By Larry P. Vellequette, Crain News Service
DETROIT (Oct. 2, 2013) — Chrysler Group L.L.C. is recalling about 10,800 Ram pickups and 132,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees to repair software that controls warning lights and instrument cluster illumination.
The larger recall covers 2014 Grand Cherokees sold in the U.S. and elsewhere.
Chrysler said it received reports of random warning light illuminations and instrument-cluster blackouts that corrected themselves when the vehicle was cycled off and on. The auto maker said engineers discovered a glitch in the Jeep's antilock braking system (ABS) module that affected the cluster display.
The company also said it was recalling 10,800 Ram light-duty and heavy-duty pickups to repair software controlling illumination of the instrument cluster. Most of the 2014 Ram pickups are still in dealer hands, Chrysler said.
The defects were discovered in the assembly plants where the Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups are built. Chrysler said the backlighting on the instrument clusters on certain mid-level pickups wasn't functioning as intended.
Chrysler said it will notify consumers of the affected vehicles in November to schedule dealer appointments for the software repairs.
This report appeared on the website of Automotive News, a Detroit-based sister publication of Tire Business.