WHILE STUCK IN TRAFFIC FOR 6 MINUTES (WINDOWS DOWN), THE CAR TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO "H". ONCE I STARTED MOVING, THE GUAGE WENT TO HALF. WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECKED THE FLUID LEVELS AND THEY WERE FINE. ON THE WAY TO WORK THE NEXT DAY WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CAR TEMP GUAGE WENT TO "H" AGAIN. I BROUGHT IT IN TO MY MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT THE FAN MOTOR WAS NOT SPINNING, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE NOTED THAT THE COMPUTER MODULE THAT OPERATES THE FAN WAS "FRIED" AND THE TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK SOMEHOW GOT LODGED IN THE FAN MOTOR. I REPLACED THE DIPSTICK AND COMPUTER MODULE ($1100) AND THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING AGAIN. OVERHEATING FOR NO REASON. WHEN I CALLED CHRYSLER/JEEP ABOUT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY, THEY SAID THAT ONLY THE ENGINE WAS COVERED, NOT THE COMPUTER MODULE THAT COULD SEIZE MY ENGINE. ACCORDING TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP, 70 COMPUTER MODULES WERE REPLACED IN A WEEK! WHEN DOES THIS BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD? IF I WAS DRIVING ON THE PARKWAY AND MY ENGINE SEIZED, I WOULD OF BEEN DEAD! *JS
2009
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A NOISE IN THE FRONT AT LOW SPEED, WHEN BACKING AT LOW SPEED AND SLIGHT FRONT VIBRATION AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AT MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND DRIVEN AT NORMALLY EXPECTED CONDITIONS, NEVER INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT OR MISHAP CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH FAILED PARTS SUCH AS BEING DRIVEN INTO A DITCH, ETC. TIRES WERE REPLACED AT AROUND 45,000 MILES. INSPECTION AT DEALER SHOWED BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED INSPECTION AND THE TIRES WERE "ABNORMALLY WORN" AT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES OF USAGE. MECHANIC AND SERVICE MANAGER EXPLAINED THAT VEHICLE WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE SINCE THERE WAS A RISK OF THE FRONT WHEELS SHEARING OR BREAKING OFF DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE BALL JOINTS.I HAD THE REPAIR COMPLETED IMMEDIATELY AT A COST OF $833.01. WHEN RESEARCHING AUTO PARTS ONLINE I HAVE FOUND THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE AS OEM AT AROUND THE COST THE DEALER CHARGED ME OR A "PROBLEM FIXER" PART WAS AVAILABLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL COST. THIS PROBLEM FIXER PART WAS A GREASABLE BALL JOINT AND THE OEM AS WELL AS THE FACTORY ORIGINAL PARTS ARE NOT GREASABLE. IT SEEMS THAT THE PART MANUFACTURERS IF NOT THE AUTOMAKER IS WELL AWARE THAT A NON-GREASABLE BALL JOINT IS A BUILT IN DEFECT AS WELL AS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE A HANDLING OR DRIVING ISSUE, ONLY AN ANNOYING AND OCCASIONAL NOISE AND SLIGHT VIBRATION AND AT LESS THAN 55,000 GENTLY DRIVEN AND CAREFUL MILES IT WAS NEVER THOUGHT THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN ANY POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD WITH THIS VEHICLE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT SUCH A VITAL PART SHOULD FAIL SO RELATIVELY EARLY WITHOUT ABUSE OR INCIDENT TO CAUSE IT TO FAIL. *TR