Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Jeep Recalls: What Owners Should Do

2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Manufacturer image

Part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's civil penalties on Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which could amount to $105 million, involve several programs for owners of affected Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles. If you have an older Jeep Liberty or Grand Cherokee, a late-model Ram or Dodge Dakota pickup truck or a 2009 Chrysler Aspen SUV or 2009 Dodge Durango SUV, this applies to you.

·         The first program is a $100 incentive for Jeep SUV owners to get their recalled vehicle fixed.

·         The second is a trade-in bonus for a smaller group of SUVs.

·         The third is the buyback program for certain Ram and Dodge pickup trucks plus the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango SUV.

How do I know if my car has been fixed for these specific recalls?
Find your car's vehicle identification number, which is usually etched in the windshield's lower driver's side corner, and enter it onto NHTSA's VIN search tool vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/vinLookup. If your vehicle has an open (that is, unfixed) recall under campaign numbers 13V-038, 13V-252, 13V-527 or 13V-529, then it's eligible for these offers. We strongly suggest you get the recall taken care of as soon as possible.

What cars will get the $100 incentive to have their recalls fixed?
The consent order requires FCA to offer $100 gift cards toward owners of these vehicles:

·         1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs

·         2002-2007 Jeep Liberty SUVs

The Liberty and 1993-1998 Grand Cherokee are under a formal 2013 recall for problems in the fuel system that could cause fires in certain rear-end crashes.

The 1999-2004 Grand Cherokee is not under a formal recall, but NHTSA is requiring FCA to extend the $100 gift card to owners of those SUVs to have similar repairs made. A FCA spokesman said the company will repair these later Jeeps "as part of a customer satisfaction initiative" beginning in September.

How much will I get for my car?
According to NHTSA, the buyback program requires FCA to give a refund of the purchase price minus depreciation plus an additional 10 percent.

What if I modified my vehicle? Will the modifications be refunded in the buyback program?
Not unless they were on the car when it was new. Any modifications made after the vehicle's retail sale won't be calculated into the purchase price, according to NHTSA.

For more information visit: https://www.cars.com/articles/chrysler-dodge-ram-jeep-recalls-what-owners-should-do-1420680933813/