull over, turn off the vehicle, move all occupants out and away from it and call 911.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will replace the EGR cooler. They will also inspect the intake manifold and replace that as well if necessary. The repair is free of charge. This Jeep Grand Cherokee recall is expected to begin on December 31, 2020.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 28,000 vehicles are included in this Jeep Cherokee recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Ken BoydJeep Grand Cherokees recalled for engine cooler issue
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