A federal investigation has been launched by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The subject is an SUV. The Jeep Grand Cherokee may possess a design defect. The number of possibly affected automobiles numbers more than 3 million. The Center for Auto Safety filed a petition with the NHTSA. The petition was to look into possible design flaws. It is posited that Jeep Grand Cherokees, from more than 10 model years, have a defective fuel system that can pose a severe fire hazard.
The issue with jeep grand Cherokees
There is a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation underway, as outlined by CNN, of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The autos in question are from model years 1993 to 2004. There might be a fire hazard with the fuel tank, as outlined by the Center for Auto Safety. There are 172 crashes involving a fire, resulting in 254 deaths in Jeep Grand Cherokees. Chrysler insisted the Cherokee was completely safe.
Awful gasoline tank potentially at fault
The gasoline tank in the Jeep Grand Cherokee is plastic. Jeep fuel tanks of those model years are mounted behind the rear axle. They also protrude just below the bumper. That’s where the risk lies, as outlined by the CAS. The organization, founded by Ralph Nader, insists the tank can rupture in rear end accidents and thus poses a fire danger. According to ABC, the NHTSA has identified 44 crashes where automobiles catching fire caused more damage than the actual crash. There were 55 deaths which were observed in crashes, where the fire, and not the crash, killed those involved. There were also 10 rear ending crashes were fire resulted. There were 13 deaths in rear end crashes that resulted in fire.
Ford Pinto comes back
Jeep has offered a skid plate as an option for the Grand Cherokee that covers the fuel tank, however only as an add-on for off-road driving. Jeep at least added a brush guard in 1999. Jeep Cherokee models from 2005 onward have the fuel tank in the middle of the vehicle. The issue is really somewhat comparable to the Pinto. Both vehicles could have the fuel tank’s top sheared off in a rear-ending accident.
ABC News
abcnews.go.com/Blotter/jeep-grand-cherokee-abc-station-reported-gas-tank/story?id=11473270 and page=1
CNN Money
money.cnn.com/2010/08/24/autos/Jeep_Grand_Cherokee/index.htm
