Jeep Cherokee 2002-2007 (also posted in Club House)

I found a forum online that's a KY owners group (our model of Cherokee) where a number of owners were having a similar discussion to ours.
Will post a link later when I'm home from work.
Might be worth us uniting with them as a joint voice will have more clout than individuals on their own.
 
Bear in mind that this is for the Renegade which is the KY - our Jeep Cherokee 2.8CRDs from that time frame tend to be KJ's although the same recall applies. I am the member of several Jeep forums, however most are based in the USA so have different views and recall definitions. This is one of the reasons I am querying why we are being treated differently here. BTW I spoke to my insurance company yesterday who told me that my insurance would not be affected if I signed the waiver, HOWEVER I am not doing anything until the insurance company puts this in writing!!
 
Ah now it's taking me to the right site. I think that eventually there will be a big stink about the recall but I sadly don't think that it will achieve what we want. There are so many vehicles that are being recalled because they don't meet the new safety requirements I was planning to upgrade my Jeep next year for a newer one - so that's at least one customer they've lost and I know of many others who are considering their options. Perhaps when this debacle is over there will be a lot of cheap Jeeps for sale, sadly though not ones that you can tow with.
 
I am sitting back on this one and will keep quiet until I recieve notice by recorded delivery...I have just bought the car a few months ago and I love it, but bought it to tow with. Just had a Witter towbar fitted by my garage too. Interestingly enough the garage said (I took the letter in to them, typically it arrived after the tow bar was fitted) that the towbar offers superior protection to the crossbeam that Jeep are insisting on fitting - this is a load of bolllox....Jeep owners please keep us all informed.
 
The clearance between the tow bar and the fuel tank needs to be 42mm. So this is something you can check for yourself before taking the jeep into the dealer. Make sure there is not too much fuel in the tank as a full tank distorts and closes the gap.

OH contacted Watchdog today.
 
maisie06 said:
I am sitting back on this one and will keep quiet until I recieve notice by recorded delivery...I have just bought the car a few months ago and I love it, but bought it to tow with. Just had a Witter towbar fitted by my garage too. Interestingly enough the garage said (I took the letter in to them, typically it arrived after the tow bar was fitted) that the towbar offers superior protection to the crossbeam that Jeep are insisting on fitting - this is a load of bolllox....Jeep owners please keep us all informed.
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Maisie06 -sorry to question you but what do you mean by 'notice by recorded delivery'
 
Clannad48 said:
Maisie06 -sorry to question you but what do you mean by 'notice by recorded delivery'
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Well, they have basically sent a recall notice that looks like junk mail in 2nd class post - who's to prove we actually recieved it??? There is no end date on the letter that says "work must be completed by" either....Another option would be to let them fit the bar and then get garage to remove it putting towbar back....but until I get something more concrete in the post I will sit on the situation rather than end up with a car I cannot use for purpose intended. This is a very ill thought out bodge job fix by Jeep.....most Chrerokees over here are diesel, has anyone ever tried setting light to the stuff!
 
Maisie06 -I could not agree with you more - I found the following information on diesel very apt given the reason for this recall is due to accident fires in the USA:

"The flashpoint for gasoline is -45 deg F. The flashpoint for diesel fuel is from 100 to 130 deg F depending upon the grade. http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/flash-... "

Given that many sites agree that vehicle explosions only happen in Hollywood films there have been instances of vehicle fires but so far I have only been able to track those in vehicles that run on petrol
 
I've had the same issue, apparently my tow bar is too close and is a problem. They do not have the part to fit instead either! If the tow bar is removed it will make the vehicle unfit for purpose

Anyway the financial ombudsman deals with vehicle queries I am putting a letter to them tomorrow. This is appalling service and I specifically bought the car to tow and now it may not be fit for purpose. This is ill thought through and badly managed, very disappointed
 
My friend has all but given up (rubbish or no responses from everyone she has written to complaining) and is picking up a shogun at the weekend. Huge expense that wasn't planned for and is now facing the fact that she has a vehicle and trailer and potentially no horse to put in it as her money for the new competition horse she is looking for has now been spent on getting a vehicle with a towbar that's legal!
 
