Chrysler, which is controlled by Italy's Fiat, said the recall targeted 2004 and 2005 model years of the Jeep Liberty SUVs.

The recall worldwide involves 267,353 vehicles, Chrysler said in an emailed statement.

The bulk of the recalled vehicles -- 209,746 -- are in the United States, concentrated in 20 states where road salt is frequently used for winter driving conditions.

Chrysler also recalled 24,727 vehicles in Canada. Outside North America, 32,880 were being brought in for a fix.

According to the US National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, Chrysler said it was necessary to replace the lower control arms in the rear suspension of the cars due to a corrosion problem that could arise from salt treatments on roads during snow and ice conditions.

A fracture of the corroded arm may cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle, possibly leading to a vehicle crash, the NHTSA said.

Chrysler said it was unaware of any accidents or injuries related to the issue.