China yesterday suspended
imports of Jeep's Wrangler after consumers reported a
number of fires that have been traced to a fault in the
automatic transmission area, a problem that was subject
to a global recall early last year.
The news came
China's Xinhua News Agency which quoted a press
release from the state General Administration of Quality
Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ).
It said the problem had been traced to a related system
to the automatic transmission. AQSIQ
urged Chrysler Group to solve the issue, which affects
nearly five hundred vehicles imported: "Before that, the
manufacturer and importers should take precautionary
measures for the vehicles involved to ensure consumers'
safety."Chrysler Group said in
a statement yesterday that it was "cooperating fully"
with the department's investigation.
Last February Jeep was
forced to recall all Wranglers equipped with automatic
transmissions built between 2008 and 2010 to rectify a
problem where overheating transmission fluid could spill
onto hot surfaces and cause a potential fire risk. The
fire problem announced yesterday comes two days after
the Xinhua News Agency also reported another
problem in China with the similar model Wrangler, this
time bolts that became loose and noisy and which could
potentially affect the vehicle's handling. Xinhua
News Agency also added that there would be an
immediate recall by Jeep.
In response to
yesterday's suspension of imports to China over safety
fears, the Chrysler Group responding with the following
statement: "Chrysler Group is cooperating fully with
China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision,
Inspection and Quarantine to identify and fix 2008-2010
model-year Jeep Wrangler SUVs equipped with automatic
transmissions and sold in China. In February 2010,
Chrysler issued a global recall to address a potential
for transmission fluid to overheat and expel onto hot
surfaces that could pose a fire hazard. The conditions
were linked to extreme and/or abusive driving conditions
under rigorous off-road conditions. Outside of China,
Chrysler Group is not aware of any vehicle fires related
to this condition once the recall was completed.
Chrysler Group is not aware of any injuries or accidents
due to this condition."
