Jeep Cherokee Recall - Information & Updates

Fiat Chrysler Australia (FCA) has issued a recall for its 2015 KL Jeep Cherokee due to a fire risk.

The recall issued by Jeep parent company Chrysler is due to a defect in the airbag control modules that could cause the front or side curtain airbags to deploy inadvertently.The vehicles carrying the defective module are the Jeep Liberty (sold here as the Cherokee) and Grand Cherokee SUVs built from 2002 to 2004. The 919,545 Jeeps recalled include 744,822 in the United States; 49,430 in Canada; 21,828 in Mexico, and 103,465 around the rest of the world.More than 11,000 of those two models were sold in Australia during the period covered by the recall, but Chrysler Australia has not yet confirmed the exact number affected here.The recall was sparked by the results of an investigation started late last year after reports of airbags deploying inadvertently in the US, with the 215 cases probed including 81 that resulted in injuries."A design change to a supplied component was linked to a small number of inadvertent air bag deployments, and in keeping with the best interests of our customers, we initiated a recall campaign," David Dillon, Chrysler's global head of product investigations and campaigns, said in a statement. The defect will be fixed with the installation of a supplementary jumper harness to the airbag control module, Chrysler said. 

Faulty airbags which could deploy at any time have compelled Chrysler to recall of at least 7000 Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee off-roaders in Australia.The potential computer malfunction can force “the front airbags, side curtain airbags, and/or seatbelt pre-tensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated,'' the recall notice said. While the faulty airbags could potentially cause an accident, no injuries have been reported in more than 200 cases worldwide where airbags inadvertently released – including one in Australia.The safety warning involves around 7000 Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee vehicles sold in Australia between 2002 and 2004. Chrysler Group Australia is writing to affected owners but conceded said limited availability of parts in Australia will delay repairs until March for the Cherokee and August for the Grand Cherokee."Obviously we'll expedite the supply of parts as much as we can,” said spokeswoman Lenore Fletcher. The Australian recall notice is part of a global recall of over 900,000 of the two SUVs.Ms Fletcher said the company was tracking down owners of the vehicles. "They're still trying to verify the exact number of vehicles involved here, we're working through the information now but it is around 7000 vehicles,'' she said."I believe there has been one incident where the airbag has gone off by itself in Australia but there were no repercussions from that,'' she said. Reports from the US suggest that there have been 215 cases of the fault but no accidents have been reported as a result of an airbag going off prematurely.Customers with any queries are asked to contact a Jeep dealer or call the Jeep Customer Service centre on 1300 133 079. 

Thousands of vehicles are caught up in a long round of recalls that involves everything from Takata airbags to incorrectly-printed tyre placards.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has published its latest round of safety recalls, with models from Ford, Mazda, BMW, Kia, Audi, Jeep, Alfa Romeo and Lamborghini affected.