2 model-years added to Liberty recall

2 model-years added to Liberty recall

DETROIT

Chrysler has added more than 137,000 Jeep Liberty SUVs to a March safety recall, bringing the total number of vehicles affected to nearly 347,000.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the lower control arms in the rear suspensions of the Libertys can rust and break, possibly causing them to crash. However, the company says it knows of no crashes or injuries from the problem. The recall involves vehicles in states where salt is used to clear ice and snow from the roads.

Chrysler said Monday that it will inspect the parts and replace them for free if needed.

The safety agency, in documents posted last weekend on its website, said that Chrysler has added the 2006 and 2007 model years to the recall. In March, the company said it was recalling about 200,000 Libertys from the 2004 and 2005 model years for the same problem.

Vehicles affected by the recall were sold or registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

The company plans to notify owners of the added vehicles by the end of June. Customers with questions can call Chrysler at 800-853-1403.

Relief over bank rescue fades quickly

NEW YORK

A burst of enthusiasm over a rescue of Spanish banks melted away Monday within hours, and investor anxiety about the troubled finances of Europe grew on both sides of the Atlantic.

On Wall Street, stocks opened sharply higher but sank all day. Selling accelerated only in the last hour of trading, and the Dow Jones industrial average closed down 142 points.

More alarming, bond investors signaled that they are less confident about lending money to the governments of both Spain and Italy, which investors fear will be next to seek help.

From wire reports