FCA recalls 1,200 Jeep Compass SUVs in India to replace front passenger airbag

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has initiated a recall of the Jeep Compass SUV in India to rectify an issue with the front passenger side airbag. The recall affects 1,200 units of the Compass manufactured between September 5 and November 19, 2017, a company spokesperson said.

The move is part of a global recall announced on November 22,  that affects 7,000 units of the SUV in the US and around 1,000 units in Canada and Mexico.

A supplier has advised FCA that, during its airbag module assembly process, loose fasteners may have inadvertently found their way undetected into a small number of modules. However, should such a vehicle be subject to an impact that causes the front passenger airbag to deploy, loose fasteners may pose a hazard. Thus, FCA India will replace the passenger airbag on an estimated 1,200 Jeep Compass SUVs to eliminate this concern.

While the company says it is unaware of any related injuries, accidents, warranty claims or complaints, it has advised customers whose vehicles are in the affected range are advised to refrain from using the front passenger seat until the situation is remedied.

FCA India and its authorised dealers will contact the affected customers in the coming week to carry out the replacement exercise free of cost.

First locally assembled Jeep product in India
The Jeep Compass, which has seen an investment of $ 280 million (Rs 1,768 crore), is the first locally assembled product from the Jeep stable in India and the vehicle is built at FCA India’s plant in Ranjangaon, near Pune, which is also the mother plant for the Compass SUV, for all the right-hand-drive markets out of a total hundred, slated for the product’s launch. The SUV will be manufactured at three other locations globally, including Brazil, Mexico and China.

Since its launch in July 2017 at an aggressive price of Rs 14.95 lakh, the Compass SUV has been gaining popularity in India. Until end-October 2017, the carmaker has sold 7,561 units of the SUV in the country, according to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers.

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