Jeep recalls Grand Cherokee to fix recall

A sun visor vanity lamp that could short out and burst into flames has brought the Australian recall count for past and present Jeep Grand Cherokee models to 19 since the start of 2013.

Rubbing salt into the wound, this latest recall has been initiated as a result of repairs under a previous recall not functioning properly.

The latest Grand Cherokee recall affects 11,345 examples of WK-generation vehicles sold in Australia between 2011 and 2013, and was issued on February 12.

According to statement issued by FCA in the USA, an estimated 895,000 current-generation Grand Cherokees and Dodge Durnagos are being recalled worldwide to reroute the wiring for the vanity mirrors.

There has already been one attempt to fix the issue, including a July 2014 recall in Australia.

But this latest recall has been initiated because the remedy may also cause a short circuit.

"The wiring for the vanity lamp in the sun visor may short circuit, after having been remedied for a prior recall for vanity lamp wiring," the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated last month.

FCA has admitted to being aware of three injuries as a result of the problem, all in serviced vehicles.

Grand Cherokees from the affected period are being recalled in Australia whether they were ‘remedied’ under the previous recall or not.

The February 12 recall notice on the Product Safety Recalls Australia website reads: “Sun visors on some vehicles may experience a high resistance short at the sun visor vanity lamp. This may occur after a service repair to the sun visor or while gaining access to the headliner.

“This may result in an inoperative vanity lamp and/or an electrical fire.”

Jeep Grand Cherokee distributor Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Australia has committed to notifying affected owners by letter. They can then take their vehicles to a Jeep dealership where they will be repaired.

The current WK Grand Cherokee was launched in Australia in early 2011 and enjoyed stellar sales thanks to some sharp pricing allowed by importer-friendly exchange rates.

But sales have dumped as prices have risen, supply has tightened and potential buyers have become aware of the vehicle’s ongoing reliability issues.

FCA Australia boss Pat Dougherty conceded the latter point in our report last July.

The current Grand Cherokee has had a further two recalls since that story, making it one of Australia's most recalled models ever, and sales ended 2015 almost 28 per cent down year on year.