NHTSA Complaint #11693703 — 2019 JEEP CHEROKEE

My 2019 Jeep Cherokee Latitude Plus is currently inoperable due to a failed Power Transfer Unit (PTU). The local authorized Jeep dealership confirmed that the PTU has failed and that the replacement part is no longer being manufactured or available anywhere in the U.S. This is a well known defect for this type of vehicle. The dealership informed me that there is no repair option at this time and that there is no timeline for when my vehicle may eventually be added to the recall batch list. Stellantis Customer Care has acknowledged the problem but denied my request for a buyback, citing vehicle mileage and age, even though the defect renders the car unsafe and undrivable. The PTU failure can cause a sudden and total loss of power to the wheels while driving, which poses a significant safety risk to the driver and others on the road. Before the complete failure, I noticed grinding noises, steering wheel jerking during acceleration, and the vehicle would not shift gears. The failure was confirmed by the dealer, and the vehicle remains at their facility. I am requesting that Jeep or Stellantis provide a dealer-assisted trade credit (trade assist or goodwill adjustment) to help me transition into a functional vehicle. I continue to make loan payments on a vehicle that cannot be driven or repaired through no fault of my own. This situation leaves me stranded with a financed vehicle that is unsafe, unrepairable, and unsupported by the manufacturer.