Dodge Caliber subject to worldwide recall over gas pedals

WASHINGTON - Chrysler is recalling nearly 35,000 Dodge Calibers in the United States and around the world to fix a potential problem with sticky gas pedals, the same issue that has affected millions of Toyotas.

Chrysler Group Llc said it will recall about 25,000 Calibers in the United States from the 2007 model year and a limited number of 2007 Jeep Compass sport utility vehicles to inspect vehicles built between March and May of 2006. The remaining vehicles are in Mexico, Canada and elsewhere.

The pedals were made by CTS Corp., the Elkhart, Ind., company that manufactured pedals involved in the recall of more than 2 million Toyotas earlier this year. Chrysler told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the pedals were "a completely different design" and made "with different tooling" than the pedals involved in Toyota's recall. NHTSA opened an investigation into the Chrysler pedals in April.

The auto company noted that the small SUVs have "smart brake" technology allowing the brake to override the gas pedal and safely bring the vehicle to a stop. Chrysler said it did not consider the problem a safety defect but decided to conduct a safety recall anyway.

The automaker will replace the pedals free of charge. Chrysler estimated that 30 percent of the recalled vehicles may need to have the pedal assembly replaced.

The automaker said it was unaware of any reports of accidents, injuries or property damage related to the pedals.- AP