NHTSA investigates Jeep Wrangler air bags.

The AP (6/23) reports that the NHTSA has received 221 complaints from Jeep Wrangler owners “that the air bag warning light is illuminating, indicating an electrical problem in the steering wheel” prompting an investigation into the matter as the faulty wiring “could stop the air bags from inflating in a crash.” About 630,000 Wranglers from the 2007 through 2012 model years are being investigated. Jeep maker Fiat Chrysler in 2011 “recalled some right-hand-drive Wranglers” for the same problem, the article reports, adding that “now the agency is looking at left-hand-drive vehicles.” No crashes or injuries have yet been reported in relation to the problem, but the investigation could prompt a recall.

        The Detroit News (6/23, Shepardson, 523K) reports that according to the NHTSA, the vehicles may have an electrical problem that have pushed some owners to replace their clockspring on multiple occasions. “This is the second new NHTSA investigation into Fiat Chrysler in two days,” the article reports, adding that the agency on Monday said it is investigating some “121,000 2013 Dodge Darts after the agency received 18 complaints that the brake pedal can suddenly become hard to depress and that braking distance unexpectedly increased on 2013 Darts.”

        Edmunds (6/24, 399K) reports that the NHTSA in its summary of the probe said, “The subject vehicles display an airbag warning light that may indicate a failure of the clockspring wiring in the driver-side airbag circuit.” Fiat-Chrysler spokesman Eric Mayne said, “We are cooperating with NHTSA’s preliminary evaluation,” adding, “Customers who observe a warning light, for any reason, should contact their dealers.”