NHTSA Complaint #10519758 — 2008 JEEP LIBERTY

I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM CHRYSLER REGARDING A RECALL STATING THAT "THE TRANSFER CASE HEAT SHIELD MAY DROP DOWN AND RUB ON THE DRIVE SHAFT, WEAKENING IT AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE DRIVE SHAFT TO BREAK.". CHRYSLER'S RECALL LETTER FAILS TO MENTION WHAT IS OUTLINED IN THE NHTSA LETTER: THE FIRST POTENTIAL CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT RESULTING FROM THE ABOVE REFERENCED DEFECT: "IF THE DRIVE SHAFT BREAKS, A SECTION OF IT CAN STRIKE THE TRANSFER CASE TUNNEL WITH ENOUGH FORCE THAT THE AIRBAG COMPUTER WILL BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS IN A CRASH AND THUS DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS.". I LODGED A COMPLAINT WITH CHRYSLER THAT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO PROVIDE 2008 JEEP LIBERTY OWNERS WITH ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION WHILE THEY "FIX" THE "PROBLEM". CUSTOMERS NEED TO BE INFORMED ABOUT ALL THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES AND CHRYSLER ONLY MENTIONS THIS THE TRANSFER CASE HEAT SHIELD MAY DROP DOWN AND RUB ON THE DRIVE SHAFT, WEAKENING IT AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE DRIVE SHAFT TO BREAK. IN ADDITION, I SPOKE TO CHRYSLERS "RECALL HELP DESK" ABOUT WHETHER I SHOULD BE DRIVING MY JEEP OR NOT AND I WAS TOLD "YOU'VE BEEN DRIVING YOUR CAR FOR 53,000 MILES AND NOTHINGS HAPPENED SO PROBABLY NOTHING WILL HAPPEN BUT LET US KNOW IF IT DOES." HE SAID THAT THE "HEAD HONCHOS" WERE MEETING ABOUT THE FIX AS WE SPOKE. I ASKED HIM TO LET THE CEO KNOW THAT IF THEY REALLY CARED FOR CUSTOMER SAFETY THEY WOULD GET US RENTAL CARS AND THAT I WOULD TAKE THE CHEAPEST RENTAL ON THE MARKET. WOULD THE CEO OF CHRYSLER CONTINUE TO DRIVE A 2008 JEEP LIBERTY UNTIL THE FIX?? WOULD HE HAVE HIS SON, DAUGHTER OR WIFE DRIVE ONE IN ITS PRESENT CONDITION? . NHTSA IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY, WHERE IS THE INFORMATION THAT TELLS 2008 JEEP OWNERS HOW MANY AND AT WHAT MILEAGE ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED. I AM UNABLE TO EASILY ACCESS THIS INFORMATION ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE AND AM AN INTERMEDIATE COMPUTER USER. *TR