Fiat Chrysler has issued a safety recall affecting 1.4m vehicles in the US, after security researchers showed that one of its cars could be hacked.
On Tuesday, tech magazine Wired reported that hackers took control of a Jeep Cherokee via its internet-connected entertainment system.
Chrysler said it was issuing a voluntary recall to update the software in affected vehicles.
The company added that hacking its vehicles was a “criminal action“.
Security researchers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek demonstrated that it was possible for hackers to control a Jeep Cherokee remotely, using the car’s entertainment system which connected to the mobile data network.
The two security researchers have spent years investigating car control systems and developing ways to subvert them. The pair are due to reveal more information about their work at the Def Con hacker conference next month.
Shortly after the recall was announced, Mr Miller tweeted:
I wonder what is cheaper, designing secure cars or doing recalls ?
Fiat Chrysler said exploiting the flaw “required unique and extensive technical knowledge, prolonged physical access to a subject vehicle and extended periods of time to write code” and added manipulating its software “constitutes criminal action”.
Affected vehicles :
2013-2015 MY Dodge Viper specialty vehicles
2013-2015 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups
2013-2015 Ram 3500, 4500, 5500 Chassis Cabs
2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Cherokee SUVs
2014-2015 Dodge Durango SUVs
2015 MY Chrysler 200, Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger sedans
2015 Dodge Challenger sports coupes
