NHTSA Complaint #10211899 — 2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM DID NOT WORK. SHE CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY INSTRUCTED HER TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED TO THE DEALER, SHE NOTICED FREON RISING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AS A RESULT, OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM BEGAN TO FAIL. THE AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATER NO LONGER WORKED. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOT ONLY HAD HER BLOWER MOTOR AND RESISTER FAILED, BUT THE HEATER CORE, EVAPORATOR CORE, ACTUATOR, AND BLEND DOOR (WHICH NO LONGER PROVIDED HEAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE) WERE CORRODED AS WELL. THE DEALER FURTHER STATED THAT THE FREON FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ORIGINATED FROM THE EVAPORATOR CORE, INDICATING THE PRESENCE OF ETHANOL (TOXIC GAS). THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE AND STATED THAT THE FAILURES WERE DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE. CURRENTLY, THE ESTIMATED COST THAT THE CONTACT HAS SPENT ON REPAIRS IS $2,000. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,350.