Airbag Software Recall - 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited Long-Term Road Test

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Airbag Software Recall - 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited Long-Term Road Test

Fiat-Chrysler expanded a recall on 2014 and 2015 Jeep Cherokees to address an issue with airbag deployment software.

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ebeaudoin

I don't know about that. Seems like a software update shouldn't remedy prematurely-deploying airbags.

socal_eric

These type of problems were not super rare in the earlier days when side impact airbags were first being implemented. It's likely not a hardware or electrical problem causing a premature deployment, but the side impact airbag controller reading the sensors properly and incorrectly deciding to fire the airbags. In such a case a reprogram should correct the issue.

I've seen quite a few older cars that hit harsh potholes or other road debris and set the side airbags off (which are more sensitive to lateral acceleration because they have so much less time to fire in a real world collision due to the reduced space between impact site and occupant as compared to a frontal impact where there's much more crumple zone space). Just from reading the recall summary, it sounds like in normal driving this shouldn't be an issue but there were likely some owners that went off-roading and hit something under just the right conditions to make the controller think there might be a collision occurring.

robs249

You would think this airbag recall would be for the opposite reason considering the IIHS just gave the Cherokee a marginal rating and the side curtain airbag DID NOT deploy. Instead its deploying under harsh off-roading conditions? You got to be kidding...

priusdriver101

Not a shocker. It's Chrysler.