The recall applies to Renegade models with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, with the company saying that more than half remain in dealer hands and will be serviced before they are sold.

The latest recall comes after months after hackers managed to wirelessly seize control of a Jeep Cherokee, leading the carmaker to recall 1.4m Dodges, Jeeps, Rams and Chryslers to fix the issue.

Fiat Chrysler said the latest recall involves radios that differ from those implicated in the previous recall for the hacking issue and added that it “is designed to protect connected vehicles from remote manipulation. If unauthorized, such interference constitutes a criminal act”.

It added that it “has already applied measures to prevent the type of vehicle manipulation demonstrated in a recent media report. These measures – which required no customer or dealer actions – block remote access to certain vehicle systems”.

Fiat Chrysler also said that: “The software manipulation addressed by this recall required unique and extensive technical knowledge, prolonged physical access to a subject vehicle and extended periods of time to write code.”

Under the recall, customers will receive a USB device which they may use to upgrade vehicle software. This provides additional security features. Alternately, customers may visit http://www.driveuconnect.com/software-update/ to input their Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) and determine if their vehicles are included in the recall. If so, they may download the software themselves or visit their dealers where technicians will perform the installation.