1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee complaints

LOW RYTHMATIC DRONING NOISE WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. DELAR SAYS THIS IS TYPICAL FOR JEEP GRAND CHEROKEES. *AK

DURING ROUTINE SERVICE, DEALER NOTICED CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. NOTED THIS WAS A SAFETY PROBLEM IN THAT CO COULD ENTER THE VEHICLE INTERIOR. THIS IS A PREMATURE FAILURE OF A KEY PART OF OF THE SYSTEM. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LEAKAGES FROM FUEL FILLER NECK WHILE FILLING UP FUEL TANK. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

AS STATED EARLIER REPEATED FUSE FAILURE WORRIED ABOUT ELECTRICAL FIRE. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON, DOOR LOCKS CYCLE AND WINDOWS WILL NOT OPERATE. THE ONBOARD COMPUTER RECORDS THE FAULT. THIS HAS OCCURED MANY TIMES OVER THE LAST 28,000 MILES. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED MOST OF THE AIR BAG ELEMENTS TWICE AND THE DOOR LOCK SWITCHES. THE JEEP HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 9 TIMES, WORKED ON FOR 59 DAYS, DRIVEN BY THE DEALER 1141 PLUS MILES AND THE FAILURE OBSERVED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE STILL EXISTS.

AFTER HAVING THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED DEALER NOTICED ROTORS WERE RUSTING OUT OR FLAKING WHICH WAS CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. ALSO, DUE TO THE BRAKE ROTORS FLAKING, HUB MAY EVENTUALLY SEPARATE FROM THE ROTORS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM MCCUNE CHRYSLER-PLYMOUTH-JEEP AS A PREVIOSLY OWNED VEHICLE THAT JUST FINISHED A LEASE. ON 02/08/2000, WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM BOWLING, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT UPSHIFT CAUSING THE ENGINE RPMS TO CLIMB TO 4-5,000 RPM'S (CONTINUED HOME, 7 MILES). WIFE NEXT DAY 02/09/2000, TOOK KIDS TO SCHOOL AND ON THE FREEWAY TO HER MOM'S HOUSE ( A DISTANCE OF ONLY 5 MILES), TRANSMISSION FAILED TO STAY ENGAGED, SHE CREPT HOME AT ABOUT 5-15 MPH. THIS TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED EVERY 12-18,000 MILES. THE LAST SERVICE DONE WAS AT 70,150 MILES, (ATF+3, FILTER&GASKET)FAILURE HAPPENED AT 77,740 MILES, I WAS STUNNED! I CALLED MCCUNE AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT THEY CAN DO, I WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $2,200+, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL. I TOOK THE JEEP DOWN TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP (CORONAS TRANSMISSION) AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS "BURNT UP". WENT TO GET A SECOND OPINION AT AAMCO, GIVEN ESTIMATE OF $1800+. I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED THAT A "TOP-OF-THE-LINE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED 4X4" FAILED TO PERFORM AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. IN MY DISHEARTENED STATE, ON 02/11/2000 I TRADED MY PRIDE AND JOY (TOOK A HEAVY LOSS) FOR A FORD EXPEDITION XLT. AS MUCH AS I LOVED MY JEEP'S STYLING, PERFORMANCE AND LUXURY, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER. *AK

ALL DOORS ARM REST BOLSTERS HAVE SEPARATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. YH

VEHICLE SWERVED AND ROLLED OVER DUE TO A BALL JOINT COMING OUT OF SOCKET. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE.

STEERING FAILURE DUE TO POOR CASTING ON THE REAR MOUNT BOLT FOR THE STEERING GEAR BOX, RESULTING IN SHEARING OF THE FORWARD MOUNT BOLT WHICH RELEASED THE ASSEMBLY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS GO OFF THEN ALL LIGHTS, ON THREE OCCASIONS CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION OCCURS, POSSIBLE SHORT IN THE DASHBOARD ELECTRICAL HARNESS. *MJS

WHEN IT'S COLD OR DAMP VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE TRAVELING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND CAN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURHER INFOMATON. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH THE ENGINE WILL STALL WITHOUT A WARNING. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE, THEN TRIED TO RESTART ENGINE, BUT IT DID NOT START. *AK

