AUBURN HILLS, Mich., June 6 (UPI) -- U.S. automaker Chrysler Group LLC said it would recall 630,000 Jeep SUVs due to airbag deployment and transmission problems.
Chrysler said 254,000 Compass and Patriot SUVs from model years 2010 to 2012 were under recall due to a software glitch that can delay air bag deployment.
"The upgrade was deemed necessary after it was discovered that seatbelt pre-tensioners and side-curtain air bags may not function properly during slow-developing rollovers," Chrysler said in a statement.
Another 181,000 Wrangler SUVs from model years 2012 and 2013 were under recall in the United States to repair a transmission cooler line, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.
The recall prompted by the transmission problem also involved 195,000 vehicles outside of the United States, Chrysler said.
"A power steering component may rub against the (cooler) line and compromise transmission function," Chrysler said.
The recalls were issued a day after Chrysler refused to comply with a National Highway Traffic Safety Administrators directive for the company to recall 2.7 million Jeep SUVs, the Times reported.
Chrysler said it disagreed with the conclusions of a two-year investigation of the vehicles' fuel tanks that had problems with fires if they were involved in rear-end collisions.
The Times said 51 deaths have been associated with the rear-end collision problems.
