| Chrysler recalls over 68000 new vehicles
DETROIT - DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group said on Friday it would recall over 68,000 of its newest vehicles, including the just-released Dodge Nitro sport utility vehicle and the Jeep Compass.Chrysler said that 62,339 vehicles from its 2007 model-year line-up would be recalled to fix a brake system problem it said could cause drivers to lose control.Chrysler said 11 models across all three of its brands were affected by the recall with notices scheduled to go out to registered owners in February.In addition to the Nitro and the Compass, 2007 models covered by the recall are the Chrysler Sebring, Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Dodge Magnum, Dodge Caliber, Jeep Commander, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Liberty, the company said.Chrysler said some of the vehicles could suffer a failure of a computer that controls the brakes, causing a loss of anti-lock and brake distribution systems, traction control and speedometer functions.The automaker said no accidents or injuries had been reported as a result of the brake glitch.The company said owners of the models covered by the recall should take their vehicles to Chrysler Group dealers for inspection if the instrument panel warning light is illuminated.Separately, Chrysler said it would recall 6,086 of its Sebring sedans to reprogram the heating and cooling systems because of a problem with windshield defrosting.The company said owners would be notified of the recall in January. Reuters .
Four-car collision snarls I-80 traffic
Traffic along westbound Interstate 80 came to a standstill Thursday morning as a result of a four-car collision in Fairfield that resulted in minor injuries. According to the California Highway Patrol, the accident occurred when the driver of a Dodge Durango lost control while attempting to enter westbound I-80 traffic from the North Texas Street onramp. The woman driver, whose name was not released, swerved into traffic, and was struck by other vehicles traveling westbound. A total of four cars were involved and the drivers were treated for minor injuries, according to the CHP. Traffic was snarled for about an hour as the involved vehicles were cleared from the freeway. .
Caliber leads Euro-invasion
BELVIDERE, Ill. - The "Anything But Cute" Dodge Caliber is not just DaimlerChrysler's attempt to reinvent itself in the small-car market in the United States. It's the lead car in the company's attempt to introduce Dodge to the world. Since making its debut on U.S. dealer lots early this year, salespeople have sold 75,791 of the aggressive-looking, sporty coupe/SUVs. Those are solid numbers, especially considering the car didn't make it to all lots until March. Still, the Caliber's numbers are behind the 110,370 Dodge Neons sold through the first 10 months of 2005. .
Two hurt in Garden Valley Road crash
ROSEBURG: A Garden Valley woman and her child were injured in an accident at 12:45 p.m. Saturday when their Ford Taurus was struck in the side by a Dodge Neon.
Sgt. Jim Perham of the Douglas County Sheriffs Office said Bernice Barnett, 36, and Jody Barnett, 10, were headed into town on Garden Valley Road when their car was struck by the Dodge, driven by Jorge Mata-Rincon, 41, of Myrtle Creek, as Mata-Rincon was merging from Melrose Road.
The Barnetts were taken to Mercy Medical Center, where they were both treated and released.
Mata-Rincon was not hurt.
The accident is still under investigation.
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Snow ups ante for drivers on dangerous highway
MAT-SU - The Palmer-Wasilla Highway is a 9.75-mile strip of asphalt for strangers to meet - and then exchange insurance information.After four days of snow, here is the tally from Alaska State Troopers, who were kept fairly busy cleaning up the aftermath of crashes, according to their reports.In three and a half hours Tuesday afternoon, troopers responded to three crashes involving six vehicles.About 2 p.m., troopers responded to a crash near the Hyer Road intersection. Dave Eller, 18, of Palmer was turning left onto the highway from Hyer Road in a 1998 Dodge pickup. Corinna Schachle, 39, of Wasilla, was heading west in a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban when she struck Eller's truck. Troopers issued no citations, and reported all occupants wore seat belts and had no injures. The SUV and the truck each received about $2,000 damage, the report said.At 3:19, Ashley Semler, 18, of Wasilla, was heading west near the Trunk Road intersection in a 2002 Chevrolet Impala.
