Recall: 630,000 Jeeps for airbags, oil leaks

The 2010-2012 Compass and Patriot, plus the 2012-2013 Wrangler, are included.

Chrysler will recall 630,000 Jeeps to fix airbag deployment problems and transmission oil leaks, according to Chrysler and filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The 2010-2012 Jeep Compass and Patriot may deploy the side airbags too late in a crash, or not at all, due to a software error. Chrysler said that during a rollover, the vehicle's lateral acceleration sensors could send a faulty signal to the airbag module, which could also delay the seatbelt pre-tensioners or cause them to deactivate. In total, 254,396 vehicles are affected in the U.S.

Chrysler said that no injuries or owner problems have been reported since it began investigating the airbag module in June 2012. Dealers will flash the airbag module with new software starting in July.

The 2012-2013 Wrangler has a power-steering fluid tube that can puncture a hole in an adjacent transmission oil tube and lead to a total loss of transmission oil, NHTSA filings said. 

The recall affects 181,131 Wranglers equipped with automatic transmissions. A tube carrying fluid for the power-steering system can be in "hard contact" with the transmission oil cooler tube, which was switched from steel to a softer aluminum starting in the 2012 model year, Chrysler said. In August 2012, Chrysler fitted rubber parts to cushion the tubes and later redesigned the power-steering tube to be farther away from the transmission tube, which was fitted with a sleeve, starting in February 2013. The problem has occurred in at least 81 customer vehicles.

Starting in July, dealers will replace the power-steering tube system with the latest design and fit sleeves on the transmission oil cooler tube. If damaged, that tube will also be replaced. 

Owners can call Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753 for more information.

On Wednesday, Chrysler said it was refusing to recall 2.7 million Jeeps that NHTSA alleged had faulty fuel-tank designs and resulted in fiery crashes and gasoline leaks.

In May, Chrysler recalled 469,027 2005-2010 Grand Cherokees and 2006-2010 Commanders that couldinadvertently shift into neutral when the vehicle is started, causing the car to roll away. 

In April, Chrysler recalled 30,000 Jeep Compass and Patriot SUVs from the 2012 and 2013 model years for fuel-tank transfer tubes that could starve the engine of gasoline.

In March and June of 2012, Chrysler recalled 347,000 Jeep Liberty SUVs from 2004-2007 for a rear lower control arm that could rust and fracture. 

In November 2012, Chrysler recalled 744,822 Jeep Liberty and Grand Cherokee SUVs in the U.S. for airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners that could inadvertently deploy or activate.

autos.msn.com