Last week, Attorney Andrew Jones sent out emails to our family, friends, current and past clients to warn about a potential defect in approximately 2.7 million Jeep vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sent a letter to Chrysler on June 3rd to suggest model year 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberties are at risk for a safety-related defect. The letter claimed that these vehicles’ rear fuel tanks may cause an unreasonable risk of fire. The fuel tanks are subject to failure when the vehicles are struck from the rear. This failure could result in fuel leakage, which can lead to a fire in the presence of external ignition sources. The NHTSA claimed that 51 people had lost their lives in fiery crashes. Chrysler refused to order the recall at that time in a letter sent back to the NHTSA.
Fortunately, today Chrysler reversed its decision and is announcing a recall of these vehicles. In the statement released today, Chrysler states that dealers will examine the included vehicles for safety concerns. If necessary, they will upgrade the structure in the rear of the vehicles so that rear-impact crashes are handled better. Chrysler upholds that the SUVs are not defective.
This is good news, as many of these older model Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty vehicles often serve as vehicles for our children – many times as their first vehicle.
Unfortunately, this recall will not ensure that all included vehicles are inspected for the defect. On average, little over half of recalled vehicles are brought to dealerships by owners. It is very important that owners of these model Jeep vehicles visit a dealership as soon as possible to prevent serious injuries in rear-impact accidents. So far, 37 crashes that caused fires have been reported in relation to these vehicles.
If you or someone you know drive a 1993-2004 model year Jeep Grand Cherokee or 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty, it is imperative that you visit a dealership immediately. They will check for and fix defects at no cost to you. For more information, contact Jones & Swanson today at (770) 427-5498.
Jones & Swanson has experience representing victims of automobile accidents caused by defects in the vehicle. The most common types of defects in automobiles involve seatbelts and tires, but the potential for fire in rear-impact crashes is extremely dangerous for everyone involved. If you or someone you love have been injured due to what you believe to be an auto recall, contact our firm today for a free consultation at (770) 427-5498. We are here to answer questions and help in any way possible.
Categories: Automobile Recall, Product Recall
