# 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE — LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
> NHTSA complaint `550763` · 2005-08-22 · Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** JEEP
- **Model:** GRAND CHEROKEE
- **Year:** 1997
- **Manufacturer:** Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
- **Component:** LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
- **Miles at failure:** 106,000
- **Speed:** 65 mph
## Narrative
FAILURE OF DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LATCH,  THE FASTENERS HAVE RIPPED THROUGH THE METAL OF THE DOOR CAUSING AN UNEXPECTED DOOR OPENING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS...THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM FOR GRAND CHEROKEE'S,  THERE ARE VERY FEW DRIVER'S DOOR THAT HAVE NOT FAILED...MY OPTIONS FOR REPAIR OF A POORLY DESIGNED COMPONENT ARE QUITE FEW AND NO ONE IS SHARING ANY INFORMATION...WITHOUT METAL TO SECURE THE LATCH TO THE DOOR I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO USE A BUNGIE CORD (NOT OSHA RATED...AT ALL)  UNTIL THE DOOR CAN BE WELDED SHUT...THEN I HAVE A THREE DOOR TRUCK WITHOUT A WAY TO EASILY EXIT THE VEHICLE...  THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER.
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*