NHTSA Complaint #10469294 — 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITHIN 2-3 DAYS, THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT FAILED COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT CONSULTED A LOCAL MECHANIC AND A LOCAL DEALER, WHOM BOTH ADVISED THAT A RED DYE WOULD HAVE TO BE ADDED TO THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF THERE WAS A LEAK SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE UNIT. THE ENTIRE PROCESS WOULD TAKE APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS. THE DYE WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUMES WERE OFFENSIVELY STRONG AND TOXIC, ENTERING THROUGH THE VENTS AT ALL TIMES WHETHER THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED OR NOT. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE EVAPORATOR COIL. THE REPAIR WOULD TAKE APPROXIMATELY EIGHT HOURS FOR $1,800 AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING ADDING FREON TO THE VEHICLE ADVISED OF A POSSIBLE EXPLOSION, WHICH THE CONTACT BELIEVED WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FREON WAS LEAKING ONTO HIS DRIVEWAY, WHICH THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE IT WAS A TOXIC AND UNSAFE CHEMICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 114,000.