NHTSA Complaint #11195260 — 2018 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

I PURCHASED A NEW 2018 GRAND CHEROKEE TRAILHAWK EDITION LAST FALL THAT WAS FACTORY EQUIPPED WITH "ROCK RAILS". I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THE FACTORY SPECIFIED JACKING LOCATION "PINCH POINTS" ARE OBSCURED BY THE RAILS AND NO LONGER ACCESSIBLE USING THE SUPPLIED JACK. THERE ARE "CUTOUTS" IN THE RAILS BUT THEY ARE NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO ALLOW ACCESS TO THE JACKING LOCATION POINTS. I HAD THE FIRST SERVICE PERFORMED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND SHOWED THEM THE PROBLEM. THEY ALSO COULD NOT LOCATE A SAFE JACKING LOCATION USING THE FACTORY SUPPLIED TOOLS. IT IS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS TO ATTEMPT ANY TYPE OF TIRE CHANGE PROCEDURE USING THE SUPPLIED FACTORY JACK ON A GRAND CHEROKEE WITH THE ROCK RAILS OPTION. SERIOUS BODILY INJURY AND/OR DEATH COULD RESULT IF THE VEHICLE WAS TO SLIP/FALL OFF THE JACK WHILE FOLLOWING THE PROCEDURE OUTLINED IN THE FACTORY USER'S MANUAL. I HAVE CONTACTED US CORPORATE JEEP SEVERAL TIMES VIA EMAIL AND PHONE (3/15, 3/17, 3/27, AND 4/2). THEY ASSIGNED CASE #58203148 TO THE ISSUE BUT HAVE NOT YET PROVIDED ANY SUGGESTIONS OR REMEDY TO THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE FROM THEM OTHER THAN "THEY'RE LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM".*DT CONSUMER STATED THE CUTOUT IS NOT LARGE ENOUGH FOR THE 'U' SHAPE CUSP OF THE JACK TO ENGAGE AND PROVIDE A SECURE LIFT POINT. YOU WILL ALSO NOTICE THAT THE ROCK RAIL PINCH POINT IS OFFSET 90 DEGREES TO THE ORIGINAL LIFT POINTS OF THE VEHICLE. THIS MEANS YOU'D HAVE TO ALIGN THE JACK STAND PARALLEL WITH THE VEHICLE RATHER THAN PERPENDICULAR. *JB *DT *TR