1997 Jeep Wrangler

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/2004· STRUCTURE

  WATER LEAKS ONTO FLOOR OF PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, I HAVE HEARD THIS ONE SEVERAL TIMES, YET HAVEN'T SEEN JEEP DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THERE WAS NOTHING THAT HAPPENED TO MY TRUCK TO CAUSE THIS, IT RAINS AND MY PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR GETS SOAKED.*AK

• 12/31/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  NHTSA 14720-02-V-041-000 PARKING BRAKE: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THE PARKING BRAKE CAN RELEASE WITHOUT WARNING: CONSUMER STATES ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM ON APRIL 4, 1997. VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD WHILE PARKED ON A HILL WHILE PARKED WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED THAT THEY DID NOT FIND NOTHING WRONG. FIVE YEARS LATER CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

• 12/31/2001· POWER TRAINCrash

  CAR WAS PARKED AND IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR INTO REVERSE AND HIT AIR PUMP AT THE GAS STATION. *AK

• 12/31/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE MANIFOLD HAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. *AK

• 12/31/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE TRUCK HAD SOME BRAKE FAILURE WHICH RESULTED FROM A SEAL LEAK AT THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE TRUCK DOES NOT SEEM TO WANT TO STOP. *AK

• 12/30/1997· SEAT BELTS

  RIGHT FROM SHOULDER HARNESS IS LOOSE AND GETS CAUGHT IN THE DOOR LATCH WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED CAUSING A HOLE TO BE TORN IN THE WEBBING OF THE HARNESS.

• 12/29/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  OEM PART REPLACED 12/27/97; FAILED AGAIN 12/28/98; CURRENT MILEAGE OUT OF WARRANTY. MFG INSTALLING DEFECTIVE PARTS AS REPLACEMENT PARTS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE. ONE YEAR LIFE OF THIS PART IS UNACCEPTABLE! NOT AVAILABLE AFTER MARKET VENDORS. TRAPPED BY CHRYSLER.

• 12/28/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAD DEVELOPED CRACKS & HOLES & HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

• 12/28/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  WHILE DRIVING LOST OIL PRESSURE AND VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND THE CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. OIL WAS SQUIRTING OUT OF THE TOPE OF THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR AND RUNNING BACK ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, SENSOR FAILURE AND LEAKAGE CAUSED FIRE. *AK

• 12/24/1998· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  TRANFER CASE FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY WHILE AWAY FROM HOME IN SNOW/ICE STORM LEAVING ME WITH A VEHICLE THAT WASN'T WORKING AS A 4 WHEEL DRIVE. IN AUGUST, THE VEHICLE STARTED EXPERIENCING SEVERE HESTATION FROM STOP AND ALMOST CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC

• 12/22/2004· SUSPENSION

  WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST STEERING CONTROL. CONSUMER HAD TO SLAM ON BRAKES TO REGAIN STEERING CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LINK ON THE STABILIZER BAR BROKE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE CONNECTING LINK IS NOT STURDY ENOUGH AND IS WEAK DUE TO IT'S SIZE. *NM

• 12/22/1998· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH DOWNSHIFTED AND THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM FIFTH TO FORTH, PULLED OUT OF GEAR AND COASTED, VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR AT ALL. DEALER CONTACTED AND WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AWAITING A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR VEHICLE. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 12/20/2001· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD IS DELAMINATING, CAUSING BUBBLES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE ESPECIALLY IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT. *AK

• 12/20/2001· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD IS ,CAUSING BUBBLES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE ESPECIALLY IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT. *AK

• 12/20/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  A CRACK IN ENGINE MANIFOLD. MANUFACTURER REPLACED THE MANIFOLD AT NO COST TO CONSUMER. *SLC

• 12/19/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE....CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD ON 4.0 L 6 CYL. JEEP HAS REDESIGNED PART. I FORMERLY WORKED WITH A 4X4 REPAIR SHOP, AND ALMOST EVERYONE THAT CAME IN WITH A 1997-2000 (OR SO) JEEP HAD SAME CRACKS. LEADING 4X4 MAGAZINES STATE "IT'S NOT IF IT CRACKS, IT'S WHEN". GIVEN THIS MANY COMPLAINTS, JEEP SHOULD BE PAYING TO FIX THEIR FLAW, NOT CONSUMERS. WILL REPLACE WITH AFTERMARKET COMPONENT, NOT JEEP'S. *JB

• 12/19/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  NOTICED WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXHAUST LEAK COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER WITH 27K MILES ON IT. THEY HEARD NOTHING. IN MAY 2000 MY MECHANIC MENTIONED A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING. OCT. OF 2001 WITH 58K THE NOISE WAS UNBEARABLE AND THREE CRACKS VISABLE. DEALER SAID TOO BAD OUT OF WARRANTY. IF SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WHY CAN'T SOMETHING BE DONE? BY THE WAY I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER JEEP AGAIN.

