Jeep Cherokees Headed to Dealers, Finally

Chrysler Group LLC confirms it began shipping its 2014 Jeep Cherokee SUVs to dealers today following a nearly two-month delay to fix software bugs in the all-new 9-speed automatic transmission.

The company had planned to begin retail sales of the redesigned Cherokee in August. But a glitch in the transmission's shift control system prompted it to put a hold on shipments.

Chrysler has built about 12,000 Cherokees since production began June 24. Second-shift production at the company's Jeep plant in Toledo, Ohio, was halted in mid-September to avoid a large backlog of vehicles awaiting one-by-one testing.

Dealers are eager for the new model, which replaces the Jeep Liberty and gives customers an alternative to competitors such as the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 in the hot compact SUV segment.