The defect
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2002 and 2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured January 9, 2001, through March 28, 2003, and 2002 through 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 13, 2001, through May 23, 2003. A component in the air bag control module may fail causing the front airbags, side curtain airbags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.
The risk
Inadvertent deployment of the airbags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
The remedy
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a supplemental jumper harness to the airbag control module, free of charge. Owners were notified of the recall by interim letter in January 2013. The remedy for affected Liberty vehicles is expected to be available in April 2013. The remedy for affected Grand Cherokee vehicles is expected to be available later in the year. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 2002, 2003, 2004 |
| Jeep Liberty | 2002, 2003 |
Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE | AIR BAGS
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 2002 | 1,476 | 10 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 2003 | 762 | 4 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 2004 | 1,295 | 8 |
| Jeep Liberty | 2002 | 1,808 | 8 |
| Jeep Liberty | 2003 | 1,352 | 7 |
Other air bags recalls in 2012
22 of the 583 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2012 concerned the air bags; CHRYSLER GROUP LLC filed 37 campaigns in all.
| 12V540000 15 Nov 2012 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC |
| 12V528000 8 Nov 2012 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing |
| 12V522000 31 Oct 2012 | General Motors LLC |
| 12V492000 9 Oct 2012 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. |
| 12V488000 5 Oct 2012 | Ford Motor Company |
| 12V439000 10 Sept 2012 | Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC |
| 12V432000 5 Sept 2012 | HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) |
| 12V409000 20 Aug 2012 | Coda Automotive |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2012