NHTSA Complaint #10251929 — 2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

TODAY WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE OVERLAND, THE HEATER STOPPED SENDING WARM AIR TO THE DRIVERSIDE DEFROSTER AND HEAT OUTLETS (HAS DUAL ZONE CONTROLS). I SUSPECTED IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE "FLOW DOORS" WHICH CONTROL THE AMOUNT OF WARM AIR TO ENTER THE PASSENGER CABIN. UPON RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS THIS IS AN IDENTIFIED DEFECT AFFECTING MANY JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE OWNERS. THE PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY NOT CORRECTABLE WITHOUT REPLACING THE "FLOW DOORS" AND DOOR ACTUATORS. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND HAVE RECEIVED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE ISSUE. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST IS $1100 PLUS. MY OPINION IS THAT SINCE IT IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT, IT SHOULD BE COVERED THROUGH A RECALL AND AT NO EXPENSE TO THE OWNER. ALSO THE FIX PROVIDED BY CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP IS KNOWN TO FAIL PREMATURELY AFTER SHORT PERIOD OF OPERATION. *TR