Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Recalling 900,000 More Cars for Bad Brakes, Airbags

Aaron Cole
by Aaron Cole

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles announced Friday that it would recall nearly 900,000 cars worldwide — including more than 550,000 cars in the U.S. — for defective airbag and brake systems.

The company said some 2003 Jeep Liberty and 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee models were fitted with faulty airbags that could deploy. The automaker acknowledged that seven injuries had been caused by the airbags, which were not made by Takata. In all, 284,089 cars are affected by that recall.

Additionally, the company said more than 275,000 Dodge Journey models from 2012-2015 may have defective anti-lock brake systems that could fail due to excess moisture.

In its third-quarter filing, FCA reported a $331 million loss, in part, because of a $667 million charge the company took for future recall costs, according to Automotive News. The company said it changed its accounting methods to account for future recall costs and repairs. The automaker announced that it anticipated more, costlier recalls in the future in the “automotive regulatory environment.”

The automaker said sales in the U.S. were up 6.9 percent on higher demand for SUVs and pickups.

This month, FCA announced that former Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater would oversee that company’s recall compliance as part of a record agreement with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

According to the automaker, no injuries have been reported on Dodge Journeys with defective brake systems.

Aaron Cole
Aaron Cole

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  • Geekcarlover Geekcarlover on Oct 30, 2015

    Maybe they're just making in the news more often, but the number of recalls for all manufacturers seems to have jumped drastically in the last decade. Is this because; 1) Lower standards for what triggers a recall? Was something before a problem some owners would just have to live with, that now gets fixed across the board by the manufacturer? 2) Common systems? Parts once unique to one make or model are now used company wide. Amplifying any problems with those parts. 3) The internet? In the 80s or 90s, if a car was recalled, and you didn't own one, you probably didn't know about it. Now the information is plastered all over the place.

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    • 28-Cars-Later 28-Cars-Later on Nov 03, 2015

      @Lorenzo That's where crappy product pays off.

  • Golden2husky Golden2husky on Oct 30, 2015

    All these recalls and none for GM W bodies for rotting brake lines. Ever hit the pedal and find the floor? Scary as hell.

    • FuzzyPlushroom FuzzyPlushroom on Nov 01, 2015

      Actually, twice, both with '90s GM cars - a beat-to-crap Ciera wagon (a '96, I think) and my '96 NG900. Both were lifelong Massachusetts cars, though.

  • Caruso81 Caruso81 on Oct 31, 2015

    And then they recalled the rest for just being terrible cars.

  • Truckducken Truckducken on Nov 01, 2015

    The airbag recall is interesting. No car manufacturer makes its own airbags, so if FCA has found an issue, will other recalls pop up at other brands?

    • Highdesertcat Highdesertcat on Nov 01, 2015

      "will other recalls pop up at other brands?" We already saw this with Takata being the supplier for a number of brands.

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