Major Fiat Chrysler Recall

[JEBar]

"Fiat Chrysler faces record fine over recalls, must offer to buy back 500,000 Ram pickup trucks

DETROIT – Fiat Chrysler must offer to buy back from customers more than 500,000 Ram pickup trucks and other vehicles in the biggest such action in U.S. history as part of a costly deal with safety regulators to settle legal problems in about two dozen recalls.

The Italian-American automaker also faces a record civil fine of up to $105 million. In addition, owners of more than a million older Jeeps with vulnerable rear-mounted gas tanks will be able to trade them in or be paid by Chrysler to have the vehicles repaired.

Models included in the buyback offer are certain Ram 1500s from 2009 to 2012; the Ram 1500 Mega Cab 4 by 4 from 2008; and the Ram 2500 4 by 4, 3500 4 by 4, 4500 4 by 4, and 5500 4 by 4, all from 2008 through 2012. Also part of the offer are 2009 Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango SUVs and the Dodge Dakota pickup from 2009 through 2011."

selected info above taken from this link where a great deal more info is available

 

[Smitty901]

They must have really upset some powerful people. Heck GM killed a bunch of people and did not get spanked that hard.

 

[Coss]

".... older Jeeps with vulnerable rear-mounted gas tanks will be able to trade them in or be paid by Chrysler to have the vehicles repaired...."

The trade in is a couple of thousand over current list on a NEW Jeep. Wow, what a deal, trade in your old Jeep and get credit towards a new Jeep that just happens to cost a few thousand more than yours did when it was new. So what happens if you don't want another Jeep? Too bad, so sad' sorry that deal isn't going to happen. it's a new Jeep or nothing.
Now the repair is; they will install a trailer hitch; the class 3 hitch is enough to protect the tank in the event of a rear collision.
So what happens with the Jeeps they take in, in trade? The dealer will put a hitch on them, and will sell them as used Jeeps.
Whoa, what a deal ....... NOT!

The jeeps include the Dodge Jeeps like my Nitro (the Nitro and the Liberty are the same) that's why I perked my ears up when I first heard about this.

I don't know what they're doing for the RAM pickups, they have saddle tanks; it may be just the option of the buy back, and with the number of RAM's on the road, that could run into the Billions. (Different article covering this same story)

 

[JEBar]

unless I misread the quote provided ".... older Jeeps with vulnerable rear-mounted gas tanks will be able to trade them in or be paid by Chrysler to have the vehicles repaired...." .... it looks like the owners will have a choice of trading them in or for Chrysler paying to fix the problem

 

[Coss]

unless I misread the quote provided ".... older Jeeps with vulnerable rear-mounted gas tanks will be able to trade them in or be paid by Chrysler to have the vehicles repaired...." .... it looks like the owners will have a choice of trading them in or for Chrysler paying to fix the problem

Right; the devil is in the details; the "repair" is installing the hitch, the trade in is for a new Jeep only and they give you a marked up trade in value.

 

[NSTG8R]

I need to run the wife's VIN. Not sure how far this goes back, but hers is a '07 Grand Cherokee. She did get something in the mail the other day, but I think it had something to do with the fact that the vehicle can easily shut itself off going down the road. Happened three times while I was driving on the highway. Luckily it was on a straight stretch because the traffic was heavy. Totally freaked me out! Finally realized that when you turn on the cruise and move your leg to a more confortable position, your knee bumps the key and kills the Jeep. No more problems once I figured it out.

 

[Jeff Porter]

I need to run the wife's VIN. Not sure how far this goes back, but hers is a '07 Grand Cherokee. She did get something in the mail the other day, but I think it had something to do with the fact that the vehicle can easily shut itself off going down the road. Happened three times while I was driving on the highway. Luckily it was on a straight stretch because the traffic was heavy. Totally freaked me out! Finally realized that when you turn on the cruise and move your leg to a more confortable position, your knee bumps the key and kills the Jeep. No more problems once I figured it out.

Dang, that is scary! I would've freaked too.

 

[NSTG8R]

Dang, that is scary! I would've freaked too.

It got me curious, and yep, that's exactly what's happening.

Recall Number: 14V438000
Recall Date: 07/21/2014
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Problem Summary: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, drivers should adjust their seat to allow clearance between the driver's knee and the ignition key, and remove all items from their key ring, leaving only the vehicle key. Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, to July 5, 2007, and 2006-2007 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, to July 5, 2007. In the affected vehicles, the driver may accidentally hit the ignition key with their knee, unintentionally knocking the key out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Consequence: If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including but not limited to air bags, power steering, and power braking. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
What Owners Should Do: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Chrysler sent interim notifications to owners in September 2014. A second notification is expected in September 2015 when parts become available. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P41.

 

[Ty]

It got me curious, and yep, that's exactly what's happening.

Recall Number: 14V438000
Recall Date: 07/21/2014
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Problem Summary: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, drivers should adjust their seat to allow clearance between the driver's knee and the ignition key, and remove all items from their key ring, leaving only the vehicle key. Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, to July 5, 2007, and 2006-2007 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, to July 5, 2007. In the affected vehicles, the driver may accidentally hit the ignition key with their knee, unintentionally knocking the key out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Consequence: If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including but not limited to air bags, power steering, and power braking. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
What Owners Should Do: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Chrysler sent interim notifications to owners in September 2014. A second notification is expected in September 2015 when parts become available. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P41.

So basically, if you are in a wreck, don't let your knee move and accidentally kill the airbags... That is a tough one. Sure, you can position yourself so your knee doesn't hit but what happens during an accident? At least there is a mechanism to perform recalls.

 

[Jeff Porter]

It got me curious, and yep, that's exactly what's happening.

Recall Number: 14V438000
Recall Date: 07/21/2014
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Problem Summary: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, drivers should adjust their seat to allow clearance between the driver's knee and the ignition key, and remove all items from their key ring, leaving only the vehicle key. Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, to July 5, 2007, and 2006-2007 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, to July 5, 2007. In the affected vehicles, the driver may accidentally hit the ignition key with their knee, unintentionally knocking the key out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Consequence: If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including but not limited to air bags, power steering, and power braking. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
What Owners Should Do: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Chrysler sent interim notifications to owners in September 2014. A second notification is expected in September 2015 when parts become available. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P41.

This problem is across makes, as GM had several models with this problem too. I guess it was a bit different, as GM claimed that the weight of extra keys on the keyring might click the ignition down and off. Interesting.