Crash kills boy on way to open presents
LAUDERHILL - A 5-year-old boy on the way to open a Christmas present at his grandmother's house died in a road accident Sunday night when the car he was riding in struck a pickup truck, projecting the youngster into the exploding airbag and windshield, police said. "This is a very tragic accident for the holidays," Lauderhill Police spokeswoman Lt. Tundra King said. "This is unfortunately something that didn't have to happen if the child was restrained." King said Keon Harden was sitting on his mother's lap in the front seat of a Toyota Camry being driven by his father. Just after 6 p.m., in the southbound lanes of North State Road 7 in the 1200 block, the Camry hit a Dodge Dakota from behind, sending it into the back of a Lincoln Town Car. The badly injured Keon, of Hollywood, was taken to Broward General Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
2007 Dodge Caliber SRT4
Believe it or not, Dodge's initial plans for the Caliber hatchback didn't call for an SRT version. This wouldn't be shocking if you didn't know the history of the previous SRT4. Turns out when the original Neon SRT4 was built, Dodge figured it could sell around 12,000 or so if things went just right. It sold twice that number. Why that wasn't enough to convince Dodge to build an SRT version of the Neon's successor is unexplainable. Dodge eventually came around, though, allowing SRT's engineers to build yet another affordable compact car that will blow the doors off half the sports cars on the road. Like the previous Neon SRT4 sedan, the Caliber SRT4 uses a turbocharged and intercooled 2.4-liter four-cylinder with an aluminum block and heads. It's an all-new engine that adds dual counterrotating balance shafts and variable valve timing to the spec sheet along with a higher 8.6:1 compression ratio.
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Spy Shots: 2008 Dodge Magnum SRT-8
Brenda Priddy and her lens-wielding henchmen caught a brief, yet undisguised glimpse of the revised Magnum SRT-8, expected to debut next month at the Detroit auto show.The changes are striking, with the Magnum's front-clip taking the brunt of the alterations, beginning with a set of rectangular headlamps whose downsized line reduces the opening of the grill. A modified front bumper sports a set of chrome strips, while the hood looks like its been pulled straight from the Charger, donning a sizeable powerbulge and scoop. Although shots of the rear weren't available, the shooters claim that the taillights also benefit from a few tweaks.Under the hood, Dodge decided to stay with the 6.1-liter HEMI powerplant, mated to a five-speed manumatic that's had a software overhaul to produce smoother, quicker shifts.A revised interior is also in the cards, but we'll all have to wait until its official appearance in Motor City next month for all the changes.[Source: Zerin at Dubspeed Driven] .
Mother: Interstate accident victim makes miraculous recovery
SPRINGDALE -- A Fayetteville man is recovering faster than doctors had expected after being critically injured last week in a fatal accident on Interstate 540.Nicholas Goedereis Jr., 22, of Fayetteville suffered from a broken skull in three places, a brain bleed and fractures to the breastbone, sternum and several places on his face after his Chevrolet pickup was hit head on by a Dodge Neon driven by Rodolfo Garcia Correa, 21, of Rogers on Dec. 12. Three passengers in the Dodge Neon died that night and another boy was seriously injured.It's a Christmas miracle Goedereis survived the wreck and has recovered in a week beyond what doctors expected of him, said his mother Crystal Goedereis.It was touch and go for the first three days when he was in a drug-induced coma in the intensive care unit of Northwest Medical Center-Springdale, she said.
Big Bad Grocery-Getter Gets a Facelift!
Back in 04 when Daimler Chrysler launched the 300 and Magnum, I was beside myself for actually liking a domestic car. More than like, I was in love. These cars had the style, the power and the handling to give almost any car in its class a run for its money. The US hasn't had a hot domestic wagon since before I was born (I'm 31). Previous to the Magnum, the only sexy wagons in the US market wore BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Volvo badges. The Europeans just know how to do wagons. Well now Dodge is doing it again with the redesign of the Magnum for 2008. The guys over at dubspeeddriven.com got their hands on exclusive pics of the 2008 Dodge Magnum SRT8. Excuse me while I wipe the drool from my chin. This redesign offers a much more aggressive front end. I'm a fan of the new projector headlights and the hood scoop (currently only available on the Charger).
Prisoner Of Love? Officer & Convict Arrested
(CBS4) NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE A South Florida corrections officer is out of a job and facing grand theft auto charges after police say she was found in a stolen vehicle with her boyfriend, who happened to be a former inmate at the Miami-Dade prison where she worked.Police say Samantha Manin, 36, and convicted burglar Kyle Himes, 21, were found in a stolen Dodge Magnum that police think was used in a bank robbery. Authorities in Hialeah made the arrests last week.Police say they met at the South Florida Reception Center, where Manin worked and Himes served time for a string of burglaries.Himes was released November but arrested soon after in Nassau County for allegedly taking part in a bank heist. Police say his getaway vehicle was a black 2005 Dodge Magnum stolen from a nearby dealer.When police tracked Himes to Manin's home, Hialeah police Officer Giovanni Fuente saw the couple in the stolen Dodge and pulled them over.
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