2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee Heating & air conditioning Problems

VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN CHRYSLER RECALL NUMBER J14 FOR FRONT SEAT ELECTRIC HEATER ELEMENTS THAT COULD OVER HEAT. BOTH CHRYSLER AND JEEP DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF EXCESSIVE HEAT GENERATED BY VEHICLE SEAT HEATER AND DECLINED TO MAKE FIX OR REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE. SPECIFICALLY, THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD FIX IT AND CHARGE ME FOR THE REPAY, BUT WERE NOT GOING TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. SEAT DID EVENTUALLY OVERHEAT TO A POINT THE HEATER NO LONGER WORKED. OWNER SET FORTH TO REPAIR SEAT AND DURING SEAT TEARDOWN OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF SEAT FIRE. MULTIPLE PICTURES AND MELTED WIRES WERE COLLECTED AND PRESERVED. THESE ITEMS WILL BE PROVIDED TO NHTSA UPON REQUEST. IT IS AMAZING DEATH/INJURY DID NOT OCCUR DUE TO THIS KNOWN DEFECT THAT CHRYSLER REFUSED TO ADDRESS. ALL CHRYSLER VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR HEATER DESIGN SHOULD BE INSPECT AND REPAIRED WITHOUT CHARGE TO VEHICLE OWNER. IN ADDITION, CHRYSLER SHOULD BE MADE TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION TO THOSE THAT HAD REPAIRS DONE AT THEIR COST. *JS

NHTSA ID

10579202

Incident

Sep 1, 2008

Mileage

36,000 mi

2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS TO HEATED SEAT ELEMENTS RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT HEATER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. HE BECAME AWARE OF THE RECALL AND HAD THE DEALER CHECK, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS ONE OF THE FEW THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OF SEATS THAT POSED A DANGER OF CATCHING ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS LED TO BELIEVE, THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BECAUSE THE HEATED SEAT ELEMENT POSED NO DANGER OF FIRE. HAVING BEEN LED TO BELIEVE THE PART POSED NO FIRE HAZARD, AND THAT IT MAY HAVE JUST WORN OUT, THE CONSUMER AGREED TO PAY THE COST TO REPLACE THE HEATED SEAT ELEMENT. HOWEVER, WHEN THE ELEMENT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE PART WAS NOT WORN, BUT CLEARLY DAMAGED BY FIRE.

NHTSA ID

10501562

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

THE HEATER IN THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT STARTED AT FIRST TO HEAT UP AND NEARLY BURN THE LEGS OF THE DRIVER ON HIGH, HAD TO SET THE CONTROL TO LOW TO KEEP FROM BURNING THE LEGS OF THE DRIVER. AFTER COMING HOME FROM WORK THE POWER LIGHT SHOWED THAT THE SEAT WAS STILL ON, YET THE DRIVERS HEATED SEAT DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE. SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING PRIOR TO SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF AFTER DRIVE HOME. SINCE THEN THE HEATED SEAT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE. ALL OTHER CONTROLS FOR POWER SEATS ADJUSTMENTS WORK FINE. I CALLED JEEP DEALER FOR REPAIR, COME TO FIND OVER 100,000 VEHICLES HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WHICH REQUIRED A RECALL ON THE HEATED SEATS (RECALL NO. F17, AND J14) ID# 06V197000, AND 09V117000. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT REQUIRES REPAIR BUT THEY WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE UNDER RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10430301

Incident

Sep 20, 2011

Mileage

76,723 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 06V197000, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER, AND 09V117000, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR BOTH RECALLS. AFTER BEING REPAIRED HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS STILL A HOLE DEVELOPING IN THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT DUE TO THE HEATED SEATING FEATURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED A THIRD TIME. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ONE TIME A YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS CONSECUTIVELY WHERE THE ENGINE FAN RELAY AND MOTOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,742 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE DRIVER'S EXTERIOR MIRROR ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE HEATING ELEMENT. ALSO, THE VEHICLE HAD AN EVAPORATED EMISSION LEAK WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FAIL INSPECTION. THE FAN RELAY WAS REPLACED FIVE TIMES, THE AIR CONDITION WAS INOPERATIVE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR OF A HOLE THAT DEVELOPED IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT APPROXIMATELY THE SIZE OF A BASEBALL WHICH HE BELIEVED WAS RELATED TO THE HEATED ELEMENT PROBLEMS. UPDATED EVOQ 01/27/11 ..UPDATED 09-17-12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED CHRYSLER HAS CONSIDERED THE CASE TO BE A GOODWILL CASE AND OPENED UP A REIMBURSEMENT CASE IN REGARDS TO THIS VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/24/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID

10370906

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

49,742 mi

A\C WENT OUT ON 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND NOW A/C WILL NOT WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10295521

