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Fiat Chrysler voluntarily recalls 1.4 million vehicles in the United States after Jeep hack


July 24, 2015   by Canadian Underwriter


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Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) announced on Friday that it was conducting a voluntary safety recall to update software in approximately 1.4 million U.S. vehicles equipped with certain radios.

Charlie Miller attempts to rescue the Jeep after its brakes were remotely disabled, sending it into a ditch. Andy Greenberg/WIRED

The recall “aligns with an ongoing software distribution that insulates connected vehicles from remote manipulation, which, if unauthorized, constitutes criminal action,” FCA said in a press release. “Further, FCA US has applied network-level security measures to prevent the type of remote manipulation demonstrated in a recent media report.”

On Tuesday, tech magazine WIRED reported that hackers had taken control of a Jeep Cherokee via its Internet-connected entertainment system.

FCA said in the release that the security measures taken – which required no customer or dealer actions – blocked remote access to certain vehicle systems and were fully tested and implemented within the cellular network on Thursday. “The company is unaware of any injuries related to software exploitation, nor is it aware of any related complaints, warranty claims or accidents – independent of the media demonstration,” FCA reported.

Affected are certain vehicles equipped with 8.4-inch touchscreens among the following vehicles:

• 2013-2015 Dodge Viper specialty vehicles;

• 2013-2015 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups;

• 2013-2015 Ram 3500, 4500, 5500 Chassis Cabs;

• 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Cherokee SUVs;

• 2014-2015 Dodge Durango SUVs;

• 2015 Chrysler 200, Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger sedans; and

• 2015 Dodge Challenger sports coupes.

Customers affected by the recall will receive a USB device that they may use to upgrade vehicle software, which provides additional security features independent of the network-level measures. Alternately, customers may visit http://www.driveuconnect.com/software-update/ to input their Vehicle Identification Numbers and determine if their vehicles are included in the recall.

FCA US has also established a dedicated system quality engineering team focused on identifying and implementing best practices for software development and integration.

“The software manipulation addressed by this recall required unique and extensive technical knowledge, prolonged physical access to a subject vehicle and extended periods of time to write code,” the release concluded. “No defect has been found. FCA US is conducting this campaign out of an abundance of caution.”


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