2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee Body & Structure Problems

ON AUGUST 26, 2014, THIS 2009 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO 4X4 VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSING SERIOUS CERVICAL AND SPINAL INJURIES TO A PEDESTRIAN. THIS VEHICLE WAS IN A PARKED POSITION, ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE DRIVER TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, KEPT MOVING FORWARD ON ITS OWN ACCORD UNTIL THE VEHICLE ULTIMATELY STOPPED AFTER STRIKING A BUILDING METAL STAIRCASE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SAFETY ISSUE TO PREVENT FURTHER PERSONAL INJURY AND, OR PROPERLY DAMAGE. *TR *JS *JS *JS

BOTH OF OUR FRONT DOOR PANELS AT THE DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKE. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT SOMETIMES TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT EITHER ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW AND REACHING OUT, OR SOMEBODY OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE OPENING THE DOOR. IF WE WERE TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE WE NEEDED TO QUICKLY EXIT THE VEHICLE, WE WOULD PROBABLY BE OUT OF LUCK!! TO MAKE THINGS WORSE, WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ABOUT $850 PER DOOR TO FIX THIS WITH THE SAME TYPE OF DOOR PANEL THAT HAS FAILED. IT HAS NOT BEEN RE-DESIGNED OR IMPROVED AND WHO HAS $3400 TO FIX THEIR DOOR HANDLES! I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT JEEP KNOWS IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD HAVE TO RECALL THIS. THESE ARE NOT CHEAP VEHICLES, BUT OBVIOUSLY CHEAP MADE!! *TR

THE PLASTIC BUMPER IS HELD IN PLACE BY PLASTIC SNAPS WHICH EASILY FALL APART. THE BUMPER THEN FALLS DOWN WHERE THE SNAPS NO LONGER HOLD IT IN PLACE RENDERING IT USELESS UPON IMPACT. THE SMALLEST IMPACT WOULD BREAK THE SNAPS WHICH CANNOT BE REPLACED OR REPAIRED WITHOUT REPLACING THE ENTIRE BUMPER. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE THE BUMPER. THIS IS ALSO THE ONLY PROTECTION FOR THE RADIATOR AND VERY DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE THE BUMPER WILL FALL APART RATHER THAN PROVIDE THE SUPPORT IT IS SUPPOSED TO WHEN AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WHEEL WELL HAD RUBBED AGAINST THE BRAKE AND ROTORS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 09E039000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

FRONT DOOR HANDLES AND PANELS ARE COMING APART. THE PLASTIC PANEL IS VERY BRITTLE AND BOTH HANDLES ARE JUST HANGING WITHIN THE PANEL COMPARTMENT WITH NO SUPPORT OR ATTACHMENT. RESEARCH ON THIS SITUATION HAS SHOWN ME THAT THIS IS A "VERY COMMON" PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITH A VEHICLE RECALL. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR ME AND MY PASSENGERS SHOULD WE HAVE THE NEED TO EXIT IN A HURRY. THIS RAISES A CONCERN FOR BOTH MY CHILDREN SHOULD WE HAVE A NEED TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY. I HAVE SPOKEN TO LOCAL JEEP DEALERSHIPS AND THEY TELL ME THAT SINCE I AM THE "SECOND OWNER" THE VEHICLE WOULD BE OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE IS JUST OVER 20,000 MILES, AND BEING A SECOND OWNER MAKES THE CAR LESS VALUABLE???? WHERE IS THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ON THESE MATTERS. THE DEALER WANTS OVER $2,000 TO REPLACE/REPAIR THE TWO FRONT DOOR TRIM PANELS AND DOOR HANDLES IN QUESTION. I HAVE ALSO CHECKED WITH TWO TRIM SHOPS IN THE AREA WHO TELL ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL, AND WITH THE COMPASS AND WRANGLER MODELS. THIS IS THE RESULT OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, NORMAL EVERYDAY USE. THIS SHOULD NOT BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BREAK DOWN THIS EASILY. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE REPAIRS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH SHODDY MATERIALS AND NO COMPASSION ON THE PART OF THE MANUFACTURER TO GET INVOLVED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER IT WOULD RAIN, WATER WOULD ENTER THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD CAUSE THE RADIO AND ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO MADE REPAIRS TO THE SUNROOF BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CONTINUE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 244 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,500.