2002 Jeep Liberty complaints

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY EVERY TIME STALLING OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE VALVE TRAIN ON THE FIFTH CYLINDER OF THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED.

VEHICLE VIBRATES LOUDLY FROM FRONT DRIVELINE BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH AND OVER 70 MPH, CONCERNED THIS IS A SEVERE, UNSAFE, AND COMMON PROBLEM BECAUSE OF MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME DEFINITION FROM OTHER LIBERTY OWNERS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS STARTED TO SEPARATE WHICH CREATED A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN ACCESS RAMP AT 30 MPH. A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V46000, WAS PERFORMED ON 02/25/2004 CONCERNING, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS. HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR.

THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY ON THE VEHICLE WILL NOT LATCH. *JB

MY CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE DOOR LOCKS WHERE OPENING AND CLOSING, SO IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THE BATTERY WAS DEAD SO THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE IT AND THEN THEY WOULD RUN A TEST TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. I INFORMED THE DEALER THAT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS MY OVER HEAD LIGHTS WOULD COME ON EVERY SO OFTEN AND I WOULD HAVE TO GIGGLE THE TURN SIGNAL TO MAKE THEM GO OFF (SOMETIMES USING THE TURN SIGNAL TRIGGERS THE LIGHT TO COME ON). I ASKED IF IT COULD BE A SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THEY SAID NO IT WAS JUST A DEAD BATTERY. A FEW DAYS LATER I NOTICED THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS ON IN MY CAR AFTER IT GOT DARK OUTSIDE AND THEY WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF EVERY FEW MINUTES. AFTER DISCUSSING THE RECENT RECALL ON THE FRONT BALL BEARINGS WITH A CO-WORKER I FOUND OUT THAT SHE TOO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTS (2002 MODEL), I THEN ASKED ANOTHER CO-WORKER WHO OWNS A 2004 MODEL AND HE TOO HAD THIS PROBLEM. APPARENTLY THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN THIS HAPPENS ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT BECAUSE IT DISTRACTS THE DRIVER. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT NOW MY LIGHT IS OUT ON THE SHIFT PANEL. I THINK THIS COULD BE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT IT LEADING INTO OTHER SHORTS IN THE CAR. I FEEL THAT BECAUSE I NO LONGER HAVE A WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE THAT THE DEALER IS TRYING TO MAKE MONEY ON ME AND THIS OBVIOUSLY A MALFUNCTION IN THIS MODEL. *JB

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED IN JUNE 2006 NOW THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT IS DOING THE SAME THING. SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH. JEEP DEALER SAID THERE IS NO RECALL AND I HAD TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT LATCH.

I HAVE A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. WITH ONLY 24,000 MILES AND LITTLE OFF-ROAD USE, BOTH UPPER(NOT LOWER--WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN THE SUBJECT OF RECALLS) BALL JOINTS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. I COULD HEAR SEVERE CLUNKING NOISE ON TURNS AND BUMPS. THEY WERE DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED BY A JEEP DEALER. *NM

DRIVING THE JEEP AROUND 20 MPH. TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR, BUT WOULD GO INTO PARK. I TURNED THE JEEP OFF, RESTARTED IT AND IT WENT INTO GEAR FOR ABOUT 30 FEET, THEN WENT BACK INTO NEUTRAL AGAIN. IT WOULD MOVE AFTER A RESTART EVERY TIME, THEN STOP AGAIN VERY SHORTLY AFTER PUTTING IT INTO GEAR. HAD THE JEEP TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP, THEY FOUND NO CODES IN THE COMPUTER AND ARE NOW SAYING THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE FILTER TO CLOG. *JB

