After a lengthy battle with the government, Chrysler has agreed to recall 2.7 million older Jeep SUV models due to alleged claims that the fuel tanks are improperly designed so that they can easily catch fire after a rear-end collision.

"The 1993-2004 Grand Cherokees and 2002-2007 Liberty models have fuel tanks that can leak and catch fire in rear-end collisions," affirmed the U.S. government. However, Chrysler initially refused the government's claims and said no to the recall.

"We believe NHTSA's initial conclusions are based on an incomplete analysis of the underlying data, and we are committed to continue working with the agency to resolve this disagreement," said Chrysler in an official statement last week.

Since then, the automaker has changed its tune, agreeing to "provide an upgrade to the rear structure of the vehicle to better manage crash forces in low-speed impacts."

"Chrysler Group recognizes that this matter has raised concerns for its customers and wants to take further steps, in coordination with NHTSA, to provide additional measures to supplement the safety of its vehicles."

According to USA Today, the defect in the fuel tank design in said models potentially caused as many as 51 deaths. However, with the recall, Chrysler has avoided public hearings which would have prolonged the carmaker's bad publicity.

"It strikes me that Chrysler underestimated the negative publicity they'd get out of fighting, and that they decided it was better off to go ahead and do the recall," said Edmunds.com senior analyst Michelle Krebs according to CNN.

Recalled vehicles with an after-market or non-Chrysler trailer hitch will be replaced with a factory trailer hitch.