Jul-20-2014 04:50 PM
Chrysler Group ordered a supplier of trailer hitches to boost production dramatically a day after the company was accused by federal safety regulators of dragging its feet on the recall of older Jeeps.
At the new build rate -- and using what it says is a more accurate estimate of vehicles to be repaired -- Chrysler said it will have sufficient hitch assemblies to fix all the recalled SUVs by March 2015.
The revelations were included in a nine-page response from Chrysler to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Wednesday.
On Aug. 1, the automaker plans to begin recalling 1993-98 Jeep Grand Cherokees and 2002-07 Jeep Libertys to install trailer hitch assemblies on those that don't already have them. The assemblies mitigate the risk of fuel tank ruptures and fires in low-energy rear-impact collisions.
Jul-20-2014 06:54 PM