NEWS:   Chrysler recalls 11,351 vehicles to fix steering

YAHOO NEWS -- June 17,  2011 – Chrysler Group LLC is recalling 11,351 cars, minivans and other models because a manufacturing problem can cause the steering to fail.

Chrysler told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it doesn't know of any crashes or injuries caused by the problem. The recall affects 11 of the 20 models Chrysler has on sale for the 2011 model year.

NHTSA said on its website Thursday that a missing or incorrectly installed rivet could cause a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recalled vehicles include the Chrysler 200 midsize sedan and convertible and Town and Country minivan; the Dodge Avenger midsize sedan, Caliber compact car, Caravan minivan, Journey crossover vehicle and Nitro SUV; and the Jeep Compass wagon and Patriot, Liberty and Wrangler SUVs.

The vehicles were built from mid-April to the middle of May.

Dealers will check to make sure the rivet was installed correctly and make repairs free of charge. The company plans to begin notifying dealers and owners in July, according to the documents.

Chrysler began investigating after it discovered that a steering column rivet was missing in some of the vehicles. The company inspected 14,000 steering columns and found seven with missing or misaligned rivets.

The problem was traced to the improper identification of rejected components by new employees on one shift at a factory near Toledo, Ohio, according to documents filed with NHTSA.

There are no known customer complaints about the problem, the documents said.

MORE RECALL INFO:   

• Chrysler 200
• Chrysler Town and Country
• Dodge Avenger
• Dodge Caliber
• Dodge Caravan
• Dodge Journey
• Dodge Nitro
• Jeep Compass
• Jeep Patriot
• Jeep Liberty
• Jeep Wrangler

JUNE 2010 -- Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2007 Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass passenger vehicles manufactured from March 7 through May 19, 2006. The pivot bushings in vehicles with oversizedaccelerator pedal bearing pockets may become dislodged and potentially cause the accelerator pedal tobind or stick. Should the pedal bind or become stuck, it can be overcome by smart brakes which override the accelerator pedal in certain conditions. Chrysler will notify owners and dealers will inspect andreplace all affected accelerator pedal assemblies free of charge. The safety recall began on June 29, 2010.   Chrysler's recall campaign number is K11. 10V-234

MAY  2010 -- Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2010 Dodge Caliber vehicles. Some vehicles may have been built with an incorrect door lock rod in the right front door. An unlatched door could increase the risk of an unbelted front seat passenger being ejected from the vehicle. Dealers will inspect and replace the front right door lock rod as required free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during June 2010.   10V-197

NEWS:   Chrysler recalls Dodge Caliber over sticky pedals

YAHOO NEWS -- June 5, 2010 – Chrysler is recalling nearly 35,000 Dodge Calibers in the United States and around the world to fix a potential problem with sticky gas pedals, the same issue that has affected millions of Toyotas.

Chrysler Group LLC said it will recall about 25,000 Calibers in the U.S. from the 2007 model year and a limited number of 2007 Jeep Compass SUVs to inspect vehicles built between March and May of 2006. The remaining vehicles are in Mexico, Canada and elsewhere.

The pedals were made by CTS Corp., the Elkhart, Ind., company that manufactured pedals involved in the recall of more than 2 million Toyotas earlier this year. Chrysler told NHTSA the pedals were "a completely different design" and made "with different tooling" than the pedals involved in Toyota's recall.

NHTSA opened an investigation into the Chrysler pedals in April. The auto company noted that the small SUVs have "smart brake" technology allowing the brake to override the gas pedal and safely bring the vehicle to a stop. Chrysler said it did not consider the problem a safety defect but decided to conduct a safety recall anyway.

The automaker said it was unaware of any reports of accidents, injuries or property damage related to the pedals. In documents filed with NHTSA, Chrysler estimated that 30 percent of the vehicles covered by the recall may need to have the pedal assembly replaced.

Chrysler dealers will inspect the recalled vehicles and replace affected pedals with a new pedal unit at no charge to customers.

MORE RECALL INFO:   Dodge Caliber     Jeep Compass  

SEPTEMBER 2008 -- Chrysler is recalling 712 MY 2009 Sebring, Dodge Caliber, Avenger, Journey, Jeep Patriot, and Compass vehicles. A new adhesive used in the power train control module (PCM) manufacturing process can cause the printed circuit board to break. This can cause the engine to stall and cause a crash without warning. Dealers will replace the PCM free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during November 2008.

NEWS:   Chrysler Recalls 62,400 Vehicles For Faulty ABS, Traction Control

December 26, 2006
Chrysler is recalling 62,400 2007 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles because the braking system may fail to work.

The recall includes 62,369 model-year 2007 Chrysler Sebring, Chrysler 300, Jeep Commander, Jeep Compass, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Liberty, Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Nitro, Dodge Magnum, Dodge Charger and Dodge Caliber vehicles to re-program the system Electronic Control Unit.

In recalled vehicles, instrument panel warning lamps may illuminate and be followed by loss of the anti-lock brake system, traction control and speedometer functions.

While the problem could result in a loss of control, no accidents or injuries have been reported.

Owners will be notified in February 2007. Consumers who experience the faulty warning lamp illumination should take their vehicle to a certified dealer for inspection.