NHTSA Complaint #10306675 — 2006 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

I DROVE THROUGH SOME HEAVY RAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 3 P.M. ON DECEMBER 24, 2009. MY 2006 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE QUIT. I HAD TO HAVE IT DECEMBER 28, 2009 I HAD IT TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. OVER THE CHRISTMAS WEEK END, TWO MECHANICS ADVISED THE ENGINE HAD HYDROLOCKED. THE SHOP OWNER ADVISED THAT IT HAD HYDROLOCKED. THEN AFTER FILING AN INSURANCE CLAIM, HE ADVISED IT WAS NOT WATERT BUT HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TALKED TO A SERVICE ADVISER AND SHE ADVISED IT HAD HYDROLODGED, A COMMON OCCURRENCE, COVERED BY INSURANCE. THEN, AFTER I TOOK IT THERE THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER WANTED THE ENGINE TORN DOWN AT MY EXPENSE. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE ONE DAY AND IT TOOK FOUR. THE MECHANIC ADVISED IT WAS NOT WATER BUT HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT. HE ADVISED THE SERVICE ADVISER IT DAMAGED THE STARTER, THE WATER PUMP, THE FIRST PISTON, NUMEROUS VALVE SPRINGS, AND CRACKED THE BLOCK. THIS IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. IT CAN NOT BE DRIVEN IN WATER. IN JULY AND OCTOBER IT STALLED IN WATER AND STARTED AGAIN. THIS JEEP HAS A MERCEDES ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION AND A EUROPEAN BATTERY. IT WAS NOT DISCLOSED WHEN I BOUGHT IT. THE BATTERY CAN NOT BE JUMPED. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED THE NIGHT THE BATTERY QUIT, FROM A RURAL AREA. IT IS NOT A MOPAR PRODUCT. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL BATTERY. THE ORIGINAL PARTS ARE AT THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE JEEP. I COMPLAINED TO THE CORPORATE OFFICE AND THEY DID NOT CARE. *TR