Chrysler to Fix Airbags in 919,000 Jeeps

In January Chrysler Group LLC plans to launch a campaign to rewire airbag systems in Jeep Liberty and Grand Cherokee SUVs sold worldwide to prevent them from deploying randomly.

The recall involves 2002-2003 model Liberty and 2002-2004 Grand Cherokee models. Affected vehicles include 745,000 in the U.S., 49,000 in Canada, 22,000 in Mexico and 103,000 sold elsewhere.

Chrysler says an electrical problem in the air bag control module could cause random deployment of the front and side airbags and/or seatbelt pretensioners. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has been investigating the issue for a year, reports 215 cases of Jeep airbags inflating when they shouldn't.

Chrysler attributes the problem to a supplier's change from precious metal to base metal electrodes for the control module's squib capacitors. The company says dealers will cure the defect by installing a jumper harness that contains an electrical noise filter.