NHTSA Complaint #10889249 — 2008 JEEP PATRIOT

DURING A REPAIR FOR ANOTHER ISSUE, I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE WARRANTY FOR THAT SAME PART IN THE 2007 MODEL OF THAT SAME CAR WAS EXTENDED. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IF I USED A 2008, THE PART COST WOULD BE OVER $600 AND CARRY A WARRANTY, IF I USED THE 2007 PART, WHICH IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE 2008, THE PART WOULD COST UNDER $75.00 BUT CARRY NO WARRANTY. I CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ADVISED THAT THAT INFORMATION WAS TRUE AND THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR MY EXPENSE. THEY INDICATED THEY WOULD SET UP CASE #29675811 AND INFORM ME OF ANY FUTURE ACTIONS/RECALLS FOR THAT PART. I SIMULTANEOUSLY SENT A LETTER TO "CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CARE" AND YESTERDAY RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL CONFIRMING THEIR DENIAL. NOW, HOW DUMB IS THAT? THEY EXTEND A WARRANTY AND REPLACE A DEFECTIVE PART FOR THE SAME MODEL CAR, ONE YEAR OLDER, AND THAT PART RENDERS THE VEHICLE "UNSAFE TO DRIVE"? THE FACT THAT THE PART RUSTED SO BADLY IN THE FIRST PLACE IS SERIOUS CAUSE FOR CONCERN. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE $465.73 I PAID TO REPLACE THEIR DEFECTIVE PART.