TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO REMOVE THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FROM THE BUCKLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
2002
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:JACKS
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF HAVING A FLAT. IN CHANGING THE FLAT I FOLLLOWED THE DIRECTIONS AND RAISE THE VEHICLE TO REMOVE THE FLAT. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO RAISE THE VEHICLE HIGHER TO PUT ON THE SPARE, WHICH IS FULL SIZE, I COULD NOT RAISE THE LIBERTY HIGH ENOUGH. AS I LOOKED AT THE JACK AS I WAS TURNING THE HANDLE, I COULD SEE THAT THE POSITION WITHIN THE JACK STAND WAS NO MOVING HIGHER, I HAD REACHED THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT. THIS WAS A MOJOR PROBLEM. HOW TO RAISE THE VEHICLE HIGH ENOUGH TO GET THE NEW TIRE ON. THE ONLY CHOISE I HAD WAS TO FIND SOMETHING TO PUT UNDER THE JACK. I NEEDED AT LEAST 3 TO 4 INCHES TO RAISE THE JACK UP SO THE I COULD RAISE THE VEHICLE BY THE SAME AMOUNT. I WAS ABLE TO FIND A TREE BRANCH WHICH I PLACED UNDER THE JACK. THIS WAS HAPPENING ON A INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. AFTER PUTTING THE BRANCH UNDER THE JACK I WAS ABLE TO RAISE THE VEHICLE UP HIGH ENOUGH TO PUT ON THE SPARE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE PISTON WITHIN THE JACK WILL ONLY TO UP HIGH ENOUGH TO TAKE A FLAT TIRE OFF, BUT NOT HIGH ENOUGH TO PUT A SPARE TIRE ON. THE PISTON IS TO SHORT BY ABOUT 3 TO 4 INCHES. I FEEL THAT THERE IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE HERE. PUTTING A TREE BRANCH UNDER THE JACK IS NOT HOW ONE CHANGES A TIRE. AS I WAS RAISING THE VEHICLE I THOUGHT IF THE WEIGHT IF THE LIBERTY CRUSHED THE BRANCH I WAS GOING TO HAVE A LOT MORE PROBLEMS. HOW I WAS NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THE JACK IN THE RIGHT POSITION. OR EVEN WORSE WAS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I HAVE MYSELF UNDER THE VEHICLE IN SOMEWAY AND THE BRANCH CAME APART, THAT WAS GOING TO HURT. WHAT JEEP NEEDS TO DO IS RE-DESIGN THE JACK. THE STAND EITHER HAS TO BE TALLER OR THE PISTION HAS TO BE LONGER TO GET THE VEHICLE HIGH ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE SPARE. AS A SIDE NOTE PLEASE MAKE THE COMMET SECTION BIGGER. TRYING TO TYPE IN CURRENT MANNER IS NOT EASY. IT WOULD MAKE IT SO MUCH BETTER TO SEE ALL THE TEXT AS ONE IS TYPING. THANK YOU. *AK
