Safety Group Pushing for Recall of 2.2 Million Jeep Grand Cherokees Over Fire Concerns
A rather scary recall is creeping up for owners of Jeep‘s Grand Cherokee sold between 1993-2004. The recall is being demanded by The Center for Auto Safety, stating that a defective fuel tank design can cause the gas tank to rupture in the event of a rear-end collision. Adding fuel to the fire (sorry, we couldn’t resist) is Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety stating that those affected Grand Cherokees are “the most dangerous vehicle on the road today”.
Chrysler is putting up a fight though, stating that the Center for Auto Safety’s test was three times as severe as the government standard. The culprit is the fact that the gas tank is housed behind the rear-axle, something that was changed in the 2005 Grand Cherokee when Chrysler moved it in front of the rear-axle. Chrysler stated that it wasn’t for safety reasons but rather to increase the cargo space.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently investigating the claims.
[Source: Motor Trend]
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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I purchased one of these from sparebumper.com to block the under-ride and shield the tank zone.
This is scary I have a 2000 Grand Cherokee ltd edition.How do I get more info on this.And how do I help to push for a recall?