Jun 14, 2017Electrical systemFire
MY VEHICLE'S ALTERNATOR SUDDENLY STARTED MAKING A HIGH PITCH WHISTLING NOISE, THE RADIO AND OTHER ELECTRONICS WERE NOT WORKING IN THE VEHICLE, SO I STOPPED. A WHITE SMOKE STARTED TO POUR OUT OF THE FRONT GRILL AND THE SMOKE SMELLED LIKE PLASTIC/WIRES BURNING. I OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE AREA WHERE THE ALTERNATOR WAS. AFTER THE SMOKE STOPPED, I ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND NOTHING WOULD WORK. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP STATED MY BATTERY WAS BURNT UP, THE ALTERNATOR WAS DEAD AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE USABLE LINK BECAUSE THAT ALSO BURNT UP. THEY ALSO SAID THEY PLACED A BATTERY IN THE VEHICLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG AND THEIR BATTERY BURNT UP AS WELL. THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 64,000 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA ODI 10995229
May 1, 2017Electrical systemFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE "BATTERY VOLTAGE LOW" INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE HOOD. THE DRIVER OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS ON FIRE. THE DRIVER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
NHTSA ODI 10981604
Feb 9, 2017Electrical systemFire
THE ALTERNATOR STARTED SMOKING AFTER DRIVING IT 1/4 MILE AND THEN STOPPING. ALTERNATOR WAS SMOKING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. ALTERNATOR CONTINUED TO SMOKE AFTER THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE ALTERNATOR TURNED A CLOUDY BLACK BECAUSE OF THE SMOKE AND THE CAR SUDDENLY DID NOT WORK. VEHICLE WAS TOWED (FOR FREE) TO RAF'S AUTO REPAIR IN KAPOLEI, HI AND FIXED. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE ERROR CODE FOR THE JEEP STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR SUDDENLY FAILED FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. MOST LIKELY A FAULTY ALTERNATOR. THE GRAND TOTAL TO FIX THIS ISSUE WAS $863. I CALLED CHRYSLER TO SEE IF MY VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY ALTERNATOR RECALL. IT DID NOT. SO I COULD NOT GET IT FIXED BY CHRYSLER. I GATHER FROM THE 10 RECALLS ON MY VEHICLES YEAR MAKE AND MODEL GROUP, THAT THIS ALTERNATOR WAS A FACTORY DEFAULT AND I SHOULD NOT BE PAYING FOR IT. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION BY CHRYSLER COMPANY AND I BELIEVE THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD PAY FOR THIS REPAIR BILL.
NHTSA ODI 10953654
Jan 5, 2017Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE MADE CONTACT WITH THE DRIVER AND A SECOND VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS NEEDED. THE SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V240000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
NHTSA ODI 10939809
Nov 14, 2016Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngineCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE GEAR SYSTEM ALSO EMITTED A NOISE AND JERKED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT STRUCK AN OBJECT WHILE DRIVING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. IN ADDITION, THE HEATING SYSTEM FAILED. THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER MADE A LOUD NOISE WHEN ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURES. THE DEALER UPGRADED THE SOFTWARE SYSTEM SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V529000 (POWER TRAIN), BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
NHTSA ODI 10925709
Sep 8, 2016Electrical systemFire
AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, DRIVER SMELLED SMOKE, BUT DID NOT KNOW THE SOURCE OF SMOKE. (DRIVER THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING BURNING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.) BY THE TIME DRIVER HAD DRIVEN 2.2 MILES ON CITY ROADS (AT SPEED <40 MPH), SMOKE BEGAN BILLOWING FROM THE USB PORT ON THE FRONT DASH. DRIVER PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER OF A CITY STREET. THE FRONT DASH AROUND USB PORT WAS NOW GLOWING ORANGE. DRIVER TURNED OFF VEHICLE, TOSSED A CUP OF WATER ONTO FRONT DASH IN AREA OF USB PORT, EXITED VEHICLE AND CALLED 911. POLICE AND FIRE PERSONNEL RESPONDED. FIRST RESPONDERS SAID WATER EXTINGUISHED FIRE. VEHICLE OWNER CALLED LOCAL JEEP DEALER, WHO SAID IN THE CASE OF FIRE TO CALL JEEP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-992-1997. LOCAL JEEP DEALER SUGGESTED THE OWNER ALSO CALL OWNER'S INSURANCE COMPANY. JEEP CUSTOMER SERVICE ASSIGNED A CASE # AND SAID OWNER WOULD BE CONTACTED IN 2-3 BUSINESS DAYS. OWNER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO LOCAL JEEP DEALER. JEEP FCA SENT A 3RD PARTY INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. 21 DAYS AFTER FIRE INCIDENT, JEEP FCA ISSUED A LETTER TO OWNER STATING, "IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY SUBSTANTIATING EVIDENCE INDICATING THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A CONDITION EXISTING IN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT LEFT OUR MANUFACTURING PLANT, WE FIND IT NECESSARY TO DENY RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER."
