NHTSA Complaint #10622084 — 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

I WENT IN TO HAVE THE RECALL OF MY 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE DONE THIS MORNING (SAFETY RECALL N45/NHTSA 13V-252 REAR STRUCTURAL REINFORCEMENT), AND THE JEEP DEALER REFUSED TO INSTALL THE TRAILER HITCH PER THE RECALL SPECIFICATIONS. THEY SAID THAT IT LOOKED FINE AND PUT A STICKER ON IT AFTER MAKING ME WAIT FOR 2 HOURS. THIS, EVEN THOUGH THE AFTERMARKET HITCH THAT IS INSTALLED ON MINE IS SO CORRODED THAT THE BALL AND ATTACHMENT POINT CANNOT BE REMOVED. WHEN I REMINDED THE DEALER OF THE FACTS, AND THAT HAVING THE HITCH STICKING OUT THAT FAR FROM THE BACK EXACERBATES THE HAZARD THAT EXISTS, HE ACTUALLY SAID "THAT'S YOUR PROBLEM". SO IT APPEARS THAT ALL OF THESE DELAYS HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN CHRYSLER ACTING IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS INTERNAL PLAN TO CERTIFY ALL INSTALLED TRAILER HITCHES AND NOT INSTALL NEW ONES. AND IN CASES LIKE MINE WHERE THE RISK IS EXACERBATED BY RUSTY SHARP HITCH COMPONENTS THAT MIGHT ACT AS A SPEAR TO PUNCTURE THE TANK, DEALERS COULD CARE LESS. WHEN I OBTAINED A COPY OF THE ACTUAL RECALL DOCUMENT I FOUND THAT CHRYSLER HAS CAREFULLY CRAFTED A DISINCENTIVE FOR DEALERS TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN SAY THAT ANY HITCH INSTALLED MEETS THE STANDARD. THEY GET PAID .4 HOURS FOR INSPECTING, BUT ONLY 1 HOUR FOR REMOVING A RUSTY HITCH AND INSTALLING A COMPLETELY NEW ONE, WHICH WOULD LIKELY TAKE TWO HOURS. THE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE LOSING MONEY ON EVERY HITCH THEY INSTALL AND THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF MAKING HITCH WIRING WORK ON ANY OF THOSE INSTALLED. THE DEALERSHIP EVEN ADVISED ME TO TAKE MY HITCH OFF MYSELF AND COME BACK. WHAT A MONUMENTAL WASTE OF TIME - MINE AND YOURS, SINCE THEY ARE CLEARLY THUMBING THEIR NOSE AT THE LETTER AND SPIRIT OF THE NHTSA AGREEMENT. I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE DOING HERE, BUT TO SAY IT'S NOT WORKING IS A PROFOUND UNDERSTATEMENT... *TR