NHTSA Complaint #10470213 — 2011 JEEP WRANGLER

SHIFTING THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE (TC) FROM 2HI TO 4HI OR 4LOW (OR IN REVERSE ORDER) CAN CAUSE THE TRANSFER CASE SHIFTING CABLE (TCSC) (MOPAR PART 52060462AG) TO FAIL AND BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM EITHER THE TC OR THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE CAB (OR BOTH). THE PART?S PLASTIC COMPONENTS ARE INHERENTLY TOO WEAK TO WITHSTAND NORMAL USE. SAFETY RISKS WHICH CAN ARISE UPON COMPONENT FAILURE, IF THE VEHICLE OWNER AND THEIR FAMILY (CHILDREN) ARE AT A LOCATION AND/OR TERRAIN WHERE THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED/MARKETED FOR TRAVEL (WHETHER BY RECREATION OR NECESSITY), AND THE LOCATION/TERRAIN IS: (I) SUBJECT TO INCLEMENT WEATHER (E.G. SNOW, ICE, FLOODING, EXTREME HEAT); OR (II) ON AN EXTREME INCLINE WHICH IS UNSAFE TO NEGOTIATE WITHOUT 4WD; OR (III) ANY CIRCUMSTANCE WHICH REQUIRES 4WD TO NAVIGATE TO A SAFE LOCATION; OR (IV) THE TCSC FAILS WHEN THE TC BECOMES STUCK IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION WHILE SHIFTING, AND IS UNABLE TO ESCAPE IMPENDING HARM (FLASH FLOOD) ... THERE IS OBVIOUS RISK TO LIFE/SAFETY. THE OWNER HAS A RIGHT TO RELY ON THE COMPONENTS AND REASONABLE SAFETY PERFORMANCE FOR WHICH THE PRODUCT IS DESIGNED/MARKETED. JEEP IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AND THE MANUAL FAILS TO CITE THIS AS A POSSIBLE CATASTROPHIC EVENT, LEAVING THE UNSUSPECTING OWNER AT A LOSS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. IT IS NOT REASONABLE FOR THIS COMPONENT TO FAIL WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES AS REPORTED BY JEEP OWNERS. ADVANCE ADAPTERS (WWW.ADVANCEADAPTERS.COM) MANUFACTURES A TCSC WHICH MEETS THE CRITERIA (PRODUCT# 715596) REQUIRED FOR THIS COMPONENT. THERE IS NO REASON THAT JEEP CANNOT DO THE SAME AND/OR CONTRACT WITH ADVANCE ADAPTORS TO SUPPLY THE PART TO JEEP OWNERS. WE URGE NHTSA?S INVESTIGATION OF THIS SAFETY DEFECT AND JEEP WILL REDESIGN THE DEFECTIVE PART AND ISSUE A RECALL FOR AFFECTED VEHICLES ON WHICH THE PART WAS INSTALLED AS OEM AND TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO REPLACEMENT FOR LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR