Do you own a vehicle that was made by the Fiat Chrysler Corporation and falls within the model years 2013-2015? If so, guess what? Your car or truck just might be vulnerable to a hacking attack!
According to the company, approximately 1.4 million recent model vehicles are capable of being remotely accessed and controlled by cyber crooks.
And if that alone isn’t scary enough, get this: The hack and take-over of your vehicle could take place as you are literally driving down the highway. Pretty scary stuff if you ask me.
All of the 1.4 million vehicles that are vulnerable to hackers have been recalled so that a security update (aka patch) can be applied to the vehicles’ digital Uconnect systems. Here is a list of the affected models:
- 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
To dispel any doubts as to whether a specific vehicle has been recalled or not, Chrysler has created a handy tool that will let you type in your vehicle’s VIN number and find out instantly whether your specific car or truck has been recalled. To use it simply visit this page and enter the VIN number.
If you discover that your vehicle has indeed been recalled, you can download the patch for your car’s Uconnect system and install it yourself via a USB flash drive.
Alternatively, you can call your local Chrysler dealer and make an appointment to take your car in and have them install the patch for you (at no cost to you). In case you’re wondering, I strongly recommend taking the car to the dealership because this is one update that really needs to be installed correctly.
Bottom line: I have often said that virtually anything with a computer chip in it can be hacked, and we’re learning about new security flaws and exploits by the day. I’ll try my best to bring them to your attention as soon as possible after they are made public.