MY 2002 JEEP LIBERTY BEGAN TO MAKE A NOISE FROM THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AREA. I CALLED THE DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND WAS GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT ABOUT 10 DAYS OUT. ABOUT HALF WAY BETWEEN MAKING THE APPOINTMENT AND THE DAY OF THE APPOINTMENT WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN THE LOWER BALL JOINT ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BROKE APART DROPPING THAT SIDE OF THE CAR DOWN ON TO THE TIRE. IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET THE VEHICLE UP ON TO THE FLATBED TOW TRUCK THE TIRE DID SOME DAMAGE TO THE PLASTIC PART OF THE FENDER SURROUNDING THE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS DROPPED AT THE DEALER (SEACOAST MOTORS) FOR REPAIRS AT ABOUT 5:30 PM ON 8/2/06. AS OF THIS WRITING (8/3/06 @ 1 PM) THEY HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE OR CONFIRMED THE ACTUAL PROBLEM SO I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME AT THIS POINT. *JB

BALL JOINT SNAPPED WHILE MAKING A TURN AND THE WHEEL CAME OFF AND THE CAR HIT THE GROUND. A YEAR AGO, THE BOTH BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED DUE TO A RECALL. DEALERSHIP WANTS TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY AS THEY ARE TOO BUSY. I AM LUCKY I AM ALIVE AFTER WHAT I WENT THROUGH. *JB

WHILE TURNING RIGHT INTO A PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR IN MY 2002 JEEP LIBERTY, I EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE LOWER BALL JOINT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE BALL JOINT DROPPED AND THE BOLT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BALL JOINT STRUCK AND SEVERELY DUG INTO MY JEEP CHROME ALLOY WHEEL. THIS ALL TOOK PLACE WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR AND TRAVELING ONLY ABOUT 10 FEET. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW. PLEASE NOTE THAT I DID HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT REGULAR INTERVALS. I HAD ALSO RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE PAST AND WHEN I QUESTIONED MY DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT, THEY STATED THAT IT DID NOT PERTAIN TO MY VEHICLE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT LEFT FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE DID NOT LATCH PROPERLY. EXCESSIVE FORCE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO LATCH THE SAFETY BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE BUCKLE NEEDED REPLACEMENT.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 25 MPH UP A HILL ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL CRASHING INTO A RETAINING WALL. THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE'S BODY. THE CONTACT AND AN ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD PASSENGER WERE BOTH WEARING SEATBELTS AT THE TIME, HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL FOR THE MINOR INJURIES. THE POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO SENT TO A BODY SHOP FOR BODY WORK. AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE BODY SHOP, THE DEALER INSPECTED AND DETERMINED THAT BOTH THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS AND REAR COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WERE COMPLETELY DAMAGED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT BUT INDENTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE COMPONENTS IN 2004. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED WHO SENT OUT AN INSPECTOR TO EXAMINED THE VEHICLE. THE INSPECTOR DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS RELATED TO A DEFECT.

JEEP, LIBERTY PURCHASED IN MARCH 2003. ON SATURDAY JULY 15, 2006 VEHICLE WAS BE DROVE HOME ON A COMMON ROUTE. WHILE NEGOTIATING AN S-TURN AT AN ESTIMATED 40 MPH, THE UPPER BALL JOINT FAILED CAUSING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO FOLD UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. BEING A GOOD DRIVER WITH NO ACCIDENTS, I MANAGED THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL WHILE ALSO NOT HITTING THE BRAKES THUS LEAVING A 261 FT SKID MARK ( I DO HAVE A PICTURE). I HAVE A VERY GOOD MECHANICAL BACKGROUND AND AFTER FURTHER SURVEY HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE UPPER-BALL JOINT HAD FAILED DUE TO RUST INSIDE THE BALL-CUP AND DETERIORATION OF THE METAL AROUND IT( I HAVE A PICTURE). THIS FAILURE HAS CAUSED AN ESTIMATED $1200.00 IN DAMAGE WHICH INCLUDES REPLACEMENT OF ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS THE TWO UPPER AT MY REQUEST ( NEVER TRUST A PART ON THE VEHICLE THAT HAS FAILED ONCE AND HAS A TWIN BROTHER), PLUS-A TIRE AND RIM, ETC. *LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE ON A RECALL NOTICE BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY CHRYSLER BECAUSE OF NOT BEING IN THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEM AS A CUSTOMER. AFTER A WEB SEARCH I FOUND THE RECALL OF THE BALL JOINTS (NICE JOB BY CHRYSLER). AFTER EXCHANGING REPEATED PHONE CALLS WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND CHRYSLER, THE "EXPERTS" DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO "IMPACT". I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT THERE IS NO WAY THIS JOINT FAILED BY IMPACT BUT I CAN SAY IT FAILED DUE TO BAD ENGINEERING AND FATIGUE WHICH IS WAY TOO SOON CONSIDERING THE VEHICLES LIFE SPAN. IN MY OPINION, CHRYSLER HAS FAILED TO COME CLEAN WITH A PROBLEM THAT WILL SOON

