Jeep Wrangler Recall: Chrysler Pulls 87,000 Wranglers Because Of Fire Risk

A Jeep Wrangler 'Dragon' Design car is on display at the Beijing International Auto Exhibition in Beijing, China, Monday, April 23, 2012.

DETROIT — Chrysler is recalling nearly 87,000 Jeep Wranglers in the U.S., Canada and elsewhere due to a risk of fires.

The recall affects only Wranglers from the 2010 model year that have automatic transmissions and were built before July 14, 2010, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in documents posted Saturday on its website.

Debris can get caught between a plate that protects the transmission and the catalytic converter, causing a fire. A catalytic converter is part of the exhaust system and uses heat and precious metals to control pollution.

Chrysler knows of at least 14 complaints of fires caused by the problem with 2010 Wranglers. The company says it doesn't know of any injuries. It said debris can get trapped when the SUVs are driven off-road or through tall brush.

Chrysler, which makes the classic Wrangler and other Jeeps, will fix the problem free of charge by replacing the plate with a bar so debris doesn't get caught.

The recall affects about 68,000 Wranglers in the U.S., 6,000 in Canada, 1,500 in Mexico and about 11,000 in other countries, Chrysler spokesman Eric Mayne said. Chrysler will contact all the owners by mail. Recall work is expected to begin this month.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also checked Wranglers from the 2007 through 2012 model years and determined that only the 2010 models had the debris problem. Mayne said the 2010 Wranglers had a transmission plate and catalytic converter that were configured differently than the Wranglers from the other model years.

NHTSA said in documents that it had received 14 complaints of Wrangler fires from the other model years, but Mayne said there was no pattern or common cause in those fires.

Comments

[Travis Excalibur Smith]

08:27 PM on 05/21/2012

Wait, the fire isn't fuel related?
Oh yeah, a Jeep Wrangler burns up fuel faster than a fire would.

[Jody A Clevinger]

06:28 PM on 05/21/2012

we own a 2000 wrangler 64000 miles its been awsome no problems with it at all and we off road with it too and had a 2008 wrangler 4 door it was great also. jeeps rock lol

[frank adam]

02:34 PM on 05/21/2012

Made in America. Use to be American Motors and were junk then, too. No big dea, throw it away and finance a new one. It's a real American that can help create more debt and help save the country.

[69superbike]

12:42 PM on 05/21/2012

So is this the Jeep thing I wouldn't understand? It's time to retire this pathetic concept.

[Willie Qwit]

10:35 AM on 05/21/2012

I still have my '95 Jeep Cherokee but I'll never buy another Jeep. Problems from day one, mostly electrical. I'm sure they've gotten better with time (or at least I certainly hope so) but nope, never again, not for me.

[ussuri]

10:05 AM on 05/21/2012

jeep- ancient design/technology.

[Hillbilly49]

10:56 AM on 05/20/2012

Jeeps becoming just like Toyota !

[ussuri]

10:01 AM on 05/21/2012

stupid post.
toyota is words best selling car.
jeep never was nor will be.

[Hillbilly49]

10:09 AM on 05/21/2012

I own a Tundra Limited Edition Super Crew and my next truck will be a Ford. Toyota makes a acceptable truck for getting groceries but Ford 150 gets the job done. Toyotas are ugly, require constant service and have poor gas millage considering one needs to squeeze into their "cruddy" little cars. Buy American and stop sending your money to Tokyo.

[Kiz boy]

10:04 AM on 05/20/2012

I believe that's a feature. What's tougher: A wrangler or a wrangler ON FIRE!

[loki]

01:09 AM on 05/20/2012

Ive had an older Willys, and then a Ford Jeep. Both were fantastic for what they were. Military vehicles. But then Jeep went commercial, and AMC built them for years with moderate luck in making it reliable. Once Chrysler took over it went upscale and the rough off road image went with it. They turned into what most I know called " Pavement Pounders" not really good for off roading. Same thing happened with the Hummer. Which I still have an old H1 military unit. The minute they went commercial, they ruined it. Not the Hummer is nothing more than a box on a GM Tahoe or pickup frame. They are not real hummers, and should not be considered to be real ones or expected to take the abuse of a real one. They wont. They are "look at me, Im a pavement pounder wussy". like the jeeps had become.

[loki]

01:01 AM on 05/20/2012

Or could it be just " I cant make the payments" fire's that are oh so common among those who want things they had no reason buying?

[Educated Black Man]

10:22 PM on 05/19/2012

Can I sue the U.S. Govt when my Jeep catches on fire?

[gulamon]

10:25 PM on 05/19/2012

Sorry, Chrysler is now an Italian company.

[PAsteelers]

09:04 PM on 05/19/2012

Not a problem, they will fix it for free. My advice is to stop driving thru brush...just saying

I own a nice, new comfortable Jeep Compass and I love it!

[Justin Yazzie]

08:34 PM on 05/19/2012

My Jeep Liberty caught fire shortly after I got it last year due to a "electrical problem." It cost me over 800 to get repaired which was a pain in the butt because right after, the left/back passenger window went out due to an "mechanical malfunction,' as well. AND IT WAS NEW!! Chrysler sucks.

[way2old]

09:11 PM on 05/19/2012

Lets see.........you bought a new vehicle that caught fire and then paid $800 to get it fixed.....

[loki]

01:03 AM on 05/20/2012

I was wondering about that myself.. new, but he had to pay for the repairs? sounds really fishy to me.

[Elyriaohio]

07:45 AM on 05/20/2012

Could be the dealership ripped him off. I had to call Detroit to get my Chrysler warranty work done without getting ripped-off back in the 80s.

[PuSencer]

09:23 PM on 05/19/2012

oh man, i wouldn't buy a jeep except one that's only for offroading. they're pretty unreliable

[uninterestedbystander]

08:09 PM on 05/19/2012

Anyone who has a Jeep with an automatic deserves to have it catch on fire.

And yes, I've been a Jeep owner.

[wonderYrednow]

11:50 PM on 05/19/2012

and you admit to that. . . .

[nerdkill]

07:45 PM on 05/19/2012

this reminds me to watch fight club again.

[uninterestedbystander]

08:13 PM on 05/19/2012

I LOL'd

F&F