The company recalled nearly 1.6 million vehicles, however less than 120,000 have been brought into service centers so far — a dismal response rate of less than eight percent, a spokesman told Automotive News.
It is unclear if the lack of interest is partly related to the controversy surrounding the recall, or its drawn-out timeframe, though low response rates are not unusual for older models.
Safety advocates had been pushing for a recall since 2009 or earlier, citing hundreds of deaths from vehicle fires. The fuel-tank is located behind the rear axle on the 1993-1998 Grand Cherokee and 2002-2007 Liberty, leaving little protection if the SUVs are involved in rear-end collisions.
Chrysler fought with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over the issue, eventually settling on trailer-hitch installation as a resolution. The company still maintains that the models are perfectly safe.
Among the SUVs that have been brought in for inspection, approximately 25 percent were found to have acceptable hitches already installed. The rest either did not have a hitch or the existing OEM or aftermarket hitch posed a puncture risk.
Chrysler is preparing a website dedicated to the campaign, allowing owners to chat with representatives who can answer questions or help set up an appointment at a local service center.
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