NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE10-032: Fuel Spill During Refueling
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE10-032 on August 23, 2010 and closed it on February 16, 2011. NHTSA's investigations file lists 7 Jeep models for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE10-032 (also written PE10032)
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation The first stage of most defect investigations: NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation gathers basic information about a possible safety defect, including from the manufacturer.
- Status
- Closed February 16, 2011
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
- Components
- Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline — Storage; Fuel System, Gasoline — Storage — Tank Assembly; Fuel System, Gasoline — Storage — Tank Assembly — Filler Pipe and Cap; Fuel System, Other; Fuel System, Other — Storage; Fuel System, Other — Storage — Tank Assembly; Fuel System, Other — Storage — Tank Assembly — Filling/Charging
- Vehicles and equipment
- 7 Jeep models, including the Wrangler and Wrangler 2-DR 4X4
A recall appears here only when NHTSA's investigations file links one to the investigation; NHTSA's summary or record can name others.
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Preliminary Evaluation PE10-032.
try.vin does not copy NHTSA's investigation documents; NHTSA's investigation record lists the ones NHTSA has published.
ODI found the rate of warranty claims related to fuel spit back on the subject vehicles is lower than other vehicles previously recalled to correct defects related to fuel spit back.
Although the rate of complaints reported to the agency on the subject vehicles is higher than or similar to the rates experienced in previous investigations where safety recalls were conducted, ODI suspects that the NHTSA safety complaints submitted by subject vehicles owners may have been influenced by internet related publicity both before and during this investigation.
A safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.
Accordingly, this investigation is closed.
The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.
The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.
See attached report for additional information.
In addition, Chrysler is initiating a lifetime warranty program, at no cost to the consumer, to address the fuel spit back problem in approximately 135,000 model year 2007-2008 Jeep Wrangler vehicles built from March 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008.
Chrysler will notify all affected vehicle owners of this action.
Consumers should refer to the warranty and service bulletins and sample owner notification letter available in the investigative file.
The vehicle build date can be found on the certification label located on the driver door or door jamb.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE10-032. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
Jeep
Jeep Wrangler
Jeep Wrangler 2-DR 4X4
- 2007, 2008
Jeep Wrangler 2-DR 4X4 RHD
- 2007, 2008
Jeep Wrangler 4-DR 4X2
- 2007, 2008
Jeep Wrangler 4-DR 4X4
Jeep Wrangler Sahara
- 2007
Jeep Wrangler X RHD 4X4
- 2007
What an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Jeep VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for PE10-032
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.