NHTSA Complaint #11339819 — 2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE IN HIS DRIVEWAY FROM A SHORT DISTANCE, THERE WAS A ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH SMOKE. THE CONTACT THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE COOLANT OVERFLOWED TO THE ALTERNATOR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER (VISION AUTOMOTIVE GROUP LOCATED AT 920 PANORAMA TRAIL S , ROCHESTER, NY 14625) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCM FAILED CAUSING THE COOLANT TO OVERHEAT AND REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, THE DRAIN TUBE AND THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS EXPLAINED THAT THE ENGINEERING OF THE DRAIN TUBE FOR THE COOLANT OVERFLOW TANK WAS DESIGNED TO BE DIRECTLY ABOVE THE ALTERNATOR AND IF THE COOLANT OVERFLOWS IT WOULD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE ELECTRIC ALTERNATOR CAUSING A POSSIBLE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IF HE WOULD HAVE DROVE A LONG DISTANCE HIS VEHICLE WOULD HAVE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE AND SUGGESTED THE CONTACT CALL NHTSA AND GET A SERVICE MANUAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 127,000.