NHTSA Complaint #10691867 — 2014 JEEP WRANGLER

I AM REQUESTING THAT DOT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THE STRESS FRACTURE TO MY FRONT WINDSHIELD WHICH SUDDENLY OCCURRED IN LATE FEBRUARY OF 2015. THE JEEP WAS PARKED IN MY MOTHER'S DRIVEWAY IN NEW JERSEY FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS DUE TO THE BIRTH OF MY BABY AND INCLEMENT WEATHER. DURING THAT PERIOD A GREAT DEAL OF ICE AND SNOW ACCUMULATED. EVENTUALLY I STARTED THE VEHICLE, AND STARTED CLEARING THE CAR. I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE RUNNING FROM THE BOTTOM TOWARD THE TOP, APPROXIMATELY 4"-5" LONG THAT HAD NOT BEEN THERE BEFORE. AFTER 15 MINUTES THE CRACK SPREAD TO 6" ACROSS AND THEN BACK DOWN THE WINDSHIELD TO THE POINT WHERE IT PARTLY BLOCKED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE WINDOW FEELS PERFECTLY SMOOTH, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CAR. IT CLEARLY FORMED INSIDE THE WINDOW. I TOOK THE JEEP TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS A STRESS FRACTURE PROBABLY DUE TO FREEZING CONDITIONS ALONG WITH THE HEAT FROM THE DEFROSTER. THE INDIVIDUAL I SPOKE WITH CONCEDED IT WAS IN ALL PROBABILITY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT SINCE HE HAD HEARD OF "A LOT OF OTHER CASES LIKE MINE" BUT WOULD NOT BE QUOTED ON THAT. HE CONTACTED CHRYSLER WHO REFUSED TO COVER THE WINDSHIELD DAMAGE BECAUSE ALTHOUGH I ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR SEVEN MONTHS, THE MILEAGE WAS OVER 12,000. I HAVE CONTINUED TO INVESTIGATE INCIDENCES OF STRESS FRACTURE DAMAGE TO FRONT WINDSHIELDS IN THE JEEPS AND HAVE COLLECTED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DATA THROUGH NUMEROUS COMPLAINT BLOGS THAT SUPPORTS THE FACT THAT EITHER THE JEEP WINDSHIELDS THEMSELVES ARE DEFECTIVE OR SOME PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE DESIGN ITSELF MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR CONSIDERABLE HEAT TO BE TRAPPED BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND DASHBOARD TO THE POINT WHERE STRESS CAUSES THE WINDOW TO CRACK. RATHER THAN ADDRESS THE ISSUE, CHRYSLER IS INSTEAD FORCING OWNERS TO GO THROUGH THEIR PRIVATE INSURANCE FOR REPAIRS. PLEASE FORMALLY INVESTIGATE." *TR