NHTSA Complaint #11047497 — 2007 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT ABOUT 124,000 MILES. LUCKILY IN THE DRIVEWAY WHERE I HAD PARKED THE CAR AFTER RUNNING NORMAL ERRANDS. THE CAR WOULD NOT START UP AGAIN AND HAD TO BE TOWED SINCE THE BATTERY WAS NEW AND THE STARTER SEEMED FROZEN. I TOOK EXCELLENT CARE OF THIS CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP AND AT A TOP LOCAL GARAGE SINCE WE BOUGHT IT. I WAS STUNNED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT ANY NOTICE, NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO NOISE, NOTHING. THE LOCAL MECHANIC SAW "CHUNKS OF METAL" IN THE PAN. I NOW NEED A COMPLETELY NEW ENGINE 5 WEEKS AFTER AN OIL CHANGE DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IN MY JEEP HEMI ENGINE. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY LETTER OR NOTIFICATION ABOUT THIS APPARENTLY WELL KNOWN AND RELATIVELY COMMON PROBLEM. I HAD EVERY RECALL PERFORMED ON THIS CAR. THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM WHICH APPARENTLY INCLUDES THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RESPONSE FROM THE DEALERSHIP WAS THAT THE HEMI IS A GOOD ENGINE. REALLY??? NO APOLOGIES, NO CALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. OUT OF WARRANTY, SO IT IS JUST TOO BAD FOR ME AS A CUSTOMER. THEY KNOW THE DESIGN FLAW EXISTS BUT DON'T CARE ABOUT THE CUSTOMER. JUST THEIR BOTTOM LINE.