Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango Recall: Risk of Sun Visor Fire

Chrysler Group is recalling nearly 900,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango sport utility vehicles, following dozens of reports that suggest the electrical components in the sun visor vanity mirrors may short circuit and catch fire.

The Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee sun visor recall was announced by Chrysler Group LLC, on July 1, due to a wiring problem that may allow a screw to penetrate a wire in the vanity light.

At least 41 complaints of problems have been received to date, including 38 reports of fires and at least three incidents where riders suffered burn injuries. One of the vehicle owners reported the sun visor caught fire, causing them to quickly exit the vehicle before the fire spread down the door panels and throughout the entire vehicle.

The recall includes vehicles from the 2011 through 2014 models years, which were manufactured by Chrysler from January 5, 2010 through December 11, 2013 at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit, Michigan. The automaker estimates 651,000 vehicles are still in the U.S., with 45,700 in Canada, 23,000 in Mexico, and another 175,000 outside of North America.

The vanity wiring problem was first discovered in March 2011, when an investigation was opened at the Jefferson plant following a customer complaint of sun visor thermal damage. Chrysler initially believed the wiring problem occurred during the manufacturing process but learned the damage was actually caused when workers at the assembly plant were repairing incorrectly installed headliners and had to remove the visor. Chrysler also discovered the problems when dealers made repairs to the visor or headliner.

Chrysler has agreed to recall all vehicles whether they have been services or not to guarantee the wires will not short circuit or come in contact with the fastening screws. Owners should contact their dealer to schedule a free repair service that will consist installing a spacer containing a guide that will keep the lines properly routed, preventing short circuits.

So far this year U.S. automakers have recalled just fewer than 40 million vehicles surpassing the previous record of 30.8 million in 2004. Larger contributors to these heightened numbers are automakers such as Toyota, Ford, Honda and General Motors alone accounting for 26 million for faulty ignition switches.

Photo courtesy of halidCan! (: via Flickr Creative Commons