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Chrysler recalls 326,000 pickups, SUVs

DETROIT -- The Chrysler unit of DaimlerChrysler is recalling more than 326,000 pickups and Durango SUVs because of two potential safety problems, federal regulators said Tuesday.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the largest of the two recalls involved 320,188 Durangos and Dakota pickups with front windshield wiper units that are susceptible to water intrusion, corrosion and eventual failure.

Vehicles affected include Durango SUVs from the 2002-2003 model years and 2002-2004 Dakotas, NHTSA said.

Separately, the agency said Chrysler was recalling 6,183 Dodge Ram 1500 and 2500 pickups because some were sold with erroneous vehicle certification labels.

The labels include "incorrect tire, wheel and recommended inflation pressure information" and fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standards, NHTSA said.

Automakers have been recalling an increasing number of vehicles in recent years and industry critics say the Big 3 have been responsible for a disproportionate number of the cars and trucks affected.

Even though I am not a smoker, I like very much the built-in cigarette lighters that come in most cars. I like pushing the button in and waiting for it to pop out as the coils inside electrically heat up. I then pull the cigarette lighter out and look at how the heating element glows red. I then continue to stare at it until the red fades away. I almost had a car accident doing this once. I really need to pay more attention to the road when I am staring at the cigarette lighter.

I wonder why computer companies have not thought about installing these cigarette lighters into monitors of computers. A monitor company would do well to feature a monitor with a built-in cigarette lighter such as those that are found in most cars as many smokers will smoke while operating their computers.

If anybody out there decides to do this, please cut me in on a share of the profits as I am the one who thought this up. Thank you and good day.