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No tow hooks? Front Recovery Solution help

256K views 1K replies 134 participants last post by  GMWK2 
#1 ·
No tow hooks? Front Recovery Soluition help

I went to the dealer today to check the timing of my delivery and we hit a major stumbling block. The ECB bullbar does not fit the 2012 JGC. I spoke to the guy at ECB and he said the chassis rail has been shortened by a couple of inches. (they are working on re-engineering mounts but will take time)

It appears that to protect the pedestrian and satisfy NCAP (and ANCAP), not only are the hooks removed, but they have shortened the protrusion of the chassis rail.

I would appreciate someone in the know to let us know for sure but I'm guessing all AUS ORAII packs will come minus the tow hooks, and without any serious front end recovery solution at all.

Any suggestions for an alternative?
 
#256 · (Edited)
Re: No tow hooks? Front Recovery Soluition help

A little more progress... or at least that is the impression they give:violin:. However, still no mention of when we get them; what they look like; how are they fixed; do we get one or two; who pays. It's like pulling teeth.
 
#257 ·
Re: No tow hooks? Front Recovery Soluition help

It's like pulling teeth.
Agree. All we have seen so far is corporate weasel words.
 
#259 ·
Re: No tow hooks? Front Recovery Soluition help

Dealer I spoke to today also had not heard anything, but was sick of having clients pissed off and not getting anything back from Jeep as far as an update.
 
#260 ·
Dealer I spoke to today also had not heard anything, but was sick of having clients pissed off and not getting anything back from Jeep as far as an update.
Just got a phone call from the manager at my local dealership who I spoke to about the issue on the weekend. He finally spoke to the state manager today, commenting how hard it had been to get information on the issue. (it's a new dealership and the manager had no idea of the issue before I spoke to him)

Anyway, the information given to him by the state manager is that the tow hooks are in the final stage of ADR approval. They should be approved next week and a bulletin will go out to all dealers then. They should be available for order the following week. No decision has been made at this time as to whether they will be supplied free or at cost to the customer. He has my number and will ring me as soon as they receive the bulletin.


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#261 ·
Re: No tow hooks? Front Recovery Soluition help

I spoke to my dealer today about the nudge bar bracket and they said that they got told from Chrysler that the wrong parts were made and it will be another 3 weeks. Hmmm Anyone know any email addresses to email these people about this?
 
#262 ·
Re: No tow hooks? Front Recovery Soluition help

Just thinking about the tow hooks, surely it won't just be a case of fabricating a couple of tow hooks and screwing them in. I would imagine that there will need to be a mounting point fabricated and welded or bolted in, which would require the front bumper removed and replaced, more than just a half hour job. If jeep is intending to charge us, I would think it will be a substantial slug when labour is factored in.
 
#267 ·
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#268 ·
I find it interesting that people think the accc and dept of fair trading have no power. They are able to in force the new Australian Consumer Law that came into force January 2011. I suggest running a search on " major failure Australian consumer law" , this will show you your rights I am currently running through this system on my JGC due to electrical issues and seeking a full refund on the vehicle....still love the jeep though and will buy another.

My first letter to jeep was responded to by a solicitor asking if I would accept a 12 month increase to the warranty. I declined and reinforced my stance asking for the full refund. They have until tommorrow to comply or the accc will step in
 
#270 · (Edited)
Re: No tow hooks? Front Recovery Soluition help

I find it interesting that people think the accc and dept of fair trading have no power. They are able to in force the new Australian Consumer Law that came into force January 2011. I suggest running a search on " major failure Australian consumer law" , this will show you your rights I am currently running through this system on my JGC due to electrical issues and seeking a full refund on the vehicle....still love the jeep though and will buy another.
It's not that they lack power, they have immense power, it's a matter of prioritising their limited resources. They would and should be more concerned that millions are not overcharge by supermarkets, electricity suppers, petrol companies and pharmaceutical firms than, from their point of view, a handful of disgruntled Jeep owners who may or may not one time have difficulty un-bogging a Jeep from a bog they shouldn't have got ourselves into in the first place. That's how I think they will take it but I will be happy to be proved wrong if someone wants to try that route.
 
#269 ·
Re: No tow hooks? Front Recovery Soluition help

I think the new ACL's will force car makers and dealers to pull their fingers out, as they cannot continue to treat consumers like a doormat. This has been going on for years and the new ACL's are very powerful. Keep us up to date on the progress. What Electrical problems are you having ?
 
