THE SHAFT IS DEFECTIVE AND PER THE SERVICEMAN HAS FOUND THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL ACCOUNTS OF THE DEFECTIVE SHAFT WHICH IN TURN HAS CAUSED THE GEARS TO GRIND AND COSTING ME 2 TRANSMISSIONS TO RESOLVE.
2009
AIR BAGS
ABOUT THREE OR FOUR DAYS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, I NOTICED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE(2009 JEEP WRANGLER RUBICON - LHD), THAT THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WAS LIT, INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. I HAD NOTICED PREVIOUSLY THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND THEN GO AWAY, SO I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT. HOWEVER, ON THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT, AS I DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A THIN PLASTIC WRAPPER "CRINKLING" AS IF CAUGHT BETWEEN THE STATIONARY PART OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE ROTATING REAR SECTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN I STOPPED THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED A FLAT STRIP PLASTIC ENCASED COPPER WIRE LEADS APPEARED TO BE UNRAVELING FROM BETWEEN THE STATIONARY PORTION OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE ROTATING REAR SECTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO MY AUTO REPAIR GARAGE, AND THE TECHNICIAN IDENTIFIED THE PART AS THE AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY. THE ASSEMBLY APPARENTLY FAILED DURING NORMAL VEHICLE USE AND NOW RESULTS IN A REDUCED LEVEL OF PROTECTION FOR MYSELF IN THE EVENT OF ACCIDENT. AFTER RESEARCHING THE MATTER, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF 2008, 2009 AND 2010 JEEP WRANGLERS (LHD) HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR FAILURES WITH THEIR AIRBAGS. THE REPAIR GARAGE ADVISED ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON RHD JEEP WRANGLERS OF THE SAME MODEL YEARS FOR THE SAME ASSEMBLY. *TR
