Chrysler Recalling 24,000 Vehicles Due to Risk of Brake Failure

January 17, 2010The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced today that Chrysler Group LLC is recalling 24,177 vehicles due to risk of brake failure.

Chrysler vehicles included in this recall are an estimated 1,362 model year 2010 Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger; 1,879 2010 Jeep Commander and Jeep Grand Cherokee; 4,064 2010 Dodge Nitro and Jeep Liberty; and 16,872 model year 2009-2010 Dodge Ram Truck. These vehicles may have been built with an improperly formed or missing brake booster input rod-retaining clip, which could result in brake failure without warning and may cause a crash.

An operator at the company’s Toledo North Assembly Plant (TNAP) first noticed a problem with the clip on November 16, 2009, prompting a company inspection that found the clip retention tab on the brake pedal pin was improperly formed during the clip manufacturing process.

To remedy the vehicle defect, Chrysler will replace the brake booster input rod-retaining clip free of charge. Owners of the recalled vehicles Chrysler may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducts defect investigations and administers safety recalls. NHTSA is authorized to order manufacturers to recall and repair vehicles or items of motor vehicle equipment when investigations indicate that they contain serious safety defects in their design, construction or performance. Manufacturers voluntarily initiate many of these recalls, while others are either influenced by NHTSA investigations or ordered by NHTSA via the courts.

Examples of defects considered safety-related by the NHTSA

· Steering components that break suddenly causing partial or complete loss of vehicle control.

· Problems with fuel system components, particularly in their susceptibility to crash damage, that result in leakage of fuel and possibly cause vehicle fires.

· Accelerator controls that may break or stick.

· Wheels that crack or break, resulting in loss of vehicle control.

· Engine cooling fan blades that break unexpectedly causing injury to persons working on a vehicle.

· Windshield wiper assemblies that fail to operate properly.

· Seats and/or seat backs that fail unexpectedly during normal use.

· Critical vehicle components that break, fall apart, or separate from the vehicle, causing potential loss of vehicle control or injury to persons inside or outside the vehicle.

· Wiring system problems that result in a fire or loss of lighting.

· Car ramps or jacks that may collapse and cause injury to someone working on a vehicle.

· Air bags that deploy under conditions for which they are not intended to deploy.

· Child safety seats that contain defective safety belts, buckles, or components that create a risk of injury, not only in a vehicle crash but also in non-operational safety of a motor vehicle.

If you or a loved one has been injured or a loved one killed in an auto accident as the result of a safety-related defect listed above, contact Napoli Bern Ripka LLP immediately. We will discuss the situation with you and come up with a plan of action to help you get compensation for your injuries, property damage or a loved one’s wrongful death. Visit www.napolibern.com or call 1-888-529-4669 to discuss your case and find out the best course of action to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.