Global Recall Of Nearly 470,000 Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs For Potential Engine Stall

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (formerly Chrysler Group) announced Friday a voluntary global recall of 467,480 SUVs to replace a fuel pump relay circuit that can fail, causing vehicles to stall in motion or not start at all. Most of the affected vehicles are 2012 and 2013 model year Dodge Durango full-sized SUVs sold in the U.S.

The recall hits a popular utility vehicle for the automaker. The Durango made up 11 percent of all Dodge brand autos sold in the U.S. last year, or more than 64,000 vehicles. The company said no accidents or injuries have been recorded because of the relay circuit in the vehicle’s Totally Integrated Power Module, which controls many of the electrical functions.

“Engineers have determined a condition identified in a previous investigation may extend to additional vehicles,” FCA said in a statement released Friday. “The previous investigation, which led to a recall, traced a pattern of repairs to fuel-pump relays that are susceptible to deformation.”

Friday’s recall announcement includes 18,991 SUVs in Canada; 10,829 in Mexico and 99,444 outside of North America.

Last year, nearly 190,000 2011 model-year Dodge Durangos and Jeep Grand Cherokees were recalled for the same problem. And FCA recalled cars in 2007 and 2012 over TPIM problems, according to CBS.

Some owners of affected cars have complained that dealers wanted to charge more than $1,000 to fix cars that were no longer under warranty, the New York Times reported last August. At least 240 owners of 2011 model-year Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles (all produced by FCA) have complaints on record at the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for problems including unexpected stalling and headlights that fail.

After conducting an internal investigation, Chrysler issued a recall for the 2011 vehicles late last year. Friday’s announcement is an expansion of that recall investigation.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (NYSE:FCAU) shares closed down 0.39 percent to $15.41 on Friday. The company’s share price is up nearly 73 percent since its Oct. 13, 2014, return to the New York Stock Exchange. Chrysler went bankrupt amid the 2009 auto industry crisis caused by the Great Recession.

After a taxpayer bailout and ownership by the U.S., Canada and labor groups, the company ended up under full ownership of Italian automaker Fiat SpA. Last year the two companies merged to become London-based FCA NV. The larger, more cash-infused Chrysler side of the company still operates out of Auburn Hills, Michigan. The company’s newer brands, namely the Chrysler 200 sedan and the Jeep Cherokee, have witnessed high consumer demand that lifted company sales by 16 percent last year.