2003 Jeep Liberty complaints

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE NHTSA RECALL #06V288000, REGARDING THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WOULD TAKE TEN DAYS FOR THE SERVICE DEALER TO OBTAIN THE PARTS. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THIS WAS TOO LONG TO WAIT FOR SUCH A SAFETY ISSUE TO BE ADDRESSED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST THE CONTACT TO GET THE WORK DONE ANY QUICKER.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED NO PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #06V288000 ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

I WAS CONTACTED BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER REGARDING A SAFETY RECALL (F23) FOR LOWER BALL JOINTS ON MY 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. I FOLLOWED THE RECALL DIRECTIONS AND CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER (STEVE WHITE MOTORS) TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THAT MY REPAIR WOULD NEED TO WAIT 10 WEEKS DUE TO THE RATIONING OF REPAIR PARTS TO THE DEALERS BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER. I THEN CONTACTED THE "HELP" NUMBER FOR DAIMLER CHRYSLER PROVIDED BY THEM ON THE RECALL NOTICE. I WAS TOLD THAT ASIDE FROM HAVING MY VEHICLE INSPECTED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WITHIN A 20 MILE RADIUS FROM MY HOME, NOR COULD THEY PROVIDE THE REPAIR PART ANY SOONER. THE RECALL NOTICE INDICATES THAT THE FAULT IN THE PART "CAN CAUSE THE BALL JOINT TO...SEPARATE. BALL JOINT SEPARATION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING." AND NOW I'M TOLD TO WAIT 2 AND 1/2 MONTHS BEFORE THIS CONDITION CAN BE CORRECTED. THAT'S 2 AND 1/2 MONTHS OF JEOPARDIZING MY WIFE'S AND MY SAFETY. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO ME AND SHOULD BE TO BOTH DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND YOU. *JB

I HAVE A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY FOR WHICH I HEARD RE: RECALL SOME MONTHS BACK. I INQUIRED AT MY DEALERSHIP IN AUG ( GREENBRIAR JEEP) AND WAS TOLD I WOULD GET A NOTICE. WELL, I DID RECEIVE NOTICE 11/12. WHEN I CALLED DEALER TODAY 11/13, I WAS TOLD THEY DID NOT HAVE PARTS, AND THE PARTS WERE ALREADY 2 WEEKS BEHIND. IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THERE SHOULD BE ENOUGH REPAIR KITS FOR ALL VEHICLES INVOLVED. IS THERE ANYWAY OF EXPEDITING THIS REPAIR? I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS KIND OF DELAY WHERE SAFETY IN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IS IN QUESTION. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, M. SHERMAN. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A NHTSA RECALL LETTER #06V288000, REGARDING THE SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT WAS RECEIVED ON 11/07/06. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, WHO SUGGESTED THAT THE PARTS DEPARTMENT NEEDED TO ORDER THE PART. THE PARTS DEPARTMENT EXPRESSED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE RECALL PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER, AND IT WOULD TAKE 4 TO 5 MONTHS TO GET THE PART. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THE DEFECTIVE PART COULD CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF THE LOWER BALL JOINT FRACTURED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER AFTER FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SERVICE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO MAKE RECALL REPAIRS FOR RECALL F23 FOR THE SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINTS, DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER REFUSING TO SEND REPLACEMENT PARTS.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A NHTSA RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED # 03V460000 REGARDING THE SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL WORK, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PERFORM RECALL WORK ON A TIMELY MATTER DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER'S INABILITY TO RECEIVE SPARE PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED THE STATEMENTS MADE BY THE DEALER ADDING THAT THEY WERE AWAITING FOR 3500 BACK LOG PARTS FOR RECALL WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY GOING ONTO THE 5TH WEEK OF THE WAITING LIST. UPDATED 12/15/2006 - THE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED NO PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V288000, REGARDING THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED NO PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V288000, REGARDING THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A NHTSA RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED, #06V288000 REGARDING THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP.