#275 ·
I think the new ACL's will force car makers and dealers to pull their fingers out, as they cannot continue to treat consumers like a doormat. This has been going on for years and the new ACL's are very powerful. Keep us up to date on the progress. What Electrical problems are you having ?
I recently saved myself a $6k repair bill by invoking the consumer guarantees proved by the ACL. The timing chain on my wife's (now former) VW Golf went at 65000 km. the dealer tried to weasel out of it but I stood my ground. The car was a lemon, I should have pulled them on a lot earlier as the timing chain was simply the latest thing to go wrong. Actually, no. Within 5, yes FIVE km of picking up the car after the timing chain was replaced, it was playing up again ( 3 x burnt out ignition coils). That repair was free too.

Satisfying as it was making VW pay the freight, we traded the VW a couple of weeks later while it was still running. I reckon the DSG gearbox would have been the next thing to go and that is $$$$$ to repair.

Long story short, the ACL is quite powerful, but most people simply aren't aware of the protections it affords them against defective products, particularly outside of the manufacturers warranty period.


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#272 ·
Re: No tow hooks? Front Recovery Soluition help

I have missing recovery hooks, paint defects all over the car, a navigation system that is pathetic, I've had the ACC fail and restart without any obvious reason, mirrors that unfold inconsistently, and now suddenly the system rising from Park mode to Normal ride mode inconsistently.

These failures or inconsistencies occurring now may not be significant now, but what, when and where else is one going to occur? During a hill descent or will it dropdown to park mode when water fording....[/QUOTE]

That's really disappointing in what is otherwise a great car. Sorry to hear of this. I bought the Laredo so only have the missing recovery hook issue which I hope is almost close to being resolved. I was somewhat dubious at the time about the QL & the Sat nav, but had nothing to back it up. I was also probably more heading towards a Hema mapping system and a 2" lift kit.
Hope it all get's sorted for you.
Scott
 
#273 ·
Re: No tow hooks? Front Recovery Soluition help

Don't get me wrong, I'm suggesting concentrating resources where you think you can exert the most pressure. Your view is through the authorities and that's fine. My view is to target their hip pocket namely sales.

Actually, it seems to me that I'm seeing more and more Grand Cherokee adds. This seem strange for a car that is mostly pre-sold 5 months ahead of delivery. Maybe they are getting worried. We need to get more potential customers walking into showrooms asking where the hooks are and why so many reliability issues.

One needs to be aware that car manufacturers sell cars to the dealers. The dealers are their customers and like any good business, they listen carefully to their customers but their customers are the dealers, not us. We are just the end user. If you don't believe me, read any current business management text book.
 
#274 ·
Re: No tow hooks? Front Recovery Soluition help

Don't get me wrong, I'm suggesting concentrating resources where you think you can exert the most pressure. Your view is through the authorities and that's fine. My view is to target their hip pocket namely sales.

Actually, it seems to me that I'm seeing more and more Grand Cherokee adds. This seem strange for a car that is mostly pre-sold 5 months ahead of delivery. Maybe they are getting worried. We need to get more potential customers walking into showrooms asking where the hooks are and why so many reliability issues.

One needs to be aware that car manufacturers sell cars to the dealers. The dealers are their customers and like any good business, they listen carefully to their customers but their customers are the dealers, not us. We are just the end user. If you don't believe me, read any current business management text book.
You are correct Bob. I saw a link on the Ausjeep site that probably answers the question.
"Jeep Grand Cherokee sales are up 37 percent through April, and Chrysler has already sold nearly 50,000 units in 2012, placing the flagship Jeep model ahead of all other Pentastar vehicles, save for the Ram pickup".
And that's just 2012.
There's no doubt they're on a winner with this unit and I daresay the number of issues are small compared to the units sold with no issues. There will be a benchmark number that is acceptable.

I've been somewhat lucky in that I ordered a Stone White Laredo without Satnav or QL, so less to potentially go wrong based on the forums. My dealer's been really good and after I lost it 2 weekends ago about the front recovery hook issue, and hammered every forum, dealer and CA email address I could find, I finally received an apology from my dealer and a timeline for solution or compensation. Needless to say that I spent another weekend without being able to go 'offroad', but I am confident that a solution is close and if not, I'm going to be 'looked after'. This is an agreement between me and the dealer (the seller), as I have a 10year history with these guys and they stand to lose me as a long term service customer etc. What they then arrange between themselves and CA, I have no interest in.
My dealer is aware that I'm a better friend than enemy and if I can't go off road, then I'm sitting home on the computer creating as much noise as I can. Shouldn't have to be this way, but it really is a numbers game.
i.e Didn't realise til 2 weekends ago that every 4WD club in Aus has a website and email contact details;)

Suggest 'make noise' with your dealer and as much as they may not be at fault, they are still the seller and as I said to mine, "at the time of sale, I was potentially misled" which is not a good place for them to be.
 
