A federal investigation has been launched by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is what is being investigated. The number of affected vehicles could be as much as 3 million. The investigation was touched off by a petition from the Center for Auto Safety, over concerns of faulty and dangerous design of the popular SUVs. A fire hazard is what is being looked into, caused by negative placement of the fuel tank. Article resource – Feds investigate possible defects in Jeep Grand Cherokee by Car Deal Expert.
This might be no issue at all in the Jeep Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is being investigated. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched the inquiry, as outlined by CNN. You will find over 10 model years being looked at. The years in question are vehicles from 1993 to 2004. The Center for Auto Safety says the design of the fuel tank poses a severe fire hazard.There are 254 deaths from fire in Jeep Grand Cherokees, and 172 crashes involving fire. Chrysler insisted the Cherokee was entirely safe.
It’s the gas tank which is the problem
The gas tank within the Jeep Cherokee is plastic. The tank is mounted below the rear bumper and behind the rear axle. This, as outlined by the Ralph Nader-founded CAS, makes the gas tank’s neck susceptible to rupture in rear end collisions and greater risk of fire. 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.
Jeep steals the show away from the Pinto
Jeep has offered a skid plate as an option for the Grand Cherokee that covers the fuel tank, but only as an add-on for off-road driving. Jeep at least added a brush guard in 1999. Nevertheless, in 2005, the jeep grand Cherokee got a re-design. The tank was moved to the middle of the car. Though the problem is not the same in many respects, the greater risk to the top of the tank being sheared off is comparable to the defect in the fuel tank of the Pinto.
Further reading
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
No comments:
Post a Comment