1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee

ODI has completed an extensive analysis of rear crash fuel tank system integrity data for the subject Jeep Cherokee, Grand Cherokee and Liberty vehicles (SVs).As of June 2013, ODI knew of 56 post-collision fatal fires, 28 non-fatal fires, and 6 fuel leak incidents (totaling 90 incidents, 75 fatalities and 58 injuries) involving the SVs.Based on this analysis, ODI issued a Recall Request Letter (RRL) on June 3, 2013 requesting that Chrysler recall the Grand Cherokee and Liberty vehicles due to the rate of fatal, non-fatal fire, and fuel leak incidents when compared to peer vehicles (compact and medium SUVs) built during the same time period.In the RRL, ODI described how the location of the aft-mounted fuel tank made the SVs vulnerable to rear impact crash fuel tank failures.During the analysis, besides the high speed/high severity crashes present in both the SV and peer vehicles, ODI observed a significant number of low and moderate speed rear impact crash related fires and leaks, particularly in the Liberty.The data also demonstrated that SVs originally equipped with towing hitch receivers (trailer hitches) appeared to be under-represented in rear-impact related fuel tank failures.In the RRL, ODI requested that Chrysler provide its response by June 18, 2013, otherwise NHTSA might proceed to an Initial Decision that the SVs contain a safety-related defect.Chrysler responded to the RRL on June 4, 2013 and vigorously disputed the tentative findings of the RRL.Among other things, Chrysler argued that the SVs had an overall safety record superior to their peers, met or exceeded all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) and only experienced fires in severe high energy rear impacts.Nonetheless, while continuing to maintain that the SVs did not contain a safety-related defect, Chrysler proposed a recall (13V-252) of approximately 2.5M (1.6M currently registered) model year (MY) 1993 - 1998 Grand Cherokee (ZJ) and MY 2002-2007 Liberty (KJ) vehicles on June 18, 2013.The recall remedy submitted by Chrysler would employ a hitch receiver assembly consisting of a steel cross-member behind the fuel tank with forward-projecting arms bolted to the frame rails on either side of the fuel tank.For the MY 1999 - 2004 Grand Cherokee, Chrysler indicated it would conduct a customer satisfaction campaign and inspect vehicles equipped with aftermarket tow hitch receivers, and if necessary, replace any such hitch receivers whose conditionmay increase the risk of fuel system failure in rear crashes.Examination of the available data established that the MY 1999 - 2004 Grand Cherokee did not pose the same magnitude of safety risk as the MY 1993 - 1998 Grand Cherokee and MY 2002-2007 Liberty, particularly in low and moderate speed rear impacts.Because the agency has concluded that the vehicles do not present an unreasonable risk to safety, ODI is closing its investigation of the MY 1999 - 2004 Grand Cherokee.Although it was not within the scope of the Petition initiating this investigation or the Preliminary Evaluation preceding this EA, ODI also examined the performance of the MY 1993 - 2001 Cherokee as part of this investigation.NHTSA's assessment of the available data for the Cherokee did not establish an unreasonable risk in comparison to peer vehicles.ODI does not approve proposed defect remedies.While offering to install hitch receiver assemblies on the MY 1993-1998 Grand Cherokees and 2002-2007 Liberty, Chrysler did not, in ODI's view, provide enough evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed remedy in rear impacts.The Complete Summary for this Closing Resume (EA12-005) can be seen by

