Chrysler recalls minivans, crossovers to replace defective ignition switches

Chrysler has issued an ignition switch recall eerily similar to a GM campaign that’s been linked to more than 100 deaths.

In more than 161,000 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans and Dodge Journey crossovers sold as 2008, 2009 and 2010 models, the ignition switch may allow the key to inadvertently move from the ‘engine on’ position to accessory mode while driving, causing the engine to turn off. If this happens, the driver would lose power steering and brake assist, which could lead to a crash; because the airbags would also be disabled, vehicle occupants would face an increased risk of injury in a collision.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is advising drivers to remove all unnecessary objects attached to the vehicle’s key; dealers will install a new ignition lock and provide a new key. This recall (Transport Canada Recall number 2015250) is an expansion of two previous campaigns to fix the same problem; those recalls were numbered 2011096 and 2014261.