This latest recall impacts current-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee two-row and long-wheelbase ‘L’ models.
This week, FCA issued a new recall campaign for 338,238 Grand Cherokees because of a steering knuckle issue that could increase the risk of a serious accident. The problem stems from upper control arm pinch bolts that could have been damaged during assembly. If they were, the steering knuckle could lose “clamp load” with the upper control arm ball joint, and the steering knuckle could separate and cause the wheel to fall outward.
Drivers could have a warning sign in an abnormal noise when going over bumps, though the damaged pinch bolts can fail and cause loss of steering control without any prior warning.
The issue at the heart of this recall is more prominent on the three-row 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L (affecting 249,752 vehicles in total), as it’s been in production longer. Impacted vehicles were built between December 3, 2020 and May 30, 2023, according to what the automaker told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). As for the two-row Grand Cherokee, this campaign covers 88,456 units built between December 19, 2021 and May 30, 2023.
FCA says it established the “suspect period” of vehicles that could have damaged pinch bolts through vehicle production torque records. Other Grand Cherokee models built outside the recall period were built at a different plant “with a more robust torque strategy”, or built after that May 30, 2023 cutoff date. The company builds the Grand Cherokee at the Jefferson North Assembly plant, as well as the Mack Avenue Assembly Complex in Detroit.
As of January 24, the automaker says it is aware of one customer assistance record, 18 warranty claims and one field report related to the upper control arm pinch bolt issue. It is not aware of any accidents or injuries from the condition.
FCA will notify owners and dealers about the problem on April 12, according to what it reported to the NHTSA on February 22. From there, dealer technicians should inspect and replaced damage pinch bolts, free of charge.
This is not the only steering-related issue for the Jeep Grand Cherokee WL. There are two other recalls covering the steering system, including a steering gear rack bar recall from March 2022 affecting less than 1,000 Grand Cherokees and Dodge Durangos, where the bar may actually bind inside the rack, resulting in difficulty steering or a loss-of-control situation. Another recall in May 2023 impacted more than 89,000 Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L models, where an incorrectly assembled steering column intermediate shaft could disconnect from the u-joint, resulting in a loss of steering control.
