Chrysler recalls 263,000 vehicles over six separate issues

Fiat Chrysler Group is recalling more than 263,000 vehicles around the world to repair defects relating to six separate issues.

The recalls affect roughly 240,000 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles in the US, Canada and Mexico and a further 23,000 sold to markets outside North America, including 336 Jeeps delivered to Australia.

The Jeep Compass and Patriot SUVs to be recalled locally are part of a circa-30,000-unit recall action relating to the vehicles’ fuel tank transfer tubes.

The official recall notice explains:

“Due to an incorrectly manufactured transfer tube, the transfer of fuel from the secondary side to the primary side of the fuel tank may be interrupted, causing the engine to stall. If the engine stalls while driving it may increase the risk of a crash.”

The affected vehicles were produced between October 18, 2011 and May 7, 2012.

Fiat Chrysler Group Australia corporate affairs director Karla Leach confirmed there had been no reports or incidents relating to the recall in Australia.

Leach said the local division would begin contacting affected owners shortly once the technical details of the recall service had been finalised. She said the repair â€" understood to involve replacing the fuel tank transfer tube â€" was a “fairly simple” procedure that would cause “minimal disruption” to owners and would be completed in less than a day.

The transfer tube recall is the only one of the six to affect Australian-delivered vehicles.

The largest overseas recall action affects approximately 138,000 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger and Challenger models manufactured during 2011.

The official recall notice explains the affected vehicles “may have improperly sized terminal clips on the seat side-airbag wiring harness, which may cause the seat side-airbags to malfunction and illuminate the airbag warning light”.

Roughly 78,400 Dodge Nitro and Jeep Liberty/Compass models have been recalled to repair a defect with their drive shafts.

“If the drive shaft breaks, a section of it can strike the transfer case tunnel with enough force that the airbag computer will believe the vehicle is in a crash and thus deploy the airbags,” the recall notice explains. “Additionally, the drive shaft failure will result in a loss of motive power. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.”

A further 7000 Ram trucks have been recalled to replace the engine covers that have less heat-resistance than intended, while another 9300 pick-ups and 52 Dodge Darts have been recalled to repair separate parking brake issues.