NHTSA Complaint #10098367 — 2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

THE RADIATOR ELECTRIC COOLING FAN SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE FAN BLEW APART WITH A LOUD BANG AS CAR WAS PLACED INTO DRIVE TO LEAVE A PARKING LOT. THE OWNER THOUGHT HE HAD HIT SOMETHING AND CHECKED THE EXTERIOR OF CAR. THE DISINTEGRATION OF THE FAN BLADE BLEW A HOLE THROUGH THE RADIATOR FAN SHROUD WHICH WAS PROBABLY THE LOUD BANG. THIS CAUSED COOLANT TO OVERHEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER TO STOP FUNCTIONING WHEN CAR WAS STATIONARY. THIS WAS NOT NOTICED ON HIGHWAY WHERE MOST DRIVING IS DONE AND CAR WAS DRIVEN ON A 700 MILE TRIP BEFORE FAILURE WAS DETECTED. IF HOOD HAD BEEN OPEN AT TIME OF THIS FAILURE AN INJURY COULD HAVE OCCURRED TO INDIVIDUAL IN VICINITY OF SHROUD. THE OWNER REPLACED BOTH FAN AND SHROUD AS DEALER WAS TOO BUSY THE DAY FAILURE WAS DISCOVERED. NO OTHER ENGINE DAMAGE HAS BEEN NOTICED. THE JEEP 5 STAR DEALER SHOWED NO INTEREST IN THIS FAILURE. A MEMBER OF A GOLFING FORE SOME TOLD ME THAT THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON HIS 2001 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE A MONTH LATER AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME MILEAGE. HIS COOLING FAN DISINTEGRATION PUNCTURED A HOLE IN HIS RADIATOR. MY PARTS WERE THROWN OUT WITH TRASH BUT DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF DAMAGE ARE AVAILABLE. *JB