1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

MY 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED, WILL NOT PASS SAFETY INSPECTION BECAUSE IT'S EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS CRACKED AND LEAKS EXHAUST GASES. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE COMMON AMONG GRAND CHEROKEE OWNERS WITH THE 6 CYLINDER, 4 L ENGINE. THE MANIFOLD FAILED DUE TO A STRESS CRACK THAT DEVELOPED FROM UNEVEN EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION DURING NORMAL OPERATION. THE LOCAL JEEP/CHRYSLER DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE PART FAILS IN ALMOST ALL 6 CYLINDER JEEP CHEROKEES AND THAT THE PRESENT REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE REDESIGNED NOT TO BREAK FROM STRESS CRACKS FROM NORMAL HEATING. THIS TELLS ME THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS OF THE SAFETY PROBLEM, HAS REDESIGNED IT, AND IS TRYING TO MAKE MONEY OFF THE SAFETY FAILURE. THE REPLACEMENT EXPENSE FOR THIS SAFETY INSPECTION FAILURE IS VERY HIGH. ESTIMATED COST OF THE REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD BY THE DEALER IS $1100 TO $1200. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT A GREAT PERCENTAGE OF GRAND CHEROKEES WITH THE 6 CYL., 4 L., ENGINE EXPERIENCED A SAFETY DEFECT FROM A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THIS IS MY THIRD JEEP AND FOR THE PRICE PAID I EXPECTED HIGHER QUALITY AND A SAFER VEHICLE. *NLM