I recently bought a 1999 Grand cherokee to haul the family up to the cottage. I was looking at the time at a Land Rover discovery but got a great deal on the Grand so I bought it. Well, I usually get as much info on a vehicle that I am about to purchase but did not on this one. I think I made a big mistake.
I was on a jeep forum when someone posted that the NHTSA was looking into recalling 2.2 million grand cherokees between 1993 and 2004 for potential fire hazards during rear end collisions. Needless to say I am selling the vehicle and going back to my original choice of a Discovery or a Pathfinder. I never really thought to look at the placement of the fuel tank when I purchased my Grand.
Grand Cherokee fire hazard.
- Thread starter Autobahn88
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I'd rather be in the GC than a Land Rover for a variety of reasons.
Consider that they are looking into the possible problem. Either there is no increased risk over comparable vehicles and they drop it, or there is and they issue a recall. Either way I'd be more worried about the devil you don't know than one you do. Land rover could have the exact same problem and it wouldn't make the news. 2.2 million is a better recall headline than 14 thousand.
All cars have problems. Any car you buy, if you read enough will have safety concerns of some sort.
I would drive one. I would also add a steel skid to the tank for better all around protection off road, which I'm sure would be a plus in a rear end situation as well.
OH NOES!!! Don't buy a Crown Vic either because it will spontaneously combust if rear ended!!!! 
If you are really worried about it do not buy any car with a fuel tank mounted aft of the rear axle, or sidesaddle outside the frame rail, or inside the frame rail, or with the tank in front of the driver, or with the tank behind the driver, or with the tank under the driver....you know what? Just don't buy a car with a fuel tank at all.
If you are really worried about it do not buy any car with a fuel tank mounted aft of the rear axle, or sidesaddle outside the frame rail, or inside the frame rail, or with the tank in front of the driver, or with the tank behind the driver, or with the tank under the driver....you know what? Just don't buy a car with a fuel tank at all.
Originally Posted By: Spazdog
or with the tank under the driver....
Get a bus pass. Wait, those contain flammable liquid as well. Just don't leave the house and you should be OK.
Any car will spill gas if hit hard enough
There is a safety advocacy group that has targeted these vehicles for years for this issue. Interestingly, the Cherokee also shares the same configuration but they have no issue with it (though the vast majority of the public and media can't figure out there is a difference between a grand cherokee and a cherokee). It has been discussed on this board before, though I can't find the thread. Notably, NHTSA has not recalled the vehicles. Draw your own conclusion.
I've read many threads and talked to many people about this, since many of my friends own Grand Cherokees and my dad had a '99. I wouldn't worry about it. My shop buddy has seen MANY Grands rear ended, to the point where the back end isn't recognizable, and none had this issue. It all depends on the accident. Yeah, if you get rear ended by some guy in his "Lade" doing 100 mph, there will be a lot of damage no matter what you drive. Grand Cherokees are pretty solid vehicles. If it worries you, buy a skid plate or trailer hitch. There are a lot of vehicles out there that I'd take a Grand Cherokee over in a crash. Think about it, Grand Cherokees have been around (lots of them) since 1993. Until that recent recall, I had never heard of any of them exploding upon being rear ended.
This is more of a rare case where they are trying to cover their [censored] in case it happens again. People are very sue happy these days. I would drive without worry in your Grand. 
Originally Posted By: MNgopher
There is a safety advocacy group that has targeted these vehicles for years for this issue. Interestingly, the Cherokee also shares the same configuration but they have no issue with it (though the vast majority of the public and media can't figure out there is a difference between a grand cherokee and a cherokee). It has been discussed on this board before, though I can't find the thread. Notably, NHTSA has not recalled the vehicles. Draw your own conclusion.
Originally Posted By: bepperb
I'd rather be in the GC than a Land Rover for a variety of reasons.
Consider that they are looking into the possible problem. Either there is no increased risk over comparable vehicles and they drop it, or there is and they issue a recall. Either way I'd be more worried about the devil you don't know than one you do. Land rover could have the exact same problem and it wouldn't make the news. 2.2 million is a better recall headline than 14 thousand.
All cars have problems. Any car you buy, if you read enough will have safety concerns of some sort.
Hey it could be worse. My car has TWO fuel tanks!
Rover vehicles are known for electrical fires. Not a better option IMO.
Originally Posted By: Zaedock
Originally Posted By: Spazdog
or with the tank under the driver....
Originally Posted By: Brons2
Rover vehicles are known for electrical fires. Not a better option IMO.
I have a WJ, it is up armored with the tow package. So it has the bumper support, boxed in class IV hitch and 1/4" thick metal skid plate covering the gas tank.
On Jeeps unlimted they have a link showing the WJ taking a hit so hard it bent the whole [censored] truck at rear door B-pillar, couldnt get the tank to rupture.
Let see the maybe have 100 fires and 1.8 million WJ's, I'll take my chances thank you 
Here is some real data, comparing actual incidents to other vehichles other than WJ
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/ACM17259863/INME-PE10031-46240.pdf
Here is some real data, comparing actual incidents to other vehichles other than WJ
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/ACM17259863/INME-PE10031-46240.pdf
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It's not a real problem, just a media scare. It's very, very rare for one of these to actually catch on fire in an accident. Having the tow package and skid plates takes it from being a 99% non-issue, to a 100% non-issue, as VNTS indicated by the amount of metal around the tank with both of those options.
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