NHTSA Complaint #10344432 — 2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

DUE TO POOR MANUFACTURING AND LOW QUALITY PARTS, 1999-2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEES HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO BREAKAGE OF INTERIOR PARTS CONTROLLING THE HEATING AND A/C SYSTEMS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE BLEND DOORS AND ACTUATOR. THIS SYSTEM BREAKDOWN CAN OCCUR SUDDENLY, AND CAN AFFECT BOTH THE A/C AND HEATING SYSTEMS. WHEN THIS OCCURRED TO MY 2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LTD. IT WAS IN THE DEAD OF WINTER (DEC 2009) AND THE WEATHER HAD BEEN EXTREMELY COLD. I WAS UNABLE TO PROPERLY DEFROST MY WINDOWS, CAUSING EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN SEEING OUT OF MY WINDSHIELD AND RIGHT SIDE MIRROR. BECAUSE OF THIS I WAS OFTEN HAVING TO ROLL DOWN MY WINDOWS--EVEN IF IT WAS SNOWING--IN ORDER TO DRIVE SAFELY TO SCHOOL AND WORK. IN MARCH I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL JEEP DEALERSHIP TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUE AND I WAS TOLD BY ONE OF THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN MANY JEEPS, AND IS SEEN VERY FREQUENTLY. DUE TO THE PROBLEM BEING IN THE DASH OF THE VEHICLE, THE REPAIR QUOTE IS OVER $1,300.00, AND IS NOT COVERED BY MY PRE-OWNED VEHICLE PROTECTION PLAN WITH WESTERN GENERAL. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER HAS RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT REFUSES TO RECALL A WARRANTY OR ASSIST JEEP OWNERS IN REPAIRING BROKEN PARTS. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE PAYING $1,300 AND BEING PENALIZED FOR DAIMLER-CHRYSLER'S MISTAKE WHEN, IF REPAIRED WITH THE SAME PARTS, I COULD BE FACING THIS SAME ISSUE AGAIN VERY SOON! *TR