Chrysler Adds 189,000 SUVs To Safety Recall; NHTSA Demands More

Chrysler is recalling 189,000 Dodge Durangos and Jeep Grand Cherokees due to a fuel pump problem but the safety regulators expect the number to be higher.

Chrysler, one of the "Big Three" American automobile manufacturers, is joining the long list of car makers recalling their vehicles over major safety issues.  Chrysler is recalling 189,000 SUVs in the U.S. with concerns over fuel pump defect that may cause the cars to stall. Affected models include some of the company's Dodge Durangos and Jeep Grand Cherokees with model year 2011 equipped with 3.6 liter V6 or 5.7-liter V8 engines, according to the recall notice posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Saturday.

Chrysler started investigating the issue in October last year and found a deformed spring due to heat caused the problem. As a result, owners of the affected vehicles can experience trouble in starting the vehicle or find the fuel pump running despite the engine being shut down, AP reported.

Chrysler will start replacing the fuel pump relay for free at dealerships starting Oct. 24. The car maker said it did not receive any reports of crash or accidents related to the problem.

However, the Center for Auto Safety finds the recall inadequate as the same fuel pump power control module is found on more than 5 million other Chrysler vehicles since 2007. Some of the models involve the Ram pickup trucks, Chrysler and Dodge minivans, Dodge Journey SUVs and the Jeep Wrangler. Clarence Ditlow, the center's executive director, said the car maker must recall all the vehicles and apply a fix, the report added.

A separate report indicates Chrysler's recall covers a total of 230,000 vehicles, 189,000 of which are in the U.S. and rest in other parts of the world.

The company has already recalled 696,000 minivans from 2008-2010 for ignition switch problem in June this year. The faulty switch problem sparked controversy after General Motors delayed the recall after knowing about the problem for over a decade. GM has recalled more than 29 million vehicles so far this year and is linked to a total of 19 deaths.