Nearly 400,000 Jeep Liberty sport utility vehicles are the subject of intense scrutiny by U.S. safety regulators due to increasing concerns that their airbags could inadvertently deploy, injuring passengers inside the vehicle. Product liability and vehicle safety experts have already indicated that these safety concerns could eventually lead to a massive recall.

Specifically, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced earlier this week that it was officially elevating its investigation of 386,873 Jeep Liberty sport utility vehicles manufactured in model years 2002 and 2003 to an engineering analysis.

Essentially, this means that if an engineering error or safety issue is discovered, it is that much more likely that the vehicles will have to be recalled in order for Chrysler -- the manufacturer of the Jeep Liberty -- to make the necessary changes.

According to the NHTSA, there have been 87 reports of inadvertent airbag deployment in the passenger and driver seats of the affected Jeep Liberty sport utility vehicles.

The airbags are alleged to have deployed while the driver was operating the vehicle on the road, or when they simply turned on the vehicle. In some cases, drivers are saying that the airbag light on the vehicle's dashboard was illuminated just before the bags were deployed.

Thus far, these inadvertent deployments have allegedly caused 50 injuries to Jeep Liberty drivers and passengers, including burns, lacerations and upper body bruising. Fortunately, no deaths have been reported.

The Jeep Liberty airbag issue is one of several motor vehicle defects currently making the rounds in the news. Mazda Motor Corp. recently recalled 52,000 Tribute sport utility vehicles to address potential brake fluid leaks, and Daimler AG is currently investigating complaints of a fuel odor problem in some Mercedes-Benz models -- a problem that may necessitate a correction in roughly 8,000 vehicles.

Stay tuned for more from our Philadelphia product liability/wrongful death blog ...

If you have lost a loved one due to a dangerous or defective product, it's important to remember that you have rights and you have options. An attorney who can answer your questions and explain your rights can prove to be an indispensable ally.

This post was provided for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal or mechanical advice.

Sources:

Reuters, "U.S. regulators upgrade Jeep Liberty airbag probe" Jan. 30, 2012