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Fiat Chrysler recalls 650,000 Dodge, Jeep SUVs for brake issue

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles said Tuesday it's voluntarily recalling nearly 650,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango SUVs to ensure that brake-booster shields were properly installed. The recall affects mostly vehicles sold in the U.S. but also roughly 60,000 combined in Canada and Mexico. The shields were installed in 2014 in conjunction with a recall involving the same set of vehicles, which cover the model years 2011 through 2014. A review of warranty data led to an FCA U.S. investigation that discovered the problem. FCA says it is aware of one potentially related accident, but no injuries. The shields are designed to keep water away from the boosters, lest it cause corrosion or freeze in cold temperatures and negatively affect brake performance. Brakes will still function even if boosters are compromised by water, FCA says, but drivers may experience brake-pedal firmness. In some cases, a potential booster issue may trigger a warning light or activation of the anti-lock brakes. Customers who've observed any of those conditions are urged to contact their dealers. The automaker says it plans to notify affected owners that free service to check and repair the issue if necessary will be available in early November. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Recalls Dodge Jeep Safety SUV FCA

Texas cops pull armed suspect from burning car

A high-speed chase through Fort Worth, Texas ended in dramatic fashion earlier this month when FWPD pulled armed burglary suspects from the burning wreckage of their escape vehicle. According to NBC DFW, Fort Worth police were dispatched to Avington Way on the evening of July 16 to investigate reports of a burglary. The burglary victim told police he had arrived home to find three individuals hauling his property out of his house. When he approached them, one of the suspects pointed a handgun at him and told him to stay back. Then all three suspects climbed into a silver Dodge Avenger and sped away. FWPD officers spotted the Avenger a short time later on Sycamore School Road and, after the car refused to pull over, the chase was on. Police chased the burglary suspects through the city at speeds approaching 100 mph until the Avenger blew a red light and was t-boned by an oncoming pickup at the intersection of California Parkway and James Avenue. As the pursuing officers closed in on the disabled car, it suddenly caught fire. One suspect bailed out and ran for it, but the remaining two were trapped inside with the flames quickly mounting. Despite the spreading fire and the threat of armed suspects in the vehicle, police officers rushed to pull the men from the wreck. The driver was removed easily, but the passenger was unconscious and trapped behind a crushed passenger door. The scene was caught on the officers' body cameras as they pried the door open with their bare hands. Eventually the officers got the semi-conscious man out of the passenger seat just as the car was completely engulfed in flames. "It was pretty dramatic. We recruit people that can think on the fly, think quickly, and perform under pressure," FWPD Sergeant Marc Povero told WFAA. All three suspects are facing charges for burglary, and the driver was charged with evading arrest. News Source: WFAA, NBC DFW Auto News Chevrolet Dodge Driving Safety Truck Police/Emergency Sedan fire car fire burglary

California Highway Patrol powers up with Charger Pursuits

Residents of California, you'll want to adjust your rear-view mirrors and remain vigilant for the menacing maw of the Dodge Charger. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) ordered 580 Dodge Charger Pursuit cars to start replacing the organization's oldest vehicles. According to the CHP's director of communications, Fran Clader, these old cars are patrol versions of the Ford Crown Victoria, Ford Explorer and Dodge Charger. The cars will be delivered over the next two years with the majority equipped with Fiat Chrysler's 3.6-liter V6 engine. The unit makes 292 horsepower in the Charger and is found in everything from the Jeep Wrangler to the Chrysler 200. There will be a handful of Chargers with the 5.7-liter V8 found in the Charger R/T, but Dodge and Clader said they will just be used for training. Bick Pratt, head of FCA US government sales and operations, said the order represents a move back toward four-door police cars. "The CHP is ordering our Charger Pursuit vehicle to reintroduce the sedan into their patrol vehicle fleet," Pratt said. "That's important to us because it reflects a shift back to sedans by a progressive agency like the CHP." Chargers may show up in local law enforcement fleets. Pratt said departments will have the opportunity to also order Charger Pursuits through the CHP's contract. So wherever you are in California, if you see that famous crosshair grille in your rear-view mirror, be ready to pull over. Related video: