CAS Statement on Chrysler’s Agreement to Recall Fire-Prone Jeeps – 6/18/13

The Center for Auto Safety is the nation’s premier independent, member driven, non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to improving vehicle safety, quality, and fuel economy on behalf of all drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

 

June 18, 2013

Statement on Chrysler’s Recall of Some Fire Prone Jeeps

Chrysler’s announcement means the argument shifts from whether the 1993-98 Jeep Grand Cherokees and 2002-07 Liberty’s are unsafe and whether there will be a recall to what the recall remedy will be and how to make the Jeeps safe from rear impact fires. Under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has the authority and duty to approve the recall remedy proposed by Chrysler.  CAS Executive Director Clarence Ditlow said: “We call on NHTSA to do crash tests of Chrysler’s proposed remedy, just as it did with Ford’s proposed remedy for the Pinto in 1978, to determine that the modified Jeeps meet the present Safety Standard just as the Pinto’s had to the meet the new Safety Standard in 1978.  If the modified Jeeps do not pass, we call on NHTSA to require Chrysler to develop a more effective remedy just as NHTSA did with the Pinto when it failed the first round of tests. In view of Chrysler’s refusal to recall 1999-04 Grand Cherokees, we call on NHTSA to move to an initial determination of a defect in order to force their recall as well.”

Mr. Ditlow also said:  “We call on Fiat CEO John Elkann and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne to listen to the voice of their Jeep customers and agree to recall all the Jeeps before more children die in rear impact fire crashes. The Center calls on the CEO’s to implement a recall remedy that is effective and meets present standards just as Ford did with the Pinto.  To put this matter finally behind Chrysler, we urge them to extend the recall to 1993-2001 Jeep Cherokees and 1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees which are still under investigation by NHTSA.” 

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CAS Letter to NHTSA Administrator David Strickland re: Chrysler White Paper – 6/18/13

Letters to Chrysler/Fiat CEO’s

CAS Asks Fiat/Chrysler Chairmen Elkann & Marchionne to Recall Jeeps that Burn Children to Death in Rear Impacts – 5/22/13

CAS Renews Request to Recall Jeep Grand Cherokee After Second 4-Year Old’s Fire Death in Child Seat in Rear Crash – 4/5/12

Letter to Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne re: Jeep Fire Crashes in 2010 FARS – 1/25/12

Second Letter to Chrysler Chairman Sergio Marchionne Re: Orlando Crash – 11/17/11

Chrysler CEO Marchionne Asked to Show Social Responsibility He Stresses & Recall Jeep Grand Cherokee With Fire Death Rate 20 Times Ford Explorer – 9/1/11