NHTSA Complaint #10052549 — 1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

MY 1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE'S RADIATOR FAN FAILED TO WORK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. THIS WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN INOPERATIVE FAN RELAY BY A JEEP DEALER. THIS ISSUE IS ONE OF MANY INTERMITTENT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS PLAGUING THIS VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASING IT NEW, HOWEVER THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING FILED FOR 4 SPECIFIC REASONS: 1) THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM RESULTING IN TOTAL FAILURE SHOULD NOT OCCUR IN SUCH A NEW VEHICLE, 2) A BREAKDOWN OF THIS TYPE (OVERHEAT) MAY CAUSE COLLATERAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WHICH WILL NOT BE KNOWN ABOUT UNTIL A FUTURE EVENT OCCURS, 3) I AM A WOMEN WHO TRAVELS ALONE OFTEN AND ANY BREAKDOWN PUTS MY PERSONAL SAFETY AT RISK, 4) TO HELP PREVENT OTHERS FROM EXPERIENCING THIS IF THIS REPORT ASSISTS IN DETERMINING THAT THIS ISSUE IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I UNDERSTAND THAT PROACTIVE RESOLUTION OF THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT LIKELY, HOWEVER I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO FIND OUT INFORMATION ON SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS WITH 1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEES IN ORDER TO BE AN INFORMED CONSUMER AND BE PROACTIVE IN MY MAINTENANCE CHECKS OF MY VEHICLE TO AVOID BREAKDOWN. THIS INFORMATION IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE FROM THE DEALERSHIPS, THEREFORE IT PUTS THE CONSUMER AT MORE RISK THAN NECESSARY. DAIMLER CHRYSLER SHOULD TAKE MORE RESPONSIBILITY AND IMPROVE COMMUNICATION ON THESE ISSUES. THIS MODEL YEAR VEHICLE HAS BEEN PLAGUED WITH KNOWN PROBLEMS, TWO OF WHICH COST ME THE LOSS OF MY VEHICLE OVER 2 DIFFERENT WEEKENDS, 2 DIFFERENT BREAKDOWN EVENTS WHILE I WAS DRIVING ALONE, IN ADDITION TO AT LEAST 12 OTHER SERVICE EVENTS. *AK