BALL JOINT FAILURE ON 2002 JEEP LIBERTY - RECALL HAD BEEN PERFORMED IN OCTOBER 2004 BY SZOTT JEEP DEALERSHIP. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DOING 30 MPH WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT APPEARED TO SEIZE UP AND I STARTED TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT STOPPED AND PARKED SAFELY ON THE ROAD. UPON EXAMINATION, THE TIRE HAD BECOME COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM THE FRAME. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FAILURE OF THE BALL JOINT. THE FOLLOWING DAMAGE WAS INCURRED TO MY VEHICLE: ARM-LOWER CONTROL, KNUCKLE, TIRE, RIM, FRONT BUMPER AND QUARTER PANEL LOSE. OVERALL TOTALING 1500 DAMAGE. MY INSURANCE PICKED UP THE MAJORITY OF THE CLAIM AND I PAID THE DEDUCTIBLE OF 200.00 PLUS 36.10 FOR THE BALL JOINT. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN 15 MINUTES LATER. I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE AIRPORT. GIVEN THE IMPACT THIS HAD AT 30 MPH I CANNOT COMPREHEND WHAT WOULD HAVE INCURRED AT 70 MPH. MYSELF AND MY BABY WHERE IN THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE OF THIS ACCIDENT. THE REP FROM BELLE TIRE, THE DEALERSHIP, AND DCX TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *JB

THE LATCH ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT OF MY 2002 JEEP LIBERTY IS STUCK IN THE DEPRESSED POSITION AND WILL NOT RELEASE MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO WEAR THE SEAT BELT. I CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY. ENDED UP PAYING $300 TO GET IT REPAIRED. I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS IN PLACE, SO THAT I MAY BE REFUNDED THE MONEY SPENT TO REPAIR. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATING. THE DEALERS DETERMINED THAT THE FUSE FOR THE COOLING FAN BURNED OUT WHICH CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE . THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUSES. AS CONTACT WAS LEAVING THE DEALERS LOT, THE ENGINE LIGHT IMMEDIATELY ILLUMINATED. THE DEALERS DETERMINED THE PART USED FOR REPLACEMENT WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE COMPUTER MODULE OF THE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERS REPLACED THE FUSES AND THE ENGINE COMPUTER MODULE. RECENTLY, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN DEALERS WHO DETERMINED THAT A COUPLER ON THE COMPUTER MODULE WAS PRESENTING PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERS BEING SERVICED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FAILED AFTER A PREVIOUS RECALL WAS PERFORMED. WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT A STOP SIGN, THE RIGHT FRONT END DROPPED INTO THE WHEEL WELL CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK UP. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 5 MPH DURING CLEAR AND DRY ROAD CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ON 07/9/06 WHO DETERMINED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 07/10/06 FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAD A RECALL PERFORMED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IN 04/04.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL REMEDY REPAIRS PERFORM ON THE VEHICLE TWO YEARS AGO FOR THE BALL JOINTS. THE REPLACEMENT BALL JOINT BECAME FRACTURED BLOWING OUT A TIRE AND DESTROYING THE RIM. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT THE REPLACEMENT BALL JOINT WER ALSO DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER FIXED THE LOWER BALL JOINT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HOWEVER THE CONTACT EXPRESSED REPLACEMENT OF THE OTHER BALL JOINT WAS ALSO NEEDED BECAUSE IT MAY BE DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER DECLINED THE REQUEST; THE RECALL WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED.

LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE TO RIGHT FRONT OF 2002 JEEP LIBERTY RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE IN ADDITION TO LOWER FRONT BODY DAMAGE. *JB

DEFECTIVE LOWER FRONT BALL JOINT SEPARATED CAUSING DAMAGE TO WHEEL SHAFT, RIM, AND BALL JOINT. *JB

SEAT BELT HOOK FOR DRIVER'S SIDE IS NOT POPPING BACK UP. THE BUTTON STAYS PUSHED DOWN AND MUST BE PRIED UP. *NM

REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING AND WAS FIXED. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER IT STARTED LEAKING AGAIN. DEALERSHIP STATES SECOND SET OF NEW GASKETS AND SEALS WERE PUT IN. ALL NUTS AND AROUND GASKETS APPEAR TO BE SEALED WITH SOME TYPE OF BLACK SHINY SEALANT. AGAIN, APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER IT IS LEAKING AGAIN. *JB

THE LOWER LEFT BALL JOINT ON MY 2002 JEEP LIBERTY FAILED WHILE IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT. *JB

2002 LIBERTY LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED ONTO THE WHEEL. *TS ***NAR*** THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT, UPPER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT AND CV AXLE. THE CONSUMER LEARN OF A RECALL ON THE BALL JOINT AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER.

LOWER RIGHT HAND BALL JOINT CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED ON 2002 JEEP LIBERTY 4WD WITH APPROX. 68K MILES. (THIS VEHICLE HAD THE LOWER BALL JOINT RECALL WORK PERFORMED AT 33K MILES.) WHEN LBJ FAILURE OCCURRED, VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 10 MPH. TOTAL DAMAGE INCLUDED BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT NEEDING TO BE REPLACED, A DRIVE AXLE REPLACEMENT, AND A RIGHT FRONT FENDER REPLACEMENT. *NM

FAILURE OF FRONT RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT ON MY 2002 JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLE. *JB

WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 JEEP LIBERTY, THE PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE AND THE WHOLE SIDE OF CAR HIT THE GROUND AND MY JEEP SKIDDED ABOUT 30 FEET THEN CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I COULDN'T TURN THE VEHICLE IN ANY DIRECTION WHILE IT WAS SKIDDING. I WAS LUCKY I WAS ONLY GOING 20 MPH! CHRYSLER IS FIXING MY CAR AT NO CHARGE, BUT MY CONCERN IS OF SAFETY. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT A FASTER SPEED, ON A TURN, THE CAR WOULD HAVE GONE OFF THE CLIFF, ROLLED, AND I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. THIS IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE: AFTER THE INCIDENT, I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. ON ARRIVAL, THEY LOOKED UP THE VIN, AND INFORMED ME THAT THE RECALL (#03V460000) HAD ALREADY BEEN 'PERFORMED' BACK IN 2004. IF THEY "FIXED" IT IN 2004->WHY DID IT BREAK IN 2006???!!!! AND WHY ARE THEY SO QUICK TO FIX AND PAY FOR IT???? SEEMS TO ME THEY KNOW THAT THERE ARE STILL MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR"FIX" BACK IN 2003. SCARY!!! PEOPLE THAT HAD IT "FIXED" RIGHT AFTER THE RECALL CAME OUT, MAY STILL BE IN DANGER!! THE PARTS USED IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE!!!! HERE IS THE WHOLE STORY: 1. RUBBING/GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT OF CAR. VERY RANDOM AND INCONSISTENT. HAPPENED WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL AT A STOP, WHILE DRIVING, HEARD NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, ETC. NOISE STARTED AROUND MARCH '05. 2. NUMEROUS TRIPS TO MECHANIC, COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM. REPLACED BRAKES, RESURFACED DRUMS, CLEANED OUT POWER STEERING, ETC. 3. JUNE '06, DID GOOGLE SEARCHES TO SEE IF THE