BALL JOINT FAILURE THREE TIMES. EMERGENCY BRAKE ON FIVE SPEED NEVER HAS WORKED PROPERLY. REPLACE ENGINE AT 70,000. NOW THE CARD END JOINT FOR THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. MY BIGGEST COMPLAINT IS THE BALL JOINT FAILURE FOR THE THIRD TIME. THIS ISSUE ALSO CAUSES CHAIN REACTIONS IN THE TIRES I HAVE HAD THREE SETS OF TIRES WEAR UNEVEN AND I WROTE THE COMPANY THE FIRST TIME TO COMPLAIN AND GOT NO RESPONSE. I USE MY JEEP TO MAKE MY INCOME AND DO NOT TRUST IT ANY MORE. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS VEHICLE TO ANY ONE AND WILL NOT PASS IT ON TO ANY FAMILY MEMBER. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A RECALL LETTER #06V288000 WAS RECEIVED REGARDING THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A NHTSA RECALL #06V288000 REGARDING SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT LETTER WAS RECEIVED ON 11/06/06. ON 11/09/06, THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO DETERMINED THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO BE PUT ON A WAITING LIST BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED THAT SAME DAY, WHO OFFERED THAT THERE COULD BE OTHER DEALERS WITH SHORTER WAITING LISTS. THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN A LIST OF OTHER DEALERS IN THE AREA. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THE RECALLED COMPONENT COULD POSE A SERIOUS RISK IF THE LOWER BALL JOINT FRACTURED. UPDATED 1/29/2007 - BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT WAS COMPLETED ON 1/7/2007. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A NHTSA RECALL LETTER # 03V460000 REGARDING SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT WAS RECEIVED. TWO DEALERSHIPS WERE CONTACTED TO ASK IF THE ALIGNMENT AFTER PERFORMING THE BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT WAS INCLUDED. THE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVES STATED THE ALIGNMENT WAS CONSIDERED VEHICLE MAINTENANCE AS SUCH WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL REMEDY. IF THE ALIGNMENT WERE NOT PERFORMED THE TIRES WOULD RAPIDLY WEAR OFF AND ITS REPLACEMENT WOULD ALSO BE REQUIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO COINCIDED WITH THE DEALERSHIPS STATEMENT. THE CONTACT CONSIDERED THE RECALL REMEDY INSUFFICIENT BECAUSE THE MISALIGNMENT WAS A CONSEQUENCE OF MANUFACTURER DEFECT.

SAFETY RECALL F23-LOWER BALL JOINTS 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. *TS THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR AT LEAST THREE WEEKS, AND THEN THE CONSUMER WOULD BE PLACED ON A WAITING LIST. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIR, THE DEALER NOTICED THE ROTORS WERE CORRODED AND REPLACED ALL FOUR ROTORS.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE DEALER FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, AND WAS INFORMED OF THE NHTSA RECALL, F23 FOR THE SUSPENSION: FRONT:CONTROL ARM; LOWER BALL JOINT. THE SERVICE DEALER INFORMED THE VEHICLE WOULD BE ADDED TO THE WAITING LIST OF 43 OTHER VEHICLES OF WHICH 3 A WEEK WERE BEING SERVICED AS PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THEY WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE SERVICE AT AN INDEPENDENT DEALER OR REIMBURSE FOR THE PART IF THE INDEPENDENT DEALER WAS USED ALTHOUGH ANOTHER SERVICE DEALER COULD BE CONTACTED TO FIND A SHORTER WAITING LIST.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN A NHTSA RECALL LETTER F23 WAS RECEIVED FOR THE SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT, THE SERVICE DEALER WAS CONTACTED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A WAITING LIST OF 4-6 WEEKS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE LOWER BALL JOINT SUSPENSION #06V288000. BOTH THE SERVICE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THE MANUFACTURER ONLY WILL SEND OUT 3 PARTS PER DEALERSHIP PER WEEK AND IT WILL TAKE FOUR MONTHS TO GET THE PARTS FOR THE REMEDY REPAIR.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER TO BALANCE AND ROTATE THE TIRES. ABNORMAL WEAR WAS FOUND ON THE TIRES THAT HAD BEEN PURCHASED IN 08/2006. FOUR SEPARATE SERVICE DEALERS WERE CONTACTED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, AFTER RECEIVING RECALL F23, FOR THE SUSPENSION: FRONT CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINTS. EACH SERVICE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT OF THE BACK ORDER OF PARTS AND OFFERED TO ADD THE VEHICLE TO A WAIT LIST. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT PARTS WERE ON HAND, FOR IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #06V288000 REGARDING THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

