Business
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THE Consumer Protection Council, CPC, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Westar Associates Limited, a major dealer of Jeep Wrangler and Chrysler vehicles in the country to provide information on its vehicles’ defects associated with clutch pedal positions and the driver’s frontal bag. The order is in connection with the recent directive by authorities in the European Union, EU, which had ordered a recall of Jeep Wrangler and Chrysler 300 vehicles over factory defects.
CPC, in a letter to the dealer signed by R.O. Ogundipe, its director, Surveillance and Enforcement, stated that, “The attention of the council has been drawn to the fact that European Union, EU, authorities on February 19, 2016, recalled Chrysler 300 and Jeep Wrangler 2006 (TJ) model from the European market for safety reasons.
“According to the European Commission Rapid Alert System for No-Food Products, RAPEX, the Jeep Wrangler 2006 (TJ) model and Chrysler 300 vehicles produced between 2005 and 2010 were recalled due to factory defects associated with clutch pedal positions and the driver’s frontal bag, respectively, which posed serious risks to consumers. Nigeria is a very big market and there is high possibility that many customers may currently be in possession of these affected models.”
The council, therefore, requested the auto dealer to within seven days of the receipt of its letter make available to it the number of affected vehicles in Nigeria (if any), steps taken to inform and sensitise consumers and efforts being made to facilitate quick recall of such vehicles in the country.
The CPC further explained that its directive was pursuant to the powers of the council to compel manufacturers to give public notice of any hazard inherent in their products.
In the Jeep Wrangler being recalled, the statement noted that the springs within the clutch pedal position switch that prevents the vehicle from starting unless the clutch pedal is pushed down may break, thus the vehicle may not be started when the clutch pedal is pushed down or the engine may crank and start without the clutch pedal being pushed down causing the vehicle to unexpectedly tilt.
It added that upon the deployment of the driver-side frontal air bag of the Chrysler 300, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially inflicting serious injury on the vehicle occupants.
CPC had in October 2015, issued a seven-day ultimatum to Volkswagen Nigeria to provide information on the status of its vehicles. It stated that Volkswagen vehicles all contain a device programmed to detect when they are undergoing official emissions testing. The cars only turn on full emissions control systems during that testing. The controls are turned off during normal driving, allowing the cars to emit more than the legal limit of pollutants.
The council, in a letter to the automaker dated October 26, 2015, said: “The attention of the council has been drawn to some publications wherein Volkswagen has admitted the allegation that certain illegal “defeat device” software was installed in Volkswagen vehicles to cheat emission test. The resultant effect of this on the environment and quality of these cars is of great importance to the CPC. The publications also indicated that Volkswagen had admitted that vehicles with 1.2, 1.6, and 2.0 litre EA 189 engines are all affected, (i.e. Golf, Beatle, Jetta and Passat models),” it said.
— May 2, 2016 @ 01:00 GMT
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