The Grand Cherokee Hellcat is going to be one hot Jeep, but the regular model can be quite hot itself – and not in a good way.
Back in 2014, FCA recalled almost 900,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Durangos from the 2011-2014 model years because the wires connected to the vanity mirrors in the sun visors had the potential to short out and cause fires. FCA took action to remedy the issue, but, according to The Car Connection, “By May 2015, FCA had received at least eight reports of fires in vehicles that had undergone repairs. That led NHTSA [National Highway Traffic Safety Administration] to launch a recall query to find out whether or not the fix was truly effective.”
I think you can guess if it was or not.
FCA is issuing another recall for 388,504 2011-2013 Grand Cherokees and Durangos registered in the U.S. and manufactured between December 3, 2009 and September 1, 2012. It covers vehicles repaired under the previous recall and those that have not yet been serviced for the wiring problem.
Once a new solution is devised, those of you Grand Cherokee owners affected by this campaign will receive a notice in the mail. If you have any questions, call FCA customer service at 800-853-1403 regarding recall R71. You can also ring up the NHTSA at 888-327-4236. Be sure to mention safety campaign #15V879000.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