EXHAUST MANIFOLD DOES NOT CRACK UNLESS THEY IS DEFECTIVE OR INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. IT IS ODD THAT THIS PART WAS STOCKED BY THE DEALER AND THE PERSON BEHIND THE COUNTER NEW THE PRICE ($640.00) WITHOUT LOOKING IT UP. IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS COMMON TO THEIR PRODUCT THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. IF IT IS LEFT UNFIXED EXHAUST FUMES WILL ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THANK YOU. *AK

HEAED GASKET BLEW. YH

CONSUMER HAD THE AIR BAG CHEMICAL SPRAY IN FACE AND CHEST INADVERTENTLY WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, AIR BAG DID NOT EVEN PARTIALLY DEPLOY, SINCE THIS INCIDENT THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN VERY ILL. NLM

1) DIFFERENTIAL RING & PINION GEAR FAILING. CAUSES SIGNIFICANT PULSATION/VIBRATION, MOST SEVERE AT 50-70 MPH. HAS WORSENED OVER PAST MONTH. AWAITING REPLACEMENT (2) WHILE ACCELERATING, TRANSMISSION SHIFTS BACK AND FORTH BTWN 1ST AND 2ND 2-3 TIMES TIMES BEFORE FINALLY SETTLING INTO 2ND. (3) 4WD TRANSFER CASE VERY HARD TO GET INTO FULL TIME 4WD. ALSO, VERY HARD TO GET OUT OF ANY 4WD MODE (BACK TO 2WD). INDICATOR SHOWS 2WD MODE WHEN TRUCK STILL IN 4-WD, REQUIRES VIOLENT REVERSING TO GET OUT OF 4WD. (4) LEFT REAR DOOR INTERIOR VINYL PANEL HAS COME APART TWICE, REPAIRED BOTH TIMES.

DRIVING ALONG NORMALLY, ALL OF A SUDDEN MY WIFE FLIPPED OUT ON ME FOR NO GOOD REASON. STOPPED THE JEEP. SHE GOT OUT. SAID SHE WAS LEAVING ME AND THE KIDS. NOW UNABLE TO LOCATE MY GIRLFRIEND. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NOT DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG AND FAILURE OF SAFETY BELT TO RESTRAIN THE DRIVER DURING AN ACCIDENT RESULTED IN A BROKEN STERNUM, CHEST, NECK AND LEG TRAUMA. NLM

THE BRAKE ROTORS CRACKED AND FELL OFF RESULTING IN BRAKE FAILURE WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE COLLISION AND INJURY TO CONSUMER, RECALL (00V-136) WAS NOT COMPELETED PRIOR TO ACCIDENT AND CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR DAMAGES. *CJ

SPINDLE AND BALL JOINTS ON THE DRIVER SIDE ARE VERY LOOSE AND ABOUT TO BREAK WHICH MAY CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

MULTIPLE REAR AXLE PROBLEMS, EACH DIAGNOSED BY OWNER PRIOR TO FAILURE. (THE DEALER DIDN'T WANT TO ADMIT THERE WAS A PROBLEM) THIS VEHICLE HAS AVERAGED ONE NEW REAR AXLE EVERY YEAR, INCLUDING THIS YEAR WHICH I AM WAITING ON PARTS. THE ENGINE'S FAULTY MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR QUIT OPERATION WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS ON SOME SWITCHBACK ROADS. THE ENGINE ABRUBTLY QUIT RUNNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE STEERING AND BRAKING CONTROL. ONLY QUICK THINKING BY USING THE PARKING BRAKE SAVED THE FOUR PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLE FROM EMINENT DEATH. THE ENGINE RELUCTANTLY RESTARTED AFTER A FEW SECONDS AND WE CONTINUED DOWN THE MOUNTAINS. HOWEVER, A FEW MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE DIED WITHOUT WARNING FOR A SECOND TIME AND WE WERE FORCED TO HOLD THE JEEP ON THE MOUNTAINSIDE WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. I CAN'T BELIEVE NO ONE HAS DIED FROM THIS VEHICLE! THIS SITUATION HAS OCCURED ON TWO SEPARATE TRIPS, APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR APART, AFTER REPROGRAMMING THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT COMPUTER, AND REPLACING THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR AND REMAPPING THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT COMPUTER FOR A SECOND TIME. FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS I OWNED THIS VEHICLE, IT WAS IN THE SHOP OVER 36 TIMES FOR WARRANTY RELATED REPAIRS. WHAT A PIECE OF JUNK!( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/65R16 )

WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD, IT DOES NOT SHIFT FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR PROPERLY,CAUSING LOSS OF POWER

WHILE ENTERING AN INTERSECTION AT 35 MPH, ANTOHER VEHICLE HITS PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIRBAG'S EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT AND SET BELT FAILED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DRIVER SUFFERED CHEST/ NECK & LEG TRAUMA. *AK *YC

MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT WHILE SWERVING TO AVOID A DEER. THE JEEP DID A SLOW ROLL ONTO ITS ROOF. THE SPEED INVOLVED WAS NOT VERY HIGH BECAUSE THE JEEP DID NOT SLIDE FOR ANY DISTANCE ON THE ROOF. ALL REPAIRS HAD BEEN COMPLETED WHEN WE NOTICE A THUMPING NOISE IN THE LEFT FRONT OF THE JEEP WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS. IT TOOK A NUMBER OF MONTHS TO DETERMINE THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT SWAY BAR LINK. THE LINK HAS A BALL JOINT PROTECTED BY A RUBBER BOOT. THE BOOT HID THE FACT THAT THE BALL WAS LOOSE FROM THE SOCKET AND THE NOISE WAS THE BALL SLAMMING IN AND OUT OF THE SOCKET. I PERSONALLY REPLACED THE LINK NOT MAKING THE CONNECTION TO THE ROLL OVER ACCIDENT UNTILL SOME TIME LATER. DURING A DISCUSSION WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY IT DAWNED ON ME THAT THE LINK MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ROLL OVER. THE JEEP ROLLED TO THE RIGHT. IF THE BALL JOINT ON THE LEFT FRONT SWAY BAR SEPARATED DURING MY SON'S ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE DEER THEN A SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER BODY ROLL ANGLE WOULD HAVE BEEN ALLOWED WITHOUT THE COUNTERING EFFECTS OF THE SWAYBAR. I FEEL THIS PROBLEM HAS A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON THE VEHICLES CAPABILITY TO LIMIT BODY ROLL DURING AN ATTEMPT TO SWERVE AND AVOID A ROAD HAZARD OF ANY KIND. JEEP HAS COMPLETELY REDISIGNED THE SWAYBAR LINK ON NEWER GRAND CHEROKEES. THE BALL JOINT SWAYBAR LINK ON THE 1996 MODEL HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED BY ANOTHER PART AND IS STILL OUT THERE ON ALL 1996 GRAND CHEROKEES. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD AND AM THA

VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF PARK AND BACKED UP KNOCKING THE CONSUMER DOWN AND RUNNING OVER HIS LEG, CONSUMER NOTED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE POWER TRAIN, CONSUMER HAS PERMANENT DAMAGE TO HIS LEG AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT.*ET

BRAKES ARE RELEASED BY ABS SYSTEM AS VEHICLE IS BRAKING ONCE A SLOW SPEED IS REACHED, CAUSING IT TO DRIFT FORWARD. OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY.

