NHTSA Complaint #734488 — 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE

THE SHEARING OF THE RIGHT ENGINE MOUNT TO ENGINE BOLTS COULD HAVE ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO DROP DOWN ONTO THE STEERING MECHANISM THEREBY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. DUE THE THE ENGINE DROPPPING DOWN ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THE REAR TRANSMISION MOUNT WAS TORN FROM THE CROSS MEMBER AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED RIGHT WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A DRIVE SHAFT DISCONNECTION. I DON'T KNOW IF THE ENGINE SHIFT COULD HAVE IMPACTED THE THROTTLE LINKAGE. THIS SHEARING OF THE 3 MOUNTING BOLTS WAS NOT CAUSED BY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AS THE BOLTS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE BOLTS WERE NOT SUFFICIENTLY HARDENED, OR POSSIBLY OVER TIGHTENED AT ASSEMBLY CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS ESSENTIALLY DISABLED AND THE ONLY THING KEEPING THE ENGINE IN PLACE WAS THE DISTRIBUTOR LANDING ON THE CHASIS MOUNT HANGER.