1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee equipment problems

“AFTER EXPERIENCING THE FIRST FLAT TIRE IN 8 YEARS, WE NEEDED TO CHANGE THE WHEEL AND HAD TO USE THE LUG WRENCH PROVIDED WITH THE VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE WRENCH WAS APPLIED AND A GREAT DEAL OF FORCE WAS NEEDED TO LOOSEN THE LUG NUTS. AFTER COMPLETING THE TIRE CHANGE WE WENT TO REPLACE THE LUG WRENCH AND NOTED THAT IT WOULD NO LONGER FOLD. UPON CLOSER EXAMINATION WE SAW THAT THE HOLE WHERE THE SOCKET CONNECTS TO THE HANDLE HAD STRETCHED BECAUSE OF THE FORCE APPLIED TO LOOSEN THE LUG NUTS. WE ARE THANKFUL THAT THE WRENCH DID NOT BREAK WHILE FORCE WAS BEING APPLIED. A SUDDEN BREAK AT THAT POINT WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY. WE DID CHECK THE OWNER''S MANUAL TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY WARNING ABOUT THE OBVIOUS STRENGTH LIMITATIONS OF THE LUG WRENCH TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE BUT FOUND NONE. IT APPEARS THAT EITHER THERE WAS A DEFECT IN OUR LUG WRENCH ( THE NUMBER STAMPED ON IT WAS 7K09 2) OR THERE WAS A FAILURE ON YOUR PART TO WARN THE CONSUMER ABOUT THE INHERENT DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE LUG WRENCH. *NM”

“AIR CONDITIONING - AFTER 100,000 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE MY AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM DUE TO LEAKS. NOW I AM HAVING PROBLEM WITH WATER LEAKING INTO MY CAR. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING ARE NOT PROPERLY MADE (IN MY OPINION). THERE IS NO DRAIN HOSE TO THE EVAPORATOR - JUST A LIP - THAT IS SUPPOSE TO DRAIN OUT ONTO THE GROUND. THE LIP IS NOT LONG ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE WATER TO DIP PROPERLY. THEREFORE, I KEPT GETTING WATER IN MY BACKSEAT FLOORBOARD. *NM”

“FOR OVER A YEAR THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE SQUEAKED (A RUBBING NOISE) WHEN DRIVING (NOT DURING BRAKING, WHICH STOPS THE NOISE). DEALER CLAIMS NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. TOOK THE CAR IN TODAY TO HAVE TIRES ROTATED AN BALANCED. DEALER CLAIMS THE FRONT PADS ARE THIN AND CRUMBLING AND THAT BOTH PADS AND ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER STATES THE FRONT ROTORS ARE TOO THIN TO BE TURNED. THIS IS UNUSUAL SINCE THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED IN 2000 UNDER RECALL 00V136000. THE SUV HAS BEEN DRIVEN 90,000 MILES SINCE THEN - THE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED - THE ROTORS HAVE NOT BEEN TURNED PREVIOUSLY. RELATED TO THE RECALL, OTHER USERS REPORT TOO HARD PADS WITH TOO SOFT ROTORS. IN ONE DRIVING STYLE THIS LEADS TO EXCESSIVE HEAT THAT WARPS THE SUB-PAR ROTORS. IN MY DRIVING STYLE THE PADS GET HOT (WHICH CAUSES THEM TO CRUMBLE EVENTUALLY), NOT HOT ENOUGH TO WARP ROTORS, BUT SUFFICIENT TO GRIND AWAY THE ROTORS LEADING TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF BOTH PARTS. IF ROTORS CAN GET SO THIN THEY CAN'T BE TURNED (HAVING NEVER BEEN TURNED), THEN THE COMBINATION OF CRUMBLY PADS MAKES FOR A DANGEROUS COMBINATION. SINCE DEALER IS AWARE OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT TOO-HARD PADS AND TOO-SOFT ROTORS FROM THESE AND ITS…”

“AIR CONDITIONING EVAPORATORS FAILING IN JEEP VEHICLES FROM 96 ON UP, CHEROKEES IN PARTICULAR. IT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT SHOULD NEVER FAIL THROUGH NORMAL USE. THE EVAPORATOR IS INSTALLED IN THE HEATER BOX BEHIND THE DASHBOARD AND TAKES 8 HOURS OF LABOR TO REPLACE. THIS IS A COMMON ITEM TO FAIL BUT I THOUGHT I'D ACTUALLY FILE A COMPLAINT AND SEE IF SOMETHING COULD BE DONE. THIS ALSO RESULTS IN VERY POOR DEFROSTING OF THE WINDSHIELD. *NM”

“THE HORN WILL NOT WORK CONSISTENTLY. THE LIGHTS WILL FLASH ON AN OFF ERRATICALLY WHILE DRIVING. THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON AFTER BEING TURNED OFF AND PARKED OVERNIGHT LEAVING THE BATTERY DEAD. THE FAN MOTOR HAS FAILED FOR THE DEFROSTER AGAIN. THIS IS THE SECOND REPAIR. IN THE SNOW BELT THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED FEATURE. *JB”

“WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK THERE WAS NUMEROUS REPAIRS THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED; THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, GAS CAP(S), NEW KEYLESS REMOTE AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DID NOT WORK. RECALL# 02V053000. *SC THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE POWER ASSIST, THE CONSUMER WAS ORIGINAL TOLD THERE WOULD BE NO CHARGE AND THEN LATER WAS TOLD THE CHARGE WOULD BE $400.00. *JB”