The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a target in a new probe of potential vehicle fires.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched two new investigations that could lead to the eventual recall of several popular Chrysler products.
The probes begin even as NHTSA continues looking into reports that several Jeep models produced between 1993 and 2004 could be prone to catching fire following rear-end collisions.
The latest investigations target the 2009 and 2010 model-year Ram 1500 pickup and the recently redesigned 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Between them, the probes could impact nearly 240,000 vehicles.
“Chrysler Group takes seriously all customer complaints and is cooperating fully with NHTSA,” the maker announced in a statement confirming the new investigations.
The 2010 Ram pickup.
In all, about 230,000 Ram pickups could be impacted. NHTSA is looking into reports that that rear wheels could suddenly and unexpectedly lock up on the trucks. The agency has received 12 complaints with four owners reporting a loss of control as a result of the problem.
The investigation of the Jeep Grand Cherokee would affect as many as 107,000 vehicles, according to NHTSA. The agency has received reports that power steering fluid can leak from the system and catch fire when dripping onto hot powertrain components.
For now, both vehicles are just under investigation. It is unclear whether that will trigger recalls of either product but such an action could prove embarrassing for parent Chrysler which has been struggling to reverse years of quality problems.
Both models have gained share in recent years, outpacing the overall U.S. automotive market’s recovery. For the first half of 2012 sales of the Grand Cherokee surged 38.2%, with demand for the Ram 1500 rising 23.8%. The Jeep model was completely redesigned last year while the Ram pickup will be replaced with an all-new truck for the 2013 model-year.
The potentially more serious problem facing Chrysler is a probe now targeting as many as 5 million Jeep sport-utility vehicles. Initially launched in August 2010, the investigation has been looking into reports that several older Jeep models have an unusually high risk of catching fire when struck from the rear due to the placement of their gas tanks.
Last month, NHTSA expanded the probe from 3 million to 5 million Jeeps, the agency reporting complaints involving 15 deaths and 41 injuries connected to the alleged problem.