Federal safety investigators from The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have launched a preliminary investigation into the Jeep Grank Cherokee models built between 1993 and 2004.
The investigation was sparked by a petition filed by a consumer watchdog group, the Center for Auto Safety, which pointed out federal records indicated 254 deaths from 172 crashes which suffered vehicle fires. According to CNN Money, CAS pointed to the design of the 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee ’s gas tank, which was made from plastic and located behind and below both the rear axle and bumper.
CAS suggested that the location made the gas tank particularly susceptible to rupture from a rear-end collision, particularly due to what it believed was inadequate protection surrounding the gas tank itself.
Despite CAS pointing to 172 accidents and 254 allegedly linked deaths, NHTSA’s own research indicated that there were 10 crashed between 1992 and today that involved vehicle fires from the gas tank location, with 13 resulting deaths.
Given the relatively low number of incidents over the expansive time period and covering millions of vehicles, it is likely that NHTSA will determine the design does not warranty a safety recall – but the final decision is still being considered.
