NHTSA Complaint #10508898 — 1997 JEEP WRANGLER

FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN PROUD OWNERS OF A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. IN1998, WE RETIRED TO CAPE COD, MA. OVER THE TIME WE HAVE OWNED OUR JEEP, IT HAS BEEN KEPT IN IMMACULATE CONDITION; THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT, HAND WASHED WEEKLY, AND NEVER TAKEN OFF-ROAD. THE FINISH IS NEAR PERFECT AND ALL REGULAR SERVICE HAS BEEN PERFORMED. CURRENTLY THE MILEAGE IS 91,000 MILES. AT OUR LAST SERVICE APPOINTMENT WE LEARNED OF A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE'S FRAME. IT HAD RUSTED THROUGH IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR THE FRAME IS $5,000 FROM OUR LOCAL DEALER, PREMIER JEEP, IN HYANNIS MA. OUR MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE FRAME CAN BE REPAIRED BY WELDING 6 NEW SECTIONS INTO PLACE AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $2700. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE ARE DISMAYED. WE CONDUCTED RESEARCH TO SEE WHY THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED DESPITE OUR UPKEEP REGIMEN. APPARENTLY, WATER IS KNOWN TO ENTER THE FRAME AND NOT PROPERLY DRAIN DUE TO IT IS DESIGN. WE CONTACTED CHRYSLER CORPORATE WHO ASKED US TO HAVE THE VEHICLES GOOD CONDITION CONFIRMED BY OUR LOCAL JEEP DEALER WHICH WE DID. CHRYSLER OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. WE ARE FILING THIS REPORT AS THIS FRAME IS GOING TO LOOSE INTEGRITY AND FAIL BASED ON NO MISHANDLING ON OUR PART. THERE IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THE FRAME DESIGN WHICH WE BELIEVE THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCT. *TR