Massive Chrysler Recall

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Toyota must have recalled what seems to be all its cars on the road (well, some 8m to 9m worldwide to be halfway exact.) Now it’s Chrysler’s turn. Last week’s announcement for pedals with sticktion was just the warm-up. The serious recalls are coming now.

Chrysler is recalling some 575,000 Jeeps and Dodge and Chrysler minivans, says Bloomberg.

288,968 Jeep Wranglers (MY 2001 through 2010) must go to the shop to repair a defect caused when liners inside the fenders touch right-front and left-rear brake lines, leading to wear that may cause fluid to leak and raising the risk of a crash. “A brake fluid leak can cause partial loss of service brakes at the affected wheel, increasing the risk of a crash,” NHTSA says on the website.

Chrysler also issued a return to base for 284,831 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans from the 2008 and 2009 model years. A sliding-door hinge can wear through wire insulation, causing a short circuit and possible fire, says the NHTSA.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • N Number N Number on Jun 07, 2010

    I've seen some reports saying that the recall only affects 2007-10 Wranglers. I'd be more inclined to believe this as they have entirely different fenders than previous models.

  • Geo. Levecque Geo. Levecque on Jun 07, 2010

    Chrysler vehicles were not recommended by Consumers Reports as well as here in Canada the Lemon-Aid books, all in all they may be cheap but they are not built correctly period. FIAT will probably sell off the Jeep and Mini Van line when they breakup Chrysler piece meal, I pity anyone buying these products!

  • Windswords Windswords on Jun 08, 2010

    "Massive Chrysler Recall" Really? It's 2 recalls, not one. Hell, the affected vehicles are not even the same models, nor is the problem the same one across different models (a la Toyota). You might want to rethink your headline. When I was editor of my schools newspaper I would not have allowed that to go to print. 575,000 vehicles made over a 10 year (Wrangler) and 2 year (minivan) period by a manufacturer that has historically sold 2 MILLION vehicles a year is not massive. If this is a "massive" recall, what was Toyota's? Supercalifragilisticexpiallowdocius!?!?

  • AJ AJ on Jun 08, 2010

    Screw the brakes, as my Jeep doesn't exactly stop well anyway. :) My only safety complaint about my Wrangler is a common problem with the '05 and '06 years, that when filling the gas tank, the pump doesn't immediately shut off and gas spills out. Some guys have had the tanks replaced, and even themselves paid $400 to do so for the problem to only return. From what I've heard, it could be a design problem with the tank. Currently many of us owners have filed complaints with both Chrysler and the NHTSA.

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