Photo of Jeep Grand Cherokee courtesy of FCA US.

Photo of Jeep Grand Cherokee courtesy of FCA US.

FCA US is recalling approximately 7,690 2015 model-year Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango SUVs globally because some of them may be equipped with improperly heat-treated suspension components, the automaker said.

Most of the recalled vehicles, assembled June 12-20, are not yet in service. Instead, they’re on dealer lots or in transit to dealers. But the automaker has identified 65 SUVs in the U.S. that are already in the hands of owners, and FCA US is advising the owners to stop driving those vehicles.

“This condition, which was not apparent during the assembly process, could lead to component breakage, rear-end instability and/or reduced braking power,” FCA US (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) said in a statement released June 28. “FCA US is unaware of any related injuries, accidents or customer complaints.”

The component supplier discovered the issue during an internal quality review and alerted FCA US, which then launched an investigation. The automaker opted to halt vehicle shipments from its assembly plant “out of an abundance of caution,” FCA US said. Because the supplier’s production anomaly was quickly detected, no more than 13 percent of the recalled vehicles are expected to have the faulty components.

The automaker is notifying by phone those customers who have already taken vehicle delivery to arrange on-site vehicle inspections. “If an inspection determines a vehicle is equipped with a suspect component, the vehicle will be transported to a dealership for service,” the company said.

In the meantime, owners of new Grand Cherokee or Dodge Durango SUVs can check to see if their vehicle in included in the recall by entering their vehicle identification number (VIN) in the online search engine here (FCA US) or here (NHTSA).

While 5,608 of the recalled SUVs are believed to be in the U.S., FCA US estimates that 255 are in Canada and 65 are in Mexico. An estimated 1,829 are destined for markets outside the NAFTA region, but they haven’t been shipped and await inspection, FCA US said.

Vehicle owners with questions can reach FCA US customer service at (800) 853-1403.

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