Vehicle Recall by Fiat Chrysler

Fiat Chrysler is getting ready to recall 1.4 million vehicles equipped with 8.4 inch touchscreen Uconnected radios. The reason for the recall is a software loophole. A demonstration by professional hackers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek provided proof that a 2014 Jeep Cherokee could be taken over remotely. According to Fiat Chrysler  the take over of the Jeep “required unique and extensive technical knowledge, prolonged physical access to a subject vehicle and extended periods of time to write code.”

The demonstration by the hackers showed that they were able to hack into the vehicles Uconnected system via a laptop working form home to command the Jeep while the Jeep was traveling on a St. Louis highway driven by Andy Greenberg (journalist). The hackers were able to turn on and off the windshield wipers, spray the windshield wiper fluid and were eventually able to completely turn off the Jeeps engine while it was traveling down the highway. In a parking lot the hackers demonstrated how the steering wheel could be taken over, but only while the Jeep was in reverse. They were even able to disable the brakes which sent the Jeep into a ditch. The Sprint cellular network provides data for the Uconnected system.

Here's a list of the vehicles affected by the recall equipped with the Uconnected system:

•  2013-15 Dodge Viper specialty vehicles
•  2013-15 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups
•  2013-15 Ram 3500, 4500, 5500 Chassis Cabs
•  2014-15 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Cherokee SUVs
•  2014-15 Dodge Durango SUVs
•  2015 Chrysler 200, Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger sedans
•  2015 Dodge Challenger sports coupes

Other vehicles equipped with the Uconnected system that are not affected are: the Journey and the Dodge Dart.