We had intended to report news of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Liberty recall outcome yesterday, but due to unforeseen circumstances we could not. However, we thought our readers would like to know that Chrysler and the NHTSA have come up with a compromise, although it still works in your favor.

It’s finally nice to know that there will be Jeep Cherokee and Liberty recalls, as the issue has been an ongoing one for years, although only came to a head about two weeks ago when they were advised by the NHTSA to issue a recall, for which Chrysler had refused. While the automaker is refusing to call yesterday’s decision a recall, it sure looks like one to us.

The reason why Chrysler has not called this a recall is because it would mean they have admitted defeat, so instead they see this as a voluntary campaign. It’s certainly a strange position for Chrysler to be in, because owners of the Jeep Grand Cherokee built between 1993-2004 and the Jeep Liberty produced between 2002-2007 will see this as a recall, and as such will be contacting their local dealers.

However, we would advise you to do a Jeep vehicle recall check to see if your model is affected by clicking here. The reason we say this is because we are not certain when the so-called recall will start, but we do know they will be inundated with requests.

Proposed Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty resolution – As part of the compromise, Chrysler is to inspect those models believed to be affected and if needed, will make the necessary upgrades to the rear structure, which consist of a new trailer hitch, which will help to protect the fuel-tank if rear-ended. This means those vehicles with a factory or Mopar hitch will not be included in the recall. If this is the case, then there is no need for you to check your vehicle on the link above.

Thanks to Chrysler.

Tomorrow, June 18, 2013 is a big day for owners of certain Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty vehicles, because they will learn if they will finally get the recall their SUV deserves. 12 days ago the NHSTA had advised Chrysler that they should issue a recall for 2.7 million Jeep vehicles, but at that time they refused the request.

The reason why we expect a Jeep Grand Cherokee, Liberty recall update tomorrow, is because Chrysler has up until June 18 to respond to the request from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and if Chrysler does not take any action against them, then the NHTSA should be able to force the recall.

However, we do expect Chrysler to take the matter further, as they previously said they did not agree with the NHTSA findings, and that more tests needed to be carried out. This is a huge deal for the car maker, because they would need to recall 2.7 million Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Liberty vehicles, but should they be putting a price on this, especially when there has been 51 people killed, which could have been caused because of the ongoing issue.

The NHTSA has said that they do not take these recalls lightly, and while they have not advised owners of these affected vehicles to stop driving their vehicles, they do so at their own risk. We wonder how many have parked their affected Jeeps up?

We are sitting on the fence on this one, as it would be far easy to put the blame on either one, because while the NHTSA has drivers own interest at heart, it’s worth noting that in some of the cases where people had died, the rear of these vehicles had been completely smashed in, and so there is always a risk of fire in that respect.

Some of you were hoping that the 2014 Jeep Cherokee would be delayed, because they would be spared the pain of looking at the new model for a few weeks less. However, it now looks as though things are back on track, and as such the Chrysler has seen fit to release the 2014 Jeep Cherokee pricing and trim levels.

Four 2014 Jeep Cherokee trim levels – There will be the Sport, Latitude, Limited and Trailhawk. The 2014 Jeep Cherokee Sport will come with a sleek design, which is what you would expect from a sport model, automatic transmission and should be able to achieve 31 mpg. The 2014 Jeep Cherokee Latitude and will come with some impressive features as standard, but fuel-efficiency will be slightly less because of a more powerful engine.

The 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited will come with the same features as the models above, but will also add leather heated power seats and steering wheel, as well as keyless entry. The 2014 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk will also come with all the same features as those other three models, but will be designed for those of you who would rather go off-road rather than do the school run.

2014 Jeep Cherokee pricing – There are two Sport models, the 4×2 will start at $22,995 and the 4×4 version will cost from $24,995. The Jeep Cherokee Latitude 4×2 will start at $24,495 and $26,495 for the 4×4 model. Jeep Cherokee Limited 4×2 price is to start at $27,995 and $29,995 for the 4WD option. Finally we have the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk, which only comes with the 4×4 option and will come at a price from $29,495. As always there is a huge choice of optional equipment, which will affect the price of these new models.

We have to wonder how the 2014 Jeep Cherokee will do on the market, as a huge percentage of consumers believe that the front-end is ugly and dilutes the Cherokee name; maybe they will have to issue an emergency refresh just as Honda had to do with the Civic?

Thanks to Jeep.

