Automobile major Fiat Chrysler has drawn flak from consumers and regulators alike for not repairing some of the 1.6 million recalled Jeeps, to fix fire risk involving gas tanks.
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has scheduled a hearing on July 2, to study the recall practices of Fiat Chrysler.
Fiat Chrysler said to have refused to repair some of the vehicles saying that they were hit by "corrosion, accident damage or abuse".
The number of vehicles the company refused to fix could be around 48,000 to 96,000 vehicles, the New York Times reported.
The recall of the Jeeps covered 1993-98 Grand Cherokee and 2002-7 Liberty models, which had their gas tanks installed in the rear axle. This was described as a departure from what puts it in front of the rear axle.
The US safety agency in 2013 deemed such system exposed to the risk of triggering fire in the event of collision from behind.
Therefore, the repair demanded putting in place trailer hitch, usually identified with their utility for towing, with an aim to protect the gas tank. The NHTSA had given its nod to it even though Chrysler had expressed its potential for limited protection.
The safety agency voiced its concern last November over Chrysler's alleged failure in repairing the rusted cars.
