Chrysler’s tempid response to a recall of approximately 1.6 million Jeep Liberty and Grand Cherokee models over rear end-impact fire hazards depends on the protection a trailer hitch would provide for the gas tank. According to the executive in charge of engineering, these tow hitches were not designed to protect the gas tank.
 
In addition, safety groups say that before letting Chrysler use such an unusual remedy, crash tests should be commissioned by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NITSA) -which has no safety standard detailing the construction and strength of trailer hitches, part of what automakers refer to as a tow package.
 
Francois J. Castaing, Chrysler’s vice president for engineering in 1988-96 said in a 2001 deposition “The skid plate underneath only protects the tank from stones from the ground.” Mr. Castaing made these remarks during a 2008 wrongful death case filed against Chrysler in the Superior Court of New Jersey. The Plaintiff, Thomas Kline, brought this action as a consequence of his wife Susan’s death after her 1996 Grand Cherokee was rear-ended and erupted into flames in February 2007.
 
The Center for Auto Safety has confirmed research of 6 deaths in 115 crashes that involved fires resulting from rear-impact collisions or rollovers. The Center has also reported that a fuel-filler hose on the Grand Cherokee is also prone to pulling loose, something that the safety agency did not investigate.
 
When asked how agency officials could initially demand that the 1999-2004 Grand Cherokees be recalled and then decide a few weeks later that a recall was not needed, the agency issued a statement saying it had concluded there was a “lower rate of post-crash fires” in newer models, But it declined to provide the basis for it’s reversal.
 
Using a trailer hitch to reduce a rear impact is an unusual concept, said Pam O’Toole Trusdale, executive director of the National Association of the Trailer Manufacturers. “It is not something we would have ever considered” she commented when interviewed.
 
Even Chrysler said that there were limits to what a trailer hitch can do in a report to the safety agency. Chrysler said the hitch cannot and will not mitigate the risk of high-energy rear collisions and it would only incrementally improve the performance in certain types of low-speed impacts.
 
However, trailer hitches are not a remedy because they can puncture the gas tank, just like what happened in 2006 when a 1993 Grand Cherokee’s hitch punctured the gas tank, leading to a fire. The child strapped into her infant seat survived the impact but died of injuries from the fire.
 
The option offered by Chrysler is a Band-Aid that is inadequate at best if their vehicles are involved in moderate to severe rear-end collisions. Vehicle safety should require the maximum, not minimum, to provide vehicle occupants the best safety against suffering severe burns or worse.
 
The key element of “Crashworthiness” is whether the automobile company designed or manufactured their vehicle to withstand the effects of real world situations. No vehicle should have their gas tank rupture at low impact speeds, or lose control and rollover when the driver has to make a sudden ‘J” turn or evasive maneuver to avoid hitting a child who ran out into the street or someone’s dog got loose. Door locks are not supposed to pop open in a collision, and roofs should be able to withstand a significant amount of force to avoid crushing into the head of the driver. Cars are supposed to be designed not to contribute to causing the occupants greater injury when an auto collision occurs. The same reasoning that resulted in the great safety innovations such as the padded dash, three point seat belt system and airbags should still be strictly followed. If you or a family member has suffered an injury, which could have been avoided if your vehicle had been designed properly, please call Gary Sernaker to discuss your case and determine if a ‘Crashworthiness’ case should be pursued.
 
Photo Credits: inajeep, Flickr.