Source: Sharon Silke Carty, USA Today

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at the urging of the Center for Auto Safety, is opening an investigation into whether older Jeep Grand Cherokees are at risk for fires in a crash.

The safety group had petitioned for the probe, alleging that the placement of the gas tanks, behind the rear axle and below the bumper, makes them prone to fires in crashes.

The preliminary probe may not bring a recall. But it shows how responsive NHTSA is trying to be to safety allegations after criticism that it was too slow to order Toyota to recall vehicles for sudden-acceleration problems.

Read Full Article: Jeep Grand Cherokees’ gas tanks checked for fire risk