Chrysler Group LLC recently issued a total of six recalls affecting 213,000 of its vehicles in the United States. An additional 50,000 vehicles sold outside of the U.S. are also affected by these recalls, taking the total up to 263,000.
According to an article in The New York Times, these recalls are unrelated to one another and are due to numerous types of defects affecting different models of cars.
In the largest recall, 119,497 Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger vehicles from model years 2011 and 2012 have improperly sized terminal crimps on the seat side-airbag wiring harnesses. These could cause the airbags to malfunction, illuminate the airbag warning sign improperly, and prevent the airbags from deploying properly in an accident.
Additionally, 20,532 model year 2012 Jeep Patriot and Compass SUVs have a defective fuel tank transfer tube. This can cause the engine to stall.
In a third recall, 61,409 Dodge Nitro 4×2 vehicles from 2007 and 2008 as well as 2008 Jeep Liberty 4×2 vehicles have been shown to have a defective transfer case heat shield. The shield could drop down and hit the drive shaft, possibly breaking it or resulting in the airbag computer believing a collision has occurred, leading to an airbag deployment.
Three smaller recalls were also issued. A total of 6,100 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups were recalled due to an increased risk of engine compartment fires. Additionally, 6,500 Ram 1500 pickups have a parking brake that may fail on surfaces pitched at 20 percent or greater. Finally, 46 Dodge Darts from 2013 have faulty rear brake calipers.
Through a consultation with the New Jersey auto product liability lawyers at Blume Forte, you can learn more about what may have precipitated your, and if due to a product defect, whether you may have a meritorious claim agains the vehicle’s manufacturer. Understanding your rights, what caused your losses and determining which entities may be responsible are all critical to the litigation process. Call us at 973-845-4421 to find out more about auto defects and your rights as a consumer.