(NewsNation) — More than 338,000 Jeep Cherokees have been recalled by Chrysler over concerns that a defective steering column could lead to an increase of crashes, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regulatory filing released Wednesday.
The recall, the third issued by the automaker in the past week, affects Cherokee vehicles manufactured between 2021 and 2023 and Grand Cherokee vehicles produced between 2022 and 2023. The federal agency reported on Wednesday that the upper control arm ball joint and steering knuckle may separate and may cause the wheel to fall outward.
The vehicle’s ball joint allows the vehicle to turn while it is in motion. The separation of the ball joint and the steering knuckle could result in drivers losing control of the vehicle, which increases the risk of a crash, the filing said.
The filing indicated that the parts were damaged during the assembly of the vehicles and that other similar vehicles were manufactured at a different assembly plant. It also said that drivers of the affected vehicles may notice an “abnormal” noise when driving over bumps.
Dealers will replace the upper control arm pinch bolts free of charge, according to the filing, which gave Chrysler until April 12 to notify vehicle owners of the recall by mail.
Previous recalls also affected Jeep vehicles, including nearly 200,000 Wrangler and Grand Cherokees over a software issue that may cause the defrosting and defogging features to malfunction.
The automaker also recalled other Wranglers and Grand Cherokees after their high-beam lights did not comply with federal standards.
