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2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE — SEATS

fire · 706429 · 2009-02-01

Vehicle

Make
JEEP
Model
GRAND CHEROKEE
Year
2002
Manufacturer
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Component
SEATS
Miles at failure
96,000
Speed
45 mph

Severity

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

Narrative

APPROXIMATELY MID JANUARY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT CUSHION OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT FIRE. LUCKILY TURNING OFF THE SWITCH EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. HOWEVER IT LEFT A COUPLE OF INCH LONG BURN MARK IN THE LEATHER SEAT COVER. WE HAD BEEN NOTICING "HOT SPOTS" IN THE HEATING ELEMENT, AND MY WIFE HAD PLACED A FLEECE HOOD ON THE SEAT TO SIT ON. THIS ALSO RECEIVED SOME MELTING BUT SAVED HER FROM ANY BURNS. DISCUSSION WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS LEAD TO THE DISCOVERY OF A RECALL INVOLVING JEEP HEATED SEATS. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL GUIDELINES. RECALL WAS FOR '03 & '04 MODELS, I HAVE A '02. I ASKED IF THEY WOULD COVER THE REPAIRS ANYWAY AS THE PROBLEM WAS THE SAME, THEY DECLINED. I THEN CONTACTED CHRYSLER/JEEP BY PHONE. I RECEIVED THE SAME RESPONSE FROM A REPRESENTATIVE AND THE SUPERVISOR. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT AN APPEALS PROCESS THEY SAID I HAD JUST BEEN THROUGH IT BY TALKING TO THE SUPERVISOR. MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE '03/'04 RECALL IS THAT BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS AND SEAT BACK HEATING ELEMENTS WOULD BE REPLACED DUE TO POTENTIAL FAILURE. I AM CONCERNED THAT JUST FIXING THE "BROKEN PART" WOULD LEAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS OCCURRING ON THE OTHER SEAT ALSO. I HAVE NOT REPLACED THIS AS YET. WE ARE JUST NOT USING THE HEATED SEATS. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF CHECKING ON VARIOUS REPLACEMENT OPTIONS AND PRICES SUCH AS FACTORY PARTS, REPLACEMENT WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS, ETC. I WONDER WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVA

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10257094
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown