So is the 98 XJ's plastic fuel tank, one of those exploding ones?

Is Chrysler replacing them for free, even if I'm not the original owner?

I have my wife & kids in there much of the time, need to be sure they're safe.

 

plastic? i dont think it is, or at least none i have seen. If it has one i would say it was put on there, but im not 100% on that.

 

No recall on the Gas tanks yet. Besides they are only looking into Grand Cherokee's.

http://news.google.com/news/search?a...d+cherokee+gas

 

wow they made xj's with plastic gas tanks?

 

Just went out & checked again, it's definitely plastic & appears to be stock.

I'm not super worried, but am somewhat concerned. Like I said it's not just me in there.

It's a 1998 XJ 4.0L auto.

 

I honestly think the media is blowing it out of proportion. They like to sensationalize.

From what I was able to find quickly on google...

Ah, yes, but they never say which of those 44 crashes and 55 deaths involved a fire centered around the Cherokee's ruptured fuel tank? They are taking all sources of fire into this figure.

The NHTSA seems to think it's safe, but is re-reviewing the data after a third party consumer watch group asked them too.

AFAIK the Cherokee isn't considered as part of the investigation, just the Grands. Considering, though, how often we slam these things into rocks, stumps, and the ground... I think if they were prone to explode on impact, we'd know about it.

 

thats what i was thinking, and i didnt know they even made plastic gas tanks.....mines steel

 

My 90 YJ has a plastic tank, but it has a metal skid plate which seems to have protected it on several occasions.

Maybe I'll look into buying, or make my own skid plate/ protection for the XJ too.

 

are you sure it's not the plastic protection you have seen, the tank should be of metal.

 

I have not investigated yet to see if my tank is plastic yet, but I do know that it is not uncommon for gas tanks to be plastic. I've assisted in replacing a couple that came on Dodge mini vans and since that's a Chrysler product it would not be unlikly that the Cherokee came with them too.

I'm going to also suggest that the plastic tank may be safer- it will flex more before it punctures or cracks. Less chance of it sparking too.

If your tank is plastic and you are concerned about it I would suggest an "easy" fix, buy a gas tank skid plate.

 

Pre-97 XJ's had metal tanks. They went to a poly tank in the 97 and ups I believe.

 

Mopar has used plastic tanks for ages. Safer than steel. Steel makes sparks when it is hit and composites can be significantly tougher than sheet metal in impact situations.

 

Yep mine is poly but i just put a zj skid on so now its protected!

 

My XJ has a metal tank and a plastic shield. I would like to put on a skid plate, would the ZJ skid you put on yours fit a 1993 2dr tank, and would it be strong enough to help protect the tank?

 

ya i have a 99 and i was pissed when i seen that the gas tank was plastic so thats one of the first things i bought was a skidplate cus i put a pretty good sized scratch in it just 4xin...but i didnt even know there was a recall period so this actually is new to me