1997 Jeep Wrangler

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER, VIN 1J4FY19S2VP52606. RECENTLY, I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL FULLY IN ONE DIRECTION (I DON'T RECALL IF IT WAS CLOCKWISE OR COUNTERCLOCKWISE), AND HEARD A SNAP SOMEWHERE IN THE STEERING WHEEL OR STEERING COLUMN. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON (AND HAS BEEN ON EVER SINCE), AND THE HORN NO LONGER WORKS. *AK I CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND WAS TOLD THAT MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY OF THE AIRBAG RECALLS FOR THE '97 WRANGLER. HOWEVER, IT SEEMS A BIT OF A COINCIDENCE THAT THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ABOVE MATCH THOSE DESCRIBED FOR THE '97 WRANGLER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V046000 - "DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING WIRING HARNESS CAN BREAK WHEN TURNED TO THE FULL LOCK TURN POSITION" *** RECALL NOTICE - "A BROKEN CLOCKSPRING WILL ALSO CAUSE THE HORN TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WILL STAY ON IF THE CLOCKSPRING BREAKS." THE PARTS ARE CURRENTLY STILL AVAILABLE, BUT I HESITATE WAITING VERY LONG BEFORE HAVING THIS BROKEN PART REPLACED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN DIRECTLY INTO A SMALL CONCRETE POST. BUMBER WAS FORCED BACK CAUSING ENGINE AND FRAME DAMAGE. DRIVER HEAD STRUCK WINDSHIELD OF VEHICLE. DRIVER (COMPLAINANT) WAS OPERATING VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT AND HAD NOT PLACED SEAT BELT ON AT TIME OF CRASH. FACE WENT INTO WINDSHIELD BREAKING WINDSHIELD AND COMPL. NOSE. IT WAS OPINION OF POLICE, DEALERSHIP PERSONNEL, AND OTHERS THAT THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED WITH SUCH A SEVERE FRONT END CRASH. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WAS WRITTEN TO AND A SUBJECT MET COMP AT DEALERSHIP AND TOOK COMPUTER READINGS OF VEHICLE. NO ANALYSIS WAS GIVEN TO COMPL EXCEPT FOR WRITTEN CORRESPONDANCE FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER (A.L. GILBERT -SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR) THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STRIKE THE APPROPRIATE "CRUSH" AND "CRUNCH" ZONES TO OPERATE AIRBAG. WE CANNOT BELIEVE THAT A FRONT END IMPACT INTO A POLE WITH 8000 DAMAGE AND THE DRIVERS FACE HITTING AND BREAKING THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT ENOUGH OF AN IMPACT TO CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. WE HAVE WRITTEN DAIMLERCHRYSLER TWICE ASKING FOR THE READINGS FROM THE COMPUTER AND NO ONE WILL RESPOND. WE ALSO STILL DO NOT KNOW IF THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY IF ANOTHER ACCIDENT OCCURS WITH THE FRONT END. WE WOULD ALSO BE INTERESTED IN OTHER JEEP OWNERS WITH SIMILAR EXPERIENCES AS TO HOPE AND REMEDY A POSSIBLE FATAL ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING ON JEEP PRODUCTS. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. OWNER WAS TOLD THAT CLOCK SPRING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL # 98V046000, AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. RECALL CAMPAIGN WAS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN. *AK *ML