LEFT FRONT BRAKE ROTOR COMPLETELY SEPARATED & SHATTERED -RIGHT FRONT ROTOR SEVERLY CORRODED -SAME AS EA99-014

FRONT SWAY BAR LINK AND BUSHING FAILED. ALSO, REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED. *AK

WAS TOWING A TRAILER & STARTED SMELLING BURNING ODOR. STOPPED VEHICLE TO CHECK & FOUND NOTHING. STOPPED AT GAS STATION & NOTICED TRAILER COVERED WITH BLACK OIL. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL GEARS BROKE. WAITED FOR PARTS TO BE ORDERED & REPAIRS DONE TO JEEP. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 TIMES. THE GEARS & REBUILT DIFFERENTIAL WERE REPLACED TWICE BEFORE. *AK

RIGHT AND LEFT BRAKE ROTORS DETACHED FROM WHEEL HUB AT SAME TIME CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF FRONT BRAKES. CAR HAD TO BE STEERED ONTO SHOULDER TO AVOID COLLISION

SUNROOF RUSTED OUT- REPLACED BY DEALER, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED AND VINYL PANELING PEELED- BOTH THING REPLACED BY DEALER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON- SENSOR REPLACED TWICE BY DEALER.

CONSUMER CAR WOULD NOT START. CONSUMER WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WERE.

CONSUMERS CAR FUEL PUMP FAILED AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO START CAR FUEL HAD LEAKED. TO TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED PUMP AND IT BROKE AGAIN. DLR TOLD CONSUMER WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE FUEL TANK.

ON AUGUST 28, 1999, WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT TIRES BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY, THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND JUMPBED THE CURB ON THE HIGHWAY, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE DRIVER WHO IS PREGNANT EXPERIENCED CRAMPING IN THE STOMACH AND WAS ORDERED BY HER DOCTOR TO SPEND THE WEEKEND IN BED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING GEAR WAS WORN, THE CENTER LINK NEEDED REPAIR, AND THAT BOTH TIE RODS NEEDED REPLACED. ON OCTOBER 9, 1999, THE VEHICLE HIT A SINK HOLE CAUSING IT TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND FOR THE FRONT END TO WOBBLE, THE VEHICLE HIT A GUARDRAIL AND DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE VECHILE. THE CRUISE CONTROL DIDN'T WORK PROPERLY. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED.

THE REAR PINION BEARING ON MY GRAND CHEROKEE IS GOING BAD.......THIS WOULD NOT SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM IF NOT FOR THE FACT THAT EVERY MECHNAIC I SPEAK TO TELLS ME THE PROBLEM IS VERY WIDESPREAD. THIS IS A PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE MACHANICS THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. I SPOKE TO THE LOCAL JEEP DEALER ,EVEN THEY AGREE THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD, YET NOTHING IS BEING DONE BY CHRYSLER CORP TO FIX THE PROBLEM!

THE REAR CARRIER BEARING IN MY 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE IS BAD....THIS WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM BUT I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MANY DIFFERANT MECHANICS INCLUDING THREE LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALERS THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I REPORTED EARLIER THAT IT WAS A PINION BEARING , THAT WAS IN ERROR, IT IS THE REAR CARRIER BEARING. WHAT CAN I DO TO REPORT THIS TO CHRYSLER CORP AND IS THERE ANY INFO YOU CAN GIVE ME TO ASSIST MY PROBLEM.

NO SUMMARY.

MANUFACTURER RECALL SPARE TIRE, HOWEVER SIZE IS SMALLER THAN OTHER SIZED TIRES. MJS

PULLED ON TO HIGHWAY FROM DRIVEWAY PROCEED ABOUT 1 BLOCK WHEN THE HOOD FLEW VOILENTLY OPEN. THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME AND A TRUCK AND 2 AUTOS BEHIND ME I GOT THE JEEP TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED. THE SAFETY LATCH AND THE REGULAR LATCH FAILED. I AM BEING TOLD IT IS NOT A PROBLEM AND THEREFORE THE MANUFACTER IS NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY RESPONISIBLITY FOR THE $1067 BODY SHOP ESTIMATE OR MY FRAYED NERVES. I FOUND TWO OR 3 OTHER HOOD PROBLEMS LISTED ON YOUR WEBSITE BUT CAN TELL IF THEY ARE SIMILAR. THANKS FOR ANY LIGHT YOU CAN SHED ON THIS PROBLEM. I AM LEFT WITH THE FEELING FROM THE JEEP PEOPLE THAT I DID SOMETHING WRONG AND THEY DON'T CARE TO HELP. THE SAFETY LATCH NEVER CAUGHT OR AT LEAST IT DIDN'T HOLD , AND THERE WAS NOT EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE TO EITHER LATCH.

