WASHINGTON – Chrysler announced the recall of 1.6 million Jeep Grand Cherokee sport utility vehicles Thursday in response to a series of accidents in which the vehicles unexpectedly lurched into reverse, causing at least five deaths and more than 150 injuries.

A federal safety agency investigating the problem had received more than 700 complaints from owners of the popular SUVs, who reported their Grand Cherokees could slip into reverse when the gearshift appeared to be in the “park” position. In most cases, the engine was running.

The broad recall covers Grand Cherokees produced from 1993 to 1998. The Chrysler Group – a unit of DaimlerChrysler Corp. – said its dealers will install an additional part in the floor-shifter mechanism to prevent the problem, at no cost to consumers.

“Although there are several ways for Jeep Grand Cherokee owners to assure their vehicle is in park, this improvement will provide one more way to assist customers by making it more difficult for a driver to fail to put the gear shifter fully in park,” said Matt Reynolds, Chrysler’s safety director. The company said it continues to believe the vehicles are not defective.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into the Grand Cherokee this summer, after the Los Angeles Times contacted the agency about a number of complaints from consumers.

One Jeep Cherokee owner, Jacquee Kahn of Los Angeles, told the Times that her 1997 Grand Cherokee rolled into reverse while she was fueling it at a gas station near one of the city’s busiest intersections just before Christmas 1999. The engine was off, and the Jeep – with her sister in it – crunched into a gas pump.

Later, The Times reported on previously undisclosed deaths blamed on the problem and on several lawsuits in which Chrysler entered into confidential settlements with consumers.

NHTSA spokesman Rae Tyson said the safety agency will continue to investigate 1999-2001 Grand Cherokees. The government has received 174 complaints about these later-model Jeeps, including 61 reported crashes and 32 injuries.