WASHINGTON — U.S. safety officials are investigating whether gas tanks on Jeep Grand Cherokees can cause fires in rear-end crashes or rollovers.
The preliminary investigation, begun Monday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is the first step in determining whether a recall of the popular Chrysler sport utility vehicle is necessary. The investigation covers 3 million Grand Cherokees from model years 1993 to 2004.
Advocacy group Center for Auto Safety has asked the NHTSA to review whether the gas tank’s position below the rear bumper and behind the rear axle could cause fuel to spill if the SUV were struck from behind. In rollovers, a lack of proper shielding for the plastic tank could cause it to puncture, the group said. The neck of the fuel tank also could tear off.
“This is a terrible design,” said Clarence Ditlow, head of the Center for Auto Safety.
