Chrysler expands Jeep Liberty recall

The Associated Press is reporting that Chrysler has added more than 137,000 Jeep Liberty SUVs to a March safety recall, bringing the total number of vehicles affected to nearly 347,000.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said lower-control arms in the rear suspension can rust and break, possibly causing the vehicles to crash. However, the company says it knows of no crashes or injuries from the problem. The recall involves vehicles in states where salt is used to clear ice and snow from the roads, including those sold or registered in: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

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Chrysler said Monday that it will inspect the parts and replace them free if needed.

In March, the company said it was recalling about 200,000 Libertys from the 2004 and 2005 model years for the problem. Now it has added the 2006 and 2007 model years.

Vehicles covered by the recall were built from July 3, 2003, through June 29, 2007.

The company told NHTSA that as of February it had received no complaints about Liberty control arms from the 2006 or 2007 model years. But since April it has received eight reports of the problem, all from salt-belt states.

The company plans to notify owners of affected vehicles by the end of June. Customers with questions can call Chrysler at 800-853-1403.

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source: USA Today (AP, 6/11)