Fiat Chrysler Recalls 1.33 Million Vehicles for Fire, Airbag Risks

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles recently announced two separate recalls that will cover 1.33 million vehicles. The first covers potential fire risks in certain Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep models, while the other involves faulty airbags that have been installed into many Dodge and Fiat vehicles.

The recall involving improperly installed airbags covers some 770,000 vehicles. The problem stems from a wiring issue that can cause the driver's side airbag to deploy unexpectedly.  The defect can affect other circuits which could, among other things, potentially cause the windshield wipers to come on – or become inoperable. FCA says that they have had five minor injuries reported as a result of this problem, but no crashes or fatalities.

About 538,000 Dodge Journey SUVs are covered by this recall. These vehicles were sold in North America from 2011 to 2015. In other markets, the automaker plans to recall 233,000 of the similar Fiat Freemont SUV that were sold during the same period.

 This issue is not related to the massive Takata airbag recall. 

The second recall is a bit smaller; covering 565,000 vehicles. This includes the Chrysler 300 and Jeep Grand Cherokee, as well as Dodge's Challenger, Charger, and Durango models. All of these vehicles were sold from the 2011 to 2014 model-years.

In this case, hot ambient temperatures can cause diodes in the alternator wear prematurely and possibly smoke or catch fire. This issue could also cause the vehicle's engine to stall or systems like the anti-lock brakes to fail.

 FCA plans to issue recall notices to affected owners and dealerships will make any necessary repairs at no charge.