NHTSA has conducted extensive analysis of the data regarding fuel tank integrity for the model year (MY) 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee (JGC). As a result of that work, the agency has decided to upgrade its safety defect investigation to an Engineering Analysis and to expand the scope of vehicles included in the investigation. NHTSA's assessment of the data collected during this investigation indicates that rear-impact-related tank failures and vehicle fires are more prevalent in the JGC than in the non-Jeep peer vehicles. In addition, the agency's analysis of its FARS data for the peer vehicles and three Jeep models shows a higher incidence of rear-impact, fatal fire crashes for the Jeep products.PE10-031 had focused on the fuel tank system integrity of the JGC vehicles during rear-end collisions and impacts.The fuel tank is located at the rear of the vehicle, between the bumper and axle, and is manufactured from a plastic material (HDPE).Three peer vehicles (across the same MY range as the JGC) were identified for comparative assessment: the Chevrolet Blazer, Ford Explorer, and Toyota 4Runner.ODI has collected and assessed a significant volume of data for the JGC and three peer vehicles under the Defect Petition (DP) 09-005 and PE10-031, much of which was either provided by the petitioner or by the subject and peer manufacturers in response to ODI's information request letters.NHTSA has also utilized its FARS database.Fatal crash data was collected for the JGC and its three peers, along with data for two other Jeep vehicles, the Cherokee and Liberty, which were also manufactured with rear mounted fuel tanks and assessed by ODI as Jeep peer vehicles.Based on the agency's current analysis, ODI is upgrading its investigation to determine whether the subject vehicles contain a defect that presents an unreasonable risk to safety.The subject vehicles for EA12-005 will be MY 1993-2004 JGC, MY 1993-2001 Cherokee, and MY 2002-2007 Liberty; the estimated production volumes for these vehicles is approximately 5.1 million, although attrition is a factor for the older vehicles.Please note that the counts shown in the above failure report summary are for the JGC only (values shown in the total column are unique).Data for the other Jeep models and possibly other peer models will be collected during the investigation.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:506249, 549376, 734783, 869217, 10009553, 10335943, 10351589, 10351980, 10357528.

In a letter dated October 2, 2009, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned NHTSA to open a defect investigation and recall model year 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees.CAS alleged that the subject vehicles have defective fuel tank storage systems that present a fire hazard in crashes. CAS alleged that the plastic fuel tank's placement behind the rear axle and below the rear bumper, and the lack of adequate shielding, make it more vulnerable to rupture or leakage from a rear-impact by another vehicle (including damage from other components located on the Grand Cherokee), or in the case of rollover crashes, from other external objects.CAS also alleged that the fuel filler neck tears off in crashes.In its petition, CAS cites data from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) showing 172 fatal fire crashes with 254 fatalities involving the subject vehicles from calendar years 1992 through 2008.CAS stated that there have been at least 44 crashes with 64 total fatalities (subject and non-subject vehicles) where fire was entered as the Most Harmful Event (MHE) in the FARS database.In response to the CAS petition, ODI made a preliminary examination of available data.FARS data showed 2,988 occupants of the subject vehicles have died in crashes since 1992.Of those, 55 died in 44 crashes where fire was listed as the Most Harmful Event.Identifying crashes most likely associated with the alleged defect as described by CAS (defined as the subject vehicle being struck at the 5, 6 or 7 o'clock positions) isolated 10 crashes with 13 occupant fatalities.ODI also reviewed the Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ) database and identified 12 reports alleging A) a post-crash fuel tank leak and/or B) a post-crash fire potentially related to a fuel tank leak.Of the 12 reports, 10 involved fires (two involved fuel leaks only) with 9 alleged injuries and 1 alleged fatality.The existence of these post-crash fires does not, by itself, establish a defect trend.Further review and investigation into these incidents is needed to determine the existence of any relationship between the alleged defect and each fire or leak.It should be noted that ODI also conducted a preliminary review of the Early Warning Reporting (EWR) data that did not find the subject vehicles to be over-represented for post-crash fires.ODI's initial review neither supports nor excludes the possibility that a defect exists in the subject vehicles.However, ODI has always taken the position that vehicle fires pose a significant safety risk.Accordingly, ODI has granted the petition to further investigate the conditions associated with post-crash fires in these vehicles.

