NHTSA Complaint #10098685 — 1997 JEEP WRANGLER

I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND SOLE DRIVER OF A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER WITH 34,000 MILES. I NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER WASN'T WORKING WHEN I DROVE HOME IN A SNOW STORM LAST WEEK. FORTUNATELY, THE DRIVE WAS A SHORT DISTANCE. *JB I EASILY DETERMINED THAT A PLASTIC BELL CRANK BROKE OFF ITS SHAFT THAT GOES INTO THE HEATER HOUSING. I ACTIVATED THE DEFROSTER CONTROL TO CONFIRM THAT THIS PART IS THE DEFROSTER BELL CRANK. NOTHING HAS FALLEN DOWN THE DEFROSTER DUCT TO JAM THE DOOR AND CAUSE THE BREAK. THE DOOR MOVES FREELY WHEN TURNING THE SHAFT BY HAND. I BELIEVE THE BREAK HAPPENED WHEN THE DEFROSTER WAS ACTUATED DURING MAX HEATER FAN, CAUSING MAX AIR PRESSURE ON THE DEFROSTER DOOR WITH MAX TORQUE ON ITS SHAFT. THE REPAIR ESTIMATE FROM MY LOCAL DEALER IS $855. I HAVE A STRONG SUSPICION THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND DOUBT IF MANY PEOPLE GO TO THIS EXPENSE TO FIX IT. I DONT WANT TO SPEND THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY ON A DEFECT THAT MAY BREAK AGAIN. SINCE DRIVING WITH FROSTED WINDSHIELDS CREATES A CONSIDERABLE SAFETY HAZARD, I THINK A RECALL SHOULD BE INITIATED TO MAKE THIS SYSTEM MORE ROBUST. A WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER THAN 34,000 MILES.