[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/jeep-grand-cherokee-with-rear-tank-explodes-burns-in-cincinnati-ohio\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/jeep-grand-cherokee-with-rear-tank-explodes-burns-in-cincinnati-ohio\/","headline":"Jeep Grand Cherokee with Rear Tank Explodes & Burns in Cincinnati, Ohio","name":"Jeep Grand Cherokee with Rear Tank Explodes & Burns in Cincinnati, Ohio","description":"It has happened again.\u00a0 Another person has died by fire as a result of the defective gas tank location on the Jeep Grand Cherokees.\u00a0 On Thursday, August 12, 2021 a Jeep Grand Cherokee exploded after being struck in the rear in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was pronounced dead by the Hamilton County Coroner\u2019s Office, according to… Continue reading Jeep Grand Cherokee with Rear Tank Explodes & Burns in Cincinnati, Ohio<\/span><\/a>","datePublished":"2021-08-15","dateModified":"2026-04-17","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/author\/butler\/#Person","name":"Jeb Butler","url":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/author\/butler\/","identifier":9,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f5a02bc71d91db5fc8645f129c4424ce6ef7af7e24fe54f4a85315a9dd28f317?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f5a02bc71d91db5fc8645f129c4424ce6ef7af7e24fe54f4a85315a9dd28f317?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Butler Kahn","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Butler-Law-Firm-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Butler-Law-Firm-Logo.png","width":210,"height":93}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/jeep-liberty-with-rear-gas-tank-burns-in-WV.png","url":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/jeep-liberty-with-rear-gas-tank-burns-in-WV.png","height":611,"width":671},"url":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/jeep-grand-cherokee-with-rear-tank-explodes-burns-in-cincinnati-ohio\/","video":[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=wTaNltIyQM0#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=wTaNltIyQM0","name":"Jeep Fires & Explosions: Jeep Liberty, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Cherokee","description":"Jeep manufactured and sold millions of SUVs with gas tanks located in the extreme rear of the vehicle, behind the rear axle and right next to the plastic \"bumper.\" These gas tanks are exposed to rear impact, like the gas tanks on the 1970s-era Ford Pinto. When these Jeeps get rear-ended, the plastic gas tanks can rupture, spraying gasoline on the roadway and on both vehicles. If the gasoline catches fire and the people can't escape in time, the occupants the Jeep and the other vehicle can burn to death.\n\nThis has happened over and over again.\n\nIn 2013, the company that owns Jeep, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (\"FCA\"), finally agreed to recall at least some of these Jeeps with exposed gas tanks. But FCA did not buy the Jeeps back or move the gas tank. Instead, FCA offered free trailer hitches to some Jeep owners. That did not fix the problem\u2014and FCA knew that it wouldn't. Just two years before, an FCA executive had testified under oath that \"the tow package does not protect the tank.\"\n\nThe Jeeps with exposed gas tanks are the 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty, 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 1993-2001 Jeep Cherokee, and 1987-2007 Jeep Wrangler. Millions of these Jeeps remain on the road.\n\nFCA has refused to take any further action. FCA claims that thesee Jeeps are \"absolutely safe.\" In our pending litigation against FCA over these Jeep fires, FCA denies any wrongdoing. FCA refuses declines to accept any responsibility for the hundreds of Jeep fires.\n\nFor more information, see https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/jeep-fires-explosions.\n\nFor More Information on Wrongful Death Cases Visit:\nhttps:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/georgia-wrongful-death-statute-explained\/\nhttps:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/georgia-wrongful-death-lawyers\/wrongful-death-faqs\/","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/wTaNltIyQM0\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/wTaNltIyQM0\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/wTaNltIyQM0\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/wTaNltIyQM0\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/wTaNltIyQM0\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2019-12-16T14:56:43+00:00","duration":"PT11M20S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wTaNltIyQM0","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCeMYGr94Sf4LpYwIcO3P2Qw#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCeMYGr94Sf4LpYwIcO3P2Qw","name":"Butler Kahn","description":"We help people and families.\n\nOur firm specializes in personal injury and wrongful death cases. We are based in Atlanta, Georgia. We handle cases across Georgia and, for certain types of cases, all across the country.