Nader urges Fiat to recall 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees

[DainBramaged]

Consumer activist Ralph Nader has called on Fiat to recall 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees made by Chrysler because of what he calls their vulnerability to fiery rear-end crashes.

U.S. safety regulators have been conducting an investigation and considering a recall of 3 million Grand Cherokees.

Nader said today that the Grand Cherokee from these years “is a modern-day Pinto for soccer moms” because the fuel tank is behind the rear axle below the rear bumper. My insert; (If he truly knew the demographc that bought these, he'd find it wasn't soccer Moms but commuters for work).


In August, NHTSA began an investigation after its preliminary review found that the fuel tank may have been linked to 22 fiery crashes and 14 deaths.

NHTSA said at the time that its preliminary review did not find the Grand Cherokee has a disproportionate number of fire-related accidents compared with similar models of other automakers.

The Nader-founded Center for Auto Safety, whose research spurred the NHTSA probe, has come up with different findings.

It said the fuel tank has exploded into flames in 44 crashes and rollovers causing 64 deaths -- twice as many fire-related accidents and four times as many deaths identified by regulators.



Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110126/RETAIL05/110129884/1252#ixzz1CAdksJrB


I guess Ralph is still trying to be relevant....

[Cleita]

1. I have a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Where would they put the gas tank if recalled?

[DainBramaged]

2. That's specifically the point.

My bet is this is your car to get to work with. Like the Chevy Blazer of the era, mostly driver only trips to and from work, the market, rarely if ever a load of people because they just weren't comfortable unless you were in front. And zero cargo room. Just an inexpensive 4 wheel drive vehicle.

[Ghost in the Machine]

7. Inexpensive? My 97 Grand Cherokee Limited was $38,900 brand new

I didn't pay that for it though, I bought it used 4.5 years for 4 thousand, cash money. I just got back last night from a 1300 mile round trip to the Outer Banks (Kitty Hawk, NC). I love my Jeep and wouldn't trade it for the world. It's got about 700 miles to go before rolling over 200,000 miles.

[Electric Monk]

3. Having the fuel tank between the rear bumper and rear axle is a bad idea.

It's hard to argue that, but I'm guessing you might try to. Knock yourself out, I'm waiting.

[madrchsod]

6. there`s no where else to put the tank.

[Gold Metal Flake]

8. True.

Not too many areas to mount something of that size, unless you wanna give up your trunk or the rear seat.

Any fuel tank is vulnerable in a collision. Some danger can be reduced if the tank is made of $tronger material$ or filled with a foam (like a racing fuel cell) that would reduce gushing if the tank is torn open. Given a choice, I doubt most people would fork over the money to pay for that.

[Hubert Flottz]

4. The Jeep Liberty has a gas tank in the same location.

I guess people with a Liberty don't deserve to live?

[PBS Poll-435]

5. Can't make a Green Party Primary Challenge (GPPC) without a little publicity

:shrug: