← NHTSA complaints

2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

fire · 1055966 · 2014-04-11

Vehicle

Make
JEEP
Model
GRAND CHEROKEE
Year
2003
Manufacturer
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Component
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
Miles at failure
36,000
Speed
30 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
Yes
Crash
No
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN CHRYSLER RECALL NUMBER J14 FOR FRONT SEAT ELECTRIC HEATER ELEMENTS THAT COULD OVER HEAT. BOTH CHRYSLER AND JEEP DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF EXCESSIVE HEAT GENERATED BY VEHICLE SEAT HEATER AND DECLINED TO MAKE FIX OR REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE. SPECIFICALLY, THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD FIX IT AND CHARGE ME FOR THE REPAY, BUT WERE NOT GOING TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. SEAT DID EVENTUALLY OVERHEAT TO A POINT THE HEATER NO LONGER WORKED. OWNER SET FORTH TO REPAIR SEAT AND DURING SEAT TEARDOWN OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF SEAT FIRE. MULTIPLE PICTURES AND MELTED WIRES WERE COLLECTED AND PRESERVED. THESE ITEMS WILL BE PROVIDED TO NHTSA UPON REQUEST. IT IS AMAZING DEATH/INJURY DID NOT OCCUR DUE TO THIS KNOWN DEFECT THAT CHRYSLER REFUSED TO ADDRESS. ALL CHRYSLER VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR HEATER DESIGN SHOULD BE INSPECT AND REPAIRED WITHOUT CHARGE TO VEHICLE OWNER. IN ADDITION, CHRYSLER SHOULD BE MADE TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION TO THOSE THAT HAD REPAIRS DONE AT THEIR COST. *JS

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10579202
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown