Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), parent company of Chrysler, Jeep, and several other U.S. vehicle brands, is no stranger to safety recalls from the automakers in its portfolio. Some have been relatively minor, like software updates for display issues or warning light malfunctions. Others were far more serious and drew national attention, including recalls tied to fire risks and fatal rollaway incidents.
Today we’re talking about a recent development. On January 29, 2026, FCA via Chrysler Motors recalled more than 80,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L models. According to the recall, the Jeeps have a rear coil springs that could detach and fall off the vehicle. That may not sound as dangerous as some other malfunctions, but it has potential to cause a lot of damage if unaddressed.
What Does the Jeep Grand Cherokee Recall Say?
According to information in Recall 26V051 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Some 2021-2023 MY Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles may experience a rear coil spring that may not be correctly installed during the repair of NHTSA Recall ID – 23V413 or have an incomplete recall status, allowing the coil spring to come out of position.
As you can see, this is actually Chrysler’s second swing at the same problem. The first recall, issued in June of 2023, called the defect an “installation error,” meaning the springs were put in wrong on the production line. At the time, FCA wanted over 331,000 Jeeps taken in for evaluation.
It seems some repair efforts failed for one reason or another, prompting the second recall a few years later. In the 80,000 or so affected Grand Cherokees, the rear coil spring still could still potentially break loose.
How Dangerous is a Lost Rear Coil Spring?
A rear coil spring is a load-bearing part of the suspension. It helps support the vehicle’s weight, keeps tires in proper contact with the pavement, and maintains height and alignment. If it falls off, that may cause the corner it came from to drop suddenly and hard. It could also make the tire tilt or cause friction with other components, increasing the chances of a blowout. Any or all of that would make it harder to steer or stop, increasing the chances of collision or rollover.
A loose spring coil isn’t just a hazard to those in the Jeep, either. When one drops off the vehicle into the road, there’s a good chance it can turn into high-speed debris. A chunk of heavy steel bouncing or sliding across a lane gives nearby drivers little time to react, especially in dense traffic or at highway speeds. The coil could cause major vehicle damage or make someone swerve, causing a wreck. Motorcyclists are even more vulnerable to big pieces of roadway debris, and could be unseated if they make contact.
None of that’s to say that every loose spring coil causes bedlam in the road; I’m describing worse-case scenarios. Still, since nobody can be sure what will happen, the best we can do is understand what could happen. We can at least say this with certainty: There are no circumstances where losing an important suspension component is a good thing.
How Many Jeep Grand Cherokees Are Affected?
According to the NHTSA and Chrysler, the recall is restricted to two models of Jeep Grand Cherokee. It breaks down like this:
- 29,139 Jeep Grand Cherokee (built 06/2021 – 05/2023), and
- 51,481 Jeep Grand Cherokee L (built 12/2020 – 05/2023).
Altogether that’s 80,620 recalled units. The entire production runs are recalled out of an abundance of caution, though, as regulators estimate that only .05% of those vehicles may actually have the defect. That’s roughly 4,031 Jeep vehicles affected by the loose rear coil spring defect. When the original recall was announced in 2023, an estimated 43,082 vehicles out of 331,000 were thought to have the defect.
When the recall was announced, there were no reports of crashes or injuries linked to the issue.
What Should I Do About My Recalled Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Owners of potentially-affected Jeep Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L vehicles should watch for official recall notices and contact their dealer. In the NHTSA recall notice, FCA US said its technicians would inspect and, if needed, repair the rear coil springs (again).
Why Should People Care About the Jeep Grand Cherokee Recall?
A few thousand Jeeps out of the millions on the road may not seem urgent to anyone not directly affected by the recall, but there’s a bigger issue here. I asked attorney Michael Grossman to weigh in on what it means for a company to issue a secondary recall addressing the mistakes of the first one. Here’s what he said:
There’s a good and a bad side to this. Good news first: The fact that Chrysler knew there was still a problem and addressed it again means it wasn’t forgotten or swept under the rug. If their facts are straight, the repair issue was found before anyone got hurt. If this really is a proactive measure to right a wrong, that oversight and correction show how the recall process is supposed to work.
Now the bad news: A second recall only happens because something went wrong. There are serious questions about how thousands of Jeeps weren’t properly fixed the first time. Was there poor recall execution? Did anyone track responses to notices? Were the dealership repairs mishandled? Were their technicians trained properly? Where was the disconnect that means we’re still worried about 80,000 unrepaired Jeeps?
Even if nobody got hurt, this may still be a good reason for Chrysler to adjust its practices. Fixing whatever went wrong during production, and making sure dealership techs know what they’re doing, can only be a good thing for preventing future problems.
Only time will tell if Chrysler, FCA, and/or the auto industry at large pay attention to these lessons.
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