Fiat Chrysler Appealing Negligence Verdict In Jeep Fire Case - Manufacturing.net
Fiat Chrysler said Tuesday it is appealing a Georgia court's order to pay $40 million to the family of a child who died in a Jeep fire. He died in 2012 after a Jeep Grand Cherokee he was riding in was hit from behind and burst into flames. The Jeep's gas tank was mounted behind the rear axle, leaving it vulnerable in a rear crash. At least 75 people have died in post-crash fires involving several Jeep models with rear-mounted gas tanks. The problem led to the recall of 1. 56 million Grand Cherokees and Libertys to install trailer hitches to protect the tanks in low-speed crashes. Late last month, Fiat Chrysler agreed in a deal with government safety regulators to offer $100 gift cards to entice owners of recalled Jeeps to get the trailer hitch installation. The company also agreed to offer an extra $1,000 for people trading in 1993 to 1998 Grand Cherokees for a new Fiat Chrysler vehicle. Source: www.manufacturing.net
