Fiat Chrysler Recalls 700,000 Vehicles for Defective Ignition Switches

Fiat Chrysler has issued a recall for more than 700,000 SUVs and minivans due to an ignition switch defect. There is significant risk of injury and death because, like the previous General Motor recalls, the faulty ignition switch could cause the engine to turn off unexpectedly while also disabling the airbags, power brakes, and power steering.

The recall includes Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans from 2008 to 2010 and Dodge Journey SUVs from 2009-1010. Some of the vehicles were recalled in 2011, but the fixes did not completely solve the problem. Owners of the vehicles will be notified by Chrysler and a dealer will fix the issue for free. In the meantime, drivers should remove key fobs and all items from their key rings, so that the key is the only item bearing weight on the ignition switch. According to Fiat Chrysler, certain road conditions or jarring events (think potholes) could lead to the ignition switch being moved to the accessory or off position, turning off the engine and disabling critical safety features.

Source: Tech Times | Photo by MSVG