Recall of 7,700 Grand Cherokee, Durango vehicles initiated.

The Detroit News (6/29, Shepardson, 523K) reports that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV “is recalling 7,700 new SUVs because of potential braking and other problems — and warning 65 owners to stop driving immediately.” The vehicles involved are being recalled “because they may have been inadvertently equipped with improperly heat-treated suspension components. This condition, which was not apparent during the assembly process, could lead to component breakage, rear-end instability and/or reduced braking power,” the company said, adding that no crashes or injuries have yet been reported in relation to the defect. “Because the supplier’s production anomaly was detected quickly, the number of vehicles actually affected by the suspect components is estimated to be no more than 13 percent of the total,” Fiat Chrysler said. The company also announced it was recalling 164,000 new Jeep SUVs due to faulty power liftgates. “NHTSA last week announced it was opening two new investigations into Fiat Chrysler vehicles,” the article reports.