• 12/14/2001· AIR BAGS,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICL CLOCK SPRIING BROKE, AND HORN MALFUNCTIONED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

• 12/13/2014· STEERING,SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES

  FRAME WAS ROTTED THROUGH FROM CONTROL ARM TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BRAKING ABILITY BECAME DIFFICULT AND HARD TO STEER. *TR

• 12/12/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM OVERHEATING, OIL SENSOR GAUGE DROPS TO ZERO, CAUSING CHECKING ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON, IN FOR REPAIR 4 TIMES. *AK

• 12/10/1998· SUSPENSION

  REAR UPPER CONTROL ARMS THAT HOLD THE TRANSMISSION AXLE IN PLACE FRACTURED ON BOTH SIDES.

• 12/09/1999· AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 56 MPH HE THER WAS A FRONTAL CRASH AND VEHICLE WENT IN INTO A WALL, AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK

• 12/08/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  CAR HAS A BUCKING AND POOR PROFORMANCE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS UP LONG HILLS, MAKING 60MPH IMPOSSIBLE. IT HAS BEEN A POOR HIGHWAY PERFORMER, BUT HAS BECOME "ROUGH-MISSFIRING" VERY BADLY 3 TIMES IN THE CAR LIFE. FIRST 2 SERIOUS FAILURES I GOT A ENGINE CHECK LIGHT, RESULTING IN DEALER VISITS. NOW THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS "FIXED" IT IS NOT THERE, BUT THE FAILURE MODE IS. THE CAR EXHAUST PIPE END IS QUITE BLACK, DIRTY RUNNING? THE VALVES AND INTERNAL ENGINE PARTS ARE VERY DIRTY AND HAD TO BE CLEANED OR REPLACED WHEN INSPECTED THE LAST 2 TIMES. IT HAPPENED AT 5K, 12K, AND NOW AT 37K. THE CAR IS NOW ALMOST 3 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE HAD IT IN FOR OTHER REPAIRS TOTALING AT LEAST 6 TIMES. THIS IS MORE TIMES THAN MY LAST 10 YEAR VEHICLE HAD. (NOT JEEP) AM I NOW OUT OF HELP SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTEE AT 36K? I AM GETTING WORRIED THE CAR WILL NOT PERFORM TO 100K LIKE THIS AS IT MAY BE DAMAGED! WHAT IS THE EXTENT OF MY RIGHTS NOW? THANKS,, SS

• 12/06/2006· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  BOTH EXTERNAL RUBBER SIDE LATCHES FAILED ON 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. THE HOOD FLIPPED UP AND OBSCURED THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. THE HOOD WAS DESTROYED BY ITS IMPACT AGAINST THE ROOF. THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN MANUFACTURED W/O THE STANDARD INTERNAL LATCH DUE TO SEVERAL PARTS CHANGES DURING THE MANUFACTURING YEAR. AN INTERNAL LATCH COULD NOT BE FITTED TO THE MIS-MATCHED HOOD AND GRILL. *JB

• 12/06/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE LOSES POWER BECAUSE OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. YH

• 12/05/1997· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  GAS GAUGE DID NOT REPORT ACCURATELY IN THE AMOUN TOF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS OR WHILE STOPPING AT A LIGHT. *AK

• 12/04/2014· AIR BAGS

  1997 JEEP WRANGLER CONSUMER IS ASKING FOR HELP WITH A RECALL ON CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY. VIN IS NOT LISTED ON RECALL BUT SAME PROBLEM EXIST *CN

• 12/04/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEFire

  I HAVE A 97 JEEP WRANGLER. I HAVE A PROBLEM EVERYTIME I START MY JEEP AFTER IT SITS FOR 20 MIN. IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WANTS TO SHUT DOWN AND AFTER PRESSING THE GAS TO THE FLOOR IT FINALLY KICKS IN AND TAKES OFF. I LOSE POWER ALOT AND IT BACKFIRES . I HAVE HAD THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD /CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED AND A BROKEN STUD IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO HEAD ASSEMBLY. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 3 YEARS AND I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL DIFFERNT JEEP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. ALL THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS CAN TELL ME IS THAT THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM BUT THEY ALWAYS SEEM TO FIND SOMETHING ELSE FOR ME TO PAY FOR . I'M STILL HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND NOW IT'S GETTING WORSE . WHAT CAN I DO? PLEASE HELP. *NLM

