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The wife had my 2015 jeep cherokee north in for an oil change today at the local dodge dealership. During service they pulled air box and checked air filter but in the process they broke the fitting off the airbox that the vacuum line is attached to. And tried unsuccessfully glueing fitting back onto airbox. Glue didn't work so they have a couple zip ties holding fitting on, and they cant get a new airbox for approximately a week. My question is. What is this vacuum line for and what damage can occur if dust gets sucked into it. We drive on alot of gravel roads so avoiding dust is not an option. Thanks for any help.

Can't add much more than what's already been said, but the dealership did the same to mine. Noticed it about a month after a dealer oil change/inspection when checking oil at a gas station. No one else was under the hood in the interval. What I didn't like was the person that broke the nipple off didn't report it. Then the dealership tried to pin it on the out-of-state dealership that had done the prior oil change.

I live off a dirt road and, even so, all indications are the engine is fine and does not burn oil. So I'm guessing you're good.

Here's something on the PCV system in the KL's engine:

"The main purpose of the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve is to recirculate blow-by gases
back from the crankcase area through the engine to consume unburned hydrocarbons. The PCV
system usually has a one way check valve and a make up air source. The system uses rubber hoses
that route crankcase blow by gases to the intake manifold. Vacuum within the engine intake manifold
pulls the blow by gases out of the crankcase into the combustion chamber along with the regular
intake air and fuel mixture.
The PCV system can become clogged with sludge and varnish deposits and trap blow by gases in the
crankcase. This degrades the oil, promoting additional formation of deposit material. If left
uncorrected, the result is plugged oil rings, oil consumption, rapid ring wear due to sludge buildup,
ruptured gaskets and seals due to crankcase pressurization."

So the unattached hose goes to the PCV valve where the engine-created vacuum should be sucking fumes from the crankcase into the air cleaner box to be burned during engine combustion, but it's not. However, the hole in the air cleaner box is letting unfiltered air into the engine intake. I would think it would be a good idea to put a piece of duct tape over that hole until the upper air cleaner box is replaced.