Air Bag Defect Prompts Chrysler to Recall 184,215 SUVs

Tony Ding/APThe 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee is introduced at the Detroit auto show in January 2013. DETROIT -- Chrysler is recalling 184,215 SUVs worldwide because a wiring problem could disable their air bags and seat belt pretensioners. The recall involves the 2014 model year Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee. Most are in the U.S., but 57,443 SUVs are in Canada, Mexico and elsewhere. Chrysler says a short circuit in the restraint control module could cause the air bag warning lamps to illuminate. If that happens, the air bags and seat belt pretensioners may not work. Pretensioners tighten belts during a crash to hold occupants in place. Chrysler says it's unaware of any injuries related to the problem. Ford recalled 850,000 vehicles last month for the same issue. Both companies used restraint control modules made by auto supplier Bosch. Chrysler dealers will replace the modules for free. MSRP: $26,495 Resale value retained after five years: 50.5 percent Even under Fiat (FIATY) ownership, some elements of Dodge's mouth-breathing, knuckle-dragging, He-Man-Woman-Haters-Club approach to auto sales managed to survive. The built-by-car-guys-for-car-guys Challenger and its rebooted muscle car aesthetic still lingers to lure meatheads who value racing stripes and rims over, oh, just about any other element of their vehicle. Ordinarily, that alone wouldn't make one of these vehicles worth a second look five years from now --  even among the most superficial gearheads. But Fiat helped the Challenger smarten up a little bit by coupling a 305-horsepower V6 engine or 375-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 Hemi with loads of interior space, real-time touchscreen navigation, traffic updates, Bluetooth connectivity,  Sirius (SIRI) XM satellite radio, keyless entry/starter and a whole lot of Harman Kardon audio upgrades.