NHTSA Complaint #10711824 — 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

ALL FOUR (4) OF THE DOOR HANDLES ON MY 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE ARE CRACKING AND I AM FEARFUL THAT THEY WILL BE BREAKING OFF SOON. THE HANDLES AND THE SUPPORTING DOOR HANDLE HOUSING ARE ALL CRACKING IN THE SAME LOCATION. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER (CASE #[XXX]) AND JEEP (CASE #[XXX]) AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RECEIVE ANY REPAIR ASSISTANCE EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. SINCE THE DEFECT IS IN THE HOUSING UNIT OF THE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL, THE COST TO REPLACE THE HOUSING IS PROHIBITIVE TO MOST OWNERS SINCE THE ENTIRE DOOR PANEL MUST BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATES IT IS ~$800 PER DOOR TO FIX. DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUE OF BEING UNABLE TO EXIT THE BACK SEAT AREA FROM THE INSIDE WITHOUT DIFFICULTY, I AM FEARFUL OF ALLOWING MY 14YR DAUGHTER, GRANDKIDS, OR ANYONE ELSE OF RIDING IN THE BACK SEAT. IF AN ACCIDENT WERE TO OCCUR, THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO SAFELY EXIT THE CAR FROM THE INSIDE. THE DAMAGE TO THE DOOR HANDLES AND/OR FRAMES ARE NOT DUE TO NORMAL "WEAR AND TEAR" OR ANY OUTSIDE CIRCUMSTANCE. ALTHOUGH I AM JUST NOW REPORTING THIS, I DID NOT INITIALLY RECOGNIZE IT AS A DEFECT WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED WITH THE FIRST DOOR (REAR DRIVER'S SIDE) IN 2009. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING. I AM REPORTING THIS HOPING THAT A RECALL WILL BE MADE BY CHRYSLER BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED AND/OR KILLED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR