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发帖数: 16625 | 2 NHTSA investigating Chrysler ignition switches
Fred Meier, USA TODAY 12:17 p.m. EDT June 18, 2014
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(Photo: Jerry S. Mendoza)
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As another hearing began Wednesday into the General Motors ignition switch
recall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced it has
opened two probes into similar possible ignition switch defects in about 1.
25 million vehicles from the Chrysler Group of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
A NHTSA statement said that both new investigations "are an outcome of NHTSA
's communication with automotive manufacturers and suppliers regarding
airbag design and performance related to the position of the vehicle
ignition switch," an effort stepped up in the wake of the GM recalls.
Chrysler Group said in a statement that is "Group is awaiting additional
information from (NHTSA). The Company is prepared to cooperate fully with
the investigation."
The GM switch recalls now total about 8 million vehicles, including another
one this week of 3.16 million cars. The switches can be bumped inadvertently
or jarred by a rough road out of the "run" position, shutting off the
engine and disabling power steering and brake assist and, usually, the
airbags.
A NHTSA statement said: "The (Chrysler) investigations involve issues of
inadvertent ignition key rotation from the 'run' position to the 'accessory'
position. While NHTSA has received complaints of stalling related to these
models, the agency is not aware of any related incidents involving airbag
non-deployments at this time."
The agency has linked no deaths or injuries to the Chrysler switch issue.
The initial GM recalls of small cars in February and March are linked to 13
deaths and 54 crashes. The latest GM recall this week is linked with eight
crashes and six injuries.
One of the new NHTSA investigations covers about 700,000 2008-10 Dodge
Journey SUVs and Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country minivans.
NHTSA said the spring in the switch can pop the switch back to a position
beyond "run" and "accessory" after the vehicle is started and in that
position it is vulnerable to turning off the engine if bumped or jarred.
The 2010 models of these vehicles already were recalled in 2011 for the
ignition switch, but NHTSA says it has had further complaints about vehicles
that got the recall fix, which NHTSA approved at the time.
The second NHTSA ignition investigation covers about 525,000 2006-07 Jeep
Commander and 2005-06 Jeep Grand Cherokee about which NHTSA has complaints
that the driver's knee can bump the ignition and move it out of "run." |