My cherokee is off the road on a SORN at the moment and I wasn't planning taxing & MOT'ing it until spring as it needs a few thing doing.
I was worried that I'd be forced to get it back on the road to get the recall work done but my dealer told me that so long as my car is off road and not used I don't have to worry about rushing to get the recall check done however once back on the road it will have to be inspected and if necessary the towbar will be replaced with the bar.

So I'm now faced with the fact that I will have to pay out to put it back on the road (which won't be cheap) for it then to be made useless :(
 
Puddleduck said:
My cherokee is off the road on a SORN at the moment and I wasn't planning taxing & MOT'ing it until spring as it needs a few thing doing.
I was worried that I'd be forced to get it back on the road to get the recall work done but my dealer told me that so long as my car is off road and not used I don't have to worry about rushing to get the recall check done however once back on the road it will have to be inspected and if necessary the towbar will be replaced with the bar.

So I'm now faced with the fact that I will have to pay out to put it back on the road (which won't be cheap) for it then to be made useless :(
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But who would force you to get the work done? I am keeping a close eye on this thread, and bearing in mind the comments re the fire issues being with petrol cars (mine is diesel), I am not planning on taking it to a dealer any time soon.
 
On the basis that mine went in for the first safety recall for the airbags, some 2 months ago...was told they needed to order a part and have heard nothing yet..not convinced.

I did NOT put a jeep towbar on mine as the only one they offered was the removable one which is it seemed unsafe (something born out by recent accidents). Think I will take it to my local garage before going back to Jeep again.

This is really rubbish service and lack of information. Very disappointed in Jeep. I have been flying the flag for these cars for years as mine has been so reliable..wouldn't do it now.
 
Luci07 said:
On the basis that mine went in for the first safety recall for the airbags, some 2 months ago...was told they needed to order a part and have heard nothing yet..not convinced.

I did NOT put a jeep towbar on mine as the only one they offered was the removable one which is it seemed unsafe (something born out by recent accidents). Think I will take it to my local garage before going back to Jeep again.

This is really rubbish service and lack of information. Very disappointed in Jeep. I have been flying the flag for these cars for years as mine has been so reliable..wouldn't do it now.
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When did you get the note about airbag safely recall? I didn't get one about airbags, and I have had my Jeep for nearly 2yrs now..
 
Well we took our jeep Cherokee 2005 2.8 crd into the garage for the recall today and probably became their nightmare customers of the day.
We were hesitant about taking it in because of all the nightmare stories on various forums so we decided we'd get to the bottom of exactly what was required before we would let them touch the vehicle.
The woman who dealt with recalls was still insisting that the crossbar could be fitted and the tow bar replaced. She had the recall booklet in front of her so we asked her to check, then she changed her tune and the manager was brought out. Manager also insisted that the tow bar could be replaced, so we asked how many they had done this way .....and the answer was none! Turns out the reinforcing bars have only just arrived!
At this point we were going to walk out. We also asked what the clearance had to be and was told that there was a tool for doing it but they didn't know how wide it was.
The only useful fact we got at this point was that all Mopar tow bars had passed.
Then they said we could be present at the inspection, and as we have a Mopar we decided to go for it to see exactly what happens.

The inspection took all of two minutes. The car was put up on the ramp, the rear bumper was examined for collision damage, the tow bar was inspected for damage and corrosion or sharp edges then the mechanic looked at the make of towbar and said ' it's a Mopar, so that's fine'. End of inspection. Didn't even measure the gap to the tank and it passed.
We asked to see the measuring tool. It's like a lollipop with a 42mm ( we measured it) circle on the end. This has to pass between the rear of the tow bar and the tank. There were two other lollipops of a smaller size for other models.
We asked the mechanic if a tow bar could be fitted as well as the crossbeam, he said he hadn't done any yet but after referring to the recall manual he admitted probably not. At this point I think he realised there were going to be some angry people about.
If you have an aftermarket tow bar it might be worth checking the car yourself and if it doesn't come up to scratch, have the tow bar changed for one that provides the 42mm gap before taking it in for the recall.
 
cobgoblin said:
Well we took our jeep Cherokee 2005 2.8 crd into the garage for the recall today and probably became their nightmare customers of the day.
We were hesitant about taking it in because of all the nightmare stories on various forums so we decided we'd get to the bottom of exactly what was required before we would let them touch the vehicle.
The woman who dealt with recalls was still insisting that the crossbar could be fitted and the tow bar replaced. She had the recall booklet in front of her so we asked her to check, then she changed her tune and the manager was brought out. Manager also insisted that the tow bar could be replaced, so we asked how many they had done this way .....and the answer was none! Turns out the reinforcing bars have only just arrived!
At this point we were going to walk out. We also asked what the clearance had to be and was told that there was a tool for doing it but they didn't know how wide it was.
The only useful fact we got at this point was that all Mopar tow bars had passed.
Then they said we could be present at the inspection, and as we have a Mopar we decided to go for it to see exactly what happens.

