Filed under: SUV, Safety, Jeep
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is launching an investigation into 146,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs from the 2012 model year, The Detroit News reports. This comes as the result of the government safety agency receiving three complaints from owners who cited fires inside the Jeep’s cabin.
According to the report, NHTSA says:
“The customers reported a burning odor and visible smoke coming from the headliner while the vehicle was being driven. This was followed by flames from the headliner itself. Customers lowered the windows in an effort to clear the smoke but this increased the fire’s intensity. All three vehicles had to be extinguished with a fire extinguisher or by the fire department as they continued to burn after the vehicle was turned off.”
And it gets worse. In one incident, the fire apparently caused the sunroof to shatter, and in another, the fire spread to the passenger seat because the burning sun visor fell from the headliner. A Chrysler spokesperson tells The Detroit News that the automaker will be fully cooperating with NHTSA’s investigation of these Grand Cherokee models. Chrysler is reportedly investigating this problem itself, as well.
Depending on the results of the investigation, a recall may be issued to prevent future fires from occurring in other Grand Cherokees. If that happens, hopefully it won’t create as much controversy as the last time NHTSA requested that Jeep vehicles be recalled.
Jeep Grand Cherokee in headliner fire probe originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Aug 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Continue reading “Report: Jeep Grand Cherokee in headliner fire probe”
One of our favorite toymakers is branching out its lineup of heirloom-quality toy cars into the first responder category. Automoblox has unveiled a new Emergency Line of rescue, police and fire vehicles based on three of its most popular models. The T900 truck becomes a go-anywhere rescue vehicle, the S9 sedan a patrol cruiser and the X9-X sport utility a capable transport for fire fighters.
Revealed on the company’s official Facebook page, the Emergency Line features color schemes appropriate to each branch of public service, new wheels (the S9’s dog-dish cop car wheels are particularly accurate and excellent), light bars and even new people figurines that represent the fire, police and rescue workers who help out the public from behind the wheel.