2002 JEEP LIBERTY, LOWER LEFT BALL JOINT FAILED. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX. 35 MPH GOING STRAIGHT AHEAD WHEN THE BALL JOINT SEPARATED. THE JOINT SETTLED INTO THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT WHEEL DAMAGING THE WHEEL AND THE WHEEL CONTACTED THE REAR OF THE INNER FENDER DAMAGING THE FENDER LINER. NO OTHER APPARENT DAMAGE, DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GET THE LIBERTY STOPPED OFF THE ROAD WAY. TOWED THE JEEP TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED BOTH FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE, ORDERED A REPLACEMENT WHEEL AND INNER FENDER ALSO TO BE INSTALLED FOR FREE. THIS VEHICLE HAD THE LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED ONCE BEFORE UNDER THE INITIAL RECALL. ABSOLUTELY NO FAITH IN THE MANUFACTURER TO ACTUALLY RESOLVE THESE FAILURES. I FULLY EXPECT TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. *NM

DRIVER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE RECALL WAS PERFORMED IN 2004, BALL JOINT FAILED JUNE 25, 2006. *JB

LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED WHILE DRIVING UNDER 15 MILES PER HOUR. *JB

AT 35,000 MILES THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN BEYOND SPEC AND REPLACED UNDER RECALL. AT 40,000 MILES DRIVER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT WORN TO THE POINT OF COLLAPSE AND FAILURE. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THEY HAVE TWO DEFECTIVE SEAT BELTS. AFTER THEY HAD THEIR VEHICLE FOR ONE MONTH, THE PASSENGER BACK SEAT BELT BECAME DEFECTIVE. THE SECOND SEAT BELT WHICH IS THE DRIVERS SEAT SEAT BELT BECAME DEFECTIVE LAST TUESDAY. THEY HAD NO PROBLEM PUTTING IT ON, BUT BECAME TRAPPED AND COULD NOT DISCONNECT THEIR SEAT BELT WHEN TRYING TO GET OUT OF THEIR VEHICLE. THE CONTACTS COWORKERS HAD TO GET HER OUT WITH A SWISS ARMY KNIFE AND WD40. NO FURTHER DAMAGE DONE TO SEAT BELT. A MECHANIC SAID THIS WAS CAUSED BY A WEAK SPRING. THEY HAVE BEEN USING THIS SEAT BELT SINCE, BUT IT IS NOT OPERATING FUNCTIONALLY. SEAT BELTS ARE FREE OF DIRT AND CONTAMINENTS. NO PICTURES AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THEIR RADIO BECAME DEFECTIVE ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO. THE RADIO TOOK THE JUICE OUT OF THE BATTERY CAUSING BATTERY TO DIE.

