Jeep is recalling 328,381 Grand Cherokee SUVs in the United States over a suspension issue that could allow a rear coil spring to come loose while the vehicle is being driven. The campaign covers certain 2021 through 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L models, along with certain 2022 and 2023 Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee 4xe models. According to recall documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the concern is not with the structural integrity of the springs themselves, but with how they were installed.
An improperly installed rear coil spring could potentially detach from the vehicle while it is in motion, creating an obvious safety hazard for the Jeep as well as motorists traveling nearby. Grand Cherokee models equipped with air suspension are not included in the campaign since they do not use the affected coil-spring configuration. Jeep estimates that just 0.1 percent of the recalled population may actually have the defect, but the potential consequences are serious enough to warrant bringing all potentially affected vehicles back for inspection and repair.
The encouraging news is that Jeep was not aware of any crashes or injuries associated with the problem when the latest recall documentation was filed. The automaker had, however, identified customer assistance records and hundreds of warranty claims potentially related to the rear suspension issue. That history makes this more than a paperwork exercise, particularly considering that a suspension component separating from a moving SUV could become a road hazard with little or no warning.
Jeep will notify affected Grand Cherokee owners with instructions for having the problem corrected at a dealership. The repair calls for replacement of the rear coil-spring lower isolators at no cost to owners. Anyone driving a 2021 through 2023 Grand Cherokee L or a 2022 through 2023 Grand Cherokee or Grand Cherokee 4xe should check their vehicle identification number through NHTSA’s recall lookup system to determine whether their particular SUV is included. Even with the relatively small percentage of vehicles expected to contain the defect, this is one recall Grand Cherokee owners should not put off addressing.
