NHTSA Complaint #10140135 — 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

2005 JEEP LAREDO EXHIBITS APPARENT ENGINE SKIPPING, THRASHING, ETC WHEN TRAVELING AT APPROX 1200-1500 RPM UP A GRADE (ENGINE UNDER LIGHT LOAD). DEALER AND MANUFACTURER SAY THAT THIS IS A PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. SERVICE MANAGER OF MCKINNEY DODGE IN EASLEY SC (TONY) SAYS THAT "EVERY ONE OF THEM DO THIS, NEW OR WITH A FEW MILES - WORSE AFTER A FEW MILES". SERVICE MANAGER INDICATES THAT HE HAS NO CLUE HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM, ASKED ME TO CALL NATIONAL NUMBER (PROBABLY TRYING TO GET ME OFF THE LOT). CALLED NATIONAL NUMBER, THEY CALLED LOCAL DEALER (TONY) AND WERE TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FIXED, THEREFORE DENYING THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM AT ALL. NATIONAL CHRYSLER FOLKS SAID IT WAS AN OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT NOTHING COULD/WOULD BE DONE "AT THIS TIME". I PUT "500" UNDER "NUMBER OF FAILURES" IN THE FORM BELOW JUST BECAUSE I HAD TO PUT SOME NUMBER. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN. *JB