Incident

Jun 14, 2003

Mileage

78,432 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FAILED AND BLOWS HOT AIR THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE VENTS AND COOL AIR THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE VENTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE VOLT METER-BATTERY INDICATOR WAS WAVERING, THE ODOMETER LIGHT FLICKERED ON AND OFF, AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. THE CONTACT WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ID

10276723

Incident

Jul 1, 2009

Mileage

46,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE HEATING UNIT MODE SELECTOR, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATER AND DEFROSTER FAILED TO OPERATE. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE BLEND DOORS LOCATED IN THE HEATING UNIT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ID

10260545

Incident

Feb 1, 2009

Mileage

45,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATED SEAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OVERHEATED. HE HAD TO PULL OVER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V197000 (SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,008. UPDATED 02/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/24/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10256474

Incident

Jan 14, 2009

Mileage

62,000 mi

HAVING TROUBLE WITH AC- HAD VALVE REPLACED, THE NEXT DAY AIR STOPPED COMING OUT OF THE VENTS. TOOK BACK TO SHOP AND HAD TO HAVE THE BLEND DOOR REPLACED. HAVE RESEARCHED ON-LINE AND THIS IS A VERY COMMON & EXPENSIVE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10251776

Incident

Aug 20, 2008

Mileage

82,000 mi

SAFETY RECALL F17 - HEATED SEAT ELEMENTS, GRAND CHEROKEE 2003 RECALL COMPLETED 07AUG06 BY SMITH STOKES CHRYSLER, HIGHWAY 87,PO. BOX 1496, REIDSVILLE, NC 27323. RECALL ELEMENT REPLACED WITH DEFECTIVE PART, REPLACEMENT FAILED 24OCT08, BURNED HOLE IN PASSENGER SEAT AND BURNED HOLE IN DAUGHTER'S SWEATER, DAUGHTER WAS NOT BURNED. SO FAR CHRYSLER ONLY WANTS TO PAY HALF THE COST TO REPLACE A RECALL ITEM, MY SHARE WOULD BE ABOUT $500 - $600 DOLLARS. MIS. KAREN DAVIS, SERVICE MANAGER AT SMITH STOKES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. RICHARD HUDSON *TR

NHTSA ID

10249714

Incident

Oct 24, 2008

Mileage

100,078 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE HEATED SEATS, WHICH TOOK APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES TO WARM UP. THREE MINUTES LATER, THE SEAT WARMED UP EXCESSIVELY AND CAUSED MILD BURNS TO HER BODY. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V197000 (SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURE WAS IDENTICAL. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT HER OWN EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,220 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,716. UPDATED 3/4/08 *CN THE DEALER STATED MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ON, AND TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. UPDATED 03/04/08 *TR

NHTSA ID

10217459

Incident

Jun 30, 2007

Mileage

57,220 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE SEATED IN THE DRIVER SEAT, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT OVERHEATED AND SMELLED LIKE IT WAS BURNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE SEAT HEATER WAS NOT ACTIVATED AT THE TIME. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V197000 (SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

NHTSA ID

10204074

Incident

Jun 1, 2007

Mileage

87,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER WAS ACTIVATED, IT OVERHEATED. THE FAILURE CAUSED TWO DIFFERENT DRIVERS OF THE VEHICLE TO SUSTAIN SLIGHT BURNS. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL # 06V197000 (SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER). HOWEVER, THE CONTACT FELT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 40,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

NHTSA ID

10194890

Incident

Oct 1, 2006

Mileage

32,000 mi

ALL OF A SUDDEN THE AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) DI DNOT WORK ON THE 2003 JEEP GC LIMITED. THE A/C WORKED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, BUT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IT KICKED OUT HOT AIR. THE ERROR CODE WAS #56 AND STATED THAT THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE DOOR TRAVEL WAS TOO LARGE. SO THE WHOLE DASHBOARD HAS TO BE TAKEN OUT, AND THESE DOORS HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR OVER $1000. *AK

NHTSA ID

10193874

Incident

Jun 20, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. TWO YEARS AGO, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE HEATED SEATS IN HIS VEHICLE. FOR TWO YEARS, THE CONTACT HAS BEEN ATTEMPTING TO HAVE THE SEATS REPAIRED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER CONTINUES TO CLAIM THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE ELEMENTS TO REPAIR THE HEATED SEATS. THE CONTACT HAS NOT USED THE HEATED SEATS SINCE THREE MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 42,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

NHTSA ID

10190750

Incident

Sep 15, 2003

Mileage

2,000 mi

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE FRONT HEATED SEATS BECAME EXTREMELY HOT. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS RECALL 06V197000 FOR THE FRONT SEAT HEATER. THE DEALER ADDED THE CONTACTS NAME TO A WAITING LIST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR ONE YEAR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10187025

