NHTSA Complaint #710812 — 1990 JEEP CHEROKEE

THE VECHILE BEGAN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE AT TRAVEL SPEEDS FROM 0-45MPH. DURING FAILURE, THE BRAKES WHEN APPLIED BEGIN TO SLOW THE VECHILE AND THEN PEDAL POWER IS LOST AND BRAKING ABILITY IS LOST. WHEN THE PEDAL IS RELEASED AND QUICKLY REDRPRESSED THE BRAKE POWER IS RESTORED.CHRYSLER MOTOR CORPORATION HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURES. THE LOCAL DEALER PERFORMERMED A PROM TEST BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER THEN SUGGESTED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS MOST LIKELY FAULTY, BUT REFUSED TO COVER IT UNDER A NHTSA RECALL. AN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AT A COST OF $600. THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN AFTER THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACE. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO CHYSLER WHO SUGGESTED A SECOND DEALER TO CHECK THE ABS SYSTEM. THE SECOND DEALER PERFORMED A SERIES OF TEST TO THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM AND DETERMINED THAT THE ABS ACCUMULATOR PUMP ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED IT AT A COST OF MORE THAN $319.00. THE DELEARSHIP REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR UNDER THE RECALL, AND THE LOCAL ZONE MANAGER REFUSED TO REPLACED THOSE PARTS OUTLINED IN THE NHTSA BULLETIN AS RELATED TO THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER THEN ASSURED THAT THE REPAIR HAD CORRECTED THE FAILURE,AS DETERMINED BY HIS TEST. LESS THAN ONE WEEK AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR THE VECHILE AGAIN EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE, OF THE SAME TYPE (LOSS OF BRAKING AND PEDAL POWER). THIS INCIDENT OCCURED ON AUGUST 30,1999. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER, WHO SUGGESTED THAT THE VECHILE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND TOWED IT BACK FOR EXAMINATION. THE DEALER THEN PREFORMED TESTS AND REPORTED THAT THE BRAKE SENSORS WERE NOT PROPERLY CALIBRATED. THE DEALER WAS ASKED TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS AS MANDATED BY THE NHTSA. THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS STATING THAT THE TEST DID NOT INDICATE THEY WERE NECESSARY. THE REPAIRS TO THE ABS BRAKE SENSORS WERE MADE AT A COST OF MORE THAN $149.00 PLUS TOWING. THE BRAKES HAVE SINCE FAILED AGAIN.*