The report arrives just days after Fiat Chrysler Automobiles lost a lawsuit over the death of a four-year-old passenger in a Jeep Grand Cherokee that ignited after its fuel-tank ruptured in a collision. Chief executive Segio Marchionne made a bold deposition in the case, arguing that the Jeeps with fuel tanks mounted in the rear crush zone are safe even without a recall. The jury apparently did not agree, resulting in a $150 million judgement against the company.
“We’re not satisfied with the current situation,” said agency administrator Mark Rosekind in a press meting at the New York auto show, according to quotes published by The Detroit News. “Everything is on the table.”
The comments were interpreted as a sign that the NHTSA is frustrated with FCA’s broader resistance to recalls, not just in the handling of the Jeep fire campaign.
Safety advocates argue that the Jeep fire recall does not cover enough models, while the installation of trailer hitches is said to be an insufficient fix for high-speed accidents. Center for Auto Safety executive director Clarence Ditlow outlined his concerns in an open letter to Marchionne, claiming that the death rate due to fuel-tank fires in the recalled Jeeps easily exceeds any other recent defect, including the GM ignition-switch recall and exploding Takata airbags.
Most of FCA’s brands have remained at the bottom of the latest quality rankings from Consumer Reports and JD Power.
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