NHTSA Complaint #10471698 — 2007 JEEP WRANGLER

I BOUGHT THE JEEP NEW IN FEBRUARY/MARCH OF 2007. IN DECEMBER 2009, AT APPROXIMATELY 45K MILES, I HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS COMING FROM THE BOTTOM END OF THE ENGINE. TOOK THE JEEP TO MY REGULAR OIL CHANGE CENTER AND THEY CONFIRMED THE KNOCKING SOUND. I THEN TOOK THE JEEP TO LOCAL DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS SPUN BEARINGS AND THERE WAS METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL PAN. THEY PUT IN A NEW MOTOR (CHRYSLER OFFERED SOME ASSISTANCE AFTER MUCH COMPLAINING AND ARGUING ON MY SIDE, BUT IT STILL COST ME $1,500 AS IT AS OUT OF WARRANTY). NOW, IN AUGUST 2012, AT A TOTAL OF 90K MILES (APPROXIMATELY 45K ON THE NEW MOTOR), THE BEARINGS ARE SPUN AGAIN. THIS WILL BE THE 3RD MOTOR IN THIS JEEP. I HAVE THE RECEIPTS FROM MY REGULAR OIL CHANGE CENTER SHOWING THAT I HAVE REGULARLY CHANGED THE OIL. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALER SAYS THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER PPL HAVING THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF PPL WITH 2007 JEEP WRANGLERS THAT ARE HAVING SPUN BEARINGS AT AROUND 45K MILES. JEEP SHOULD BE REPLACING THESE MOTORS AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER AS THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT. *TR