\n\nTOP-QUALITY LEGAL WORK. We do the work that lots of law firms skip. We track down witnesses, dig into the evidence, and prepare intensely for every deposition, trial, and hearing. We take a small number of cases so that we can devote our full attention to the clients we represent.\n\nPERSONAL SERVICE. If you hire us, you get us. You won't get blocked by a receptionist or leave unreturned messages. If you want to speak with your lawyer, you can.\n\nDOING WHAT WE SAY WE'LL DO. Some law firms make big promises at the beginning, then don\u2019t follow through. We shoot straight \u2013 when we tell you something about your case, good or bad, we mean it. No fake promises.\n\nButler Kahn\n10 Lenox Pointe\nAtlanta, GA 30324\n678-940-1444\n","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/NTOsbNEALVOnRbUCg7jUzYGcC4kNKsUTEVHm5TtiTQdLlfFKksLTnmiZG_t6zDG_e4ygtnva=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=wTaNltIyQM0#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=wTaNltIyQM0#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=wTaNltIyQM0&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=wTaNltIyQM0#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":7350}],{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=wTaNltIyQM0#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_LikeAction","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":60}]},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=oqjomWXxgVY#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=oqjomWXxgVY","name":"Jeep Fire & Wrongful Death Case: Deposition of Former Jeep Executive about Gas Tank Location and Re","description":"We traveled to the Florida coast to take the deposition of this former executive, who worked for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles for many years and retired just after the recall of the Jeep Grand Cherokees and Jeep Liberties. He had been involved in the decisionmaking about the Jeep \"recall\" that had to be done because the gas tanks were getting crushed in rear impact. He was a high-ranking adviser to Chairman and CEO Sergio Marchionne, who made the ultimate decision regarding trailer hitches.\n\nJeep manufactured and sold millions of SUVs with gas tanks located in the extreme rear of the vehicle, behind the rear axle and right next to the plastic \"bumper.\" These gas tanks are exposed to rear impact, like the gas tanks on the 1970s-era Ford Pinto. When these Jeeps get rear-ended, the plastic gas tanks can rupture, spraying gasoline on the roadway and on both vehicles. If the gasoline catches fire and the people can't escape in time, the occupants the Jeep and the other vehicle can burn to death.\n\nThis has happened over and over again.\n\nIn 2013, the company that owns Jeep, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (\"FCA\"), finally agreed to recall at least some of these Jeeps with exposed gas tanks. But FCA did not buy the Jeeps back or move the gas tank. Instead, FCA offered free trailer hitches to some Jeep owners. That did not fix the problem\u2014and FCA knew that it wouldn't. Just two years before, an FCA executive had testified under oath that \"the tow package does not protect the tank.\"\n\nThe Jeeps with exposed gas tanks are the 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty, 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 1993-2001 Jeep Cherokee, and 1987-2007 Jeep Wrangler. Millions of these Jeeps remain on the road.\n\nFCA has refused to take any further action. FCA claims that thesee Jeeps are \"absolutely safe.\" In our pending litigation against FCA over these Jeep fires, FCA denies any wrongdoing. FCA refuses declines to accept any responsibility for the hundreds of Jeep fires.\n\nFor more about Jeep fires and explosions, visit https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/jeep-fires-explosions\/\n\nFor more about wrongful death cases, visit https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/georgia-wrongful-death-statute-explained\/\n\nWe\u2019d love to hear what you think! It helps our clients if people watch these depositions and leave comments, because that helps us to know what jurors will take away from the depositions, and what questions jurors will have after watching them. So please feel free to comment with your thoughts (good or bad) and let us know what other questions you wish we\u2019d asked. That\u2019s why we post these depositions to YouTube.\n\nFor More Information on Wrongful Death Cases Visit:\nhttps:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/georgia-wrongful-death-statute-explained\/\nhttps:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/georgia-wrongful-death-lawyers\/wrongful-death-faqs\/\n\n\u25ba VIDEOGRAPHER: Will the court reporter please swear in the witness.\n\u25ba MATT LIDDANE, was called as a witness, and having first been duly sworn, was examined and testified as follows:\nTHE VIDEOGRAPHER: We may begin. (PLF Exhibit A was marked.)\nDIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. BUTLER:\n\u25ba Q All right. Introduce yourself to the jury, if you would.\n\u25ba A Hello. I'm Matt Liddane. I'm a retired executive. I worked for Fiat Chrysler for 31 years.\n\u25ba Q When did you retire?