NHTSA ODI 10904868
Mar 21, 2016Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK, IT DID NOT REGISTER THE CORRECT GEAR. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE A WEEK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE DRIVER SIDE DOORS, DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW QUARTER, REAR BUMPER, AND OTHER DRIVER SIDE COMPONENTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,000.
NHTSA ODI 10850712
Dec 15, 2015Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngineCrash
MY CURRENT LEASE, A 2014 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO, HAS BEEN PLAGUED WITH DEFECTS. THERE HAVE BEEN 9 RECALLS, 16 SERVICE BULLETINS, AND 5 INVESTIGATIONS'.IN ADDITION THERE ARE 587 DRIVER/OWNER COMPLAINTS. MY PROBLEMS: INSTABILITY OF THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER PARKING NEXT TO A STORAGE BIN, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF PARK AND THE JEEP MOVED FORWARD CRUSHING MY LEG IN THE DOOR AND DENTING/SCRATCHING THE EXTERIOR OF VEHICLE. THERE HAS BEEN NO INDICATION THAT FCA (JEEP) HAS RESOLVED THIS ISSUE. ANOTHER PROBLEM I'M HAVING, WHICH HAS BEEN PLAGUING MANY OTHER JEEP OWNERS, IS WHERE THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES WITH NO INDICATION OF SPECIFIC INFORMATION WITH REGARD TO WHAT THE MALFUNCTION MIGHT BE. AFTER 5 SERVICE VISITS OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS , JEEP HAS PROVEN THEY UNABLE TO REMEDY THIS. I CONTINUE DRIVING WITH UNCERTAINTY AND STRESS WITH MY PASSENGERS AND I FEARING OURLIVES MAY BE ENDANGERED. THE ENGINE LIGHT IS CURRENTLY ILLUMINATED. I AM NOT GETTING THE LEVEL OF VEHICLE SAFETY AND DEPENDABILITY I AM PAYING FOR. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT ON THE WEBSITE OF JEEP AND HAVE OFFERED FCA(JEEP) A SETTLEMENT WHEREBY I WOULD BE REFUNDED THE LEASING CHARGES I PAID AND THE COMPANY WOULD CONSENT TO AN EARLY TERMINATION OF THE LEASE WITH NO PENALTIES OR CHARGES. FCA(JEEP) HAS FAILED TO REMEDY MY PROBLEM. (PLEASE SEE ATTACHED DETAILS) FCA US LLC IS REQUIRED TO EXECUTE CERTAIN PERFORMANCE OBLIGATIONS , PURSUANT TO THE JULY 24, 2015 CONSENT ORDER, AMENDED DECEMBER 8, 2015, THE OBJECTIVES OF WHICH ARE TO MITIGATE THE RISKS OF HARM AND PROMOTE SAFETY FOR WE, THE CONSUMERS. FCA, HOWEVER, PERSISTS IN VIOLATING AND DISREGARDING ME IN A BLATANT ACT OF NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE ORDER. I SEEK ASSISTANCE IN EXPEDITING REMEDIAL ACTION IN THIS MATTER AS A VICTIM, AND THE PROTECTION OF MY RIGHTS AS A CONSUMER, AND AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI 10810551
Dec 14, 2015SteeringTransmission & drivetrainElectrical systemCrash1 injury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REVERSE INDEPENDENTLY WHILE THE ENGINE WAS ON. THERE WAS NO OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED ACROSS THE STREET AND CRASHED INTO A MAILBOX, THEN PROCEEDED TO ROLL UP AN INCLINED DRIVEWAY WHILE STILL IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENTER THE VEHICLE BUT THE VEHICLE THEN MOVED FORWARD AND KNOCKED THE CONTACT TO THE GROUND, DRIVING OVER HER LEGS. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STOPPED AND CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LEG INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BODY DAMAGES WERE REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000. UPDATED 04/08/16*LJ
NHTSA ODI 10810051
Oct 29, 2014Electrical systemEngineCrashFire
I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP. IN APRIL OF 2014 I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE SUMMIT EDITION FOR $60,000. I WAS THRILLED TO HAVE FINALLY OWNED MY DREAM CAR SINCE 1997! I STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CAR IN AUGUST... AND WHEN I SAY ISSUES, I DON'T MEAN THE RADIO BLITZING OUT. THE CAR TURNED OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A 4 WAY INTERSECTION AND WOULDN'T RESTART FOR 3-4 ATTEMPTS!!!! TERRIFIED I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO SAID IT REGISTERED SOME CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODES BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND WHY IT DID THAT. THEY TURNED THE LIGHT OFF AND HAD ME PICK THE CAR UP. AFTER REPEATING THE SAME THING, ABOUT 8-10 MORE TIMES THE CAR JUST SHUTTING OFF AND GOING BACK INTO THE SHOP A SECOND AND THIRD TIME THEY NOW SAID OH WE FIGURED OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND ITS FIXED. I WAS THRILLED FOR THIS TO BE OVER! A COUPLE WEEKS LATER I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY GOING 65 MPH WITH NO CARS AROUND ME OR INSIGHT. ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR DASHBOARD SAID BRAKE!!! AND THE CAR APPLIED THE ABS BRAKES AND ABRUPTLY SLOWED THE CAR DOWN TO 40 MPH!!!! I WAS SO SCARED AT THAT POINT, TO TOP IT OFF THE CAR AGAIN SHUT OFF AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BACK ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE 4TH TIME WHERE THEY NOW HAVE PUT ME IN A RENTAL FOR 40 DAYS. THIS TIME I WAS TOLD MY CAR REGISTERED 57 CODES BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIX OR DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN WHEN I WAS ASKED TO PICK THE CAR UP. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THAT CAR AND I HAVE LOST FAITH IN THAT VEHICLE. I ASKED THAT THEY BUY THE CAR BACK SINCE IT LEGALLY FALLS UNDER THE LEMON LAW AND THEY REFUSED. THEY LEFT ME NO CHOICE BUT TO HIRE A LEMON LAW ATTORNEY. I NOW HAVE LOST FAITH IN JEEP/CHRYSLER FOR THE WAY THEY ARE HANDLING THIS. THEY WOULD RATHER PUT MYSELF AND OTHERS IN HARMS WAY THAN TO DO THE RIGHT THING. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI 10651269
Mar 28, 2014Electrical systemEngineFire1 injury
ON 3/27/14, MY BRAND NEW 2014 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE SPONTANEOUSLY BURST INTO FLAMES AND ALMOST GOT IN MY FACE. AFTER SMELLING AND SEEING SMOKE, I PULLED OVER INTO A DIRT PARKING LOT AT A BUSINESS AND THE DASHBOARD OF MY NEW VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES, AFTER I HEARD A "WOOSH." A LADY FROM THE LOCAL BUSINESS CAME RUNNING OUT OF THE BUSINESS WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND I WAS ABLE TO SHOOT IT INTO THE HOLES THAT WERE ONCE THE HEAT VENTS TO KILL THE FLAMES. THE DASH WAS BUCKLED, THE WINDSHIELD BLACKENED, THE GAUGES MELTED, THE ROOF LINING GONE, THE VISORS MELTED, AND THE INSIDE COVERED WITH CO2 AND SMOKE DAMAGE. I SUFFERED SMOKE AND CO2 INHALATION AND MY CLOTHES WERE RUINED, BUT I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE! THE DEALER REFUSES TO HELP ME....UPDATED 09-10-2014 *BF UPDATED 11/7/2014 *JS
NHTSA ODI 10575445
Nov 12, 2013Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemBrakesEngineCrash1 injury
THE DRIVER PULLED THE AUTOMOBILE INTO A DRIVEWAY ON A DOWNHILL SLOPE. THE DRIVER SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF USING THE PUSH BUTTON START/STOP. THE DRIVER RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE 10 MINUTES LATER, WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE DRIVER STARTED THE VEHICLE (FOOT ON BRAKE AS REQUIRED) USING PUSH BUTTON START/STOP. THE DRIVER ENGAGED THE TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE USING THE SHIFTING LEVER (WITH FOOT STILL ON BRAKE AS IS REQUIRED BY THE BRAKE TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM). WHEN ENGAGED IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE REVVED TO A HIGH LEVEL, AND THE CAR TRAVELED IN REVERSE UP THE HILL (DRIVEWAY), THROUGH THE STREET, AND INTO A DITCH. SIDE AND FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER BELIEVES THEY NEVER TOOK FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, AND THE BRAKING WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME TORQUE OF THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE DAMAGE INCLUDES AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, CABIN ROOF LINER DETACHMENT, THREE BENT WHEELS, MINOR DAMAGE TO MUFFLER, MINOR BODY DAMAGE. DEALER CHECKED ELECTRONICS/INSTRUMENT RECORDINGS AND NOTED NOTHING UNUSUAL APPEARING, AND HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10551934
Sep 30, 2013Electrical systemEngineFire
I JUST PURCHASED A BRAND NEW VEHICLE ON 9/27/13. ON 9/28/13 MY VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. I FIRST NOTICED IT WHEN I ARRIVED HOME, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK. I OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10546152