Close to 700,000 Fiat Chrysler-built SUVs are being recalled for an electrical issue that could cause the engine to stall.
Fiat Chrysler recently issued a press release to advise owners of 698,000 Dodge Durangos and Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs that they may have a slight issue that could cause their engines to stall without warning. The issue was brought to FCA’s attention by their dealer network which prompted an internal investigation that found the cause of the problem.
“Silicon deposits on the contact points of certain fuel pump relays may interrupt electrical current and prevent engine start-up and/or contribute to stall," wrote FCA in their release. Obviously, a stall at high speeds could cause loss of control and increase the likelihood of a crash. And since a lot of places are switching to sand instead of salt to ensure roads remain driveable this winter, silicon can become a real hazard for those contact points.
No accidents or injuries have been reported. Affected vehicles are 2011 to 2013 Dodge Durangos and Jeep Grand Cherokees. FCA says 528,594 of those SUVs are located in the USA, while another 34,764 are in Canada and another 18,152 are in Mexico.
FCA mentioned that the issue may have arisen from a part installed during a previous recall on these SUVs, which makes this recall doubly costly.
FCA dealers will take in owners to install a new fuel pump free of charge. Notifications will be sent out to owners shortly.
In other FCA recall news, Dodge Chargers and Challengers are also being recalled for having the wrong-sized wheels installed. An investigation at the company's Brampton, Ontario assembly plant revealed that a few muscle cars left the factory wearing the wrong-sized rubber.
About 111 Chargers and Challengers were sent out with the wrong wheel and brake packages installed. They were all built over a 4-month period from May to September, and all are Scat Pack models. Most still hadn't been sold as they're still waiting on dealer lots.