ODI OPENED EA02-029 TO DETERMINE WHETHER A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND EXISTED IN THE MY 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLIES.DURING EA02-029, THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC FAILURE MECHANISM IDENTIFIED THAT COULD DIFFERENTIATE THE MY 1997 VEHICLES FROM OTHER VEHICLES CONTAINING THIS SAME HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY OR COULD ACCOUNT FOR THEIR HIGHER COMPLAINT RATE.AS A RESULT, ODI EXPANDED THE SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE ALL GRAND CHEROKEE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLIES.IN PERFORMING EA02-029, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT SOME OF THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCHES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT INCREASED OPERATING FRICTIONAL RESISTANCE; HOWEVER, SINCE NONE OF THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCHES SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL OR OPERATIONAL DEFICIENCY AND THE COMPLAINT RATE OF HOOD FLY-UPS MEASURED OVER AN EXTENDED EXPOSURE TIME WAS LOW, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.

The contact owns a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled inadvertently. The vehicle was able to restart immediately on some occasions and restarted after a while on other occasions. There was no warning light illuminated. Several independent mechanics replaced the fuel filter and the fuel pump and installed an unknown computer software on the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11570967

Incident

Jan 19, 2024

The contact owns a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that prior to purchasing the vehicle, he researched online and became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 98V006000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and the contact was informed that the responsibility was on the consumer and the call was disconnected. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11523526

Incident

Apr 12, 2023

THE INSPECTION RECALL ON MY 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE DID NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH PCM AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER SPECIFIED IN THE DEFECTIVE ISSUE WITHIN THE RECALLS ISSUED. THIS HARMS THE DRIVER, PEDESTRIANS, OTHER PASSENGERS AND MOTORISTS. THE TECH WHERE I WENT TO HAVE RECALL WORK PERFORMED ORDERED PARTS (SEE ATTACHMENT), BUT NOTHING WAS INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE. ONLY "INSPECTED." THE TECH WAS TOLD OF DETAILED POOR PERFORMANCE AND SYMPTOMS OF A BAD PCM. SUCH AS SHIFTING, STALLING, FUEL ECONOMY & HARD TO START. THE JEEP IS NOT OPERATING OPTIMALLY & THIS COULD MEAN THERE ARE. OTHER PROBLEMS BETWEEN DIFFERENT SYSTEMS. ALL OF THESE ARE INDICATIONS OF A FAULTY PCM. AS WELL AS THE ABS LIGHT BEING ON THE DASHBOARD. THE PCM IS A "CRITICAL" SYSTEM & NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I'M REQUESTING THAT YOU FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR FREE, AS IT IS DEFECTIVE AND COULD MINGLE WITH OTHER SYSTEMS AND CAUSE A COMPLETE VEHICLE BREAK DOWN. OR REFUND THE COST TO ME IN FULL, INCLUDING LABOR CHARGES, IF I REPLACE/REPAIR MYSELF. IF THIS DEFECTIVE PART IS NOT FIXED, IT COULD RESULT IN PROPERTY DAMAGE, IN WHICH CDJ WOULD BE LIABLE FOR. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO HOW YOU CAN HELP ENFORCE THE MANUFACTURE TO FULLY REPAIR THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS & REMEDY THIS PROBLEM ON FIXING THE FAULTY PCM & CATALYTIC CONVERTER WITHIN A RECALL AND POSSIBLY THE ABS SYSTEM AND TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE STALLS ON HIGHWAY, IN PARK, ON THE STREET, WHEN STOPPED AND THEN IT STALLS OUT AND IS HARD TO START. IT ALSO HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO GO IN REVERSE ( BACK UP). WHICH MEAN IT'S NOT GETTING PROPER LUBRICATION. ALSO, THE ALARM GOES OFF WHEN USING KEY TO GAIN ACCESS. UNHOOKING BATTERY TO RESET DOES NOT HELP.

