Feds close Jeep rear-crash and Ford steering probes

U.S. safety regulators have closed two large-scale, high-profile safety probes involving steering complaints on Ford Crown Victorias and rear-crash safety on Jeeps.

The Jeep issue generated heated dispute that began last year between Jeep parent Chrysler Group and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and resulted in the recall of 1.56 million older Jeeps.

The Ford investigation was begun in July and involved more than 500,000 of Ford Motors' 2004 - 2007 Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis and Marauder cars. The agency was looking into complaints that a heat shield could rust, dislodge and cause the steering shaft to jam.

Investigators reviewed 18 complaints about the problem and found that it occurred only in 1.6 vehicles per 100,000. NHTSA said one report of a rollover crash on a highway entrance ramp could not be verified.

The agency also said six of the complaints came from one state police agency, which fixed the problems and hasn't had any further trouble.

The bumpy road involving the Jeep recall:

•In June 2013, NHTSA asked Chrysler to recall 2.7 million Jeeps for fuel leakage in rear crashes. In a rare public showdown, Chrysler refused and published a "white paper" with statistics showing the Jeeps' involvement in rear-crash fires was not significantly different from similar vehicles from that period.

•Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne and NHTSA's then-administrator, David Strickland, in a last-minute phone negotiation, cut a deal for a smaller recall of 1.56 million Jeeps. As part of that deal, Chrysler also was not required to describe the vehicles as having a safety defect.

•NHTSA later blasted Chrysler for taking so long to manufacture the trailer hitches the Jeeps get as the recall fix. The recall involves 2002 - 2007 Jeep Liberty small SUVs and 1993 -1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee midsize SUVs. Owners of 1999 to 2004 Grand Cherokees can opt to get the new hitch. as well, although those vehicles are not officially under recall.

•USA TODAY disclosed earlier this year that seven months after the recall, Chrysler's suppliers still hadn't begun building the hitches. And, in a "special order" to Chrysler earlier this year, NHTSA said the automaker failed to even line up a supplier to make the hitches for five months after the recall was ordered.

•Steamed at what it considered a snail's pace, NHTSA told Chrysler the remedy, indeed, seemed to work to minimize the danger of fuel leaking in low-speed rear crashes, but the pace of the recall was unacceptable. NHTSA did its own tests to determine the trailer hitches helped protect the fuel system.

•Chrysler finally said it was getting ample supplies of hitches and the matter that began with a bang ended with a whimper when NHTSA closed its investigation earlier this month.

Contributing: Associated Press