Chrysler Recall Issued For 870,000 Vehicles Due To Problem With Brakes

Chrysler announced on Wednesday that they are recalling 870,000 vehicles due to a defect in the braking system. This follows reports by customers who noticed excessive brake-pedal firmness.

The company said they intend to repair the recalled vehicles by installing a shield to protect brake boosters from corrosion which is caused by water exposure.

The vehicles being recalled by Chrysler are the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango SUVs, model years 2011-2014, which will be fitted with the new shield.

Just under 645,000 of the vehicles recalled by Chrysler are in the United States, with around 42,000 in Canada and 21,000 in Mexico.

While recognizing the need for the recall, Chrysler are claiming that it is more a precaution than a serious crash risk. On their website, where they announced the recall, they specify that they are aware of only one report of injury as a result of the defect.

Chrysler confirmed that they have launched an investigation during which they have discovered that some of the vehicles may exhibit corrosion on the small crimp joints in the brake boosters. They noted that brake function might be affected if water freezes and corrodes that area.

The post on the Chrysler website explains precisely what course of action the company intends to take to fix the defect on the recalled vehicles:

Chrysler Group will inspect the brake boosters on certain Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango SUVs, model years 2011-2014. The boosters may be replaced if their capability has been reduced. All boosters will be equipped with a shield to insulate their crimp joints from water. The cost of this work will be borne by Chrysler Group. Affected customers – an estimated 644,354 in the U.S.; 42,380 in Canada; 21,376 in Mexico and 159,685 outside the NAFTA region – will be contacted with instructions to schedule service with Chrysler Group dealers.

If you need to contact Chrysler to arrange for the repair to be carried out on your vehicle you can contact them toll-free on 1-800-853-1403.