NHTSA Opens Investigation Into More Than 335,000 Chrysler Vehicles
Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Ram probed for fire risk, rear differential failure.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into more than 335,000 Chrysler vehicles to determine if there is a risk of fire or a risk of rear differential failure.No recall has been issued at this time. NHTSA is investigating a number of complaints to determine which next steps, if any, need to be taken.
According to documents filed with NHTSA, 106,803 Jeep Grand Cherokees from model year 2012 are being investigated for potential fire risk. Since May, the agency has received two reports of vehicle fires and another complaint of a Grand Cherokee losing power steering. The power-steering issue may, in fact, be the cause of the fires: One of the Jeep owners who reported a fire also reported seeing power-steering fluid in the driveway before the blaze. NHTSA has said one potential cause is power-steering fluid leaking onto hot surfaces in the engine compartment.
In addition, NHTSA has received 12 complaints of rear differential failure in the model year 2009-2010 Dodge Ram, leading to an investigation of more than 230,000 of the vehicles. According to documents filed with NHTSA, a loosening of the rear-differential pinion nut may be to blame, with the loose nut causing the driveshaft to lock up. One report, according to Autoblog, "claims that the driveshaft detached and punctured the fuel tank."
[Source: NHTSA; Autoblog.]
Too Complicated,
Gone, unfortunately, are the days when a new car came in two models, the standard and the deluxe. With the deluxe the buyer probably got a V-8 over the inline 6, a radio, a heater, white wall tires with full hubcaps and maybe A/C, power steering or power brakes if available.
Now, the average car has five or six engine / transmission configurations, seven exterior trim levels, twelve interior packages and fabrics, and four dozen electronic options. Cars have become way too complicated, and as a result, way too expensive. It is no wonder that the new cars have so many recalls ... there are just far too many things that can go wrong. Half of the time people don't even use the options that they have paid through the nose for. Perhaps the automakers ought to try scaling back some of this stuff and offer a more basic and far more affordable vehicle without five hundred options that few people really need. Just sayin' ....
Peace
If you have something about cars ( something sensible - at least with a bit of intelligence) feel free to share with the rest of us. If you want to discuss politics and whine about your miserable life go somewhere else. You clowns will blame OBAMA this year and if ROMNEY is elected you'll be here to blame him next year. You spent the last 5 years blaming BUSH for your miserable life. Talk about cars or shut up. WHINERS, WHINERS, WHINERS
when one buys a car, it is often the luck of the draw, as to getting a good or bad one. i have owned VW, MG, Nissan, Chevy, Pontiac, Plymouth, and Jeep. The best was a Jeep Grand Cherokee, the worst the Nissan, followed closely by the VW. Modern cars will last, depending on how they are cared for.
At that point, I swore I would never buy a Chrysler product. Next time they drive themselves to the brink, let them fail. Enough of the corporate welfare, especially for crap companies like Chrysler.
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