Chrysler reverses itself, agrees to recall of Jeeps at risk of fire

DETROIT -- Chrysler abruptly agreed to recall 2.7 million older model Jeeps Tuesday, reversing a defiant stance and avoiding a possible public relations nightmare over fuel tanks that can rupture and cause fires in rear-end collisions.

In deciding on the recall, Chrysler sidestepped a showdown with government safety regulators that could have led to public hearings with witnesses providing details of deadly crashes involving the Jeeps. The dispute ultimately could have landed in court and hurt Chrysler's image and its finances.

The company said calls from customers concerned about the safety of their Jeeps played a part in its going along with the government's request.

Earlier this month, the automaker publicly refused the government's request to recall Jeep Grand Cherokees from model years 1993 through 2004 and Jeep Libertys from 2002 through 2007.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the agency that monitors vehicle safety, contends the Jeep gas tanks can rupture if hit from the rear, spilling gas and causing a fire. NHTSA said a three-year investigation showed that 51 people had died in fiery crashes in Jeeps with gas tanks positioned behind the rear axle.

FILE - In this Feb. 2, 2001 file photo, rows of 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokees are lined up outside the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit. Chrysler says it has resolved its differences with the government and will recall older Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty SUVs that could be at risk of a fuel tank fire. In early June 2013, the company refused the government's request to recall the Jeeps. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration contended that the gas tanks could rupture if hit from the rear, causing fires. NHTSA said 51 people had died in fiery crashes. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

Chrysler had until Tuesday to formally respond to NHTSA.

Two weeks ago, Chrysler said that the vehicles aren't defective, despite prior statements to the contrary from NHTSA. The company vouched for the vehicles' safety again Tuesday.

Chrysler said dealers will inspect the vehicles and install trailer hitches to protect the tanks. The company said vehicles without hitches will get them, as will those with broken hitches or hitches not from Chrysler.

Chrysler Group LLC, which is majority owned by Fiat SpA of Italy, wouldn't say how much the hitches would cost, although they sell for about $200 each on Internet sites.

Erik Gordon, a law and marketing professor at the University of Michigan, said Chrysler realized it was headed for a public relations disaster and decided to reverse course.

"What happened is they get surprised by how loud the hue and cry is. They didn't want to take the public relations hit," Gordon said.

Chrysler executives probably realized their chance for success was slim, because courts have given wide latitude to government regulatory agencies, said David Kelly, former acting NHTSA administrator under President George W. Bush.

"They have some very smart people at Chrysler and probably looked into a crystal ball and didn't think this would end the way they wanted it to," said Kelly. The automaker, he said, historically has been very committed to safety.

NHTSA said in a statement that it's pleased with Chrysler's decision. The agency plans to keep investigating the issue as it reviews recall documentation from Chrysler.

NHTSA began investigating the Jeeps at the request of the Center for Auto Safety, a Washington, D.C., advocacy group. Clarence Ditlow, the center's director, said the trailer hitch remedy should be tested by NHTSA before the repairs are made. He's cautiously optimistic that the solution will make the Jeeps safer.

"We're no longer arguing over whether Chrysler is going to do a recall, but we're now discussing what we're going to do," he said.

Chrysler will begin notifying owners about the recall in about a month, the company said.

The last time an automaker defied a NHTSA recall request was early in 2011, when Ford said calling back 1.2 million pickup trucks for defective air bags wasn't justified. Ford later agreed to the recall after NHTSA threatened to hold a rare public hearing on the issue.

In a statement one June 4, Chrysler said its review of nearly 30 years of data showed a low number of rear-impact crashes involving fire or a fuel leak in the affected Jeeps. "The rate is similar to comparable vehicles produced and sold during the time in question," the company said. It also said NHTSA left some similar vehicles out of its investigation.

But NHTSA found at least 32 rear-impact crashes and fires in Grand Cherokees that caused 44 deaths. It also found at least five rear crashes in Libertys, causing seven deaths. The agency calculated that the older Grand Cherokees and Libertys have fatal crash rates that are about double those of similar vehicles. It compared the Jeeps with the Chevrolet S10 Blazer, Ford Explorer, Toyota 4Runner, Isuzu Rodeo, Isuzu Trooper, Mitsubishi Montero, Suzuki Sidekick and Suzuki XL-7.