NHTSA Complaint #10608049 — 2007 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

I BOUGHT A USED 2007 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 2 YEARS AGO IN ALABAMA. WE HAVE SINCE MOVED TO NEW YORK STATE AND THEY DO VEHICLE INSPECTIONS (ALABAMA DOES NOT). WHEN GETTING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CUT OUT FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS NON EXISTENT. ALL OTHER CUT OUTS ARE PRESENT AND THE LED FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS PRESENT AND WORKING. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS STAMPED AS BEING ORIGINAL AND NOT AFTERMARKET. BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A CUT OUT THE LED FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT VISIBLE WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INSTALLED AND WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. I HAVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL JEEP DEALERSHIP (FX CAPRARA) AND THEY TOLD ME TODAY THAT I HAVE TO PAY TO FIX IT. A NEW PANEL BEING $600 AND A USED PANEL FROM MY LOCAL PICK AND PULL BEING $125. I CALLED JEEP CUSTOMER SERVICE TODAY AND THEY AGAIN TOLD ME JEEP CAN'T DO ANYTHING AND THAT IT IS UP TO THE DEALERSHIPS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT WOULD BE UP TO ME TO PAY FOR THIS. IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED ON THAT LEVEL. I DID MY DUE DILIGENCE WHEN PURCHASING THE CAR BUT ONE CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO PULL THE DASH PANEL TO ENSURE ALL THE CUT OUTS ARE PRESENT. THIS NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED QUICKLY AS IT CANNOT BE USED UNTIL IT PASSES INSPECTION. IT ALSO POSSES A SAFETY CONCERN AS YOU ARE UNABLE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A CODE PRESENT. PLEASE GET BACK TO ME WITH A RESOLUTION IN A TIMELY MANNER. *TR