NHTSA ID

11403865

Incident

Mar 18, 2021

HANKOOK OPTIMO H724 P225/75 /R15 102 SLWW TIRES - SET OF 4 TIRES PURCHASED NEW ON 5/25/2018. KEPT UP WITH REGULAR TIRE ROTATIONS AND AIR PRESSURE CHECKS. FIRST REPLACEMENT (SIDE WALL DEFECT) 10/21/2019. FLAT REPAIR 2/24/2020 SECOND TIRE REPLACEMENT (SIDE WALL DEFECT) 8/10/2020. THIS IS HIGHLY SUSPECT AND DETERMINABLE THAT THESE TIRES ARE DANGEROUS AND DEFECTIVE. HANOOK HAS DENIED REMEDY EVEN WITH CITING THE $1.2 MILLION JURY VERDICT + DISCOVERY SANCTIONS I CITED TO DURING MY CONVERSATION WITH THE CLAIMS DIVISION ON 8/10, 9/1 ABD 9/2/2020. ADDITIONALLY, 70,000 MILE TREAD WARRANTY. SELLER HAS DETERMINED THE WEAR RATE IS 46,868 MILES. SELLER'S COMMENT: "THESE TIRES DO NOT LAST LONG" HANKOOK TIRES USA CLAIMS DEPARTMENT ADMITS TO UNUSUAL WEAR BUT INSISTS ITS TIRES ARE "WITHIN NHTSA STANDARDS". SEE HANKOOK V. PHILPOT, 2018 ARK. APP. 546, AT 4-5, 564 S.W.3D 555, 557-58, .HANKOOK'S APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT'S ORDER IMPOSING ATTORNEY'S FEES AS A DISCOVERY SANCTION IN HANKOOK TIRE CO., LTD. V. PHILPOT, 2016 ARK. APP. 386, 499 S.W.3D 250., AN ARKANSAS JURY ORDERED SOUTH KOREA-BASED HANKOOK TIRE CO. LTD TO PAY $1.2 MILLION TO A SEVERELY INJURED DUMP TRUCK DRIVER OVER AN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY A TIRE TREAD DEFECT. HANKOOK TIRE CO. ET AL. V. ELMER PHILPOT, CASE NO. 2020 ARK. APP. 316, IN THE ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS. THESE TIRES ARE DANGEROUS AND DEFECTIVE TO BLOW OUTS AND SOFTNESS TO ATTRACT RATHER THAN DEFLECT ANY NORMAL ROAD DEBRIS+ THE TIRE TREAD IS ALREADY HALF IT'S DETERMINED WARRANTIED LIFE SPAN WHICH IS A HAZARD IN ITS OWN SEPARATE DEFECT WHICH HANKOOK DOES ACKNOWLEDGE THE LATER BUT NOT THE FORMER..

NHTSA ID

11352822

Incident

Aug 10, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO 21 DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHERE IT WAS TESTED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. THE VEHICLE PASSED INSPECTION EVEN AFTER IT WAS TEST DRIVEN BY THE DEALER. WHEN THE CONTACT BROUGHT THE VEHICLE HOME, THE FAILURE RECURRED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER IN YORK, MAINE DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO FAILURE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S HOME FOR OVER A YEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11255565

Incident

Sep 1, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE EQUIPPED WITH DAYTON QUADRA ET2 TIRES, SIZE: P225/70R15. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING THE INSIDE BELT AND THREAD TO SEPARATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DOT NUMBER AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,000.

NHTSA ID

11234096

Incident

Jul 21, 2019

Mileage

205,000 mi

RECALL ON THE HITCH.

NHTSA ID

11091622

Incident

May 1, 2018

CAR USUALLY RUNS FINE COLD BUT WHEN IT GETS TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE IT STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY AND IN DANGEROUS MOMENTS WHILE DRIVING ON ANY ROAD OR FREEWAY AT ANY SPEED. I LOSE ALL POWERED FUNCTIONS LIKE STEERING AND BRAKES. IT WON'T START AGAIN FOR HOURS UNTIL IT HAS COOLED ALL THE WAY DOWN.

NHTSA ID

11083164

Incident

Aug 10, 2017

Mileage

165,000 mi

Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin discusses using the correct test equipment for testing batteries and charging systems, and also warranty reimbursement when battery replacements are necessary.

Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.

Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.

Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.

Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.

Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of aftermarket parts.