WE HAD A RECALL FOR THE BALL JOINTS OF OUR 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. IT TOOK NEARLY 2 YEARS TO GET THEM REPLACED. THEY WERE DAMAGED BY THE TIME I DID AND I HAD TO GET A TEMPORARY REPAIR ON THEM WHILE WE WAITED FOR THE PARTS. THEY WERE REPAIRED AT THE END OF FEBRUARY EARLY MARCH OF THIS YEAR. AT THE END OF MAY I NOTICED A SIMILAR NOISE TO WHAT I HAD BEEN HEARING WHEN THE ORIGINAL BALL JOINTS HAD MADE BEFORE THEY WERE REPLACE. AS IT TURNED OUT THEY HAD GONE BAD ALREADY. IT SEEMS THAT THE NEW BALL JOINTS ARE DEFECTIVE TOO. I HAVE HAD SOME OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES FOR THIS ISSUE AND I AM NOT HAPPY AT HOW I HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH BY THE DEALER AND DAIMLER CHRYSLER. I SENT A COMPLAINT TO DAIMLER AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY WERE SORRY I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH MY VEHICLE AND WOULD FILE IT IN A CONSUMER SURVEY FILE. I AM NOT UNHAPPY WITH THE VEHICLE. I AM UNHAPPY WITH HOW HARD IT HAS BEEN TO GET THIS RECALL ISSUE FIXED AND HAVING TO PAY FOR SERVICE ON THE BALL JOINTS. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM GLENN E THOMAS DODGE. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP WITH DAIMLER WAS A WOMAN NAMED ALISON. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN OUT OF USE THIS TIME FOR OVER A MONTH BEFORE THE FINAL REPAIRS WERE MADE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED OVERTIME THE RUBBER SEAL ON THE REAR GLASS CAME LOOSE. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE GLUE BETWEEN THE RUBBER SEAL AND GLASS DETACHED. THE ENTIRE REAR WINDOW NEEDED REPLACED.

4 COLLEGE FRESHMAN COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IN A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY SPORT DUE TO BALL JOINT FAILURE. WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AT AN EXTREMELY LOW RATE OF SPEED THE LEFT DRIVERS SIDE BALL JOINT SNAPPED CAUSING THE TIRE TO BUCKLE INWARD WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO TIP AND THE AXLE TO BREAK. AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE COVERED THE BALL JOINT, AXLE AND RIM. WHAT WAS ALSO DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THIS MALFUNCTION WAS THE MOLDINGS THAT ARE AROUND THE TIRE AND THE WASHER FLUID TANK, WHICH CHRYSLER WILL NOT COVER. THESE DAMAGES WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURED IF THIS VEHICLES FRONT END DID NOT FAIL. ALSO THIS VEHICLE IS MAINTAINED PROPERLY AND TIMELY FASHION. IT WAS A PARENTS NIGHTMARE COMING HOME FROM DINNER AND HAVING 3 FRANTIC MESSAGES FROM A DAUGHTER IN COLLEGE IN ANOTHER STATE 10 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME. I THINK THE LEAST CHRYSLER COULD HAVE DONE WAS TO COVER THESE ITEMS. *NM

1. I HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE ALL DAY PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT WITHOUT ANY NOTICEABLE IRREGULARITIES. ON THE MORNING OF THE FAILURE, MONDAY, JUNE 12TH, 2006, I HAD JUST STARTED THE MORNING COMMUTE TO THE BABYSITTERS WITH MY 1-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY FOR ABOUT A MILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55 AND 65 MPH WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. 2. THE FAILURE WAS INITIALLY THOUGHT TO BE A FLAT TIRE (FRONT DRIVER SIDE), ALTHOUGH I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED A FLAT TIRE THAT SLOWED A VEHICLE SO FAST AND JERKED THE CAR SO SUDDENLY. I HONESTLY FEARED THAT THE VEHICLE MIGHT FLIP OR ROLL OVER, AND SEEING OTHER CARS NEARBY IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR, THE SAFETY OF MYSELF, MY DAUGHTER, AND OTHER DRIVERS WAS MY INITIAL CONCERN. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW BAD THIS MIGHT HAVE TURNED OUT IN THE WINTER ON A SNOWY SURFACE OR EVEN JUST A RAIN SOAKED SURFACE. ONCE I GOT THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND ONTO THE SHOULDER, I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE THE DESTROYED TIRE. IT WASN'T UNTIL AFTER GETTING ALL OF THE LUG NUTS OFF OF THE WHEEL THAT I REALIZED THERE WAS A BIGGER PROBLEM. THE WHEEL WOULD NOT BUDGE. 3. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST LOCAL TIRE STORE (TIRES PLUS). THAT IS WHEN THEY DIAGNOSED THE BROKEN LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT WHICH HAD SEPARATED AND BECAME LODGED INTO THE WHEEL AND DESTROYED THE WHEEL. I HAD TIRES PLUS REPLACE THE BALL JOINT, ORDER A NEW (CONDITIONED) WHEEL, AND REPLACE THE TIRE. LATER THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINT WAS LOOSE/HAD MOVEMENT AND ADVISED ME TO

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY BUTTON REMAINED DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 7/13/2006 - *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FELL TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME UNDER RECALL. A NHTSA RECALL, #03V460000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE LOWER BALL JOINT HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.

