Abuja – The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) on Monday gave a seven-day ultimatum to Westar Associate Limited to provide status report on Jeep Wrangler and Chrysler vehicles in Nigeria.
This is contained in a statement by the Head of Public Relations of CPC, Mr Abiodun Obimuyiwa, in Abuja.
The statement said that the ultimatum was given following the recall of Jeep Wrangler and Chrysler 300 vehicles by European Union (EU) authorities.
It said that the company was asked to provide information on its vehicles in relation to defects associated with clutch pedal positions and the driver’s frontal bag.
It recalled that CPC’s Director, Surveillance and Enforcement, Mrs R.O. Ogundipe, had drawn the companies attention to the fact that EU authorities on Feb. 19, 2016 recalled the vehicles “for safety reasons’’.
The council said that the vehicles were produced between 2005 and 2010, adding that the decision by the EU was due to factory defects associated with clutch pedal positions and the driver’s frontal bag respectively.
It said that the defects posed serious risks to users of the vehicles.
According to the statement, Nigeria is a very big market and there is high possibility that many customers may currently be in possession of these affected models.
It, therefore, requested Westar Associates Ltd to make available to it the number of its vehicles in Nigeria affected by the reported defects in the cars and recalled.
It added that steps taken to inform and sensitise consumers and efforts being made to facilitate quick recall of such vehicles in the country should also be made available.
CPC pointed out that its directive on the company was pursuant to its powers to compel manufacturers to give public notice of any hazard inherent in their products.
It said that in the Jeep Wrangler, the springs within the clutch pedal switch that prevented the vehicle from starting unless the clutch pedal was 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.
“Upon 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,” it stated.(NAN)