NHTSA Complaint #10217730 — 2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

I OWN A 2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE OVERLAND WITH 44,500 MILES. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE OF THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WERE (1) RAPID FOGGING OF FRONT WINDSHIELD,(2) FOGGING OF FRONT PASSENGER WINDOWS,(3) FAILURE OF PASSENGER HEAT WHILE STILL MAINTAINING DRIVER HEAT FUNCTION, AND (4) ONLY COLD AIR RELEASE ON PASSENGER SIDE OF JEEP. CONSEQUENTLY,(1) THE WINDSHIELD AND FRONT WINDOWS DO NOT DEFOG, AND (2) NO HEAT WHATSOEVER COMES FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR AND DASHBOARD VENTILATION SYSTEM. IN ADDITION TO THE FOGGING THERE IS A LEAK OF ANTIFREEZE, HAZARDOUS MATERIAL, COMING INTO THE VEHICLE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AREAS, DUE TO DEFECTIVE HEATER CORE. TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, A "BLEND AIR DOOR" IS NECESSARY AND A NEW HEATER CORE AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1,700 INCLUSIVE OF 7 HOURS OF LABOR. ACCORDING TO THE CERTIFIED SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE LOCAL JEEP DEALER AND ONLINE FORUMS, THIS HAS BECOME A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2000-2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITEDS/OVERLANDS WITH DUAL ZONE VENTILATION SYSTEMS. *TR