NHTSA Complaint #10247212 — 1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE FAN CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. SYMPTOMS INCLUDE LOUD NOISES FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FROM STARTUP UNTIL A FEW MILES ARE DRIVEN, ALMOST LIKE THAT OF A LOUD AIRPLANE. VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 155,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN ONE OWNER SINCE NEW. FAN CLUTCH ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED MORE THAN FOUR TIMES AT THIS POINT, REQUIRING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FAN CLUTCH ASSEMBLY ON EACH FAILURE. ONE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED AT A JEEP DEALERSHIP UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY; A SECOND REPAIR WAS MADE ALSO AT A JEEP DEALERSHIP OUTSIDE THE FACTORY WARRANTY AT A COST OF OVER $350.00. THIRD AND FOURTH REPLACEMENTS OF THE FAN CLUTCH WERE MADE USING GENUINE NEW MOPAR/JEEP PARTS, BUT NOT AT A DEALERSHIP LOCATION AT A COST OF JUST UNDER $300.00. NOW THE DEALERSHIP HAS DIAGNOSED THIS FAULT FOR A FIFTH TIME, WITH AN ESTIMATED REPLACEMENT COST OF $350.00. IT SEEMS ABNORMAL TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE FAN CLUTCH ASSEMBLY EVERY 30,000 OR SO MILES, AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER OF THESE UNITS MAY HAVE A FAULTY DESIGN. *TR