\n\u25ba A I retired August 31st of 2017.\n\u25ba Q Before you retired, what position did you hold immediately before you retired?\n\u25ba A Immediately before?\n\u25ba Q Right.\n\u25ba A I was the CEO of the NAFTA, North America\n\u25ba Magneti Marelli parts division of Fiat Chrysler, and vice president of global quality.\n\u25baQ. I think before that, you had a role in the recall of some of these rear-tank Jeeps. Do I remember that right?\n\u25baA I did. I did.\n\u25baQ Tell us about that, please.\n\u25baA Okay. That role would have been when I was in charge of vehicle development, concept creation, and regulatory affairs. That would have been in August -- starting in August of 2012.\n\u25baQ I've marked as Plaintiff's Exhibit 92 what I think is a copy of your resum\u00e9 or CV. (PLF Exhibit 92 was marked.)\n\u25baBY MR. BUTLER:\n\u25baQ Look it over and tell me if that's correct, please.\n\u25baA It looks like -- it looks like my -- my resum\u00e9.\n\u25baQ Why did you leave FCA in 2017?\n\u25baMR. SWANSON: Object to form.\n\u25baTHE WITNESS: To retire.\n\u25baBY MR. BUTLER:\n\u25baQ Now, was there any particular reason that you retired at that time?\n\u25baA No. I had been planning for years to have the option of retiring at 55. With Chrysler, with third -- over 30 years of service, you can retire at 55 with pension. And it was one of my goals for a long time to have the flexibility to be able to retire at 55.\n\u25baQ Are you working now?\n\u25baA No, I am not.\n\u25baQ When was the last time you updated the resum\u00e9 that's marked Plaintiff's Exhibit 92?\n\u25baA I would have updated it prior to the last deposition that was in May. And the update was for the address. Because we had moved our official address down to Florida at that -- between the last time I had the updated resum\u00e9 and this time.","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/oqjomWXxgVY\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/oqjomWXxgVY\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/oqjomWXxgVY\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/oqjomWXxgVY\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/oqjomWXxgVY\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2020-04-06T15:36:51+00:00","duration":"PT1H55M55S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oqjomWXxgVY","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCeMYGr94Sf4LpYwIcO3P2Qw#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCeMYGr94Sf4LpYwIcO3P2Qw","name":"Butler Kahn","description":"We help people and families.\n\nOur firm specializes in personal injury and wrongful death cases. We are based in Atlanta, Georgia. We handle cases across Georgia and, for certain types of cases, all across the country.\n\nTOP-QUALITY LEGAL WORK. We do the work that lots of law firms skip. We track down witnesses, dig into the evidence, and prepare intensely for every deposition, trial, and hearing. We take a small number of cases so that we can devote our full attention to the clients we represent.\n\nPERSONAL SERVICE. If you hire us, you get us. You won't get blocked by a receptionist or leave unreturned messages. If you want to speak with your lawyer, you can.\n\nDOING WHAT WE SAY WE'LL DO. Some law firms make big promises at the beginning, then don\u2019t follow through. We shoot straight \u2013 when we tell you something about your case, good or bad, we mean it. No fake promises.\n\nButler Kahn\n10 Lenox Pointe\nAtlanta, GA 30324\n678-940-1444\n","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/NTOsbNEALVOnRbUCg7jUzYGcC4kNKsUTEVHm5TtiTQdLlfFKksLTnmiZG_t6zDG_e4ygtnva=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=oqjomWXxgVY#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=oqjomWXxgVY#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=oqjomWXxgVY&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=oqjomWXxgVY#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":8807}],{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=oqjomWXxgVY#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_LikeAction","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":70}]},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DwhS5lRd_f8#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DwhS5lRd_f8","name":"Jeep Fire & Wrongful Death Case: Deposition of Jeep Engineer about Gas Tank Location and Recall","description":"We traveled to Detroit, Michigan to take the deposition of this engineer, who had worked for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and its predecessors for 25 years. He had been involved in engineering Jeep vehicles and in the \"recall\" that had to be done because the Jeep gas tanks were getting crushed in rear impact.\n\nJeep manufactured and sold millions of SUVs with gas tanks located in the extreme rear of the vehicle, behind the rear axle and right next to the plastic \"bumper.\" These gas tanks are exposed to rear impact, like the gas tanks on the 1970s-era Ford Pinto. When these Jeeps get rear-ended, the plastic gas tanks can rupture, spraying gasoline on the roadway and on both vehicles. If the gasoline catches fire and the people can't escape in time, the occupants the Jeep and the other vehicle can burn to death.