Aussie Motoring

Chrysler announced today that it would be recalling over 290,000 SUVs to reprogramme the computer that’s connected to the anti-lock braking system.

It seems that Jeep Grand Cherokees, Jeep Wranglers, Dodge Nitros and Commander SUVs have experienced braking problems that has lead to at least one accident and all vehicles within the affected groups well be recalled.

Undoubtedly this recall will extend to vehicles in Australia.

Chrysler is also recalling Dodge Avenger sedans and Chrysler Sebring convertibles to have a problem with the door latches and locks corrected. There are over 72,000 vehicles covered by this recall.

by Stuart Livesey

Motoring shows here in Australia can be a little bit of a let down. You can wander around and look … and some might even let you touch … but no one does what Jeep does in the US.

The New York Motor show is is on as a I write this and so is Camp Jeep New York. Camp Jeep is a display at the motor show where John Q Public can take a ride in a Jeep over a huge course of dirt, gravel, rocks and even a mountain - and it’s not just for specially selected members of the public. If you’re at the show and you want a ride all you have to do is stand in line.

Jeep(R) Liberty at the 2007 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS). Photo credit: Convention Photo by Joe Orlando.

Of course taking a ride on a course like that could always turn a potential buyer off rather than on. I can remember many years ago when I was stationed in Lithgow there was a Suzuki 4WD dealer at Little Harley just at the foot of Mt Victoria.

He had a little rough terrain course set out in an adjacent paddock and if you were interested in buying one of his vehicles he’d take you for a run over the course. I’d almost convinced my wife that there was a Suzuki 4WD in our immediate future and she agreed to take a test drive.

Unfortunately her desire for an off-road vehicle evaporated when we hit the course and the first little hill was so steep she couldn’t see anything but blue sky over the front of the bonnet. From that point on there was never going to be any chance of us ever buying any 4WD … and the sad part is it wasn’t much of a hill at all … just a mound of dirt really

What do all these have in common here in Australia?

by Stuart Livesey

Since the beginning of March they’ve all issued recalls on vehicles and the recalls have all had to do with the braking system.

Toyota has issued the biggest recall of vehicles and it’s safe to say that this recall would have to be one of the biggest in Australian automotive history. It potentially affects approximately 137,000 vehicles; 134,000 Landcruiser 70 and 100 series and 3,000 Lexus LX470 models.

All these vehicles were manufactured between September 1997 and December 2005 and the recall is so that Toyota can check and replace faulty retaining bolts on the front disc brake rotors.

Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge are all marketed in Australia under the Daimler-Chrysler name and the vehicles affected are those in the following models fitted with an ESP/ABS brake system:

Chrysler 300C and 300C Touring - built from 11 October through to 23 November 2006

Dodge Caliber - built from 7 September through 18 November 2006

Jeep Compass - built from 7 September through 18 November 2006

Jeep Grand Cherokee - built from 11 October through to 23 November 2006

Jeep Commander - built from 11 October through to 23 November 2006

Jeep Wrangler - built 9 November through to 8 December 2006

The software programmed into the ABS control module needs to be re-programmed for, in it’s present form, may cause the rear wheels to lock up in certain braking conditions. Around 490 vehicles are affected by the recall.