RECALL 98V006000 FOR 1996 GRAND CHEROKEE TEMPORARY SPARE TIRE. REPORTING OF THE SAME CONDITION FOR THIS VEHICLE. TEMPORARY SPARE TIRE WHEN USED CAUSES THE FRONT AXLE TO OVERHEAT AND FORCE AXLE FLUID OUT OF SEALS, WHICH RESULTS IN A FIRE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT AN ANNOYING WHINNING NOISE WHICH CAN BE HEARD FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. NLM

STEERING GEAR, LINK AND BOTH TIE RODS FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MJS

THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM HAS BEEN LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE CAR FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. THE PROBLEM IS SEVERE. WE HAVE RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER INNUMERABLE TIMES SINCE DECEMBER, AND EACH TIME HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED. THE LAST TIME, THEY SAID CHRYSLER KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND HAD DESIGNED A DEFINITIVE FIX. WE TRIED THAT -- YET AGAIN THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS LEAKING. WE HAVE TRIED WITHOUT SUCCESS TO CONTACT CHRYSLER AND HAVE BEEN DIRECTED ALL OVER THE GLOBE. YET NO ONE HAS RESPONDED TO US. PLEASE HELP. IT IS APPARENT THAT THEY CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND WE ARE TIRED OF THE EXTREME INCONVENIENCE AND POTENTIAL DANGER OF THESE LEAKS.

POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW OF BRAKE ROTORS SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 35 MPH CAUSING FAILURE WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A COLLISION. *YC

WATER PUMP REPLACED 2 TIMES BY DEALER, AIR CONDITIONG COMPRESSOR CONTINUES TO FAIL. FRONT END VIBRATES WHEN BRAKING FROM 35 M.P.H. + CAUSING TO BACK OFF ON THE BRAKES AND REAPPLY. REAR WIPER MOTOR FAILED. ALL 4 INTERIOR DOOR PANELS PEELED AND REPLACED BY THE DEALER.

POWER STEERING FAILED DUE TO POWER STEERING PUMP BRACKET BREAKING. DEALER REPLACED THE PUMP BRACKET. POWER STEERING PUMP NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

DRIVING ON HGHIWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE POWER STEERING PUMP BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE STEERING. *AK

DRIVER REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH AT 30 MPH UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING HEAD INJURIES EVEN WITH SEATBELTS WORN. NO INDICTATION OR WARNING OF DEFECT WITHIN AIRBAGS. DEALER CLAIMED AIRBAG SENSORS WERE CRUSHED AND SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *AK

THE LATCH ASSEMBLY FELL INTO THE DOOR INTERIOR AFTER THE METAL ON THE DOOR ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE BODY SHOP AT DIRK WALTZ CHRYSLER-JEEP, MIDLAND, MI. THE ESTIMATOR ( MARIO?) SAID THAT THEY HAD SEEN A RASH OF THESE FAILURE RECENTLY. THE SERVICE MANAGER, SCOTT THERRYL (?), LOOKED AT THE DOOR. GREGORY TAYLOR, DAMLIER-CHRYSLER DISTRICT SER. MANAGER, WAS CONTACTED. THE RECURRING PROBLEM WAS DESCRIBED BY THE ESTIMATOR AS A FAILED WELD AT THE LOWER HINGE THAT CAUSES THE DOOR TO MIS-ALIGN. THE MIS-ALIGNMENT CAUSES THE LATCH ASSEMBLY ON THE FRAME TO STRIKE THE DOOR LATCH INCORRECTLY. THE REPEATED MIS-STRIKE CAUSES THE METAL TO FATIGUE, AND THE LATCH DETACHES FROM THE DOOR SUDDENLY. THERE WAS NO OBVIOUS PROBLEM UNTIL THE FAILURE OCCURED. THE DOOR COULD HAVE EASILY POPED OPEN IN A VERY LOW SPEED COLLISION. DAMLIER CHRYSLER HAS DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO A POOR WELD DESIGN IN THE DOOR BOX.