NHTSA Complaint #10349094 — 2004 JEEP WRANGLER

IGNITION LINKAGE ROD (IGNITION TO SWITCH) ON 2004 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED & JEEP LIBERTY IS POORLY MADE OF WEAK POT METAL MATERIAL AND IS EASILY BROKEN. KEY WILL TURN TO ON POSITION (SOMETIMES) BUT CAN NOT ENGAGE SWITCH. LINKAGE ROD NEEDS TO BE MADE OF STRONGER MATERIAL OR BE MADE SLIGHTLY THICKER (WHICH WOULD ALSO REQUIRE A REDESIGN OF THE SWITCH'S RECEIVER HOLE) TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE STRAIN OF TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH. PART IS ALSO HOUSED BEHIND A REMOVABLE HOUSING AND IS MADE TO BE SERVICED (SHOWING THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXPECTED WARE) BUT PART IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE REPLACED AT A DEALERSHIP AT AN EXPECTED COST OF $400-$600. THIS IS ONLY ONE SMALL PART THAT SHOULD COST AT MOST AROUND $20 AND IS MADE TO BE REPLACED WHEN THE INEVITABLE BREAKAGE OCCURS. DESPITE THE FREQUENCY OF THIS PROBLEM THE DEALERS SERVICE CENTER STILL CLAIM THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE EVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM WHILE THE MAN IN THE PARTS DEPARTMENT WAS FAMILIAR ENOUGH WITH IT HE IDENTIFIED THE BROKEN PART BEFORE I COULD TELL HIM MYSELF WHAT IT WAS. HE EVEN ASKED IF I WAS THE SAME GUY THAT HAD BEEN IN LAST WEEK WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT, WHICH I AM NOT. FIRST TIME REPORTING A FAULTY PART, MY SITUATION ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF REPORTS I HAVE READ ONLINE HAS CONVINCED ME THIS IS WORTHY OF A RECALL. *TR