Will Fiat-Chrysler face another 9-speed automatic issue, this time in the new Jeep Renegade? CEO Sergio Marchionne says a fix is coming, but the company isn’t making any statements yet.
Speaking at a Tuesday event, Marchionne said the newly released Renegade – which is built in Italy alongside the upcoming 2016 Fiat 500X – is experiencing the same issues as the Jeep Cherokee did with its 9-speed automatic and all-wheel drive system, according to Automotive News. He added that a software bug was forcing Renegades to be withheld from dealers until a remedy is installed.
Marchionne went further, though. In fact, he put the Renegade in a pretty unflattering light.
“I’m having a very bad engineering day,” Marchionne said. “It’s a combination of attributes of that vehicle that is making my life horrible.”
A Chrysler spokesperson we contacted Wednesday declined to comment on the article, or if sales of Renegades with optional all-wheel drive would be affected because of the software update Marchionne referred to.
The Cherokee’s 2013 launch was hobbled by problems with the 9-speed automatic transmission, the first application for that system in any vehicle. Cherokees were stockpiled for months and a press launch rescheduled while the transmission was sorted out. And even this February, FCA was trying to figure out another fix for Cherokee owners.
The 2015 Renegade has been on sale in the U.S. since March, with more than 5,000 sold through the end of April. Most versions are equipped with the 2.4-liter engine and 9-speed automatic. It’s unclear if this issue is also affecting the Fiat 500X’s U.S. launch.
We’ll keep you posted on the situation.
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