This week's recalls: Dodge, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, Ram, Volkswagen

In case you missed it: Vehicle recalls that came across our desk during the past week. Materials for this recap are received via email from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) copied directly from the www.nhtsa.gov website.

2015-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango
Units affected: 14,768

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles manufactured December 9, 2015, to January 14, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the left front brake caliper may crack due to being made from an incorrect material.

A cracked brake caliper may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front left brake caliper and depending on its casting date, replace it, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S16.

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class
Units affected: 888

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2016 GLC 300 vehicles manufactured June 16, 2015, to November 3, 2015, and 2016 GLC 300 4Matic vehicles manufactured July 16, 2015, to November 3, 2015. The steering columns in the affected vehicles may have the wiring harness for the switch module incorrectly routed. As a result, the harness may chafe and the air bag may unexpectedly deploy or the engine may stall.

An unexpected air bag deployment or engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harnesses, properly rerouting them as necessary. Any damaged harnesses will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in April 2016. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

2015-2016 Ram 1500
Units affected: 442

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Ram 1500 trucks manufactured January 22, 2015, to September 13, 2015. Contamination on the Electric Power Steering (EPS) control circuit board may cause a short and result in the loss of power steering assist.

If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required, especially at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EPS unit, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S19.

2012-2014 Volkswagen Passat TDI
Units affected: 91,000

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Passat vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Due to improperly assembled wire seals in a connector for an underbody sensor, water may enter and corrode the electrical connectors of the sensor, causing an electrical short.

An electrical short can cause the electrical connectors of the sensor to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connector, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23T3.

Note for all recalls: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Worried that you might have missed a recall on your car? Now you can look it up yourself online. All you need is your vehicle's VIN. Simply go to www.safercar.gov and use the "Recalls Look-up by VIN" tool. Or you can just go there directly with this link => https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/.

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