Andree of San Jose writes:

I leased a 98 Jeep Cherokee Sport in May of 1998.  I have been to the dealership several times for various problems with the vehicle.  The original dealer is other than listed above but I decided to stop using the other dealer and use this dealer for the service department.  The Jeep has a 3 year 36,000 mile warranty.  

On 10/16/99 I noticed that the "Check Guages" light came on and the Jeep heated up to 260 degrees as I was parking at the grocery store.  I shut the Jeep off and continued to shop for about 1/2 hour.  I returned to the Jeep and it was at the normal temperature.  I drove home which was 5 minutes away from the store and asked my husband to take the Jeep to Jiffy Lube and have them check the coolant level and if needed to flush the radiator and refill with new coolant.  

Upon my husband returning from Jiffy Lube he said that Jiffy Lube could not get the rust color  out of the radiator and they flushed 3 times.  Since the service dept. at the dealership was closed on 10/16 and 10/17 I drove the Jeep there on Monday, 10/18 at 8am.  I told the serviceman what had happened about the overheating and taking the Jeep into Jiffy Lube.  

After Joe Kerley looked at the Jeep I was informed that it would cost $129.00 to have a flush and fill on the radiator.   He also mentioned that because Jiffy Lube touched the vehicle that it might not be covered under warranty.  I authorized the flush and fill and mentioned that if they did find the cause was a defect that they would then cover the warranty and reimburse me for the $129.00 flush and fill.  He agreed.  

I received a phone call on 10/19 from the service department stating that the radiator, water pump and various other parts were going to have to be replaced.  He said that it would not be covered by Chrysler warranty.  Since the vehicle was overheating in the first place is why I took to Jiffy Lube.  I am certain that Jiffy Lube did not do any intentional damage to the radiator and feel that this should be a warrantied item.

Since this issue is not yet resolved it is difficult to say but at the least I will have to pay for up to a possible engine for the Jeep.  I do not know what kind of money we are talking about but I assume it will be at least $1000.00.

As always, it's necessary to read the warranty carefully.  Does Kerley really expect you to believe that Jiffy Lube is somehow magically prohibited from touching any Chrysler product?

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