DRIVERS SIDE SAFETY BELT WILL NOT RETURN AFTER BEING DEPRESSED.

I PURCHASED A USED 2002 LIBERTY WITH ONLY 45,000 MILES ON IT, 9 DAYS LATER IT HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY THEN HAD IT FOR 2 WEEKS REPLACING THE HEAD BECAUSE THE EXHAUST ROCKER SPIT OUT OF PLACE. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE TENSIONER, TAPPETS, CAMSHAFT AND A FEW MINOR PARTS ALONG WITH THOSE. I HAD THE VEHICLE BACK ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT THEY WILL PROBABLY REPLACE THE WHOLE ENGINE. *NM

I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT MY 2002 JEEP LIBERTY RECALL ON THE FRONT BALL JOINTS. LUCKILY I JUST PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR AND THE BALL JOINT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FELL OUT. I HEARD A BIG CLUNK AND THEN COULDN'T MOVE THE CAR, THE INSIDE RIM WAS ALL GOUGED. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD ABOUT THE RECALL ON IT. I PURCHASED MY JEEP IN DEC 03 AND THIS RECALL WAS NOV 03, THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THEM PRIOR TO SELLING IT. *NM

I WAS DRIVING MY 02 JEEP LIBERTY DOWN THE INTERSTATE PASSING A 18 WHEELER AT 75 MPH WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS, SPEEDOMETER, AND INTERIOR LIGHTS TURNED OFF. I ENDED UP SLAMMING ON MY BRAKES AND MOVING MY CAR TO THE SIDE. I THEN HAD TO DRIVE 50 MILES WHILE HOLDING MY BRIGHTS IN, AND MY FLASHERS ON. AFTER THE FACT, I REPLACED A FEW FUSES, AND THAT WORKED FOR ABOUT A MONTH. THEN, ONCE A GAIN, THE SAME THING HAPPENED, AND THIS TIME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE FUSES. TO THIS DAY, MY CAR IS PARKED. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE CAME OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE LOWER BALL JOINT FRACTURED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V460000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE UNDER THE RECALL.

WE WERE RETURNING HOME TO CANADA FROM A HOLIDAY IN CALIFORNIA THROUGH THE REDWOOD FOREST AND SEVERAL OTHER MOUNTAINOUS/CLIFF SIDE HIGHWAYS. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN WASHINGTON STATE WE HEARD A THUMP AND THEN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TRUCK WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER OFF THE ROAD. WHEN WE TRIED TO JACK UP THE TRUCK, TO CHANGE THE TIRE, WE REALIZED IT WAS SOMETHING FAR MORE SERIOUS. THE LEFT BALL JOINT STEM WAS STUCK THROUGH THE ALUMINUM RIM. THE CONTROL ARM WAS ALSO BROKEN. THERE WAS OVER 200 FEET OF RUBBER LAID WHILE TRYING TO STOP AND CORKSCREWS OF ALUMINUM FROM THE WHEEL ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. THIS ALL HAPPENED WITH 22,377KM DRIVEN. THE BALL JOINTS WERE THEN REPLACED AGAIN WITH THE RECALL IN NOV/2003. ON MAY 4/06 THE BALL JOINT SEPARATED AGAIN WHILE PULLING ONTO THE STREET FROM A PARKING LOT. THIS TIME WE ARE OUT OF WARRANTY @145,534KM. THE REPAIRS/TOWING AMOUNTED TO APPROX. $700. THE BILLS HAVE BEEN FORWARDED TO DAIMLER CHRYSLER CANADA FOR REIMBURSEMENT. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN OFF ROAD. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, SOMETHING IN THE FRONT END DIFFERENTIAL BROKE. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. I'M ON MY 3RD SET OF TIRES. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. IT'S IN THE SHOP MORE THAN IT IS OUT. *JB

