Chrysler Recalls Jeep Wranglers for Fire Risk

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on May 23, 2012

Chrysler has announced the recall of nearly 87,000 Jeep Wranglers throughout North America and some other parts of the world due to a design defect that may result in fire. The recall only affects 2010 Wranglers equipped with automatic transmissions that were manufactured before July 14, 2010. According to Chrysler and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a design flaw can allow debris to collect between the protective plate covering the transmission and the catalytic converter. If enough debris collects between the plate and converter, the heat emanating from the converter can cause a fire.

Chrysler has acknowledged that there have been at least 14 confirmed fires involving 2010 Jeep Wrangler catalytic converters, but the company claims that it does not know of any injuries in connection with the fires. The company announced that Wranglers driven off-road are especially prone to collecting debris between the plate and converter. Chrysler has sent notices to 2010 Wrangler owners affected by the recall and has offered to fix the problem free of charge by replacing the plate with a bar that will prevent debris from collecting near the converter.

The recall affects 68,000 Wrangler models sold in the U.S., 6,000 in Canada, 1,500 in Mexico and around 11,000 more sold in other countries. The NHTSA also checked Wranglers made from 2007 to 2012 to see if they also collected debris near the catalytic converter but found that only 2010 models had the plate that trapped debris.

Under Florida law, if a person is injured due to a product defect, he or she can pursue a lawsuit against the companies that manufactured, distributed and sold the defective product. These damages can help pay medical bills and compensate injured people for pain and suffering, lost income and many other types of injury. If you or a close family member has been injured in a 2010 Jeep Wrangler fire or by another product defect and you would like to speak with an Orlando product liability lawyer, call James O. Cunningham today at 888-425-2004. Mr. Cunningham has been helping injured people since 1977 and has a proven record of success in product liability cases. Call today to get an experienced and aggressive Orlando personal injury attorney on your side!

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.