#276 ·
Re: No tow hooks? Front Recovery Soluition help

Quoting from my dealer yesterday: "The 2012 WK tow hook stock (Part no. 8220WKRH) is due to arrive in 2 weeks. These will be mounted behind the fascia and on the left hand side only. This is to improve pedestrian impact safety. This has caused some delay in bringing these to market. Please advise customers accordingly" Last time I was told 1st April so not holding my breath! Dealer doing the right thing, but less confident about Chrysler/Jeep???
 
#281 ·
Re: No tow hooks? Front Recovery Soluition help

Quoting from my dealer yesterday: "The 2012 WK tow hook stock (Part no. 8220WKRH) is due to arrive in 2 weeks. These will be mounted behind the fascia and on the left hand side only. This is to improve pedestrian impact safety. This has caused some delay in bringing these to market. Please advise customers accordingly" Last time I was told 1st April so not holding my breath! Dealer doing the right thing, but less confident about Chrysler/Jeep???
Sounds good. Any idea how they are mounted? I hope they don't need welding.
 
#278 ·
Re: No tow hooks? Front Recovery Soluition help

How weird! I just googled that part number, and google only finds this post. It also says it was posted 5 days ago!
Google indexing can take months sometimes. Weird about the 5 days though.
 
#282 ·
Re: No tow hooks? Front Recovery Soluition help

Here is a picture.

Apparently mount behind the facia on the LHS.
 

Attachments

#285 ·
Re: No tow hooks? Front Recovery Soluition help

Can't see this being a freeby:(
 
#287 ·
Re: No tow hooks? Front Recovery Soluition help

The USA ones go into the OEM holes, that one in the picture looks legit as it has the heavy duty bracket.
Hopefully Jeep do the right thing and do a recall to fit them for everyone, as many people may not know about this issue until they look for the place to attache the snatch strap.
Jeep also cannot use the excuse about people being advised after the 1/1/12, as not having recovery points would make a 4x4 vehicle unfit for its intended purpose.
 
#288 · (Edited)
Re: No tow hooks? Front Recovery Soluition help

The USA ones go into the OEM holes, that one in the picture looks legit as it has the heavy duty bracket.
Hopefully Jeep do the right thing and do a recall to fit them for everyone, as many people may not know about this issue until they look for the place to attache the snatch strap.
Jeep also cannot use the excuse about people being advised after the 1/1/12, as not having recovery points would make a 4x4 vehicle unfit for its intended purpose.
I think it's legit too. The part number looks to be #HCOHM which is quite different to the US hook number. It may be an interim number that doesn't mean much. The number quoted by phillw #8220WKRH looks more authentic. This is close to the new nudge bar number #8220MKNB.

Anyone know a good chrome plating shop? ;-)
 
#289 ·
Re: No tow hooks? Front Recovery Soluition help

Would be great if they thought outside the box and made the nudge bar compatible with other features like ACC and parking sensors. If the ECB bullbar can accommodate the sensors, why not the genuine one?
 
#290 ·
Re: No tow hooks? Front Recovery Soluition help

Would be great if they thought outside the box and made the nudge bar compatible with other features like ACC and parking sensors. If the ECB bullbar can accommodate the sensors, why not the genuine one?
The ECB bar isnt compatible with ACC unfortunately, but it allows for the parking sensors by relocating them into the bullbar. The problem with the nudgebar is it sits in front of the sensors so it will always be setting them off. The only way to get around that is with a nudgebar the sensors wont see, which would not be easy.
 
#292 ·
Re: No tow hooks? Front Recovery Soluition help

I have not heard of any reports that dealers have them as yet. Best to ask your local dealer for details. Especially whether they are gong to be free or not.
 
#293 ·
Re: No tow hooks? Front Recovery Soluition help

They're in or nearly in Aus and dealers will start receiving them over the next few weeks. Cost will depend on what you and your dealer have agreed on or discussed as not all new LGC owners are looking for them to be installed. There are many new WK2 owners in the caravan forums and city folk who have no expectation or desire to have these installed.
 
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