NHTSA Complaint #10745138 — 2012 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

THE ISSUE WITH MY CAR WAS EXACTLY THE SAME AS ITS SISTER PRODUCT, 2012-2013 JEEP WRANGLER, WHICH WAS RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM - REFERENCE THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NO. 13V234000. THE SAME DESIGN FLAW EXISTS IN THE 2012-2013 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEES AND THESE MODELS ALSO NEED TO BE RECALLED. PROBLEM: THE POWER STEERING RETURN LINE CONTACTS AND WEARS A HOLE IN THE ALUMINUM TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE. THERE IS NO WARNING LIGHT OR OBVIOUS LOW FLUID LEVELS, SO AN OWNER MAY NOT HAVE ANY WAY TO KNOW WHEN IT HAPPENS. RISK: SUCH A CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID WITHOUT THE OWNER'S KNOWLEDGE, WHICH MAY CAUSE TRANSMISSION DAMAGE AND LOSS OF FUNCTION. IN MY CASE, THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT OR OBVIOUS LOW FLUID LEVELS. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT UNTIL A REGULARLY SCHEDULED CHECK UP. I AM UNSURE OF WHETHER THERE IS ANY UNDETECTED DAMAGE, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS ONLY MILES AWAY FROM BURNING MY TRANSMISSION OUT AND IT SHUTTING DOWN. THE REPAIR COST WAS $849.27 AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, IF IT HAD SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH I DO OFTEN AS A SINGLE MOM WITH TWO DAUGHTERS, THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE LOST FUNCTION WHILE DRIVING. WHY ISN'T THIS RECALLED ALREADY? IT'S NOT SAFE AND IT'S THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS IT'S SISTER PRODUCT THAT WAS ALREADY RECALLED!