Jeep Grand Cherokee, Liberty SUVs recalled due to air bag problems

Nearly 745,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Liberty sport-utility vehicles are being recalled due to an issue with the cars' supplemental restraint systems. A component within the system could fail and cause a sudden, inadvertent deployment of safety systems such as the front air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side curtain air bag.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the recall affects the 2002-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty manufactured from January 2001 through May 2003.

Chrysler will notify affected SUV owners in January and instruct them to bring recalled vehicles to local dealers, who will install a supplemental jumper harness to the vehicle's air-bag control module for free.