Here is my 3 cents! Do you think the manufacturer "Chrysler/Jeep" is going to take liability for anything that was a factory option? Oh wait I can tell you the answer. No. If you refer to my post "Wife said make it cool" you can read about my front axle breaking on a flat trail and how Chrysler basically gave me the middle finger. Chrysler certainly does not have the market on great ideas cornered. I have to say everything I have installed on my jeep from TeraFlex is far superior to anything that came from the factory. It rides better, handles better and has far more on and off-road reliability and capability than "factory." This is just one more option that makes my Jeep work better for me.

We start taking risks every day just by getting out of bed ...

 

Hmm, not really understanding your perceived hostility

Of course Chrysler/Jeep will try to get out of anything they could, nothing new there. I don't see the correlation with your breakage vs. what the OP was asking. (but I do understand your obvious frustration) While your statement that Teraflex is far superior than anything from the factory may be true, subjective at best, it has no bearing on the question by the OP. I'm only saying that, from a liability stance, it's a modification, good or bad, from the original engineered design of the product. When push comes to shove, it will be difficult to mitigate any problems (positively) caused by the modification.

I've made many alterations to my Jeep and accept the problems inherent to those modifications. I know if something breaks and it's discovered a modification was related to the cause the damage/failure, it will not be covered by a warranty. I'm sure we all know this and have at least thought of it before we make any modifications to our Jeeps.

I never said that one should not put a 3rd seat in their Jeep, it's their decision, but only mentioned that one should weigh the risks. Would I add a 3rd seat if I could, you betcha, especially if it will benefit me. But I have contemplated the risks involved and weighed them into my decision.

Yes, risks are started just by getting out of bed, but it's what you do to manage your risks throughout the day that makes the difference.

In re-reading your statement, you've proved my point. YOU the driver of a modified anything is the one who is taking the risk, thus the responsibility and liability is yours.

 

Ahh got ya bud. I thought you were asking who was going to liable in your original posting (insurance company, Chrysler, or the owner.) I was just making the point that the owner would be liable. Not jumpin down your throat or being hostile. Guess I misunderstood ya.

 

.. guess I wasn't clear..

 

As an engineer who's very familiar with occupant safety, I can say "not safe at all".

For a seat to be properly anchored, you have to have legitimate floor hard points to anchor it to and the seat belts have to be installed in the proper FMVSS locations. There are considerations for front, rear and side impacts, child seat safety (LATCH and tether straps) and head impact considerations as well.

Long story short, for the seats in your front and second rows to be safe even for a light 25 mph crash, it took hundreds if tests, simulations and teams of engineers to get right.

If you're concerned about safety, do NOT install that 3rd row. The vehicle simply was not designed for it. I can guarantee you that.

If you're not concerned about safety... well hell throw a couple of beach chairs back there. It would be just as safe as Jerry-rigging a second row seat back there.