Fred/N0AZZ

I received the notice a week or 2 ago said parts would not be available till after 9/15 to repair.

dave1123

That's right. I had them inspect my aftermarket hitch, but they couldn't give me a labor op number to send for my Visa card. This won't happen until 9/15. They have to inspect your vehicle to see if it's rusted or can't support a hitch, or if your existing hitch is okay.

If you DON'T have a hitch and your vehicle is sound, they put a hitch on.

If you DON'T have a hitch and your vehicle is in bad shape, you have to repair it before you get a hitch.

If you HAVE a hitch, they inspect it to make sure it meets their collision protection requirements. If it's rusted, they'll put a new hitch on, as long as the body is sound. I have a U-Haul 8000lb class 3 hitch and they okayed it. Then they give you a number to send back to Chrysler so you can get your $100 prepaid Visa card. Right now, they can't give me a number because Chrysler hasn't given THEM a labor number so THEY can get paid. Maybe I'll have my card by Christmas! Maybe!

dave1123

Just about everything I told you about the recall is false! I just went back to get my inspection done AGAIN and they told me my under-bumper hitch does NOT meet Chrysler's requirements for crash protection and they wanted to install a Mopar thru-the-bumper hitch. They checked with the parts dept and they were in stock, so I told them to go ahead and do it. After a while the service manager asked me to come out to the service bay and look at my jeep. Oh, oh, what's wrong? U-Haul broke 2 bolts and cut into the frame to mount plates with bolts in them, compromising the strength of the frame so they would most likely rip out in a collision and not be strong enough to draw the max tow capacity. They wrote it up, took pictures, and told me to go see U-Haul to fix it! I was livid!!

The service manager said to have them drill out and rethread the 2 bolts and weld up the frame or add sections to it. If U-Haul wouldn't fix it, I could have the dealer fix it AT MY EXPENSE! The plates they put in were put into the vent/water drain holes in the frame. Tomorrow morning I'm going to U-Haul and raise a stink! They will either fix it or I'll seek legal action. I asked the dealer what would happen if I just left it the way it is and was told it wouldn't do much good in a crash, PLUS Chrysler would keep bugging me to get the recall done.

All this when I finally had everything fixed for a while! Aurgh!!!

lozo63

I don't have a hitch on my 2002 and they will not put one on for me, but they did for my 94.

dave1123

They will IF you get a letter from Mopar with your VIN on it. They can't do anything until you get that letter.

GUARDIAN

I got the letter, contacted the dealership, they don't have parts yet but will contact me when they do. I have 04 WJ, no hitch. I'll update when I have more info.

dave1123

Okay, newest addition to the neverending saga of my trailer hitch. I went back to U-Haul today and talked to the store manager. He told me that if any of the bolts were broken, it never would have left the store without being fixed. I seem to remember when getting home after they installed it, I checked to see if they replaced the bolts or used the existing ones. All 6 bolts were there and they were the originals. SO...it seems the dealer broke them when they removed the U-Haul hitch! Only one is a stud with a plate on it and I figure that one ripped out the weld-nut and left a hole big enough to slip the plate in. They're trying to get out of fixing their own mistake by kicking it back to U-Haul! Bastards! All they have to do is drill out 1 bolt and re-thread it to have 6 bolts holding it. The one with the plate is the center one on the one side.

If I get any static from them, I'm going to Mopar Customer Service and lodging a complaint.

The U-Haul manager told me a way to lubricate those hidden weld nuts, but he wasn't allowed to do it. You drill a small 1/8" hole in the side of the frame above each bolt and stick the tube from a can of WD-40 into it and flood the area with the lube. Sounded like a good plan to me.

dave1123

I hate to keep resurrecting this thread, but the saga continues. I when back to the dealer and spoke to the service manager and got nothing but stonewalled. He kept stressing the fact that they spent over 2 hours and didn't charge me. How come it took 2.5 hours to remove 6 bolts? I told him I would contact Chrysler Customer Service and walked out.

I just completed an e-mail complaint. I'll let you know what happens.

blueseasons

Weell. I have a 2000 WJ. Had neither a factory nor aftermarket hitch. Our local dealer put one on. I have since learned that they were not supposed to install one. But they did.

dave1123

You know, I was about to just forget the whole thing, but now they've got me pissed off enough to get revenge! I hate it when they think we're stupid! I actually went back to U-Haul and apologized to the manager for being an ***. (rear end of a donkey)

Fred/N0AZZ

Dave I agree 100%! I just haven't had time to take mine in yet to be inspected it came with a factory towing package and a Class IV hitch installed as shown on the build sheet.

gorgor

I received the notice, called and all they asked was if I had put a hitch on or if my 2002 GC came with one. I said "no" to either, the guy then said thank you for calling and then hung up.

blueseasons

That's rude. Who did you call? The local dealership or the number on the notice?
Everybody I dealt with was very pleasant. My 2000 WJ didn't come with one, I hadn't added one and they even installed one for me.

dave1123

FCA is trying to get out of this with spending the LEAST amount of money they can. They're figuring if you've got ANY kind of hitch, that's it, you're good. My dealer, I have to admit, wasn't comfortable with the crash protection an under-the-bumper hitch provided and was going to install a Mopar hitch. When he broke the bolts, that's when he got obnoxious.

I received an e-mail from FCA acknowledging my message, but that's as far as it's gone so far.

gorgor

I called the 800 number on the card from Jeep that had my vin number on it. I think I am going to stop by my local Jeep / Dodge dealer this week. The person taking calls wasn't really rude, but more like he was busy.