Toledo-built Jeep Wranglers are being recalled because of a problem that could keep air bags from deploying.
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Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has announced two significant recalls, one affecting older Jeep Wrangler SUVs and another focused on newer Fiat 500 compacts.
In an event that the clockspring does fail, the airbag warning lamp will light up.
About 500,000 of the recalled vehicles are model year 2007-2010 Jeep Wrangler SUVs, including 7,435 right-hand-drive SUVs sold for duties such as delivering mail.
Fiat Chrysler says it’s not aware of any related injuries.
Excessive exposure to dust and dirt, which is not uncommon with Wranglers, could cause premature wear of the clockspring, compromising its functionality, and in a worse-case scenario, prevent the driver side airbag from deploying.
Owners will be notified when can they schedule their vehicles to get the necessary fix, which involves installing a new steering wheel back cover and a steering column shroud. FCA said 0.01 percent of the recalled population had damage.
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The automaker says no reports of accidents or injuries have been received. Chrysler says the cars are equipped with manual transmissions, but cars with turbocharged engines aren’t included in the recall. Of the cars recalled, 39,217 are in the United States; 7,834 in Canada; 7,155 in Mexico; and 26,268 outside North America. In addition to the number of units affected in the US, another 35,412 vehicles in Canada, 8,529 in Mexico, and 62,580 outside of the NAFTA region are also potentially affected.
