NHTSA Complaint #10280043 — 2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM NINE MONTHS AGO DURING A LONG DRIVE WITH THE A/C RUNNING, THAT THE CONDENSATION UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER AREA WAS ENOUGH TO CAUSE A VERY SMALL AND SLOW DRIP OF WATER. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A COUPLE AUTO SHOPS AND BOTH MECHANICS SUSPECTED THAT THE DRAIN PLUG WAS DEFECTIVE, YET THE CONDENSATION DID DRAIN TOWARDS THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE WATER LEAK. THE CARPET WOULD BECOME SOAKED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER AREA AFTER LONG DRIVES WITH THE A/C RUNNING. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME IT WILL COST ROUGHLY $1700 TO GET THIS REPAIRED AND THIS IS TOO COSTLY FOR ME. A MECHANIC FRIEND HAS ADVISED THAT THIS SOUNDS LIKE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AS THE CAR ONLY HAS 54,000 MILES AND I'VE NEVER HAD ANY OTHER ISSUES. THIS OCCASIONAL DRIP HAS GROWN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND LAST WEEK, DURING A 3 HOUR ROAD TRIP, I ENDED UP WITH A POOL OF WATER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER AREA - ENOUGH WATER TO HAVE TO SCOOP IT OUT SEVERAL CUPS OF WATER! THAT IS RIDICULOUS. I STOPPED AT YET ANOTHER AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS AGAIN ADVISED THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR