Transmission overheating / fire

An NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation into Jeep vehicles. Closed 17 November 2009.

Investigation
PE09037
Type
Preliminary Evaluation
Opened
12 August 2009
Closed
17 November 2009

What NHTSA investigated

In a letter dated november 3, 2009, chrysler group LLC (chrysler), notified NHTSA that it will conduct a safety recall of approximately 161,000 model year (my) 2007 and 2008 jeep wrangler vehicles built with automatic transmissions.chrysler stated that these vehicles were not equipped with a transmission fluid temperature warning system and the operation of these vehicles beyond the limits of reasonable usage over a period of time could result in transmission failure and in some cases transmission fluid expulsion.the expelled fluid could come in contact with a hot engine or exhaust component and cause a fire.chrysler will conduct a safety recall to install a hot oil warning message in the instrument cluster and a chime indicating an elevated transmission fluid temperature condition.an owner's manual addendum stating the purpose of the hot oil message and chime to include caution and warning statements regarding elevated transmission fluid temperature conditions will be provided to owners.based on chrysler's decision to conduct a safety recall this engineering analysis is closed.

The recall that followed

  1. Jeep — Power Train: Automatic Transmission09V4360005 November 200988,461 vehicles

Vehicles covered

MakeModelModel years
JeepWRANGLER2007–2008
JeepWRANGLER 2-DR 4X42007–2008
JeepWRANGLER 4-DR 4X22007–2008
JeepWRANGLER 4-DR 4X42007–2008

Source

From NHTSA’s investigation file, rebuilt daily. To report a problem with your own vehicle, go to nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem. All open investigations.