• 12/02/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  DAIMLER CHRYSLER HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO MY REQUESTS FOR REPLACEMENT OF THIS PART UNDER "IMPLIED WARRANTY" OR ANYTHING ELSE, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR PROBLEM WEBSITES (AND YOURS) ARE FULL OF REPORTS OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILURE IN LATE '90'S MODEL WRANGLERS. THEY CLAIM TO HAVE NO RECORD OF THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGHT THE PART HAS BEEN REDESIGNED. THE DEALER HERE HAS BEEN GREAT, BUT CAN'T DO MUCH WITHOUT MANUFACTURER SUPPORT. HERE'S HOPING THAT WITH ENOUGH INFORMATION ON THIS PART, CUSTOMERS CAN GET SOME SATISFACTION! DT

• 12/02/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHEN STARTING VEHICLE SOMETIMES THE STARTER ENGAGES. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AND STIFFING FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. DRIVER HAS TO PULL THE RELAY SWITCH BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL STOP. TH KEY WILL TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE STARTER IS STILL ENGAGING. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR AND A HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON NOVEMBER 19, 1999 FOR THIS PROBLEM. DEALER NOT SURE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 11/29/2002· SEAT BELTS

  TYPE 3 SEATBELTS INSTALLED AND THEY COME OPEN IF YOU LEAN ON THEM OR IF A OBJECT IN YOUR POCKET PRESSES ON THEM WHILE IN MOTION. DT

• 11/29/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  EXHAUST HEADER CRACKED AT 4 LOCATIONS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. JEEP DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AND STILL WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. DT

• 11/27/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED AT 42000 MILES JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

• 11/27/2000· SUSPENSION

  SWAY BAR LINK BALLJOINTS POPPED OUT ON BOTHS SIDES MAKING THE JEEP UNSTABLE IN TURNS. THE ARE LIKE THIS ON 9 OUT OF 10 JEEPS I HAVE INSPECTED WITH LOW MILEAGE. *AK

• 11/24/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THERE WAS AN EXHAUST SMELL ENTERING THE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE MANIFOLD. *AK THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT STATE THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS COMPONENT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *NLM

• 11/21/2019· AIR BAGS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 97V080000 (AIR BAGS). THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG MIGHT DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GANLEY VILLAGE CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM FIAT (2115 MENTOR AVE, PAINESVILLE, OH 44077, (440) 354-4358) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 196,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

• 11/21/1996· STEERING

  FLYWHEEL GRINDS A HOLE IN THE PLASTIC RESERVOIR, ALLOWING FLUID TO LEAK OUT, ADDITION TO SPRAYING POWER STEERING FLUID ALL OVER ENGINE WHEN FLUID LEAKS ONTO THE FAN BLADE, REPLACE POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR, NEW UNIT WORKED ITS WAY LOOSE AFTER TWO WEEKS.

• 11/20/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  1997 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT 4.0 LITER EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACK NOTED AT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES. MECHANIC STATED IT APPEARED TO BE WELDED, NO ONE HAD PREVIOUSLY WELDED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IN THIS YEAR TENDS TO CRACK. IS THERE A RECALL BY THE JEEP DEALERSHIP? IF SO, I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. ALSO THE THROTTLE CONTROL SENSOR AS WELL AS O2 SENSOR EFFECTED AT THIS TIME. VEHICLE NOW HAS 81,000 MILES RUNS POORLY HAS VISUAL CRACK AT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IN TWO DIFFERENT AREAS. THE ONLY RECALL I HAVE READ ABOUT IS THE AIR BAG BUT I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM JEEP EAGLE OR THE CHRYSLER COMPANY. CAN YOU HELP ME? WHO DO I CONTACT, AND IF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS COMMONLY KNOWN TO CRACK - WITHOUT CAUSE WHY WASN'T I OR POSSIBLY OTHERS NOTIFIED? WHO CAN I CONTACT? THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD ACCORDING TO OTHERS IS MORE PROMINENT THAN THE AIR BAG RECALL. *LA

• 11/20/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  OIL PRESSURE GUAGE DROPS TO ZERO, WARNING BUZZER SOUNDS. HAZARDOUS TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER IN TRAFFIC, STOP ENGINE. DEALER REPORTS OIL PRESSURE IS FINE, SENDER UNIT AT FAULT. IT'S BEEN REPAIRED 3 TIMES, STILL HAPPENS. I STILL FEEL IT NECESSARY TO IMMEDIATELY REDUCE SPEED OR STOP UNTIL PRESSURE GUAGE READS NORMAL TO PROTECT ENGINE. THIS HAS CAUSED SOME TRAFFIC SAFETY ISSUES FOR MYSELF AND OTHER MOTORISTS.