\n\nThis has happened over and over again.\n\nIn 2013, the company that owns Jeep, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (\"FCA\"), finally agreed to recall at least some of these Jeeps with exposed gas tanks. But FCA did not buy the Jeeps back or move the gas tank. Instead, FCA offered free trailer hitches to some Jeep owners. That did not fix the problem\u2014and FCA knew that it wouldn't. Just two years before, an FCA executive had testified under oath that \"the tow package does not protect the tank.\"\n\nThe Jeeps with exposed gas tanks are the 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty, 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 1993-2001 Jeep Cherokee, and 1987-2007 Jeep Wrangler. Millions of these Jeeps remain on the road.\n\nFCA has refused to take any further action. FCA claims that these Jeeps are \"absolutely safe.\" In our pending litigation against FCA over these Jeep fires, FCA denies any wrongdoing. FCA refuses declines to accept any responsibility for the hundreds of Jeep fires.\n\nWe\u2019d love to hear what you think! It helps our clients if people watch these depositions and leave comments, because that helps us to know what jurors will take away from the depositions, and what questions jurors will have after watching them. So please feel free to comment with your thoughts (good or bad) and let us know what other questions you wish we\u2019d asked. That\u2019s why we post these depositions to YouTube.\n\nFor more about Jeep fires and explosions, visit https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/jeep-fires-explosions\/\n\nFor more about wrongful death cases, visit https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/georgia-wrongful-death-statute-explained\/\n\n\u2757DISCLAIMER\u2757\n\nWe are not your lawyer. All content provided is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. Any verdicts, settlements or other case results discussed are not guaranteed and must be evaluated on their own merits.\n\nButler Kahn: https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/\n\nAtlanta, Georgia location:\nhttps:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/Y3fCFkRVAn7jzGD16\n\nLawrenceville, Georgia location:\nhttps:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/PaShwcicz5DQDFsD6\n\nRoswell, Georgia location:\nhttps:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/uTVtgfq3RspJ5QQbA\n\nJonesboro, Georgia location:\nhttps:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/Jr2umQB8o32QaaRK6\n\nFree Guides:\nWhat To Do After a Car Accident: https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/georgia-car-accident-lawyers\/what-to-do-after-an-accident\/\nShould I Hire an Accident Lawyer: https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/atlanta-car-accident-lawyers\/when-needed\/\nGeorgia Wrongful Death Statute Explained: https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/georgia-wrongful-death-statute-explained\/","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/DwhS5lRd_f8\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/DwhS5lRd_f8\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/DwhS5lRd_f8\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/DwhS5lRd_f8\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/DwhS5lRd_f8\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2020-04-06T15:36:44+00:00","duration":"PT1H42M5S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DwhS5lRd_f8","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCeMYGr94Sf4LpYwIcO3P2Qw#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCeMYGr94Sf4LpYwIcO3P2Qw","name":"Butler Kahn","description":"We help people and families.\n\nOur firm specializes in personal injury and wrongful death cases. We are based in Atlanta, Georgia. We handle cases across Georgia and, for certain types of cases, all across the country.\n\nTOP-QUALITY LEGAL WORK. We do the work that lots of law firms skip. We track down witnesses, dig into the evidence, and prepare intensely for every deposition, trial, and hearing. We take a small number of cases so that we can devote our full attention to the clients we represent.\n\nPERSONAL SERVICE. If you hire us, you get us. You won't get blocked by a receptionist or leave unreturned messages. If you want to speak with your lawyer, you can.\n\nDOING WHAT WE SAY WE'LL DO. Some law firms make big promises at the beginning, then don\u2019t follow through. We shoot straight \u2013 when we tell you something about your case, good or bad, we mean it. No fake promises.\n\nButler Kahn\n10 Lenox Pointe\nAtlanta, GA 30324\n678-940-1444\n","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/NTOsbNEALVOnRbUCg7jUzYGcC4kNKsUTEVHm5TtiTQdLlfFKksLTnmiZG_t6zDG_e4ygtnva=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DwhS5lRd_f8#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DwhS5lRd_f8#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DwhS5lRd_f8&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DwhS5lRd_f8#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":3360}],{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DwhS5lRd_f8#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_LikeAction","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":29}]}],"about":["Jeep Fire"],"wordCount":721,"articleBody":"It has happened again.