Fiat-Chrysler just announced a recall affecting 164,000 Cherokee SUVs from the 2014 and 2015 model years, citing a problem with the optional power liftgate that can lead to water leaks and potentially cause an electrical fire.
The recall includes 99,436 Cherokees in the U.S. equipped with power liftgates. Jeep says moisture can enter the power-liftgate control module, causing a short circuit. While the automaker was alerted to the issue by a reported vehicle fire, FCA says no injuries or accidents have been reported.
Fire problems have been a persistent issue for Jeep in the past few months. The SUV maker faced a lawsuit from parents whose four-year-old son died in a fiery Jeep Grand Cherokee wreck. The trial ended in a $150 million award for the parents, while Jeep first refused, then complied with NHTSA’s request to recall more than a million older Grand Cherokee and Liberty models whose rear-mounted gas tanks were found to pose increased fire risk. Then Jeep had to recall nearly a million 2011–2014 Grand Cherokees a second time, when it was found that the fix to reduce the fire risk in those vehicles’ sun visors wasn’t actually fixing the problem.
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