Fatal Jeep Crash Renews Criticism of Recall Fix to Prevent Fires

A fatal accident this week involving a Jeep SUV has revived criticism from safety advocates that a federally sanctioned recall plan to keep the vehicle’s fuel tank from igniting in rear-end crashes didn’t go far enough to protect motorists.

Vicki Hill, 58, of Elyria, Ohio, died early Monday morning after her 2007 Jeep Liberty was rear-ended.

Hill’s Jeep Liberty was among more than 1 million sport utility vehicles that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV agreed to outfit with trailer hitches in 2013. The recall was announced after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concluded that the fuel tanks, mounted between the rear suspension and the bumper of the vehicles, were vulnerable to leaks and fires in rear-end crashes.

Fiat Chrysler agreed to voluntarily install trailer hitches on 1.56 million 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty and 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee model SUVs to protect their fuel tanks. Fiat Chrysler maintains the vehicles do not contain a defect and comply with federal safety requirements. read more »

Ford recalls 143,000 vehicles in North America

Ford Motor Co. on Thursday issued four recalls covering about 143,000 vehicles in North America.

The largest is for roughly 141,000 2015-17 F-150 Crew Cab pickups and 2017 F-250 and F-350 Super Duty Crew Cab pickups.

Those vehicles may have a faulty left rear inflatable seat belt assembly because of inadequate rivet head thickness, which could cause separation of the left rear inflatable seat belt buckle from its mounting bracket during a crash. read more »

Visit HB’s Auto Practice area page »