2010 Wrangler fire recall differs from earlier probe
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DETROIT -- Chrysler Group says a recall to prevent fires in certain 2010 Jeep Wranglers is unrelated to fire investigations of older Wranglers.
Chrysler issued the recall last week for 67,872 Jeep Wranglers from the 2010 model year. Chrysler said it planned to replace a skid plate near the catalytic converter that could potentially collect debris and catch fire. The company will install a skid bar that will allow debris to fall.
Chrysler recalled only some 2010 Wranglers because midway through the model year the company started using the skid bar on the vehicles to save weight, a Chrysler spokesman said.
The recall covers only 2010 Wranglers, though the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration previously investigated fires in older vehicles.
In August 2009, NHTSA launched an investigation into the vehicles after reports of at least three Wranglers catching fire.
Chrysler issued a global Wrangler recall for 2007-08 models in February 2010 to address a potential for transmission fluid to overheat and expel onto hot surfaces, posing a fire hazard. The automaker said the fires were "linked to extreme and/or abusive driving conditions under rigorous off-road conditions."
In April 2011, China temporarily suspended Wrangler imports to investigate consumer allegations that Wranglers had caught fire.
Chinese media reports quoted government officials there as saying they had traced the issue back to the Wrangler's "four-speed transmission and related systems."
Chrysler abandoned the four-speed automatic transmission in the Wrangler for the 2012 model year, replacing it with the same five-speed automatic transmission that had powered the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
You can reach Larry P. Vellequette at lvellequette@crain.com.