The inspection took all of two minutes. The car was put up on the ramp, the rear bumper was examined for collision damage, the tow bar was inspected for damage and corrosion or sharp edges then the mechanic looked at the make of towbar and said ' it's a Mopar, so that's fine'. End of inspection. Didn't even measure the gap to the tank and it passed.
We asked to see the measuring tool. It's like a lollipop with a 42mm ( we measured it) circle on the end. This has to pass between the rear of the tow bar and the tank. There were two other lollipops of a smaller size for other models.
We asked the mechanic if a tow bar could be fitted as well as the crossbeam, he said he hadn't done any yet but after referring to the recall manual he admitted probably not. At this point I think he realised there were going to be some angry people about.
If you have an aftermarket tow bar it might be worth checking the car yourself and if it doesn't come up to scratch, have the tow bar changed for one that provides the 42mm gap before taking it in for the recall.
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That is really useful to know, thank you very much for posting! I do not know the make of my towbar, as it was on the car when I bought it. I will have a look and see if I can see it noted anywhere on the towbar itself, or on any of the paperwork.
 
Surely if there's a towbar on the market that is fine and means that these vehicles are fit for purpose then that is what Jeep should be offering as the fix for those of us that need to tow.

This gets more farcical by the minute.

Thanks for posting your experience Cobgoblin.
 
Puddleduck said:
Surely if there's a towbar on the market that is fine and means that these vehicles are fit for purpose then that is what Jeep should be offering as the fix for those of us that need to tow.

This gets more farcical by the minute.

Thanks for posting your experience Cobgoblin.
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There are other tow bars out there but I can't tell if they would meet the clearance requirements. It's very difficult to tell on the Internet, but if our jeep had failed this is the route we would have taken. Then we would have taken it back to recall, not sure what jeep would have made of this but no way was anyone going to fit a crossbeam on ours.
The crossbeam is bolted on so theoretically you could fit a towbar at a later date. I know it's bolted and not welded as our garage was waiting for the bolts to arrive, the bars came without them lol!
I think Chrysler Jeep is too tight to provide tow bars here. I'm sure the ones in the states are the same as our Mopar.

You're right the whole thing is a farce.
 
ester said:
So if others replaced their towbars for a mopar they would be ok? Much better than not being able to tow at all!
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Mopar is the parts and service dept. of Chrysler fiat. I don't think they sell them for Cherokees in the UK anymore.
Bet there are some secondhand ones though!
 
Ok to continue with this can of worms - I have yet to receive a reply to my last email to Jeep, I feel another stronger one may be necessary but I will speak to Trading Standards. The legal department at the AA have suggested that this situation is covered by Section 14 of the Sale of Goods Act. I have also contacted my insurance company with regard to the 'waiver' I went through it very carefully on the phone and the answer was that my vehicle would still be insured. HOWEVER, I have requested that this be confirmed in writing, until that time I will not proceed. I don't think that Jeep have any concept of how much bad publicity this is going to cause them. I have considered going to the press/Watchdog etc but once this gets out to the wider world I am concerned how much value our cars will lose, which will then mean I will be unable to afford another towing vehicle. This is such a ridiculous situation to be in.
 
( Re' the earlier post about airbag letter) Hi, I think but don't quote me that the air bag recall is for 2002/03 models.....
 
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Back in April I was considering getting a towbar and stumbled across stories about this recall when it was just in the US whilst "googling" Jeep Cherokee towbars.
I sent an email to VOSA and got a reply stating that they were in talks with their US counterparts and a recall would be issued in the UK when ready.
Well having read on here and other forums that the fix renders Jeeps useless for towing I contacted them again with some of the points being raised......... So far the reply hasn't been as fast.
 
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