Dodge and Chrysler News & Recalls

February 7, 2005
Chrysler is recalling about 26,000 Dodge Durango SUVs because of possible fuel leaks from the filler necks of their gas tanks.

Vehicles affected by the recall are from the 2005 model year.

"Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire," the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration said.

Late last year, Chrysler recalled about 600,000 Durango and Dodge Dakota pickup trucks from the 2000-2003 model years in December because their wheels could fall off.

Embattled carmaker Chrysler is cutting its losses, closing its auto assembly plants for at least 30 days, and hopes the U.S. government throws it a lifeline.

The company had already scheduled a two week furlough for assembly line employees. This move simply extends it for at least another two weeks. Of course, what happens after that is far from certain.

"If I were a Chrysler worker, I'd be worried that the plant won't reopen," said Brian Johnson, an industry analyst at Barclays Capital told the Washington Post.

As many as 46,000 Chrysler employees are affected by the move, which begins Friday. The affected plants will not resume production before January 19. If production resumes at all depends on what happens with negotiations between Congress and the White House.

Chrysler says it needs at least $7 billion to get through the month of December. After Congress deadlocked over a plan to rescue all three U.S. carmakers, the Bush Administration signaled its intention to step in with some sort of emergency loans, supporting the companies until President-elect Barack Obama and the new Congress take office.

Obama has said he is unwilling to let the Big 3 fail. Democrats, who generally support a Detroit bailout, will have additional votes in the new Congress.

Chrysler isn't the only automaker to idle workers at the end of the year. Ford says it will halt production in January for an extra week and General Motors reported last week that it will temporarily close 20 of its factories.

All the carmakers cite dramatically lower consumer demand as the reason for curtailing production. Sales of all vehicles, both foreign and domestic, have fallen dramatically since September, when the U.S. economy seemed to suddenly grind to a halt.

Chrysler Group is recalling 4,141 model year 2013-2014 Fiat 500e Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) manufactured September 24, 2012, through April 4, 2014.

The affected vehicles have cooling plates for the Power Inverter Module (PIM) that may leak coolant into areas of the high voltage circuitry, resulting a short circuit that could cause the related service fuse to blow.

If the service fuse blows, the vehicle would have a loss of propulsion while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PIM, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in June 2014.

Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P23.

Chrysler Group is expanding a regional field action with a recall to replace front passenger-side air bag inflators in an estimated 208,783 older-model vehicles originally purchased or ever registered in 7 states and 5 U.S. territories.

The vehicles are equipped with front passenger-side air bag inflators from a product family code-named "PSPI."

The company says it is not aware of any injuries or accidents involving PSPI inflators of the type covered by this campaign, nor has its investigation identified a defect in these components.

Further, it says, laboratory tests on nearly 600 such inflators did not result in any failures.

The inflators affected by this campaign differ in design and construction from PSPI inflators used by other auto makers.

Affected by this recall are the following vehicles, provided they were purchased, ever registered or still registered in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Saipan and the U.S. Virgin Islands:

• 2003-2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup
• 2003-2005 Dodge Ram 2500 Pickup
• 2003-2005 Dodge Ram 3500 Pickup
• 2004-2005 Dodge Durango
• 2005 Chrysler 300, 300C, SRT8
• 2005 Dodge Magnum
• 2005 Dodge Dakota Pickup

Affected customers will be notified beginning Feb. 8. Service will be performed free of charge.

This recall covers an estimated 69,668 vehicles also affected by the initial regional field action. The additional 5 states and 3 territories accounts for an incremental gain of approximately 139,115 vehicles.

The regional field action, which remains under way, affects 371,309 older-model vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

A third similar action also is continuing, with Chrysler replacing passenger-side air bag inflators from a product-family code-named "SPI," in an estimated 149,150 model-year 2003 pickup trucks registered, ever registered or originally purchased in 7 states and 5 U.S. territories.

The third action covers 39,409 vehicles also affected by the initial regional field action. Affected customers will be notified beginning Jan. 19.

Chrysler Group is recalling 667 model year 2014-2015 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured October 25, 2013, to August 22, 2014.

The vehicles may be equipped with tire placard labels which contain inaccurate seating capacity and occupant/cargo combined weight information. This could lead the operator to overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a correct tire placard label, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule.

Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P70.

Chrysler Group is recalling 498 model year 2013 RAM 1500 trucks manufactured June 25, 2012, through December 12, 2012.

The coolant bypass valve in the affected vehicles may stick in a position that does not allow coolant to flow into the heater core. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Vehicle Motor Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."

Without a properly working windshield defrosting system, a buildup of moisture or ice could limit the driver's ability to see, increasing the risk of a crash.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace replace the suspect coolant valves along with an updated calibration, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in June 2013.

Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N25.

Chrysler Group is recalling 4,194 model year 2013 Chrysler 300 AWD, Dodge Charger AWD, and Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 vehicles equipped with ZF all wheel drive ("AWD") 8HP45 transmissions.

In the affected vehicles, the transmission output shaft may fracture, resulting in a loss of power, which could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied before exiting the vehicle, the vehicle may roll away despite the transmission being placed in 'Park'.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the transmissions, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is to begin in January 2014.

Customers may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's recall number is N65.