NHTSA Looking Into 220,000 Jeep Wranglers for Potential Airbag Issues

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is being kept busy these days, as not only has it has opened a preliminary investigation over Nissan Altima’s alleged braking issues, but it also has more than 220,000 units of the Jeep Wrangler pending for a similar resolution.

The Wranglers are in fact investigated due to concerns over the airbag not inflating. Some of the vehicles in question were previously used by the U.S. Postal Service.

Getting straight to the point, the agency has received 29 consumer complaints of airbag light illumination and/or clockspring failure on model years 2007-2008 Jeep Wrangler. Twenty-three of the 29 complaints specifically identified the airbag clockspring wiring assembly as the source of the issue.

The remaining six complaints referenced only the airbag light being illuminated. Among the fourteen owners contacted, six stated that they owned a Right Hand Drive version of the vehicle typically used by postal carriers. Sixteen of the 29 complaints were received since January 1, 2011.

According to the NHTSA notification, a broken electrical circuit in the airbag clockspring wiring assembly can lead to non-deployment of the driver side frontal airbag.

But let's see what the Deteroit-based automaker has to say about this. Chrysler spokesman Vince Muniga said that the company is ”cooperating fully” with NHTSA. However, Muniga added the company he works for is yet unaware of any crashes, injuries, or property damage.

Naturally, the agency will further investigate to determine whether a recall should be ordered. If so, 222,500 2007-08 Jeep Wranglers will be recalled for a free-of-charge fix by the manufacturer.