SEAT BELT RELEASE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT "POP" BACK OUT AFTER RELEASING THE SEAT BELT. WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW THE SEAT BELT TO LATCH BACK AFTER RELEASING. *NM

2002 JEEP LIBERTY LIMITED TRAVELING AT 50 MPH HEARD A LOUD BANG AND VEHICLE APPEARED TO HAVE A BLOW OUT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OFF ROAD. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE WHEEL, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NEAR JEEP DEALER, THE FULL DAMAGE WAS IDENTIFIED INCLUDING NEW WHEEL, TIRE, SEALS AND MECHANICAL PARTS. TOTAL COST ESTIMATED AT $ 1400 THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED UNDER A FACTORY RECALL AUG 27, 2004, 20 MONTHS AND APPROXIMATELY 29000 MILES EARLIER THAN THIS INCIDENT JUDGING BY THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR REPEAT FAILURES POSTED WITH NHTSA, THIS APPEARS TO BE A GENERIC ISSUE WITH THE REPLACEMENT PARTS USED DURING THE RECALL OR THE DESIGN. THE DEALER, NOT OUR NORMAL SERVICE DEALER, WILL NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED DURING THE RECALL. ATTEMPTING TO GET DAIMLER CHRYSLER JEEP CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPEAT FAILURE AND REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY BUT NOT SUCCESSFUL YET. IN THE INTERIM, HAVE PERSONALLY APPROVED REPAIRS AS NEED VEHICLE. *JB

WHILE TURNING RIGHT INTO A PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR IN MY 2002 JEEP LIBERTY, I EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE LOWER BALL JOINT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE BALL JOINT DROPPED AND THE BOLT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BALL JOINT STRUCK AND SEVERELY DUG INTO MY 5 MONTH OLD JEEP CHROME ALLOY WHEEL. THIS ALL TOOK PLACE AT TRAVELING ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR AND TRAVELING ONLY ABOUT 10 FEET. I JUST HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY FOR REPAIR. PLEASE NOTE THAT I DID HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT 20,005 MILES IN RESPONSE OF THE LOWER BALL JOINT RECALL, AT WHICH TIME THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AND HEAT SHIELDS INSTALLED TO AVOID FUTURE FAILURE OF THE BALL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 38,600 MILES, WHICH MEANS THESE NEW BALL JOINTS ONLY LASTED 18,600 MILES, WITH ABSOLUTELY NO OFF ROAD DRIVING! I WILL BE CALLING THE JEEP DEALERSHIP THIS MONDAY MORNING FOR THEIR INPUT AND HOPEFULLY SUPPORT OF MAKING GOOD ON THIS SEVERE FAILURE. I THANK GOD THAT THIS FAILURE TOOK PLACE AT 5 MILES AN HOUR AND NOT WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AS I KNOW THAT I MAY VERY WELL HAVE BEEN KILLED. *NM

A RECALL WAS ASSURED ON 2002 JEEP LIBERTY'S IN 2003, ON THE LOWER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY. THE INFORMATION I HAVE, SHOWS MY JEEP LIBERTY TO HAVE THIS FIXED IN MARCH OF 2004. I DO NOT HAVE INFORMATION ON THE MILEAGE AT THAT TIME, BUT IN FEB. OF 2005 IT HAD 35341 MILES. I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THE JEEP IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, WITH THE REPLACEMENT THEY USED FROM THE FIRST RECALL. THE JEEP HAS ONLY 46770 ON IT CURRENTLY. IT SEEMS UNREAL THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WOULD GO BAD TWICE UNDER 50000 MILES UNLESS THERE IS STILL IS A PROBLEM. *JB