Chrysler defends the reputation of the Jeep Grand Cherokee in Sweden, following a troubled test

In recent days Chrysler has been embroiled in a controversy with a Swedish publication over the Jeep Grand Cherokee. According to tests conducted by Teknikens Värld, the Grand Cherokee Overland (the model sold in the Swedish market) is highly prone to rolling over when the steering is suddenly changed.

During the magazine’s test, the first sudden turn of the steering wheel almost amounted to a rollover, which was averted only by the driver. The conclusion of the test was a recommendation not to buy the Cherokee because it posed a danger to safety, even though it comes standard with electronic stability control and a roll cage.

Chrysler’s response was not long in coming and arrived through an article published on the Chrysler owners’ site, Allpar. The article claims that the test was rigged and that the vehicle was overloaded at the time of the test. Chrysler also mobilized several engineers working for the brand in Sweden so that the test could be repeated, which was done yesterday and 11 times over, this time with correct tyre pressure and a light load in the vehicle.

In none of the tests in which Chrysler’s technicians were present could a rollover, or at least a risk of rollover, be reproduced. Furthermore, the American automotive group has released a press statement detailing every test carried out, and noting that the investigation continues into why the Swedes showed a Grand Cherokee about to roll over, when it is a vehicle that has earned high safety ratings from the American NHTSA. In their view, everything has been arranged for who knows what purpose.

It reminds me of the issue with the Ford Explorer’s tyres, which blew out for no reason, or the rollovers of the Ford Bronco II that cost Ford millions of dollars in lawsuits. In both cases, Ford was able to show that the failures and accidents could not be attributed to flawed vehicle design, but rather to the driving habits of its customers, with extreme manoeuvres for which their vehicles were not designed.

Via | Autoblog