NHTSA Complaint #10343383 — 2000 JEEP CHEROKEE

WE OWN A 2000 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT WITH APPROX. 155,000 MILES. WE BOUGHT IT USED 02/2004. SOMETIME IN JUNE 2010, JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS PRIOR TO INCIDENT, THE DRIVER SEAT BEGAN TO MAKE A NOISE WHILE SITTING IN IT, DURING ACCELERATION, AND BRAKING. WE COULD NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF ANNOYING NOISE AND JUST HOPED IT WOULD GO AWAY. ON FRIDAY, JULY 9, 2010 WHEN MY HUSBAND WENT TO DO ERRANDS AND SAT IN THE SEAT HE SAID IT FELT ODD AND THE NOISE WAS GONE. HAPPY THE NOISE WAS GONE HE WENT ABOUT HIS BUSINESS. WHEN I GOT INTO THE JEEP ON SUNDAY, JULY 11, 2010 I NOTICED THE SEAT WAS WOBBLING. I GOT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER THE SEAT. I FOUND THE PROBLEM....WHERE THE SEAT ATTACHES TO THE SEAT ADJUSTER THE METAL HAD RIPPED ALMOST COMPLETELY THROUGH AT THE RIGHT FRONT BOLT. WHILE SITTING IN THE SEAT IT ROCKS FROM FRONT LEFT TO RIGHT REAR. THE SITUATION CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION ON OUR PART TO GET IT FIXED. WE ARE OBTAINING INFORMATION (TIME AND COST TO FIX AND AMOUNT OF TIME WITHOUT A VEHICLE-IT'S THE DRIVER SEAT NOT PASSENGER) ON WELDING, NEW SEAT, OR REPLACEMENT FROM JUNKYARD. I AM NOT EXCITED ABOUT WANTING TO USE ANOTHER JEEP SEAT AS I FEAR SAME ISSUE WILL OCCUR. THIS IS OUR ONLY VEHICLE. WE DO NOT GO MUDDING, FOUR WHEELING, MOUNTAIN CLIMBING, OFF ROADING WITH IT. WE DON'T LIVE NEAR A BEACH OR TAKE IT TO THE COASTLINE IN ORDER FOR HIGH SALT CONCENTRATION IN AIR TO BE A FACTOR. YES WE LIVE IN THE MIDWEST BUT SALT FROM SHOES CANNOT REACH THIS PART. OF THE SEAT. *TR