Chrysler recalls 2011 Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler models for safety system risks

The folks from the Chrysler Group and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have announced of a wide variety of 2011 model year vehicles from the Chrysler Group, affecting 12 vehicles across the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands.

This Chrysler recall, which affects a total of 11,351 vehicles all from the 2011 model year, includes the Chrysler 200, Chrysler 200 convertible, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Avenger, Dodge Caliber, Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Journey, Dodge Nitro, Jeep Compass, Jeep Liberty, Jeep Patriot, and the Jeep Wrangler.

In these recalled 2011 Chrysler Group vehicles, there is a rivet in the steering column pivot assembly that may have been installed incorrectly or not installed at all. In the event that one of these vehicles with a missing/incorrectly installed rivet should be in a front end collision, the frontal impact safety system may not function properly – greatly increasing the chances of injury.

Based on the NHTSA bulletin, this Chrysler recall issue doesn’t seem to lead to drivability issues so the problem isn’t likely to cause steering failures. However, anything that causes the frontal impact safety system to function incorrectly poses a serious risk to driver and passenger safety.

This Chrysler recall (no. L23) is expected to start later this month when owners of the affected 11,351 vehicles will be asked to return to their local dealership for repairs. The recall procedures for these newly announced Chrysler issues are simple, as the dealership technician will inspect the steering column to see if the rivet in question is in place properly. If the rivet is there and is installed correctly, it will be a quick in-and-out trip to the dealership. If the rivet is not installed or it is installed incorrectly, the technician will inspect the condition of the steering column assembly and make any repairs as needed. The length of the actual repairs will depend on just how much work they have to do, provided that you own one of those vehicles missing the rivet.

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