RECALL UPDATE: 2021 to 2022 Jeep® Grand Cherokee L (WL75) Child Tether

Stellantis (FCA US, LLC), the parent company of Jeep®, has issued a recall for certain 2021 to 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L (WL75) vehicles. The recall is due to a missing weld from the seat back frame to the child seat tether anchorage, which fails to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 225, “Child Restraint Anchorage Systems.”

The recall applies only to models equipped with either the 7-passenger 60/40 split bench (sales code CF1) or the 6-passenger bucket seats (sales code CAW). Second-row seats on about 4,586 of the affected vehicles may have been built with a missing weld or welds from the seat back frame to the child tether on one or both seats.

Vehicles built with a missing weld from the seat back frame to the child tether may not meet the FMVSS No. 225 strength requirement for tether anchorages. A tether anchorage separating completely from the vehicle seat may increase the risk of injury to the occupant of the child seat in a crash.

FCA US, LLC, will conduct a voluntary safety recall to inspect and, if necessary, replace the second-row seat back frame. Dealers will inspect the second-row seats child tether spot welds and replace the seat back frame if child tether welds do not pass inspection. This service will be provided free of charge to vehicle owners.

FCA US has a well-established policy and habit of compensating vehicle owners for the expenses incurred in repairing a problem that is later identified as the subject of field action. To maintain consistency in this process, FCA US will include a request in the owner letter, asking customers to submit the original receipt and/or other satisfactory evidence of payment to the company to verify the expenses.

According to documents, 2,848 units of the 4,586 recalled units have been already remedied. The company has also stated that owner notification letters were mailed on April 7th, 2022, and affected owners can contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC’s number for this recall is Z24.

Additionally, owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

It is essential for all affected vehicle owners to take the necessary steps to have their vehicles inspected and repaired promptly to ensure the safety of occupants, particularly children, while traveling.