NHTSA Complaint #10763794 — 2015 JEEP CHEROKEE

PURCHASED CAR 5/13/15. ON 5/30 NOTICED SHIMMY/VIBRATION AS I ACCELERATED FROM A STOPPED POSITION INTO A SHARP RIGHT TURN. APPT MADE FOR SERVICE 6/8. AT CHECK-IN, CUSTOMER SERVC KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT; CONFIRMED IN TEST DRIVE. REPORTED STAR CASE #S1421000022, HALF-SHAFTS (LEFT & RIGHT AXLES) DEFECTIVE, NEED REPLACING. TOLD CAR WAS COMPLETELY SAFE TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION. VERBAL & WRITTEN CONFIRM THAT PARTS WERE BEING MANUFACTURED AND WERE SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE 9-2015. TOLD BY SERVICE MGR, CHRYSLER ISSUED AN INTERNAL TSB 2-2015. PARTS WARPING WHEN HEATED AND FLUID LOSS OCCURS. ENTIRE ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT PARTS HAVEN'T BEEN MANUFACTURED, CONTRACTED WITH COMPANY THAT MANUFACTURES THE TRAILHAWK MODEL (NO PROBLEMS REPORTED ON THOSE PARTS). ASSURED CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE BUT CHRYSLER REP AGREED TO PAY FOR RENTAL CAR FOR LONG TRIP I HAD PLANNED PRIOR TO PURCHASE. RESEARCHED -- I HAVE FOUND THIS ISSUE DATES BACK TO THE 2014 MODELS. BOTTOM LINE, THEY KNEW THIS PART WAS DEFECTIVE PRIOR TO SELLING ME THE CAR IN MAY. I AGREED TO BE PATIENT BUT IT IS NOW SEPT AND HAVE NOT HAD MY "STATUS UPDATE" INQUIRY PHONE CALL RETURNED. VIBRATION ISSUE GREW WORSE QUICKLY, TURNED INTO A WOBBLE. I CAN'T DRIVE IT FOR EXTENDED PERIODS ON HIGHWAYS. AS THE CAR/PARTS HEAT UP, THE WOBBLE IN THE FRONT END IS A CONSTANT, NOT JUST ON TURNS. I FEEL AS IF THE AXLES WILL BREAK APART WHILE DRIVING. I DO NOT HAVE ANOTHER CAR THAT I CAN USE. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR SELLING CARS WITH A KNOWN DEFECT AND FORCING A BUYER TO PLACE THEIR LIFE IN JEOPARDY. OTHER ISSUES HAVE CROPPED UP. ENGINE RACES & DOESN'T ALWAYS SHIFT WHEN IT SHOULD; CRUISE CONTROL NOT CONSISTENT - LOSES SPEED. WHEN RETURNED TO SERVICE, TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM W/ CRUISE CONTROL, TOLD TRANSMISSION FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY, COMPUTER IS "LEARNING" HOW I DRIVE. BRAKES SQUEAK AFTER RAIN, TOLD NORMAL BY SVC MGR.