NHTSA Complaint #10341312 — 2008 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

2008 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE - I HAVE HAD SURFBOARDS CAUSE THE FACTORY ROOF RACK TO ACTUALLY TEAR THROUGH THE METAL ROOF DUE TO HAVING NO REINFORCEMENT AROUND THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE FACTORY ROOF RACK TO THE ROOF OF THE CAR. THIS OCCURRED ON THE NJ GARDEN STATE PARKWAY AT LEGAL PARKWAY SPEED. HAD MY TWO SURFBOARDS GONE THROUGH SOMEONE'S WINDSHIELD IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DEADLY ACCIDENT. I HAVE SURFED FOR 45 YEARS AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER CAR. I TOLD THE DEALER THAT THEY SHOULD TAKE NOTICE FOR CORRECTIVE ACTION TO CHRYSLER BUT THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN DOING SO. CHRYSLER HAS PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE FAILURE AS THEY HAD TO GET APPROVAL TO COVER THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. THEY DID REPAIR THE CAR UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY REINFORCED WITH LARGER WASHERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT PART OF THE RACKS, BUT I DO NOT HAVE PROOF THAT THEY DID AND I DO NOT TRUST THEM. I NOW STRAP MY BOARDS BOTH TO THE RACK AND A SAFETY STRAP THROUGH THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO THIS. CHRYSLER HAS TV ADS THAT SHOW SURFBOARDS MOUNTED ON THE FACTORY RACKS OF THEIR VEHICLES. WHICH IS IMPLIED ACCEPTABLE USE. THIS MAY BE COMMON PRACTICE WITH ALL MANUFACTURERS, BUT IT IS IN FACT A PRACTICE ON THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE WOULD APPLY TO ANY OBJECT ON THE ROOF THAT WOULD BE SIMILAR TO A SURFBOARD; CANOES, KAYAKS, STORAGE PODS. *TR