575,000 Chrysler, Jeep And Dodge Products Recalled

Chrysler is recalling 575,000 Jeep SUVs and Chrysler and Dodge minivans due to a malfunction in both the brake lines and electrical wiring.

288,968 Jeep Wranglers from the 2001 through 2010 model years after a defect was noticed, where the front fender liners can come into contact with the brake lines, causing a fluid leak. The automaker said that no injuries have been reported relating to the leak, but according to NHTSA, “A brake fluid leak can cause partial loss of service brakes at the affected wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.”

Chrysler is also recalling Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans from the 2008 and 2009 model years due to a sliding door hinge that can damage certain wiring, leading to a short circuit and a possible fire.

Chrysler recalled nearly 35,000 vehicle last week due to stuck accelerator pedals made by CTS Corp, the same company that made the fault Toyota gas pedals. Like the Jeep and minivan recalls, nobody had been injured or killed in the recalls, with only a few complaints (in the single digits) being reported.

The recent spate of preemptive recalls is likely a move designed to stave off any future law suits or bad publicity. Regardless of their motives, it’s good to see companies taking a more active role in product safety, rather than the dismissive or negligent behavior of previous eras. It’s somewhat futile to speculate whether an American car company would be treated the same way as Toyota would in the case of a massive recall, but one would suspect that the optics of the situation (struggling American automaker versus global, Japan-based auto giant) would alter things.

[Source: Bloomberg News]