Directory
Print
Email
ReprintsChrysler recalls 6,692 Dodge Journeys
Andrew Grossman
Automotive News
June 16, 2008 - 3:18 pm ET
DETROIT -- A key Chrysler LLC vehicle in the North American crossover market is running into trouble just months after its launch. Chrysler today announced that it is recalling 6,692Dodge Journeys with 3.5-liter engines because the engine wiring harness could come into contact with the left transaxle mount and possibly start an engine fire. That's a relatively small number of vehicles for a recall, but the Journey is crucial to Chrysler's turnaround as buyers turn away from pickups and SUVs to buy more fuel-efficient cars and crossovers. "It's a very, very important product for them," said Tom Libby, an analyst at J.D. Power and Associates. The vehicle launch "is a major step in the right direction." Chrysler sold 17,569 Journeys through May. The Journey went on sale in February. Libby said he doubts the recall will hurt Journey sales because there are so many minor recalls that customers are almost immune to them. "I don't think recalls have as big an impact on consumers as some people think they do, or as much as they used to," he said. Chrysler's brands made a disappointing showing in the 2008 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study. Dodge had 141 defects per 100 vehicles. Chrysler had 142, and Jeep had 167. The industry average was 118 defects per 100 vehicles. |
RSS Feed
|