• 11/19/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  CLUTCH AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER BOTH NEED REPLACED WITH ONLY 20,500 MILES . ALSO HAS HAD TWO DRIVESHAFTS REPLACED WITH ONLY 10,000 MILES. HAS SEEN VERY LITTLE 4-WHEEL DRIVE USE, AND HAS 20,500 AFTER 4 YEARS AS ORIGINAL OWNER.

• 11/19/2000· SEAT BELTS

  SEAT BELTS ON BOTH SIDES FAIL TO RETRACT PROPERLY AND CONTINUALLY GET CAUGHT IN THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM, THUS COMPROMISING THE SEAT BELT MATERIAL'S INTEGRITY.*AK

• 11/19/1998· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER

• 11/17/2020· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMCrash

  I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH FOOT ON BREAK. THROTTLE WENT VERY HIGH AND PROPELLED CAR FORWARDED EVEN WHEN PUSHING THE BREAKS PENAL DOWN AS HARD AS I COULD. THERE IS NO WAY I PUSHED DOWN ON THE WRONG PEDAL. THE BREAKS COULD NOT HOLD THE CAR STOPPED. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!

• 11/17/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I WAS TOLD OF THE PROBLE DURING AN OIL CHANGE AT MONRO MUFFLER AND BRAKES. THERE IS ALREADY A REPORT IN YOUR SITE ON THE PROBLEM...SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 11-07-98 BULLETIN SEQUENCE NUMBER: 312 DATE OF BULLETIN: 9812 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: SB603108. *AK

• 11/14/1997· SEAT BELTSCrash

  SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN OCCUPANT DURING ACCIDENT AND INJURIES OCCURRED.

• 11/13/2003· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION STICKS AND GRINDS WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR; DEALER CHANGED TRANSMISSION FLUID, BUT STILL STICKS AND GRINDS; SHIFTING INTO 3RD, 4TH, AND 5TH GEARS IT SEEMS LIKE SYNCHRONIZERS AREN'T WORKING PROPERLY. THIS VEHICLE WAS A USED VEHICLE WHICH I RECENTLY PURCHASED AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND IT SEEMS LIKE DEALER DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *LA

• 11/11/2004· VISIBILITY

  I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND SOLE DRIVER OF A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER WITH 34,000 MILES. I NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER WASN'T WORKING WHEN I DROVE HOME IN A SNOW STORM LAST WEEK. FORTUNATELY, THE DRIVE WAS A SHORT DISTANCE. *JB I EASILY DETERMINED THAT A PLASTIC BELL CRANK BROKE OFF ITS SHAFT THAT GOES INTO THE HEATER HOUSING. I ACTIVATED THE DEFROSTER CONTROL TO CONFIRM THAT THIS PART IS THE DEFROSTER BELL CRANK. NOTHING HAS FALLEN DOWN THE DEFROSTER DUCT TO JAM THE DOOR AND CAUSE THE BREAK. THE DOOR MOVES FREELY WHEN TURNING THE SHAFT BY HAND. I BELIEVE THE BREAK HAPPENED WHEN THE DEFROSTER WAS ACTUATED DURING MAX HEATER FAN, CAUSING MAX AIR PRESSURE ON THE DEFROSTER DOOR WITH MAX TORQUE ON ITS SHAFT. THE REPAIR ESTIMATE FROM MY LOCAL DEALER IS $855. I HAVE A STRONG SUSPICION THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND DOUBT IF MANY PEOPLE GO TO THIS EXPENSE TO FIX IT. I DONT WANT TO SPEND THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY ON A DEFECT THAT MAY BREAK AGAIN. SINCE DRIVING WITH FROSTED WINDSHIELDS CREATES A CONSIDERABLE SAFETY HAZARD, I THINK A RECALL SHOULD BE INITIATED TO MAKE THIS SYSTEM MORE ROBUST. A WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER THAN 34,000 MILES.

• 11/08/1996· AIR BAGSCrash

  DRIVING 55MPH, RAN OFF ROAD INTO AN EMBANKMENT DURING CRASH 10:00 ON FRONT BUMPER, VEHICLE ROLLED THREE TIMES, DUAL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE HEAD AND CHEST INJURIES, THEN DIED. *AK

• 11/07/2003· SEAT BELTS,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  RIGHT FROM SHOULDER HARNESS IS LOOSE AND GETS CAUGHT IN THE DOOR LATCH WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED CAUSING A HOLE TO BE TORN IN THE WEBBING OF THE HARNESS. *LA

• 11/07/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE NOISE, CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED A CRACK IN MANIFOLD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER,AND THEY SAID IT WAS ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE 1994. CONSUMER FELT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT.*AK