Incident

Jul 1, 2006

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL*- THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL O6V197000 FOR THE 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE CONCERNING THE HEATED SEAT ON 07/06. THE RECALL WAS REPAIRED BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF 2006. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A SERVICE CHECK WHEN THE SERVICE MECHANIC GOT IN THE DRIVER'S FRONT SEAT, AND THE SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED . THE MECHANIC WAS BURNED THROUGH HIS PANTS AND BURNED HIS WALLET. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT HE USED THE SEAT HEATER AFTER THE RECALL WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SEATS AGAIN, BUT THE CONTACT WAS AFRAID TO USE THE HEATED SEATS. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE FOR NHTSA TO BE AWARE OF THIS MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.*AK

NHTSA ID

10184654

Incident

Oct 1, 2006

Mileage

72,000 mi

MY COMPLAINT IS REGARDING THE 2003/2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE SEAT HEATER RECALL (F17). THE RECALL LETTER WAS MAILED OUT ON OR ABOUT 07/21/2006.MY WIFE HAS CALLED THE DEALERSHIP IN 2006 AND AGAIN IN 2007 IN ORDER TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL WITH THE DEALERSHIP. BOTH TIMES, THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THAT THE PART WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR MONTHS AND THAT THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AT THAT TIME AND DID NOT OFFER TO PLACE HER ON A 'WAITING LIST' OR A 'CALL LIST'. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, ELK GROVE CHRYSLER JEEP (CALIFORNIA) ON 03/08/07 AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE IN AND AN APPOINTMENT COULD BE MADE. I MADE THE APPOINTMENT. I BELIEVE THAT THIS CONSTITUTES A FAILURE ON THE PART OF DAIMLER CHRYSLER TO REPAIR A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN A "...REASONABLE TIME,...". I KNOW OF NOTHING ELSE THAT I HAVE TO WAIT ALMOST EIGHT(8) MONTHS FOR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10184567

Incident

Mar 8, 2007

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE, AND STATED THAT THE SEATS OVERHEATED, HE COULD SMELL ELECTRICAL WIRING BURNING FROM THE SEAT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 06V197000 ,AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WOULDN'T BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN AUGUST OF 2002, AND RECALL BEGAN FOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED ON SEPTEMBER 2002. THE CONTACT HAS A FILE NUMBER WITH THE MANUFACTURER: 15916185. *AK UPDATED 02/27/07*JB

NHTSA ID

10181410

Incident

Feb 2, 2007

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT WARMERS DO NOT WORK. THE DEALER TOLD HER THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON SEAT WARMERS. SHE TOOK HER JEEP TO A DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOP AND THEY WERE ABLE TO PULL UP A RECALL (S17) ON THE INTERNET.

NHTSA ID

10176604

Incident

Dec 12, 2006

FAULTY FUEL PUMP AND FAULTY A/C. *NM

NHTSA ID

10176323

Incident

Dec 9, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT WARMERS, THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #06V197000 ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE SEATS. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE FRONT PASSENGER POWER SIDE WINDOW, THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE POWER WINDOW CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10176233

Incident

Dec 15, 2006

Mileage

16,765 mi

I RECEIVED A NOTICE OF A RECALL FOR MY 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE REGARDING THE FRONT SEAT ELECTRIC HEATING ELEMENT AND THE POTENTIAL FOR IT TO CAUSE AN INTERIOR FIRE UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS. HOWEVER, IN MY SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AT SCHUMAN CHRYSLER I HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY (A) THERE WAS A NATIONAL SHORTAGE ON THE NECESSARY PARTS AND (B) THEY ARE ONLY BEING SENT ONE PER WEEK. I SHOULD THINK CHRYSLER WOULD MAKE SURE THEY HAD THE AVAILABLE PARTS NECESSARY BEFORE SENDING OUT LETTERS REGARDING THIS NATIONAL RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10174767

Incident

Sep 15, 2006

WAITING FOR "RECALL REPAIR", SINCE SEPT 14,2006. *JB

NHTSA ID

10172998

Incident

Sep 14, 2006

CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING 2003 GRAND CHEROKEE NOTIFICATION CODE F17 HEATED SEAT ELEMENTS. *TS THE CONSUMER HAD AFTERMARKET DVD PLAYER/LC SCREEN INSTALLED IN HEADREST. THE CONSUMER REFUSED TO PAY TO HAVE THE AFTERMARKET ITEMS REMOVED IN ORDER FOR THE DEALER TO DO THE RECALL, THEREFORE RECALL WORK COULD NOT BE DONE. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT ALL ACCESSORIES WERE INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF VEHICLE AT FINAL SIGNING. THE ACCESSORIES WERE INSTALLED LATER DUE TO UNAVAILABILITY AS A FACTORY INSTALLED PRODUCT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10173264

Incident

Oct 18, 2006

Mileage

70,605 mi