Tie Rods and Drag Linkage...

Tie rods are a "typical wear" item much like the tires themselves. They wear as the car is used and it's known that you'll have to replace them so they usually aren't covered under warranty (just like the tires, oil filters, belts and wipers..). Drag linkage SHOULDN'T wear and it's odd that your's has to be replaced. The front end on that thing must have taken a serious jolt or the tie-rod ends are so far gone that the drag linkage warped.

I would have guessed that it wouldn't take 4-5 hours to replace these either but I'm not famaliar with newer Jeeps to know. I would normally guess 2-3 hours tops. (They will have to realign the front end as a part of this but that's only a half-hour job..)

Thanks, fishin'
Thanks for the reply. We've since found under the warranty, tie rods are covered - the linkage is not.

If anyone's still listening...
...turns out all components were covered! We have a decent extended warranty and my father-in-law knows his stuff. He pointed out the error of their ways! They listened.