Jeep Calls Back Grand Cherokee SUVs Over Suspension Problems
» Posted August 21, 2023 • Resources | Share This Post
Major automaker Stellantis is recalling hundreds of thousands of Jeep Grand Cherokee sport utility vehicles over a suspension problem that the company says increases the risk of crashes.
The company has called back some 330,000 SUVs because of faulty rear coil springs, Car and Driver reports. The springs could detach from the vehicles while they are on the road, potentially causing crashes.
“An incorrectly installed rear coil spring may detach from the vehicle while driving,” Stellantis said in a defect notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Rear coil springs that detach from the vehicle while driving may result in a hazard to operators and occupants of other vehicles which can cause such vehicles to crash without prior warning and/or may result in injury to vulnerable road users.”
The recall covers certain 2022-2023 Grand Cherokee and 2021–2023 Grand Cherokee L SUVs. The automaker said it was aware of at least 17 warranty claims and two field reports related to the defect. The company estimates that only about 13 percent of the vehicles recalled actually have wrongly assembled rear coil springs.
Stellantis said it would alert owners of the recalled vehicles by the end of July. Owners will be asked to bring their SUVs to local dealers for inspection and rear coil spring assembly repair.
In May, Stellantis expanded an unrelated recall of Jeep Cherokee SUVs, which the manufacturer told NHTSA are at risk of rolling away or suddenly losing power. The company blamed a malfunctioning drivetrain part for the safety hazard.
Car Defects Are a Recipe for Disaster
Stellantis is not alone. Major auto manufacturers call back millions of vehicles around the world every year, citing serious defects that pose real threats.
These recalls often come long after cars have been sold to unsuspecting buyers. In fact, a high percentage of used vehicles are offered for sale despite being subject to an open recall.
Fortunately, many car owners and lessors in California do not have to wait for a recall to get a defective vehicle fixed. You have some important rights under the state’s lemon law.
The California lemon law requires GM and other car manufacturers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. The law also forces manufacturers to buy back (or replace, in some situations) cars that they cannot or will not fix.
There is no specific number of repair requests or attempts that must happen before the buyback requirement kicks in. That is one of several reasons why it is important to consult a seasoned lemon law attorney who has experience assisting people in these types of cases.
Talk with a California Lemon Law Attorney
If you are a car owner or lessor stuck with a lemon or locked in a dispute with a manufacturer over repairs, the lemon law attorneys at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help.
Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a lawyer today.
