Brake Light Problem Prompts Jeep Wrangler Recall
» Posted September 18, 2023 • Resources | Share This Post
More Jeep Wranglers are being recalled over safety concerns.
Fiat Chrysler is calling back a “handful” of off-road vehicles because of obstructed brake lights. The defect means the vehicles do not meet federal safety standards, the automaker acknowledged.
Some Wranglers “may be equipped with a spare tire carrier assembly built with an incorrect center high mount stop lamp ("CHMSL") bracket assembly,” Fiat Chrysler said in a defect notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “A CHMSL that is partially obstructed may not have adequate conspicuity to other drivers to indicate the intention to slow or stop, which can cause a crash without prior warning.”
The recall covers certain 2023 Jeep Wranglers, which were produced during a six-day span in February. Fiat Chrysler plans to alert owners of recalled vehicles by the end of September, the company said in the NHTSA filing.
The move comes months after FCA recalled some 36,000 Wranglers SUVs over fire risks in April. That was the second time that the automaker recalled the same Wrangler vehicles because of fire fears.
These kinds of issues are far too common for FCA and other major carmakers. They call back millions of vehicles every year, citing a wide range of defects and malfunctions that put everyone on the road at risk. The recalls are frequently announced long after defective cars have been sold to unsuspecting buyers.
More than 2.5 million vehicles are currently subject to open, urgent recalls, data compiled by CARFAX show. Nearly 250,000 of those vehicles are in California alone, the car research company found.
California Jeep Owners: Know Your Lemon Law Rights
Fortunately, Jeep and other owners in California do not have to wait around for a recall in order to get defective vehicles fixed. You have some valuable rights and protections under the California lemon law.
Formally known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, the lemon law forces car manufacturers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. The law also requires those companies to buy back vehicles that they cannot or will not fix. That includes covering the purchase price, financing fees and other related expenses.
The lemon law permits automakers to instead offer to replace the vehicle. It is up to the owner, however, to decide whether to accept or reject this alternative arrangement.
There is no set number of repair requests or attempts that must be made before the buyback or replacement obligation kicks in. An experienced California lemon law attorney can guide you through the process, build the strongest possible claim and keep you apprised of your rights and options every step of the way.
Talk with a California Lemon Law Attorney
If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, a California lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.
Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law attorney.
