Jeep Grand Cherokee : Global recall over fire risk – 31,000 Australian cars affected

The recall - which is the eighth known problem for the Jeep Grand Cherokee since the start of 2013 (in Australia) - involves 895,000 vehicles worldwide, including both the Jeep large SUV and the US-market Dodge Durango.

According to a statement from the brand, the recall is "limited to certain 2011-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango models". The problem stems from the wiring in the headlining of the car that runs to the sun visor, which could short-circuit and catch fire.

The company admits that there have been three related injuries, each of which had already been repaired for a previous known fault with the vanity mirror. According to the US watchdog, the Office of Defects Investigation, there have been five instances in which the headlining of affected vehicles have caught fire.

The release reads: "If a stated vehicle was involved in a repair related to servicing the vanity mirror and/or headliner, the wiring – located inside the sun visor – may be subject to short-circuit and fire if not appropriately reassembled by the dealer. This condition is not present in vehicles which have not had the headliner or vanity mirror serviced."

Of the 895,000 vehicles involved in the recall action, 651,000 are located in the US, 45,700 in Canada, 23,000 in Mexico and 175,000 are elsewhere in the world.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Australia has confirmed that 31,054 vehicles built between 2011 and 2014 are affected in Australia, and those cars are being called back so service workshops can "reroute wiring for vanity-mirror lights".

While the problem does relate to the previous fix for Australian cars as well, a spacer with a wire guide will be added to all cars - whether the initial service had been done or not - in order to prevent any potential short-circuit.

The company has advised that "all affected customers will be contacted".