NHTSA Complaint #10080958 — 2001 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

WE HAVE A 2001 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED 4WD. ABOVE EACH PASSENGER DOOR THERE IS A HANDLE TO HOLD ON TO. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD BE CALLED BUT I USE IT TO HANG ON WHEN WE GO AROUND A CORNER, ETC. IN JUNE WE WERE JUST LEAVING THE CLEANERS. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I REACHED UP FOR THE HANDLE AS HE WAS BACKING OUT. ALL OF THE SUDDEN SOMETHING HIT MY NOSE RIGHT UNDER MY EYE. IT REALLY SMARTED AND LEFT A RED WELT. I ASKED HIM TO RE-PARK THE CAR AND WE LOOKED FOR WHAT IN THE WORLD HAD HAPPENED. WE FOUND A SMALL PIECE OF STEEL ON THE SEAT. WE THEN LOOKED OVER THIS SAFETY HANDLE AND REALIZED THAT THE SPRING THAT HOLDS THE HANDLE HAD BROKEN AND HIT MY FACE. I DID NOT BLEED AND THE RED MARK WAS GONE IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. MY CONCERN IS THAT IT NEARLY HIT MY EYE. WHEN WE ASK THE DEALER TO REPLACE IT WE WERE TOLD IT WOULD COST $79. WAS THIS A FREAK FAILURE OR HAS THIS HAPPENED TO OTHERS? IF I HAD BEEN AN INCH SHORTER I COULD HAVE LOST AN EYE. WE FELT THAT THE DEALER WOULD REPLACE THE PART AND WERE SHOCKED THAT THEY WANTED US TO PAY FOR IT. WE HAVE NOT REPLACED IT YET SO THE PART IS AVAILABLE. *LA