NHTSA Complaint #10906211 — 2016 JEEP CHEROKEE

WE HAVE BEEN WARNED THAT THIS VEHICLE MAY HAVE A STEERING WOBBLE WHEN TOWED BEHIND A MOTORHOME. FIAT CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED A RECALL ADDENDUM TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL THAT A HARNESS WIRING KIT PART NO. 68321424AB IS RECOMMENDED BEFORE TOWING, AND THAT IF THE VEHICLE IS TOWED WITHOUT THIS KIT, FIAT CHRYSLER WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGES. ALSO, SERVICE PROCEDURE NOTICE S13 AND SERVICE BULLETIN NO. 08-029-16 REV. A HAVE BEEN ISSUED SAYING THAT WE NEED A MOPAR FLAT TOW WIRING KIT BEFORE TOWING HAVE BEEN ISSUED. EVEN THOUGH OUR JEEP IS UNDER WARRANTY AND FIAT CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED THESE WARNINGS, THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE RECOMMENDED KIT. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH OUR DEALER, THE DISTRICT JEEP SERVICE MANAGER, AND ALSO DIRECTLY TO FIAT CHRYSLER WITH NO RESOLUTION. FIAT CHRYSLER REFUSES TO COVER THE COST OF THIS REPAIR, WHICH WOULD BE $330.00 OUT OF POCKET TO US. WE FEEL, SINCE OUR VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY AND FIAT CHRYSLER ACKNOWLEDGES THIS PROBLEM, THAT FIAT CHRYSLER SHOULD PAY FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THIS REPAIR THAT THEY RECOMMEND AND REQUIRE, VIA RECALL. FURTHER, THE CURRENT NEW VERSION OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL ISSUES A CAUTION THAT "FAILURE TO USE THE PROPER MOPAR WIRING KIT TO POWER THE STEERING SYSTEM DURING RECREATIONAL FLAT TOWING MAY DAMAGE THE VEHICLE'S STEERING SYSTEM AND/OR OTHER VEHICLE COMPONENTS." NONE OF THIS INFORMATION WAS INDICATED IN THE ORIGINAL OWNER'S MANUAL FOR THE 2016 JEEP CHEROKEE AT TIME OF PURCHASE.