Chrysler Recalls 747,000 Jeep And Dodge Vehicles For Electrical, Alternator Issues

(Consumerist Dot Com)

By some standards the Chrysler Group’s recall of nearly 764,000 vehicles in the last three weeks is just a drop in the bucket. That changed today when the group issued two notices calling back an additional 747,000 vehicles for electrical and alternator issues.

According to a notice [PDF] from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the first recall concerns 434,581 model year 2011 to 2014 Chrysler 300, Charger, Challenger, Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles with an alternator issue.

Chrysler reports that the alternator in the vehicles may suddenly fail, which could lead to an engine stall.

Depending on the failure mode and timing, the system voltage may drop to critical levels disabling systems such as antilock brakes and electronic stability control, documents [PDF] provided to NHTSA state.

Officials with Chrysler tell NHTSA that as of August 25, the company is aware of one accident that may be related to the issue.

Although a remedy has not been announced, Chrysler will begin notifying owners of affected vehicles in November.

Chrysler’s second recall of the day concerns 313,236 model year 2011 to 2013 Jeep Wrangler SUVs that may have an electrical short.

According to the NHTSA notice [PDF], corrosion in the exterior heated power mirror electrical connector may result in an electrical short that increases the risk of a fire.

Officials with Chrysler say the issue may be the result of water dripping on the door trim panel, traveling along the mirror wiring harness and into the electoral connector.

So far, Chrysler says there have been no accidents or injuries related to the issue.

Owners of affected vehicles will be notified of the issue in December and dealers have been instructed to move the mirror power feed to a separate connector away from the path of water.

In the past three weeks, Chrysler has recalled 764,000 vehicles, including many Durango and Jeep models, for fuel pump delays, inadvertent ignition switch movement and airbag deployment issues.

by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist