Chrysler announces three recalls affecting around 800,000 vehicles in the United States

Reports of components failing in various models of their vehicles have caused manufacturer Chrysler to announce three recalls recently that affect around 800,000 vehicles in the United States.

Around 442,000 vehicles in the United States are covered under the recall, according to CNN. Makes and models affected include Chrysler Sebrings, Chrysler 200s and Dodge Avenger cars from model years 2011 to 2013, Dodge Nitro SUVs from 2011 and 2012, and Jeep Liberty SUVs from years 2011 to 2013.

In a statement, Chrysler attributed the faulty microcontrollers as having entered the supply chain after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan caused a worldwide shortage of the equipment.

The defective microcontrollers can prevent active head restraints in the vehicles, which are supposed to move forward automatically in the event of certain rear-impact crashes to prevent neck injuries, from effectively working, raising the possibility of injury in the event of a crash. No injuries have been reported.

More recall headaches for the manufacturer
Two additional recalls were announced recently by the manufacturer, according to Reuters. 282,000 model year minivans across the globe, mostly in North America, are set to be recalled, including 224,250 in the United States.

Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Town and Country and Ram Cargo Van vehicles from the 2013 model year are affected by the recall, because side air bag software was not programmed correctly, which could cause injury. Three crashes and one minor injury have been reported.

Additionally, 69,000 2013 Ram 1500 all-wheel drive pickups around the world, including 46,000 in the United States, have been recalled because their electronic stability controls could experience software glitches. Dealers have reported electronic stability control lamps were illuminated, which imply their systems were disabled.

Testing components properly and thoroughly before release can catch issues like these, leading to lower maintenance costs and increasing products’ lifespans.