Federal regulators in Washington contend certain models of Chrysler Jeeps pose a danger to consumers, and want the automaker to recall nearly three million vehicles. But in a rare move for a car manufacturer, Chrysler is bucking the recall order, saying the government is wrong about its warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommended to Chrysler that it recall Jeep Grand Cherokees made from 1993 to 2004 and Jeep Liberty models from 2002 to 2007.

NHTSA officials said the vehicles, which number 2.7 million, are defective and run the risk of bursting into flames as a result of rear-end collisions. Forty-four people died in Jeep Grand Cherokees and another seven in Jeep Liberty models during such accidents, regulators claim.

Chrysler, though, disagrees that the vehicles—which are among the company’s most profitable models—are unsafe.

“We believe N.H.T.S.A.’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,” Chrysler said in a statement.

Ordinarily, car manufacturers work with Washington to quietly resolve safety issues, often leading to voluntary recalls by the companies.

Two days after Chrysler’s unusual pushback, the company did announce the recall of 630,000 Jeep SUVs as the result of transmission and restraint system problems. These recalls include 254,000 Compass and Patriot SUVs from 2010 to 2012 to fix a delay in air bag and seatbelt functioning, and 181,000 Wranglers from 2012 and 2013 relating to leaks in transmission cooler lines.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

To Learn More:

Chrysler Rejects Regulator’s Request to Recall Jeeps (by Bill Vlasic, New York Times)

Chrysler Recalls 630,000 Jeep SUVs for Transmission, Other Problems (by Ronald D. White, Los Angeles Times)