NHTSA Opens Preliminary Investigation Into Jeep Grand Cherokee Headliner Fires
Issues about fire safety continue to affect the Jeep brand as the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced today that it is opening an investigation into 146,000 2012 model year Grand Cherokees, after receiving reports from three consumers who say that the headliners of their cars caught fire near the passenger side sun visor.
“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 . The fire also caused the sunroof to shatter in one incident, and in another, the fire spread to the passenger seat when the burning sun visor fell onto the seat. In each case, the incident resulted in the vehicle being inoperable requiring it to be towed to the dealership.”
A Chrysler spokesman said that the company is conducting its own investigation and that it is cooperating with NHTSA:
“Customer safety is paramount at Chrysler Group. Accordingly, our engineers are investigating this concern while also fully supporting the Preliminary Evaluation opened by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is among the safest vehicles on the road today. It also is the most awarded SUV ever.”
The investigation into burning headliners follows a voluntary recall of over 1.5 million 1992-98 Jeep Grand Cherokees and 2002-07 Jeep Libertys to address possible fires caused by leaking fuel tanks in the event of a collision, even though those vehicles met all applicable standards at time of manufacture. NHTSA has still not determined if it will crash test Jeep vehicles that have been recalled and retrofitted with a trailer hitch intended to protect the gas tank.
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Those are joints the UAW workers dropped while assembling the trucks, catching fire on loose wiring. Close the windows, put on some Pink Floyd, and enjoy the clambake.
"The fire also caused the sunroof to shatter in one incident, and in another, the fire spread to the passenger seat when the burning sun visor fell onto the seat. In each case, the incident resulted in the vehicle being inoperable requiring it to be towed to the dealership.” Such detail! I love this story! It could have simply ended with the headliner burning, and the car being a write-off at that point, but it didn't. Troy was on the way to Dunkin Donuts in his freshly waxed GC. Suddenly, he smelled something funny. "Somebody's probably burning trash in their backyard. I should call the cops. That's illegal around here.", he thought. The smell abated briefly. He was almost to the Indian-staffed establishment when he noticed the smoke. He instinctively turned the Nickleback down as he normally did at the onset of a crisis. His next move was to waft the smoke with his hand in a haze of denial. But, it was true. His very Jeep was about to immolate. His wet flip flop moved to the brake pedal as flaming debris rained down upon the shiny leather seat that hadn't even experienced a passenger. "FU$K!!", he screamed as he picked up the flaming visor, being slightly burned by the napalm death of burning foam. He flung it out the open window. It's burning wire harness resembled a molotov as it arched through the air to the sidewalk. He came to a stop. The flames raced aft along the headliner. His hands reached up to the ballcap on his head. He was in shock. "FU$K!!!"