Feds open probe as Fiat Chrysler recalls 1.4M cars to thwart hackers

In what appears to be an industry first, Fiat Chrysler launched a giant recall Friday to try to shield its vehicles from computer hackers.

The U.S. unit of the automaker ordered a voluntary safety recall on 1.4 million vehicles to update software in the infotainment system to prevent the possibility that they could be hacked.

Shortly after the recall was announced, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it is launching an investigation to assess whether Fiat Chrysler's recall will be effective.

"Launching a recall is the right step to protect Fiat Chrysler's customers, and it sets an important precedent for how NHTSA and the industry will respond to cybersecurity vulnerabilities," NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind said in a statement.

The recall comes in reaction to a demonstration by Wired magazine in which two hackers took control of a Jeep SUV and operated it remotely while a journalist sat in the driver's seat. They cranked up the air conditioning and took over the sound system. The car ended up in a ditch. The test involved accessing the vehicle via its UConnect infotainment system.

FCA US, the new name for what used to be Chrysler Group, the U.S. unit of Fiat Chrysler, said the recall "aligns with an ongoing software distribution that insulates connected vehicles from remote manipulation, which, if unauthorized, constitutes criminal action."

It says the recall applies to "certain vehicles" equipped with 8.4-inch touchscreens among the following populations. They include 2013 to 2015 Dodge Vipers and Ram pickups; 2014 to 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Cherokees and Dodge Durango SUVs; and 2015 Chrysler 200, Chrysler 300 and Dodge Chargers and Challengers. Wired's demonstration took place on a Jeep Cherokee.

FCA US also says it has applied network-level security measures to prevent the type of remote manipulation demonstrated by Wired. It says the measures were implemented Thursday.