1999 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.

DAIMLERCHRYSLER HAS RECALLED THE ZJ MODELS TO INCORPORATE A SECONDARY DETENT SPRING INTO THE SHIFTER.EVEN THOUGH THE WJ 6 CYL. VEHICLES USE THE SAME MANUAL DETENT LEVER THAT AS THE VEHICLES IN THE RECALL POPULATION, ODI BELIEVES THAT THE WJ REDESIGNED SHIFTER, WHICH IMPROVES FLOOR SHIFTER FUNCTIONALITY AND ERGONOMICS, HELPS TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO THE DRIVER TO INDICATE WHETHER ?PARK? HAS OR HAS NOT BEEN ACHIEVED.ALTHOUGH THE INVESTIGATOR WAS ABLE TO INDUCE A ?FALSE PARK? IN THE WJ PLATFORM FOR 6 CYL. VEHICLES, THE LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY WAS GREATER THAN THAT REQUIRED FOR ALL ZJ MODELS, AND THE COMPLAINT RATE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THE RECALLED ZJ POPULATION.FURTHER, THE ODI INVESTIGATOR WAS ALSO ABLE TO CREATE A ?FALSE PARK? IN PEER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY AND FREQUENCY AS THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WJ PLATFORM.THE WJ COMPLAINT RATE WAS INFLATED DUE TO NATIONAL EXPOSURE THROUGH THE PRESS. THE COMPLAINT RATE PRIER TO THE JULY 5, 2001 MEDIA COVERAGE FOR THE WJ VEHICLES IS SIMILAR TO THE PEER VEHICLE INCIDENT RATE.BASED ON THE ABOVE, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME IN THE WJ POPULATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED WITH A SAFETY RECAL FOR THE ZJ PLATFORM ONLY.

Found that there is a plastic fuel tank mounted behind the rear axle hanging down below the bumper and was told if I get rear ended it could cause an explosion that would need to have a hitch receiver installed to protect the fuel tank

NHTSA ID

11417566

Incident

May 18, 2021

YOU ARE DRIVING ALONG ON A HIGHWAY DOING 70 MILES PER HOUR AND THE CAR STARTS STOPPING THIS TIME YOU BARELY GET ONTO THE SHOULDER. OR, YOU ARE DRIVING ALONG THE CAR STOPS YOU PUT ON YOUR FLASHERS AND YOU HEAR THE TRUCKS BEHIND YOU BREAKING AND SLIDING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS IN MOTION AT LEAST TEN OF THE TIMES THE JEEP DECIDED TO STOP. I HAVE HAD MY GRANDS IN THERE ALL UNDER FIVE WHEN WE ALMOST DIED BUT BECAUSE I AM ON A FIXED INCOME WITH A 1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE THAT YOU SWEAR BY I AM JUST OUT OF LUCK AS YOUR DEALERS ALL SAY THEY DO NOT FIX ANYTHNG THAT OLD I AM GUESSING, AS THEY COULD ONLY FIX IT FOR TEN YEARS IT SHOULD HAVE ONLY LASTED TEN YEARS. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS SITTING IN A PARKING LOT WAITING FOR A TOW FOR SEVEN HOURS WHEN I FINALLY CALLED MY SON TO PICK UP HIS CHILDREN AND I HAD TO STAY ANOTHER FOUR HOURS ON MARCH 15, 2020. FINALLY GOT IT TOWED TO HIS HOUSE WHERE IT STILL SITS AS EVERYONE OF YOUR DEALERSHIPS HAVE REASONS FOR WHY THEY DO NOT FIX CARS OVER TEN YEARS OLD. PERHAPS PART OF YOUR MARKETING SHOULD SAY AFTER TEN YEARS YOU SHOULD THROW IT AWAY BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GOING TO FIX IT.

NHTSA ID

11341163

Incident

Mar 15, 2020

LATELY I BEEN HAVING TROUBLE STARTIMG THE JEEP. AT FIRST IT SEEMS AS IF THE BATTERY IS LOW. SOUNDS LIKE IT WONT START BUT THEN IT SLOWLY PICKS UP AND STARTS IF I PRESS THE GAS. I CHANGED BATTERY BUT STILL HAVING TROUBLE. BUT ONCE ITS ON AND RUNNING IT SEEMS FINE. I ALSO HAVE A STEERING PROBLEM. TRUCK SEEMS TO PULL TO THE LEFT

NHTSA ID

11322265

Incident

Apr 1, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000.

NHTSA ID

11317913

Incident

Jul 30, 2019

Mileage

118,000 mi

I HAVE A LEAK IN MY GAS TANK. I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION TO PUT GAS IN IT AND NOTICED A LEAK COMING FROM MY GAS TANK BEFORE I STARTED FILLING IT. IT WAS DRIPPING OFF GAS TANK COVER....

NHTSA ID

11288240

Incident

Dec 10, 2019

Mileage

180,000 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" TO BE TRUTHFULLY HONEST NOTHING ABOUT THIS JEEP IS SAFE I DIDN'T KNOW THAT I COULD PUT IN A RECALL FOR THIS JEEP BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS TOO OLD AND TOO LATE ANYWAY SENSORS ARE HORRIBLE NO TURNING SIGNALS , MY BELT ASSEMBLY BREAKS A PART WHILE DRIVING RADIATOR GETS REALLY HOT TO THE POINT OF SMOKING EVEN WHEN MY COOLANT IS FULL I HAVE SUN ROOF PROBLEMS BECAUSE WATER LEAKS THROUGH IT AND FLOODS THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN MY SUSPENSION IS IN GREAT NEED OF HELP IT DOESN'T EVEN BOUNCE , ALOT OF SAFETY PROBLEMS BUT LIKE I SAID DIDN'T KNOW I COULD FOR FILE FOR A RECALL SO I'M HOPING THAT THIS CAN GET RECALLED.

NHTSA ID

11218014

Incident

Jun 5, 2019

Mileage

203,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL....MY DASH BOARD "AIR BAG" WARNING RED LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR OVER A YEAR AND NOONE KNOWS WHY! IS IT BECAUSE MY AIR BAGS ARE TAKATA? I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THEY HAVE NEVER POPPED OUT! HOW DOES ONE KNOW THEIR STATUS ON THIS 1999 JEEP?

NHTSA ID

11192583

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Mileage

188,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT IT WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP GROUND WIRES MAY BE DEFECTIVE, WHICH COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ID

11091736

Incident

Apr 1, 2018

Mileage

125,000 mi

KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the "AB" NIC level will not program to the vehicle, use the "AC" NIC level part and submit a part warranty.

KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the "AB" NIC level will not program to the vehicle, use the "AC" NIC level part and submit a part warranty.

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.

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.