NHTSA Complaint #10224657 — 2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

I OWN A 2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED. 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. TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, A "BLEND AIR DOOR" IS NECESSARY AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1,400. 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 LIMITED'S WITH DUAL ZONE VENTILATION SYSTEMS. GIVEN THE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF 110,000, I THOUGHT IT A REASONABLE FAILURE. LATER I FOUND OUT THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAILURE. 14 MONTHS LATER, THE HEATER BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN AND SEEMED NOT TO RESPOND TO THE CONTROLS. THE SHOP SAYS IT IS THE "BLEND DOORS" AGAIN! I TOLD THEM THEY WERE REPLACED 14 MONTHS EARLIER AND THEY REPLIED IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS EVERY SERVICE COORDINATOR AT THIS PARTICULAR DEALERSHIP HAD A SET OF BAD BLEND DOORS UNDER THEIR DESK TO SHOW PEOPLE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS! IF THIS IS SO COMMON, IT SEEMS THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT! 14 MONTHS EXPECTED LIFETIME?? $3K IN 14 MONTHS JUST TO GET A HEATER WORKING? TOO MUCH! SOMETHING MUST BE DONE!! *TR