\u00a0 Another person has died by fire as a result of the defective gas tank location on the Jeep Grand Cherokees.\u00a0 On Thursday, August 12, 2021 a Jeep Grand Cherokee exploded after being struck in the rear in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was pronounced dead by the Hamilton County Coroner\u2019s Office, according to The Enquirer, a Cincinnati news source.This is the third person who burned to death in a rear-tank Jeep in the last few years in Ohio alone.\u00a0 Other victims included Ms. Vicki Hill of Elyria, Ohio.\u00a0 This time, the victim was in a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which shared the same defective rear-tank design as the 2004 Jeep Liberty in which our former client\u2019s wife died in Hamilton and the 2007 Jeep Liberty in which Ms. Hill died in Elyria.\u00a0 All of the victims died in the fires after their Jeeps exploded.On August 13, a man was driving his 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee on I-75 near Hopple Street when another driver struck his Jeep in the rear.\u00a0 \u201cThe Jeep caught fire and became engulfed in flames,\u201d police said.\u00a0 \u201cThe driver was unable to escape and was\u00a0pronounced deceased at the scene.\u201d Defective Gas Tank Location in Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Cherokee, Jeep LibertyMany, many people have died in fires in the Jeep Grand Cherokees, Jeep Cherokees, and Jeep Liberties with rear-mounted gas tanks.\u00a0 The fact pattern is tragically predictable \u2013 the Jeep is struck in the rear, the plastic gas tank ruptures, gasoline spills, and a spark from the impact lights the gasoline on fire.\u00a0 The Jeep burns and often explodes, and if someone inside the Jeep isn\u2019t able to get out, the consequences are horrible.Our firm has handled a number of cases arising out of the defective rear-tank Jeeps, including the only such case known to have gone to a jury trial in which we helped our client win a $150,000,000 verdict.\u00a0 We also handled a case arising out of an exploding Jeep in Hamilton, Ohio that was resolved by settlement in February of 2020.\u00a0 The 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees, 1993-2001 Jeep Cherokees, and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberties all share the same defect \u2013 the gas tank is right next to the rear bumper.\u00a0 If that sounds like an obvious problem \u2013 well, it is.\u00a0 When automotive manufacturers decide where to put a gas tank, \u201cnext to the rear bumper\u201d isn\u2019t a good choice.Recall of Exploding JeepsThe manufacturer of Jeeps, FCA (which stands for \u201cFiat Chrysler Automobiles) has even been forced to recall these exploding Jeeps.\u00a0 Following pressure from nonprofits, safety advocates, customers, victims, lawyers, and media, FCA finally agreed to conduct a recall of at least some of the rear-tank Jeeps. But this would not be an ordinary recall.In 2013, FCA\u2019s Chairman and CEO, Sergio Marchionne \u2014 who repeatedly told the public that these Jeeps were \u201cabsolutely safe\u201d \u2014 arranged a private meeting with top federal officials to discuss the recall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (\u201cNHTSA\u201d) had already written FCA a letter requesting a recall and announcing that the Jeeps with rear gas tanks contained \u201cdefects related to motor vehicle safety.\u201d Marchionne wanted to see that investigation stopped.So Marchionne flew from his home in Switzerland to Chicago, where he met in private with the United States Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, and the National Highway NHTSA\u2019s Administrator, David Strickland. Nobody else was at the meeting. No agency staff or engineers were there. There were no safety advocates, customers, victims in the meeting. The media was not told about the meeting. Marchionne later claimed that no notes were keptThe three men reached a deal. FCA would invite Jeep owners to bring their Jeeps into a dealership and, if the Jeep didn\u2019t already have an original trailer hitch on it, FCA would give the customer a trailer hitch for free. In return, the government agreed to drop the investigation.\u00a0 In our opinion, this was a cheap fix that left Jeep owners at risk.Jeep Fire LawyersIf you or a loved one has been harmed by these defective rear-tank Jeeps, give us a call.\u00a0 We\u2019ve learned a lot about these Jeeps over the years.\u00a0 The conversation is free.\u00a0 In Jeep fire cases, as in the other cases we handle, we charge no fee unless (and until) we win the case for our client."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Jeep Grand Cherokee with Rear Tank Explodes & Burns in Cincinnati, Ohio","item":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/jeep-grand-cherokee-with-rear-tank-explodes-burns-in-cincinnati-ohio\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]