NHTSA Complaint #10128619 — 2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

I HAVE A 2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO THAT AFTER THE FIRST 10K MILES STARTED TO DEVELOP LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IN ADDITION AT 90 DEGREE TURNS OR 45 DEGREE GYRATIONS, I HEAR TAPPING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE GEARBOX. AFTER CONTINUED USE PER THE DEALERS REFUSAL TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND CLAIMING THAT THIS IS A NORMAL BEHAVIOR OF THE GEAR BOX FOR THIS MODEL, I AM NOW EXPERIENCING POOR AND UNSAFE HANDLING OF MY JEEP. THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN SUBJECTED TO BUMPS OR HOLES IN THE ROADWAY WILL BEHAVE OR RESPOND IN AN ERRATIC FASHION TO THE POINT THAT THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE YOU ARE ABOUT TO LOOSE CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE. IN WET OR SNOWY CONDITIONS THIS HAS RESULTED IN NEAR SIDE CRASHES WITH OTHER CARS ALONG SIDE MINE, BECAUSE THE SLIPPERY CONDITIONS REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF CONTROL YOU HAVE WITH YOUR VEHICLE AND HAVING A LOOSE OR NON-COOPERATIVE STEERING GEAR BOX MAKES THIS HAZARD EVEN WORSE. MY VEHICLE IS THE V6 MODEL, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, ''CHRYSLER PUT AN OLDER VERSION OF A GEARBOX SYSTEM THAT IS NOT FOUND IN THE V8 MODELS''. THE LONGER I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE THE LOOSER THE STEERING COLUMN FEELS AND THE LOUDER THE TAPPING SOUND HAS BECOME. IN ADDITION THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE ASSEMBLY STEERING BARS TO LOOSEN AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE REASON I SAY THIS IS BECAUSE TWICE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER, THAT WHEN DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE STEERING COLUMN WILL JERK SEVERALLY, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER WAS A SIGN THAT THE JOINTS AT THE END OF THE ASSEMBLY BARS WAS LOOSE AND REQUIRED REPAIR WORK. THAT TO ME IS A SIGN THAT IF THE STEERING BOX IS DEFECTIVE THEN IT PUTS MORE STRESS ON THE BARS TO COMPENSATE FOR THE GEARBOXES INABILITY TO CONTROL THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE. I MAY NOT BE AN AUTOMOTIVE EXPERT, BUT SOME TIMES IT''S JUST PLAIN COMMONSENSE. BUT THIS ISSUE IN MY OPINION IS VERY SERIOUS AND SHOULD BE REVIEWED BY THIS AGENCY. THANK YOU