According to multiple news agencies, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has given the automaker Chrysler a deadline in order to obtain a formal response regarding the request for a recall concerning 2.7 million vehicles that are being linked to several fiery accidents including crashes that resulted in fatalities.

The reports show that the 1993 through 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002 through 2007 Liberty SUVs could be affected if the agency decides that there’s a problem with the engine these vehicles were equipped with.

At this moment, the NHTSA is waiting for the automaker’s response, which should be issued until June 18^th. Upon receipt of the official response, the federal agency might have to issue a formal fining and then summon the company and interest groups for a public hearing.

The agency has stated that the manufacturer did not uphold industry standards by placing the fuel tanks in a spot that is considered to be vulnerable, increasing the risks associated with a possible fire in the event of a collision.

The manufacturer has avoided to issue a recall by claiming the fuel tank design does not fail to meet federal standards.

While it’s extremely rare for a company to refuse to issue a recall upon receiving an official request from the federal agency, it has happened before. The last time an automaker challenged the NHTSA was in 1996.

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