NEW YORK — The U.S. government’s highway safety agency may reopen an investigation into Jeep gas tanks that can rupture and cause fires in rear-end crashes, the agency’s top official said Thursday.
Mark Rosekind, administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, told reporters in New York that he’s not happy with the Jeep case and says reopening the probe is among options being considered.
“We’re not satisfied with the current situation,” Rosekind said. “We are looking for every avenue that would be appropriate for us to take action.”
Two years ago, Jeep manufacturer Fiat Chrysler U.S. agreed to recall 1.56 million older-model Jeep Grand Cherokees and Libertys to install trailer hitches to protect the tanks. The gas tanks are mounted behind the rear axle and have little structure to protect them if struck from behind. At least 75 people have died in post-crash fires because of the tanks.
