Recall wrap: Jeep Cherokee may lose power

More than 2600 examples of the KL-series Jeep Cherokee are subject to a safety recall relating to its four-wheel drive system that could cause an unexpected loss of power while driving or a failure of the parking brake when stationary.

Impacting Jeep Cherokee variants built across the 2014-2017 model years – sold between June 1, 2013 and June 1, 2018 – the possible defect identified under the recall targets the differential gear splines inside the two-speed power transfer unit (PTU), which could fail.

The two-speed PTU is an important component of the more sophisticated ‘Active Drive II’ four-wheel drive system available on the higher-grade versions of the KL Jeep Cherokee.

According to the recall notice issued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), wear on the PTU splines could lead to a loss of power while the vehicle is moving, as well as the loss of the park function when engaged, meaning the vehicle might roll away.

The ACCC says this “increases the risk of an accident and serious injury or death to the vehicle occupants and other road users”.

A full list of affected vehicles’ VIN numbers is listed here.

The Australian action follows recalls undertaken in the United States earlier this year after at least one crash relating to the problem was reported.

As described by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), degradation of the splines might eventually cause a loss of engagement between the transmission and the differential inside the PTU. If this occurs, torque cannot be transferred between the front wheels and the transmission, resulting in the power loss/park function.

Later models were fitted with more robust differential input splines.

Jeep’s local parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Australia said it will contact owners and ask them to visit a Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership for repair, free of charge.

Meantime, Audi Australia’s latest recall impacts almost 2800 slightly older MY2011-2013 examples of the Audi A1 compact hatch, the A3 small car and the TT sports car, all fitted with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that could potentially fail and interrupt engine power.

The problem affects these three DSG-equipped Audi models built between February 7, 2011 and September 9, 2012. It relates to a production fault that could lead to a crack in the transmission’s pressure accumulator.

The recall notice makes it clear that if the pressure accumulator cracks, oil and pressure will be lost in the hydraulic system of the gearbox, and that as a result “the transmission of engine power via the gearbox is interrupted”.

“The experience of this symptom would be comparable to depressing the clutch in a vehicle fitted with a manual transmission,” the notice said.

“This could increase the risk of an accident and injury to vehicle occupants or other road users. In the event of a serious accident, this may result in death.”

Audi Australia is contacting all known owners of affected vehicles, the VIN numbers of which are listed here. The specific models are the 8X-series Audi A1, 8P Audi A3 and 8J TT, with the gearbox codenamed DQ2000.

Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific is recalling MY2019 Mercedes-Benz CLA vehicles – 571 in total, built between April 3, 2019 to September 1, 2020 – after it was found that the software in the communication module for the emergency call system (eCall) may be incorrectly programmed.

The eCall system fitted to the vehicle is designed to automatically call Mercedes-Benz’s emergency response centre in the event of an accident that is severe enough to deploy the airbags or seatbelt pretensioners.

The system is designed to pass on the vehicle’s GPS position, number of occupants and information about the vehicle conditions, and Mercedes says that “in serious cases” the data will then be sent to a public emergency centre so a rescue operation can be initiated promptly.

Under the CLA recall, incorrectly programmed software would mean that “in the event of an emergency it would not be possible for the vehicle occupants to connect with emergency services, either manually or automatically”.

“As a consequence, emergency vehicles may not be directed to the affected vehicle or may be delayed,” the recall notice said. “This could increase the risk of death if a serious injury has occurred.”

Mercedes-Benz said all affected owners will be contacted by letter about an upcoming software update that will be provided ‘over the air’ (OTA), without the need for a visit to a dealership.

Consumers will automatically receive a software update unless they have objected to receiving an update. If an objection is provided, the consumer will need to visit a dealership for a manual update instead.

You can check if your vehicle is affected by accessing the VIN list here.