1997 Jeep Wrangler Visibility Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

10098685

Incident

Nov 4, 2004

Mileage

33,600 mi

THE 1997 JEEP WRANGLER HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HVAC DAMPERS LITERALLY FALLING APART AND BECOMING UNUSABLE. THE PLASTIC ENDS BREAK OFF AND THE ACTUATORS WILL NOT OPERATE THEM. THE PART HAS BEEN UPGRADED BY CHRYSLER SO THEY NOW THIS EXISTS. IT IS A FAIRLY EXPENSIVE REPAIR (OVER $700). MY IS DONE. THE DEALER DID JUST FINE BUT I HAVE ASK CHRYSLER TO MAKE THIS A SAFETY RECALL. THE DEFROSTERS ARE VIRTUALLY NON USABLE WHEN THIS OCCURS. THIS IS A DANGEROUR SITUATION, DRIVING WITH NO DEFROSTERS. THIS PROBLEMS HAS OCCURRED ON MANY WRANGERS AND AS MY DEALER SAID CHEREKEE AS WELL.

NHTSA ID

10007990

Incident

Feb 14, 2003

Mileage

36,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

755890

Incident

Nov 1, 2001

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

NHTSA ID

755887

Incident

Nov 1, 2001

HEATER BLOWER FAILED TO BLOW ON FRONT WINDSHIELD. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION .*AK

NHTSA ID

891268

Incident

May 15, 2001

THE DIRVER'S SIDE MIRROR DOESN'T STICK WELL, SO WHEN YOU DRIVE AROUND IT EASILY MOVES, AND DRIVER CAN'T SEE THE CARS BESIDES HIM. HAS TO LOOK BACK WHICH CAN BE DANGEROUS.*AK

NHTSA ID

745059

UNABLE TO DEFROST WINDSHIELD, NO AIR FROM VENTS DUE TO BREAKAGE OF INTERNAL LEVER IN HEATER HOUSING. THIS MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN COLD WEATHER.*AK

NHTSA ID

741924

Incident

Nov 1, 2000

UNABLE TO DEFROST WINDOWS, NO AIR FLOW FROM VENTS DUE TO INTERNAL LEVER IN HEATER HOUSING BROKEN, VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN COLD WEATHER*AK

NHTSA ID

735562

Incident

Aug 21, 2000

WINDOWS ON THE DOOR ARE CRACKING DUE TO THE PRESSURE AGAINST STRUCTURE OF JEEP.*AK

NHTSA ID

865239

I AM REPORTING THAT CHROME SIDE MIRRORS MADE BY STEELHORSE FOR JEEP WRANGLERS ARE DEFECTIVE. THIS IS MY SECOND PAIR AND AS SOON AS YOU REACH 35-40MPH OR DRIVE OFF IN A GOOD WIND THESE MIRRORS FLOP DOWN, RENDERING THEM USELESS. IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, REARVIEW MIRRORS ARE REQUIRED TO PASS INSPECTION. THIS COMPANY MAKES A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND SHOULD STOP DOING SO. ALSO, THERE IS NO WAY TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THESE MIRRORS TO TIGHTEN THEM UP SO THE WIND WON'T BLOW THEM OVER. *AK

NHTSA ID

725053

Incident

Jun 1, 2000

WHILE DRIVING WINDOW ON DRIVER'S SIDE SPRUNG OPEN, ALTHOUGH WINDOW WAS LOCKED UP. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

863470

Incident

Jun 13, 2000

THERE IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE HEATER CORE THAT CAUSES WINDOWS TO FOG UP WHEN ENGINE IS HEATED. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

857045

THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS CRACKED, AS WAS THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. ALSO THE CRANK SENSOR HARNESS AND THE TPS WERE MELTED AGAINST THE MANIFOLD. THE DASH LEAKED WATER AND THE BRAKE SHOES/LINING AND RACK AND PINION SET NEEDED REPLACING. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT WOULD NEVER RETRACT AND THE DASH LEAD WATER EXTENSIVELY CAUSING THE RESSTR-BLOWER TO GO OUT. THE RADIO WAS ALSO BROKEN FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS

NHTSA ID

712504

Incident

Jun 23, 1998

WHIKE DRIVING AT 65MPH ON INTERSTATE TRANSFER CASE CAME APART AND FRONT DRIVESHAFT FELL OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED,WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON, WASHER SQUIRTED, DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BUSTED THE WINDSHIELD, AND THE FACE OF THE PASSENGER. HER JAW IS BROKEN IN THREE PLACES AND HER FOUR UPPER TEETH WERE REMOVED FROM THEIR SOCKETS. SHE REQUIRED EXTENSIVE RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY, AND IS STILL IN THE HOSPITAL. NOOTHERS OBJECTS OR VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED. THE DRIVER BEAT THE AIRBAG DOWN AND SAFELY PARKED THE CAR IN THE MEDIAN. WHY DID AIRBAGS DEPLOY AND WITH SUCH FORCE? *AK

NHTSA ID

707609

Incident

Jun 13, 1999

THE WINDSHIELD HAD DEVELOPED A STRESS CRACK. IT OBSTRUCTED THE DRIVER'S VIEW. HAD IT REPLACED. THE PROBLEM REAPPEARED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED & WAS RAINING, THE CRACKS WERE NOTICED AT THE TOP & IN THE MIDDLE ON THE PASSENGER'S/DRIVER'S SIDES. *AK

NHTSA ID

835478

Incident

Mar 19, 1997

FUEL PUMP FAILED.

NHTSA ID

544224

HARD TOP SEAL IS TWISTED. YH

NHTSA ID

609423

WINDSHIELD FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID

607259

PULL STRAP/SEAT LATCH CONTINUALLY COMES LOOSE AND FAILS.

NHTSA ID

541827

WHEN TURNING DEFROSTER ON, THERE WOULD BE A POPPING SOUND. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC SAID LEVER HAD SEPARATED THAT CAUSED DEFROSTER NOT TO WORK. IT NEEDED REPLACING. THIS WAS DONE AT LEAST 6 DIFFERENT TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID

822912

Incident

May 17, 1997

THE WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM UP THREE OF THE FOUR TIMES.

NHTSA ID

529530

Incident

Nov 1, 1996