March 2, 2006
Safety regulation officials are investigating reports regarding the Chrysler Pacifica, stating that fuel tanks are rupturing as a result of road debris. 217,000 Pacificas made between the years of 2004 and 2005 are currently being reviewed to evaluate the safety threat and incidence of the alleged defect.
The Chrysler Pacifica is a sports utility vehicle with a wagon like body. Thus far there have been 13 reports in December regarding punctured tanks caused by road debris and five other incidents under investigation with similar damage.
Chrysler also submitted reports of 120 additional fuel tank punctures from a period of time when any replacement of fuel tank was required to be reported by law.
Chrysler has not yet commented on the issue.
Another company to elicit recent safety concerns regarding the fuel tank is Nissan, for its sports utility vehicle the Murano. Japanese carmaker Nissan Motor Co. released in January that it would recall over 209,000 Muranos built between the years of 2003 and 2006 to install a protective shield on the faulty fuel tank.
The Nissan Murano has had similar complaints of debris-punctured fuel tanks.
Read More Crashworthiness News.....