2006 Jeep Liberty on 2040-cars

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Jeep Begins Fixing 1.56 Million Recalled Grand Cherokee, Liberty SUVs

Chrysler is just now beginning the big job of fixing 1.56 million older Jeep SUVs seven months after a recall was announced, according to The Detroit News. Jeep Grand Cherokees sold between 1992 and 1998 and Jeep Liberty models sold between 2002 and 2007 are being recalled because the gas tank can leak in the event of a rear-end collision, leading to a fire. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration originally requested the recall of 2.7 million vehicles. Chrysler initially disputed NHTSA's findings and seemed willing to go through a court battle until an 11th-hour deal reduced the number of vehicles involved in the recall. The remaining vehicle owners left out of the recall will receive a "customer service action" notification and may not get fixed. Chrysler says the vehicles are safe and need no repairs. Fixing the 1.56 million Jeeps will cost Chrysler $151 million. NHTSA cited 51 deaths causes by such tank fires. Chrysler plans to install protective trailer hitches to protect the gas tanks, but even the automaker admits the hitches will only provide incremental protection in a low-to-moderate speed rear-end crash. Related Gallery 2014 Jeep Cherokee Test Drive View 9 Photos Recalls Chrysler Jeep jeep liberty

2018 Jeep Wrangler might get power sliding roof panels

A user at JL Wrangler Forums snapped a few photos of a prototype 2018 Wrangler driving around, and one of the shots revealed some interesting switchgear. On the ceiling are a couple of handles that further confirm it will still have a multi-piece removable roof, something already expected when images of the truck leaked out. Just ahead of those handles is a binnacle of switches with no clear explanation for their existence. The folks at JL Wrangler Forums believe they have the answer. They suspect that the controls are for a Jeep Renegade-style My Sky roof. In case you forgot, the Renegade's My Sky roof is a cross between a sunroof and the Wrangler's removable roof. One of the panels can slide back like a sunroof, or it and a second panel can be pulled out entirely. The forum members believe the large center button and smaller buttons ahead of it are controls for sliding back either or both front roof panels. Of course the roof panels will still be removable, too. They also cite anonymous sources that say the forum's speculation is on the right track. A few years ago, rumors of a power top were circulating, too. We can certainly see this as a possibility. It would offer Wrangler owners the option of some open-air fun without requiring the unfastening of multiple latches and stowage of large roof panels. Although it would likely add plenty of cost, that won't be much of an issue for Jeep. It's already possible to spend remarkable amounts of money in heavily accessorized Wranglers, and Jeep doesn't have trouble getting them sold. We're still not completely convinced, though. It's also possible we could be looking at switchgear for overhead lights or other interior features, maybe even storage for sunglasses. We just can't be positive without getting a closer look at the switches. Also, there's at least one reason Jeep might want to avoid a feature like this. Power sliding top panels could add weight. Now Jeeps aren't amazing performers, save for the SRT and Trackhawk Grand Cherokees, so speed won't be an issue, but if the weight goes into the top panels, it could make top removal more difficult thanks to heavier components. We'll have to wait to find out for sure. Related Video:

Some Jeep Cherokees and Chrysler 200s to get standard stop-start in 2015

Automakers the world over are striving to find ways to make their models more efficient, and Chrysler has a solution for some versions of the 2015 Chrysler 200 and 2015 Jeep Cherokee (2014 model shown). The Tigershark 2.4-liter four-cylinder in the 200 and the 3.2-liter Pentastar V6 in the Cherokee are getting a slight boost later this year thanks to the addition of Chrysler's Engine Stop-Start system as standard equipment. The company predicts modest gains - a three-percent improvement in fuel economy and a three percent reduction in CO2 emissions with the new tech compared to without it. While it's not much, those who sit in traffic a lot may see a difference.
Chrysler's stop/start system uses a high-speed starter motor to restart the vehicle in a claimed a third of a second. It works by detecting when the vehicle comes to a stop and turning off the engine. A more powerful battery maintains all of the model's accessories while it sits. When the driver lets off the brake, the car starts up again to drive away. There is even a button in the cabin to turn the ESS off, if desired.
The Jeep will be the first to receive ESS in the third quarter of this year to coincide with the start of production of the 2015 model-year version. The 200 will follow in the fourth quarter as a rolling change in production.