WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has updated its investigation into some Stellantis (BIT:) Doge SUV models, which began last year, for defects in door and window locks, expanding the number of vehicles observed in approximately one million. .
In May 2023, NHTSA began a preliminary examination of 82,000 2009 Dodge Journey SUVs that the agency said today it has changed the investigation to an engineering analysis covering 992,000 Journey vehicles from 2009 to 2020.
NHTSA said it opened an investigation after the reported death of a person trapped inside a burning vehicle in Middleton, Wisconsin, in December 2022.
NHTSA added that it is still investigating the cause of the fire and the possible malfunction of the door locks.
The agency said there were 19 potential incidents of door and window malfunctions, including the fatality in Wisconsin.
Engineering review is a necessary step before NHTSA can proceed with a recall.
(Translated by Chiara Scarciglia, edited by Andrea Mandalà)