NEW YORK - Volkswagen of America is recalling some 15,900 of its Routan model minivans for a sliding-door wiring defect that could cause a fire, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Friday.

"Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2009 routan vehicles manufactured from June 2008 through July 2009" with a sliding door assembly that can wear through wire insulation at the door hinge.

"This could result in an overheated latch and a fire within the rear sliding door could occur," the NHTSA said in a statement.

It said Volkswagen first announced the recall on Tuesday.

The Routan model is made in the United States by Chrysler, which on Monday recalled 284,831 Dodge Grand Caravans and Chrysler Town & Country models also because of ill-fitted wiring that poses a fire risk.