NHTSA Complaint #10872379 — 2015 JEEP CHEROKEE

WHEN I PURCHASED MY 2015 JEEP CHEROKEE ONE OF THE MAIN REASON WAS FOR ITS ABILITY TO BE FLAT TOWED BEHIND A MOTOR HOME WITH EASE. AFTER HAVING IT FOR A NUMBER OF MONTHS I NOTICED IT SOMETIMES VIBRATED WHILE TOWING. AFTER READING SOME FORUMS AND CHECKING WITH DEALERS CHRYSLER REALIZED THAT WAS DUE TO THESE NEW MODELS HAVING ELECTRONIC STEERING VERSUS THE OLD HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS AND IT NOW REQUIRES POWER TO BE CONSTANT TO THE STEERING DURING TOWING. NOW REALIZE WHEN I PURCHASED IT THE MANUAL CLEARLY STATED THE PROCEDURES WHICH I FOLLOWED. NOW I RECEIVE A NOTICE THAT SAYS IN ORDER TO FLAT TOW I NEED A SPECIAL HARNESS INSTALLED WITH A COST OF PARTS AND LABOR OF OVER $400. THEY HAVE NOW PROVIDED AN ADDENDUM TO THEIR OWNERS MANUAL STATING ALL THIS. MY ISSUE IS THEY WANT THE OWNER TO PAY TO MAKE THEIR VEHICLE SAFE WHEN THE OWNER WAS NOT THE ISSUE HERE. THE OWNER SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO PAY WHEN THEY PURCHASED A VEHICLE THAT WAS ADVERTISED WITH CERTAIN FEATURES LIKE SAFE FLAT TOWING WHEN IN FACT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. SO UNLESS I WANT TO PAY $400 I HAVE TO TOW A CAR THAT COULD VIBRATE SEVERELY UNDER CERTAIN ROAD CONDITIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.