NHTSA Complaint #10876185 — 2009 JEEP PATRIOT

PART INVOLVED IS THE CROSSMEMBER (K-FRAME) P/N 68211659AA. A/C CONDENSATE DRAIN IS DIRECTLY OVER THE K-FRAME (ENGINE CRADLE). THE K-FRAME IS PERPETUALLY WET AND THEREFORE CORRODES. IT IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW THAT CREATES A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. IF THE K-FRAME FAILS AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN TRAFFIC THEN THERE IS LIKELIHOOD OF DEATH OR SEVERE INJURY. JEEP ADMITS TO A PROBLEM WITH THE K-FRAME IN THE 2007 MODEL YEAR AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO COVER THIS DEFECT. TODAY I CALLED JEEP AND THEY REFUSED TO EVEN INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE. THEY ASKED FOR MY VIN AND TOLD ME IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. NO INTEREST AT ALL IN EVEN RECEIVING PHOTOS OF THE DEFECTIVE PART. MY LOCAL DEALER HAD THREE OF THESE $634 PARTS IN INVENTORY... THEY MUST GO THROUGH A LOT OF THEM. THE ONLY CONCLUSION I CAN MAKE IS THAT JEEP SEES THIS DEFECT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CASH IN -- TO HECK WITH THE LIVES IT ENDANGERS. I OFFERED TO BRING THE JEEP PATRIOT DIRECTLY TO THEIR ENGINEERING CENTER IN AUBURN HILLS, MICHIGAN SO THAT THEIR ENGINEERS COULD SEE FOR THEMSELVES. THE ANSWER: NOT INTERESTED.