Some of the most serious auto defects that lead to a recall are ones that could affect a driver's ability to safely control the car. If you lose control while traveling at highway speeds, the most likely outcome is an injurious or fatal car accident.

Recently, Chrysler Group LLC announced that it will be expanding a recall on vehicles which could have such a defect. The auto manufacturer says that the rear axle on the recalled vehicles can potentially lock up due to a loose fastener; ultimately causing drivers to lose control of the car.

The initial global recall was announced last fall and included two pickup trucks with model years between 2009 and 2012. Models listed in the first recall included the Ram 1500 and the Dodge Dakota. When it was announced, the recall affected nearly 280,000 vehicles in the United States.

After discovering that the defect was also present in certain sport utility vehicles as well, the company recently expanded the recall to include the Chrysler Aspen and the Dodge Durango. The expanded recall will reportedly include an additional 370,297 vehicles worldwide. It is unclear how many of these vehicles are in the U.S.

According to a spokesperson for Chrysler, the company is aware of 15 car accidents related to the defect. Thankfully, none of these accidents have resulted in injury.

Recalls are not an endeavor that any manufacturer wishes to engage in. They take time, money and sometimes cause a lot of headaches for the car owners themselves. But in situations where one small defect could lead to serious or even fatal car accidents, the headaches associated with a proactive recall are very tolerable compared to dealing with the consequences of inaction.

Source: Reuters, "Chrysler recalls 370,297 trucks for possible loose fastener," Ben Klayman, Feb. 14, 2013