When there is a suspected problem with a vehicle, the NHTSA has to respond to complaints they receive from owners. This process can often take months, or even longer, and if there is found to be a problem the NHTSA then approaches the car manufacturer and allows them to issue a the voluntary recall, which is just what they did with Chrysler.

However, it looks as though Chrysler is refusing to play ball, as Chrysler challenges NHTSA. This means that there is no Jeep recall announcement for June 2013, although there should be. This has been an ongoing issue for years, which includes the 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee, as well as the 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had sent Chrysler a letter advising them that they had to issue a recall for 2.7 million of these affected vehicles because of an issue with the rear gas tanks, making them vulnerable if they were rear-ended.

However, Chrysler disagrees with the outcome of the tests by NHTSA, even though there have been 32 rear-end accidents involving fires, which resulted in the loss of 44 lives. There was also 7 deaths involving Jeep Liberty’s, so as you see this is not a recall to be taken lightly, so is Chrysler right to refuse?

As we said above, Chrysler believes that NHTSA’s analysis is incorrect because they never used all the data that was made available, but USA Today reports that both parties will now exchange more information in order to reach an understanding.

While the likes of Chrysler has got away with going against the NHTSA in the past, we are in a different age now, and the recent issue with Toyota dragging their heals to recall their models led to them being taken to court and receiving a heavy fine, which is a prospect waiting for Chrysler if the NHTSA still decides to force the issue flowing further tests.

Over the years off-road vehicles have changed, as more drivers like the thought of being able to go on the muddy stuff or uneven surfaces, although most of the time they still spend it on the tarmac. Because of this some of the big players in the business have had to adapt to this and gone more down the luxury route, all except Chrysler and their Jeep brand.

What we love about these vehicles is that they have improved over the years in terms of styling and technology beneath the skin, but still have that same rawness that made them so great all those years ago.

The most recent offerings are the 2013 Jeep Wrangler Sahara and the Rubicon, and while these have done rather well, what of the next-generation models? As of yesterday we did not know for definite how long it would be before we knew when to expect the all-new model, but thanks to a recent 2013 job ad, the next-gen 2016 Jeep Wrangler has now been uncovered.

On the Chrysler Careers website there is a job listing for someone to help develop their next off-road 4×4 vehicle. We have to wonder how close to the final production version of the 2016 Jeep Wrangler will be to that of the Wrangler Stitch Concept, which you can see for yourself below.

2016 Jeep Wrangler expectations – While the all-new model is a long way off, we do have a few ideas as to what to expect. The next-generation Jeep Wrangler would need to lose a little more weight, although could make use of some tougher materials, such as advanced high-strength steels and some of the body parts being made from lightweight aluminum.

You may also get a better ride if rumors of air suspension used on some of Chrysler’s SUVs are true. The reason for this is so that it offers a higher ground clearance while off road, and then the ability to lower the suspension when on the gray stuff to allow for improved aerodynamics.

There’s also the possibility of a Jeep Wrangler diesel model, we just wonder if these changes will keep the loyalists happy?

The 2013 Dodge Dart has been on the market for a year now, and in that time sales have been a little lackluster. However, all that could be about to charge, if a certain Hollywood movie has anything to do with it. There are several Dodge models appearing in the new Fast and Furious 6 movie, and this should manifest as some positive marketing for Chrysler.

April has been a pretty good month in terms of 2013 Dodge Dart sales, but maybe this was because the countless trailers for The Fast and Furious 6 movie, and if this was the case, then the movie would have already had a positive effect on Dodge sales, and things should only get better. However, it’s not known if this is the case, and if it is, will it be short lived?

Autonews says that while this free marketing will no doubt help 2013 Dodge Dart sales; they are under no illusion that the car had several issues. One issue was because there was only a choice of manual transmission, and we all know how drivers like a choice of either manual or automatic transmission; thankfully this issue was resolved.

How to have a positive effect without being in the movie? Okay, so those who have already watched the fast paced action packed movie will know that the 2013 Dodge Dart does not actually appear in the movie, but its siblings the Dodge Charger SRT8 and Challenger SRT8 do. However, Dodge has been very clever and has not missed out on the opportunity to create several incentives of their Dodge lineup in the movie. Even simply raising awareness of the Dodge Dart in The Fast and Furious 6 will be a great benefit, as we know that the car is a perfect model for young lads who are first time drivers.

What would have been seen as positive marketing would have been to see the Dart SRT and GT appear in the movie, even though the performance versions are not on the market yet – now that would have been forward thinking.

Love it or hate it, the new 2014 Jeep Cherokee is coming, although those waiting for a reprieve before they have to stare into the eye of the beast will be pleased to know there is a production delay. It seems as though the all-new model is facing a few teething issues, and as such is running around a month behind schedule.

