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Jeep Wagoneers will be separate from Grand Cherokee line

The new Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will be luxury SUVs that will sit at the top of the brand's lineup. Though they will be based on the Grand Cherokee, the reintroduced SUVs will be separate models, Automotive News reports. The new Grand Wagoneer is expected to be a more luxurious version of the standard Wagoneer. The model will be similar in size to the three-row Dodge Durango. The Durango rides on a stretched version of the Grand Cherokee platform. Comments from Jeep brand chief Mike Manley seemed to imply to Automotive News that the two might be high-grade trims on the Grand Cherokee, though a Jeep spokesman later clarified that's not the case. AN predicts the new Wagoneers will debut after 2019, as the Grand Cherokee was pushed back to late 2018 or 2019. Manley says the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer historically represent the best Jeep has to offer. Previous versions were based upon the the Jeep SJ platform that also underpinned early Jeep Cherokees. The Grand Wagoneer name was last used as a trim level on the 1993 Grand Cherokee. Related video: News Source: Automotive NewsImage Credit: Jeep Jeep SUV Luxury

Airbag fault on 1M recalled Jeeps getting second look from NHTSA [UPDATE]

UPDATE: Here is the statement we received from Chrysler regarding NHTSA's query: "Chrysler Group LLC advised the National Highway Traffic Administration of the six reports and, in accordance with the Company's long-standing practice, is cooperating fully with the resulting investigation. Customer safety is paramount at Chrysler Group. Customers who are concerned may call 1-800-853-1403."
It appears that Jeep's repairs for nearly one million Grand Cherokees from 2002-2004 and Liberty models from 2002-2003 might not be over yet. The vehicles were first recalled in November 2012 because the front airbags could suddenly deploy without being in an accident. Now, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is opening a recall query into them because of reports of inadvertent activation on some already corrected vehicles.
The original problem affected over 919,000 vehicles worldwide, including 744,822 in the US, and was caused by a degrading circuit in the wires that control the airbags. In some cases the airbag warning light would come on just before the premature activation, but in other cases it would just happen. The automaker installed an "in-line jumper harness with an integrated electrical filter" meant to eliminate the power spikes believed to be the cause.

Dodge and Jeep recalling 895k SUVs for possibility of headliner fires

Dodge and Jeep are announcing recalls of a total of 895,000 Durango and Grand Cherokee models worldwide from the 2011 through 2014 model years. There's a possibility that the wiring in the sun visor can short circuit and cause a fire. It specifically affects vehicles built between January 5, 2010, and December 11, 2013, and there are approximately 651,000 of them in the US, 45,700 in Canada, 23,000 in Mexico and 175,000 outside of North America.
Screws that fasten the sunvisor to the headliner may pierce wires in the visor, if the part has been removed or serviced, potentially causing a fire risk. If the wires short circuit, they could overheat and potentially combust. The automakers report three injuries caused by this defect, and according to the investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "there may be a total of 52 unique fire incidents."
To fix the problem, Dodge and Jeep will inspect the vehicles for suspect wiring, and all of the models, whether damaged or not, will get a new sun visor spacer with a wire guide to stop the possibility of short circuits. According to the automakers' announcement, "this condition is not present in vehicles which have not had the headliner or vanity mirror serviced." They will notify affected owners, and repairs will begin in August.