NHTSA Complaint #718672 — 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM MCCUNE CHRYSLER-PLYMOUTH-JEEP AS A PREVIOSLY OWNED VEHICLE THAT JUST FINISHED A LEASE. ON 02/08/2000, WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM BOWLING, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT UPSHIFT CAUSING THE ENGINE RPMS TO CLIMB TO 4-5,000 RPM'S (CONTINUED HOME, 7 MILES). WIFE NEXT DAY 02/09/2000, TOOK KIDS TO SCHOOL AND ON THE FREEWAY TO HER MOM'S HOUSE ( A DISTANCE OF ONLY 5 MILES), TRANSMISSION FAILED TO STAY ENGAGED, SHE CREPT HOME AT ABOUT 5-15 MPH. THIS TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED EVERY 12-18,000 MILES. THE LAST SERVICE DONE WAS AT 70,150 MILES, (ATF+3, FILTER&GASKET)FAILURE HAPPENED AT 77,740 MILES, I WAS STUNNED! I CALLED MCCUNE AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT THEY CAN DO, I WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $2,200+, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL. I TOOK THE JEEP DOWN TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP (CORONAS TRANSMISSION) AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS "BURNT UP". WENT TO GET A SECOND OPINION AT AAMCO, GIVEN ESTIMATE OF $1800+. I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED THAT A "TOP-OF-THE-LINE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED 4X4" FAILED TO PERFORM AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. IN MY DISHEARTENED STATE, ON 02/11/2000 I TRADED MY PRIDE AND JOY (TOOK A HEAVY LOSS) FOR A FORD EXPEDITION XLT. AS MUCH AS I LOVED MY JEEP'S STYLING, PERFORMANCE AND LUXURY, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER. *AK