Jeep Sun Visor Fires Reported Even After Recall Repairs: NHTSA

Federal investigators are looking into issues with vanity mirror repairs offered following a 2014 Chrysler recall involving certain Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles, after at least eight sun visor fires have been reported among repaired vehicles. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced it has opened a recall query (PDF) to investigate a Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango sun visor recall issued on July 1, 2014, which impacted more than 661,000 vehicles from the 2011 through 2014 model years.

If the NHTSA determines the previous Jeep sun visor repairs do not fix the defect, it may order another recall to avoid the risk of fires and injuries.

The recall was initially initiated due to a wiring problem in the vanity mirror and headliner. During a January 2014 NHTSA investigation, the Office of Defects Investigation found that it was possible for an electrical short in the sun visor’s unprotected wiring to occur if it was pierced by one of the three metal screws fastening the visor to the roof.

At that time, at least 39 reports involving overheating and wire shorting had been received. Although, Chrysler still denied that a motor vehicle safety issue was present, the auto maker reluctantly agreed to conduct a recall at the agency’s request.

Chrysler’s repairs consisted of a plastic guide way installed on each sun visor that routes the wiring away from the metal screws, preventing the wires from being shorted. The repair required the headliners to be lowered and the existing sun visor and headliner wiring rerouted through the guide way for installment.

Almost a year after Chrysler first announced the recall, the NHTSA has received at least eight more consumer complaints from owners with repaired vehicles who experienced the vehicles smoking or catching fire, all of which reportedly emanated from the visor and headliner area.

One Jeep Grand Cherokee owners reported that her car all the sudden filled with heavy smoke and she couldn’t breathe. Other reports indicate the fires originating from the visor spread quickly to the headliner, front seats and door panels, including one report that the vehicle became so hot the sunroof shattered.

Owners of repaired vehicles have expressed their frustration in the NHTSA reports stating that they do not feel safe even though they did their part in having the vehicle repaired pursuant to the recall notice. No crasshes or injuries have been linked to the fire reports.