Chrysler Recalls 1.5 Million Jeep Vehicles for Fire Hazard

By Grant Law Office on June 24, 2013

The Chrysler Group has agreed to recall 1.56 million Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Liberty SUVs after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) slashed the number of vehicles that should be recalled by over a million. According to a news report in USA Today, the auto manufacturer fought the recall for two weeks because they found the original recall of 2.7 million vehicles by the NHTSA to be too costly.

Government officials requested the recall as a response to a growing number of deadly vehicle fires involving rear-end crashes. Chrysler could have prevented a number of these fires had they installed longer fuel-filler hoses that would have stayed on the fuel tank during a collision. The 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokees and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty SUVs involved in the recall have hoses that are prone to becoming detached during a rear collision. When this occurs, fuel can leak and catch fire.

Owners of the potentially dangerous and defective vehicles should be made wary by Chrysler’s resistance to the initial recall. NHTSA is on record as saying that 51 people have been killed in fiery crashes involving Jeeps with gas tanks positioned behind the rear axle. The company will install hitches on the recalled vehicles to help protect the gas tanks.

If you or someone you love has been injured as the result of a dangerous or defective vehicle, the experienced Atlanta auto product liability attorneys at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C. can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Please contact us at (404) 995-3955 to find out how we can help you.