Jeep Grand Cherokees are fun loving, outdoorsy vehicles. They’re like the hippie-ish forester at the campfire party, or the amiable ski instructor in the lodge for après ski drinks.

There’s another commonality between the Grand Cherokee and these folks of similar ilk; they all have a penchant to light up.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has expanded and intensified its investigation into “alleged” fuel tank problems with Grand Cherokees from 1993 to 2004. Data collected so far indicates fuel-tank failures and fuel fires in rear-impact collisions are more prevalent in the Grand Cherokee than in similar vehicles.

The fuel-tank in the affected vehicles is located between the rear bumper and axle, which is a place of particular vulnerability, especially when you have a plastic fuel-tank.

The NHTSA has also included 2002-2007 Jeep Liberties and 1993-2001 Cherokee models with similar tank locations.

Jeep Liberties are like the people that want to get real close to the party, but won’t quite go in. Cherokees remind me of old oil tycoons driving through their oil fields.

It’s fun comparing vehicles and brands to types of people.

But not as fun as driving a NEW vehicle.