NHTSA closes investigation into Jeep Wrangler fuel-spill problem, complaints are still outstanding

Consumer Reports News: March 09, 2011 01:41 PM

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Last month, we updated readers on a problem with the Jeep Wrangler that the government was investigating. An undue number of current-generation Wrangler owners had complained to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that fuel pumps didn't shut off when refueling, leaving gasoline to spew back out of the filler neck when the tank was full.

Now NHTSA has announced that it is closing the investigation into the problem without issuing a recall. In response to NHTSA's announcement closing the investigation, Chrysler Corp., which builds the Wrangler, blames high levels of ethanol in the fuel used for the problem.

Jeep extended the warranty on the Wrangler fuel fillers, so if customers complain, the company will replace the fuel tank and filler mechanism.

We checked the database of complaints on NHTSA's website and found complaints dropped off somewhat in December last year, but the rate remains very high. More than one-third of complaints about the Wrangler are still related to fuel systems, a majority of which cited words such as "overflow," "overfill," and "spill."

If you have this problem, contact your local Jeep dealership to have the fix performed. For more information, contact Chrysler customer service at: 1-800-853-1403.

—Eric Evarts

Also see: Recall: 2010-2011 Jeep Wrangler—Axle fasteners may loosen