Jeep Fire Recall Lawsuit
Jeep Recall Lawyers
In June of 2013, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA)–the company that owns Jeep–decided to recall 1.56 million vehicles due to the high risk of their gas tanks exploding in a rear-end collision.
The Jeep vehicles subjected to the fire recall include the Liberty (model years 2002-2007) and the Grand Cherokee (model years 1993-1998).
The decision to take action and issue the recall came only after investigators had linked the exploding gas tank defect to a staggering 56 deaths in 38 separate crashes.
How the Jeep Recall Lawyers at Zehl & Associates Can Help
The Jeep recall lawyers at Zehl & Associates are currently representing numerous victims of Jeep’s exploding gas tanks as they seek full compensation for their damages from the manufacturer.
Our firm has recovered over $1 Billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients, including the #1 largest accident verdict ever recovered in the State of Texas. We have decades of combined experience successfully handling all manner of automobile defect injury cases including–in addition to Jeep fires–Ford fire cases, GM ignition switch failure cases and Takata airbag injury cases to name a few.
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured, or worse, due to a defective Jeep vehicle, call 1-888-603-3636 or click here in order to arrange a free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys.
We will answer your questions, explain your rights and get you started down the path to recovering maximum compensation for the damages you have suffered.
Jeep’s Solution to the Exploding Gas Tank Problem
In order to address this serious problem, FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne decided to install a trailer hitch on all recalled Jeep vehicles in order to protect the fuel tank from rupturing in case of impact.
Unfortunately, more than a year and a half after the recall was issued, people are continuing to die in Jeep fires because FCA has only managed to fix 3% of the recalled vehicles–approximately 46,800 of them–leaving over 1 and a half million ticking time bombs out on U.S. roads.
Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, was quoted in Bloomberg calling the slow pace of repairs “woeful” and indicative of “a callous disregard for human life” as at least 6 people have died in 5 separate Jeep fires since the recall was issued.
The most recent victim to be linked to the recall was a 23-year-old pregnant woman from Michigan. Both she and her unborn child were killed this past November just outside of Detroit when their recalled 2003 Jeep Liberty was struck from behind and subsequently burst into flames.
Chrysler (FCA) Continues to Make Excuses for Slow Pace of Jeep Recall
While FCA claims it is moving as quickly as possible to notify owners of the recalled vehicles regarding the problem, the company is continuing to make excuses for the slow pace of the Jeep recall citing the fact that many of these vehicles are so old, 7 to 20 years in fact, that it is very difficult to track down the owners when the vehicles have been sold once, twice or more since originally purchased.
The company further claims that the severity of the crashes in question is also a major factor as these vehicles allegedly met the rear-end crash safety standards that were in place at the time they were manufactured.
In December of 2014, FCA officials promised to increase their efforts to notify more owners and make modifications to more vehicles affected by the recall.
FCA CEO Initially Refused NHTSA’s Request for Jeep Recall
It is interesting to note that when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) initially approached FCA and suggested that they recall 2.7 million Jeep vehicles due to the risk of exploding gas tanks, FCA refused.
The NHTSA based its request on its determination that the location of the gas tanks between the axle and the bumper, as opposed to in front of the axle, posed a safety hazard to the vehicles’ occupants by making the tanks more likely to rupture during a rear-end collision.
FCA insisted that the vehicles posed no such hazard.
However, just a few weeks later, FCA CEO Marchionne compromised by agreeing to recall 1.56 million Jeep vehicles and modify them by installing trailer hitches in order to protect the gas tanks from rear impact collisions.
Even so, he steadfastly refused to admit the existence of a defect.
Contact the Jeep Recall Lawyers at Zehl & Associates Today
If you or a loved one was injured, or worse, due to a Jeep fire, call 1-888-603-3636 or click here to arrange a free consultation with one of our experienced lawyers.