Chrysler is refusing to recall approximately 2.7 million SUVs to fix fuel tanks that could leak and cause fires in the rear-end collisions.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sent Chrysler a letter asking that the company recall Jeep Grand Cherokees released from 1993 through 2004 and Jeep Libertys released from 2002 through 2007 according to the Associated Press.
"The company does not agree with NHTSA's conclusions and does not intend to recall the vehicles," Chrysler said in a statement Tuesday. "The subject vehicles are safe and are not defective."
Chrysler Group LLC, which is owned by Italy's Fiat SpA, said in a press statement on June 4 that the Jeeps are "safe" and it "does not intend to recall the vehicles."
A refusal to recall vehicles is rare according to the Associated Press. The NHTSA could order the company to recall the vehicles, but it would need to go to court in order to enforce it.
The NHTSA opened an investigation into the vehicles back in August 2010 at the request of the Center for Auto Safety, an advocacy group.
The group feels that the SUVs' gas tanks are positioned below the rear bumper and behind the rear axle, meaning the vehicles are "susceptible to rupture and spill gasoline in a rear-end crash" according to the Associated Press.
The gas tank was called a "terrible design" by Clarence Ditlow, the center's director. The group has sent a number of letters calling for the vehicle to be recalled.
Chrysler says its review of approximately 30 years of data shows a low number of rear-impact crashes involving fire or a fuel leak in a fleet of more than 5 million vehicles according to the Associated Press.
"The rate is similar to comparable vehicles produced and sold during the time in question," the company said in the statement.
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