NHTSA Complaint #10622160 — 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

I AM CONTACTING YOUR AGENCY BECAUSE OF A SAFETY CONCERN I HAVE REGARDING THE REPAIRS MADE TO MY VEHICLE IN RESPONSE TO THE RECALL #N45. AS BACKGROUND, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A DEALER, MALL OF GEORGIA JEEP, FOR THE REPAIR (I.E., TO REPLACE TOWING HITCH) ON 8.12.2014 AND WAS TOLD THE NEXT DAY THAT I COULD NOT USE THE HITCH THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED. THE MECHANIC HAD STRUGGLED (HE ADMITTED TO ME) TO DO THE JOB AND IT TOOK HIM TWO OR THREE TIMES THE ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETE THE WORK. IN FACT, IT TOOK SO LONG THAT I HAD TO GO HOME IN A RENTAL CAR AND HAD TO RETURN THE FOLLOWING DAY TO PICK UP MY JEEP. WHEN I RETURNED ON 8.13.2014, I WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD NO LONGER USE THE HITCH FOR TOWING. I ASKED WHY AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS THE MANUFACTURER'S GUIDANCE; HOWEVER, I WAS NOT GIVEN ANYTHING, TO THIS EFFECT, IN WRITING. I HAVE TWO CONCERNS: 1) WAS THE SAFETY RECALL REPAIR DONE CORRECTLY GIVEN A) THE DIFFICULTY THAT THE MECHANIC HAD IN DOING THE JOB AND B) THE DEALER NOT STANDING BEHIND THE FIAT CHRYSLER OEM REPLACEMENT HITCH THAT IT HAD INSTALLED; AND, 2) APPARENTLY THE DEALER REPLACED A FUNCTIONING HITCH WITH ONE THAT WAS NOT WITHOUT TELLING ME SO IN ADVANCE. I CONTACTED FIAT CHRYSLER (CASE # 25468706) ON 8.13.2014 AND ASKED FOR AUTHORIZATION TO TAKE MY JEEP TO ANOTHER AUTHORIZED DEALER TO CHECK THE REPAIR WORKMANSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS INSPECTION TO BE DONE. I BELIEVE THAT MY CONCERNS ARE REASONABLE AND DO NOT THINK IT IS FAIR THAT I MUST BEAR THE COST OF A SAFETY INSPECTION. I AM ASKING YOUR AGENCY TO HELP ME GET THIS INSPECTION DONE BY AN INDEPENDENT PARTY, TO BE PAID FOR BY FIAT CHRYSLER, GIVEN THE NATURE AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ISSUES I HAVE RAISED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION...UPDATED 10/06/14 *BF UPDATED 3/12/2015 *JS