1998 Jeep Cherokee Visibility Problems

I PURCHASED THE 1998 JEEP BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALER (6/22/98). ON APPROXIMATELY 2/22/01 THE REGULATOR THAT OPERATES THE LEFT FRONT (DRIVER'S SIDE) POWER WINDOW FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER PERFORMED THIS AND SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THERE WAS NO CHARGE. NOW ON 1/26/05 THE REGULATOR ON THE RIGHT FRONT POWER WINDOW ALSO FAILED. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THIS REGULATOR AND I WAS CHARGED $407.40 FOR THIS. IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT THIS REFLECTS AN OBVIOUS VEHICLE PART DEFECT. FOR BOTH TO FAIL COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BLUE SEEMS TO INDICATE A DEFECTIVE PART RATHER THAN NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I HAVE A 1989 OLDS THAT MY FATHER PURCHASED NEW, AND WE HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE ANY PARTS OF THE POWER WINDOW UNITS. I REQUEST THAT DAIMLER-CHRYSLER REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF $407.40 FOR THE SECOND INCIDENT. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10108180

Incident

Jan 26, 2005

Mileage

26,009 mi

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10094138

Incident

Sep 22, 2004

THE MOTOR ON THE POWER WINDOW FAILED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10014696

Incident

Mar 28, 2003

Mileage

41,000 mi

POWER WINDOW MECHANISM FAILED, PRESENTING A SAFETY ISSUE BY IMMOBILIZING THE WINDOW. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS REVEALED THAT JEEP HAS RE-DESIGNED THE MECHANISM BY REPLACING A FAILURE PRONE PLASTIC COMPONENT WITH A METAL COMPONENT. HOWEVER, NO RECALL OR NOTICE WAS GIVEN TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH THE FAILURE PRONE PARTS, AND JEEP ALSO CHARGES FOR THE RE-DESIGNED REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLY. I BELIEVE THIS COMPONENT IS ESPECIALLY LIKELY TO FAIL DURING AN ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY A ROLLOVER TYPE OF ACCIDENT, WHERE THE WINDOW ASSEMBLY WOULD BE SUBJECTED TO A SUDDEN DOWNWARD FORCE. I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE OLD AND REVISED COMPONENTS AND CAN EMAIL THEM IF DESIRED. I ALSO HAVE RETAINED A FAILED ORIGINAL COMPONENT. I KNOW THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE ON JEEP CHEROKEES. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10008401

Incident

Feb 25, 2003

Mileage

95,000 mi

THREE MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, RUST MARKS APPEARED. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNTIONED WITH OUT ANY WARNING. THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THE RADIO. THERE IS A THUMPING NOISE IN THE ROTORS THAT WAS FIXED BUT THE NOISE STILL REMAINS. *JG

NHTSA ID

10001367

DRIVER'S POWER WINDOW MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN ENGAGED. CONSUMER FEARS THAT WINDOW MAY SHATTER.*AK

NHTSA ID

8019015

Incident

Apr 1, 2002

FRONT WINDSHIELD LAMINATES, MAKING BUBBLES, AND CAUSING DIFFCULTIES FOR DRIVER TO SEE THROUGH WINDSHIELD WHEN LIGHT REFLEXES OFF IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

8009155

Incident

Feb 3, 2002

FRONT DEFROST HAS BROKEN 4 TIMES, DEALER FIX EACH TIME, CANNOT DISCOVER ROOT OF PROBLEM. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REQUIRED 3 VISITS TO DEALER.

NHTSA ID

739699

Incident

Jan 18, 2001

DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW CABLE BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ID

735949

Incident

Nov 4, 2000

WHENEVER IT RAINS WATER ENTERS INTO PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT, WETTING MATS AND CARPET, WHICH COULD CAUSE MOLD TO GROW INSIDE PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. THIS COULD ESULT IN A HEALTH HAZARD TO OCCUPANTS OF VEHICLE. ALSO, PROBLEM COULD CAUSE VARIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER HAS SEALED WINDOWS, BUT PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED, DEALER BELIEVED PROBLEM WAS LINKED TO BLOWER UNIT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

872869

TRANSMISSION CLUNCKS SEVERELY WHILE SHIFTING GEAR. YH

NHTSA ID

551041

SINCE 1/99, WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED NUMEROUS TIMES...THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON, THE SPEDOMETER/TACHOMETER READ "O"...SOMETIMES INCLUDES ALL GAUGES (GAS, OIL PRESSURE, ETC). ALSO, HAD WINDOW MOTOR AND RADIO FRONT REPLACED...RELATED????

NHTSA ID

707419

Incident

Jan 3, 1999

AIR BAG ILLUMINATES WHILE DRIVING FOR 15-25 SECONDS, VEHICLE IS GOING ON THE FOURTH TIME FOR SERVICE, DEFROSTER NOISE MADE WHEN CONTROL KNOW ADJUSTED, FOUND TO BE DEFINATELY NOT WORKING DURING A FREEZING RAIN STORM, HAVING TO STOP A FEW TIMES ON MY WAY TO WORK TO SCRAP THE WINDOWS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING DEFECT WITH THIS NEW VEHICLE SINCE FIRST HAPPENING IN NOV.1998, EACH TIME THE VEHICLE GOES IN FOR SERVICE AND GETTING IT BACK THE LIGHT WILL COME BACK ON FROM TWO WEEKS - ONE MONTH OF HAVING BACK. ABSOLUTELY GETTING NO HELP, CONCERNS, ANSWERS, RETURN PHONE CALLS, I COULD GO ON FOREVER, MOST IMPORTANTLY ABOUT THE AIR BAG SAFTEY CONCERN. NO ONE SEEMS REAL CONCERNED THAT DEATH COULD POSSIBLE OCCUR WHEN OPERATING THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE GOT THE RUN AROUND FROM THE BEGINNING CONCERNING THE AIR BAG AND MY PERSISTANCE IS MY ONLY HOPE. I HAVE MADE PHONE CALL AFTER PHONE CALL TO DEALERSHIPS, CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER, NHTSA, ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, AND SAFETY DEPARTS. I AM CURRENTLY WAITING FOR THE VEHICLE TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER AT LEAST FIVE DAYS AFTER NOTIFICATION.

NHTSA ID

704022

Incident

Jan 29, 1999

INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF.

NHTSA ID

608169

HEADLIGHTS FLICKER WHEN DEFROSTER IS ON. DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION.

NHTSA ID

537661

WHEN ROLLING WINDOW ON BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES, MOUNTING WILL ROLL UNDER THE WINDOW. ALSO WHEN RUNNING DEFROSTER, HEADLIGHTS WILL BEGIN TO FLICKER AND BEGIN TO DIM OR BRIGHTEN UP INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CLAIMS THIS NORMAL. *AK

NHTSA ID

822055