The controversial SUV was meant to be released in Q3, 2013, but we expect there will be a slight postponement in the 2014 Jeep Cherokee release date. Chrysler, senior VP, Mark Chernoby has assured dealers there will be enough inventory by the fall, which means that it will be slightly delayed.

Sales were expected to start in September, but as the fall starts on September 22, we expect there will be a minor delay. We say this because of the particular issue Chrysler is having.

It seems there is an issue with the new ZF nine-speed automatic transmission, and how they are refining the assembly process. If they are to calibrate this new system correctly, then they cannot take the risk in rushing things; otherwise they run the risk of a possible 2014 Jeep Cherokee recall sometime down the line.

Do you foresee there being a delay of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee? What are your thoughts on the all-new design?

Thanks to Detroit Free Press.

The 2013 car recalls just keep coming, and today we have to report that both Chrysler and VW have announced recalls. The former only involves 34 models, whereas the latter is for 91,000 units.

First up we have the 2013 Ram 1500 recall for Canada only. The reason for this is because in some cases the coolant will not flow how it should, due to a sticky bypass valve, which goes to the heater core. There is a fear that this could stop heat getting to your windshield while driving in frosty conditions, which could reduce your visibility and could in some cases cause you to crash.

You will need to take your 2013 Ram 1500 to your nearest dealer and have them inspect it for you, and if there is a problem with the coolant bypass valve they will replace it for you. They will also update the software by reprogramming the powertrain control module.

Next up we have the Volkswagen recall, which involves 91,000 models in Japan, although there is a fear this could extend to other countries. The reason we say this is because China had to recall 384,181 vehicles for similar issues. The reason for the VW recall is because of potential gearbox problems caused by hot and cold weather conditions.

Another cause for the gearbox issue is due to the extreme stop-and-go traffic along with high pollution in Asian countries, so maybe this recall will be isolated to these regions? Having said that, all the blame cannot be put on the conditions, as a recent report says that there has been a long-standing issue with the direct shift gearbox (DSG) transmission in Volkswagen vehicles.

It’s not a great month for Chrysler, as they have now had to add a new model to their ever-growing recall list this year, this time round the recalls concern the 2003-2004 Dodge Viper models. However, we have been informed that they have yet to announce a remedy for the issue.

Not all versions of the 2003 and 2004 Dodge Viper are affected by this recall, so if you have any doubts then you can check by entering your VIN HERE. Those units affected would have been manufactured from the start of November 2001 to June 30, 2004.

The reason for the Dodge Viper recalls is due to the airbag or seat belt pretensioners being activated involuntarily while the vehicle is in motion, which is due to a faulty air bag module. If this were to happen then this could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle because of the shock or the air bag restricting your view of the road.

According to Chrysler if your Dodge Viper is on the recall list then your nearest dealer will repair the issue free of charge, although owners should be notified in writing in due course.

The only problem here is that Chrysler has yet to announce when they will begin to fix this issue, although they have said is that it will be later this year. This will not fill those affected by this full of hope, as they are uncertain if they should drive their Viper or not.

If you have any worries then we would suggest you call Chrysler on this phone number 1-800-247-9753 or if you have trouble getting through then call the NHTSA on 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153).

Chrysler has announced a new list of recalls and will begin in March 2013. There are four vehicles in all, the Ram 1500, Dodge Dakota, Dodge Durango SUV twins and the Aspen, which is the same recall from last October but has been expanded to include more units – well 278,222 more to be precise.

The reason for these light trucks and SUVs being recalled once again is because of an issue with the rear axle, as it is possible that the pinion might not have enough adhesive, which could result in the nut working its way loose. If this were to happen then there is a possibility that you could be involved in an accident because the axle could lock up.

Those models affected by this latest recall are the 2009 to 2012 Chrysler Ram 1500 and the 2009 to 2011 Dodge Dakota. There is also the 2009 Dodge Durango SUV twins and the Chrysler Aspen. It’s reported that there have been 12 accidents in all, but thankfully we have not heard of any serious injuries.

As we said above, the new batch of Chrysler recalls will begin in March, but if you are worried that your vehicle is affected then enter your VIN in this Chrysler recall check. Failing that you may want to call Chrysler on this phone number 1-800-247-9753. More information can be found on the NHTSA website.

We are only in our second month of the year and these vehicle recalls are already starting to mount up, we’ve already had a few from General Motors, and another from Toyota.