Jeep Grand Cherokee, Liberty SUVs Recalled To Fix Air Bags

DETROIT (WWJ) - Chrysler is recalling more than 744,500 older model Jeep SUV's in the U.S. because the air bags can inflate while people are driving them.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said the recall affects Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles from model years 2002 through 2004; and Jeep Liberty vehicles from model years 2002 and 2003.

Chrysler said a component in the air bag control module may fail, causing the front airbags, side curtain airbags, or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.

The NHTSA said an investigation found that the air bags went off 215 times causing 81 minor injuries. No crashes were reported.

Chrysler, which will begin notifying owners and dealers of the problem in January, will fix the problem by installing a supplemental jumper harness to the airbag control module, free of charge.

About 919,000 total vehicles world-wide are included in the recall.

For more information, owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753.