NHTSA Complaint #10568861 — 2009 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

AFTER RECEIVING N23 SAFETY RECALL "FIX" LOST USE OF 4WD LOW RANGE (WHICH ALSO ALLEGEDLY COMPROMISES CLUTCH PACKS CONTROLLING HIGH-RANGE 4WD SYSTEM TORQUE/POWER DISTRIBUTION). JEEP DEALER DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED TRANSFER CASE ACTUATOR. "FIX" LASTED 1MO. RETURNED TO DEALER; TROUBLE CODES CLEARED. PROBLEM RETURNED IN LESS THAN 24H. THIS IS THE CORRESPONDENCE SENT TO JEEP: ...I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SOFTWARE ISSUE, AND MY REASONS ARE THIS: 1) THE ACTUATOR WORKS AS DESIGNED AFTER ALL CODES ARE RESET/CLEARED (THOUGH THE DURATION FOR WHICH THIS WORKS IS NOT CONSISTENT) 2) PULLING A FUSE FOR THE FDCM IS THE SAME AS "RESETTING/CLEARING" THE TROUBLE CODE - THIS DOES NOT POINT TO THE HARDWARE AS THE PROBLEM. 3) IF I UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM CORRECTLY, LOSING FUNCTIONALITY OF THIS PORTION OF THE SYSTEM, WITH MY QUADRA-DRIVE II, CAUSES A SAFETY SIDE-EFFECT OF COMPROMISED TRACTION CONTROL SINCE THE CLUTCH PACKS IN THE TRANSFER CASE FOR AWD FUNCTION MALFUNCTION WHEN THE TROUBLE CODE IS LODGED. THIS VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY (ALBEIT WITH RISK OF A ROLL-AWAY WHEN REMOTE START IS USED WITHOUT THE PARKING BRAKE) PRIOR TO THE N23 RECALL. FOR IT TO ONLY EXHIBIT ISSUES AFTER THE RECALL, THEN CONTINUE TO EXHIBIT THEM AFTER REPLACING THE TRANSFER CASE ACTUATOR MAKES THE SOFTWARE UPDATE HIGHLY SUSPECT AS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR, IF NOT A ROOT CAUSE. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE (IF IT IN FACT COMPROMISES THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM) IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, AND BELIEVE THAT IF FCA CANNOT FIND A SOLUTION QUICKLY, I WILL TAKE ACTION. I USE MY JEEP DAILY TO COMMUTE ON PUBLIC ROADS, AND CANNOT CONTINUE TO AFFORD TO HAVE IT OUT OF SERVICE OR AT RISK OF INCREASED SAFETY HAZARD. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE... THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. A RECALL SHOULDN'T REDUCE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE VEHICLE. PERIOD. *TR