NHTSA Complaint #11093879 — 2014 JEEP PATRIOT

TAKATA RECALL I TOOK MY 2014 JEEP PATRIOT INTO MY LOCAL JEEP DEALER FOR REPAIR OF THE S61 TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP BEING REPAIRED, THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THE NEWLY INSTALLED PART MALFUNCTIONED AND THOUGHT THE CAR HAD ROLLED OVER, AND DEPLOYED ALL AIRBAGS IN THE CAR. THIS DESTROYED THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, INCLUDING THE ROOF, SEATS, FRONT CONSOLE, STEERING WHEEL, AND SEAT BELTS. THE MANAGER MENTIONED THEY WOULD FIX THE DAMAGE. HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS SUBMITTED FOR THE REPAIR ON APRIL 12, 2018, AND AS OF MAY 14, 2018 THEY HAVE NOT REMOVED THE OLD AIRBAGS, OR INSTALLED ANY NEW AIRBAGS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. IF THE NEWLY INSTALLED PART USED TO FIX THE RECALL HAD MALFUNCTIONED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN USE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT. THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL IF AND WHEN THE PART WAS GOING TO MALFUNCTION. I NOW HAVE MY CONCERNS REGARDING THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE, THE RELIABILITY OF THE RECALLED PART, AND THE SAFETY OF ANY NEWLY INSTALLED TAKATA AIRBAGS. THERE IS PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF THE JEEP SERVICE CENTER FOR NOT REPAIRING THEIR ERROR FOR GREATER THAN 5 WEEKS AFTER THE DAMAGED OCCURRED, FOR REDUCING THE VALUE OF MY CAR, AND FOR USING FAULTY EQUIPMENT IN THEIR REPAIR. THERE IS ALSO PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF THE TAKATA AIRBAG COMPANY FOR PROVIDING A FAULTY AIRBAG AND FAULTY REPAIR PART FOR THE S61 RECALL. THIS NEGLIGENCE COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL.