2008 Jeep Wrangler X 4x4 Right Hand Drive Automatic on 2040-cars

Auto blog

NHTSA closes book on Jeep 'trailer hitch' recall after all

After much debating and hand-wringing, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration now says it has "no reservations" with Chrysler's plan to recall certain Jeep Liberty and Grand Cherokee models over concerns that their fuel tanks, which are located behind the rear axle, could rupture or leak in the event of a rear impact. The longstanding argument between the two entities saw Chrysler openly defy the Feds after a request to recall 2.7 million units back in June.
Chrysler's "voluntary campaign" will instead see it recall 1.56-million 1993-2004 model year Grand Cherokee SUVs, along with 2002-2007 Liberty models. Affected vehicles will get a trailer hitch installed free of charge, which Chrysler says will provide an additional degree of protection for the fuel tanks in the event of a crash. Jeeps with Mopar-branded hitches or hitches that were installed at the factory aren't affected by this recall.
Chrysler's argument throughout this battle has been that the Jeeps in question are no more susceptible to fires than comparable vehicles from the same time period, a position that NHTSA has seemingly arrived at as well. "Those vehicles performed at a rate similar to their peers. That is the keystone analysis as to whether something poses an unreasonable risk to safety," said outgoing NHTSA boss David Strickland during an interview with the The Associated Press.

Ward's releases 10 Best Interiors list for 2014

While we're still a ways off from the automotive awards season proper, where things like North American Car and Truck of the Year, Motor Trend's Car of the Year and Car and Driver's Ten Best are named, that doesn't mean there aren't trophies being handed out to deserving automakers. Ward's 10 Best Interiors being one of them.
As the name might imply, the magazine focuses on the very best interior treatments in the US market. Whereas some awards purposely exclude extreme, high-dollar offerings, Ward's considers them - the only requirement is that a vehicle has a "new or significantly redesigned interior."
Ward's offered up the list of winners in simple, alphabetical order, and it only seems fair to do the same:

Inexperienced Jeep driver buries his Wrangler at sea

There's an old maxim in off-roading that states, "Four-wheel drive doesn't keep you from getting stuck, it just gets you stuck in worse places." The truth of this statement was perfectly illustrated recently in a YouTube video of a Jeep Wrangler digging its own grave at the beach. On May 11, a YouTuber named Dan M uploaded a video he titled, "Drunk guy doesn't know how to off-road and ruins nice Jeep." The video, shot at dusk on a rocky looking beach, shows a blue Wrangler driving out into the surf without a care in the world. Dan, providing commentary along with an unseen female companion, was impressed with the Jeep driver's dash at first. "Wow, he must do that a lot because he ain't scared of getting stuck or anything," said Dan. As the Wrangler got deeper into the water, the Dan's friend expressed her doubts that the Jeep driver would make it out, especially when the Jeep got snagged on a little spit of sand sticking out into the water. Dan wasn't worried, however. "No, he'll manage to get out of there, he'll make it out of there. He'll back out and get out," he said. Dan's confidence in the Jeep driver was sadly misplaced, unfortunately. The driver managed to get the Jeep stuck on the sand bar then made the rookiest of rookie mistakes–he just gunned it. "Oh man, he's done! He's done!" yelled Dan as the Jeep driver proceeded to dig a huge hole in the sand that sunk the Wrangler up to its frame just as the tide started coming in. With that kind of dunking, especially in salt water, that Wrangler was probably a total loss, much like the Grand Cherokee that got washed downriver last week somewhere in Europe. Related Video: News Source: YouTube Weird Car News Jeep SUV Off-Road Vehicles wrangler beach