WE HAD THE RECALL(BALL JOINTS) DONE ON OUR JEEP LIBERTY BACK IN 03. THEN ON 10/03/06 WE HAD IT BACK IN THE SHOP FOR STIFFNESS IN THE STEERING; WE WERE TOLD THE BALL JOINTS WERE FINE, AND THAT IT COULD BE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND RACK AND PINION. ON 10/31/06, THE BALL JOINTS BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN MAJOR MECHANICAL DAMAGE TO OUR JEEP!!! IF THIS IS A RECALL ON THE FIRST RECALL, WHY SHOULD WE FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AFTER WE GET IT BACK? HOW DO WE KNOW ITS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN? PLEASE GIVE US SOME INPUT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE NOTICE FOR NHTSA RECALL # 03V460000, WHICH PERTAINS TO THE LOWER BALL JOINT, WAS RECEIVED. A SERVICE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THEY STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS CURRENTLY LIMITED TO 3 PARTS PER WEEK. THEREFORE THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR 3 TO 4 WEEKS BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING LIMITED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, WHO STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER, AND THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. UPDATED 12/1/2006 - *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #06V288000 ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

RECALL BALL JOINT WORK CARRIED OUT TO JEEP LIBERTY, AT APPROX 10,000 MILES. BALL JOINT FAILED AT 24,000 MILES FRONT END COLLAPSED WHILST WIFE DRIVING VEHICLE WITH 2 CHILDREN AS PASSENGERS, DAMAGING DRIVE SHAFT, WHEEL AND TIRE. JEEP WILL HAVE MY VEHICLE FOR 6 WEEKS DUE TO AVAILABILITY OF PARTS. BUT THEY ARE FIXING IT. *NM

I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY JEEP LIBERTY. UPON TAKING IT IN FOR A VIBRATION PROBLEM IN THE FRONT END, IT WAS DECIDED THE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE IN BAD SHAPE. NO PARTS ARE AVAILBLE TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM FOR 3 TO 4 WEEK WAITING LIST. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING RECALL WORK#06V288000 REGARDING SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT AXLES AND BOTH WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LEFT AXLE WAS REPAIRED, AND WHEN THE FRONT RIGHT AXLE WAS BEING REPAIRED, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE BOLTS IN THE AXLE WERE SHEARED AND A LOT OF RUST WAS PRESENT. THERE WAS NO SHAKING OR VIBRATION PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. A REPRESENTATIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP EXPRESSED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THAT ONLY 1 HOUR WOULD BE GIVEN TO THE DEALER'S MECHANICS TO FIX BOTH SIDES. THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE AND WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE GOING UP A HILL, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. THE SPOUSE WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE AND HIT A GUARD RAIL. THERE WERE INJURIES SUSTAINED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED ALL OF THE DAMAGE WAS NOTED ON THE LEFT SIDE WHERE THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DUE FOR AN INSPECTION AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THE LEFT TIRE WAS WEARING PREMATURELY. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC NOTED THE BALL JOINT ON THE RIGHT SIDE WAS BAD AND READY TO COME LOOSE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #06V288000, REGARDING THE SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 11/06/06. *JB

2003 JEEP LIBERTY BALL JOINT BROKE OFF AND AXLE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE, AND THE WHEEL FELL OFF. CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. *KB *JB

PARKING BRAKE IN PLACE WHILE GOING INTO STORE NOT WORKING PROPERLY CAUSED VEHICLE TO ROLL DOWN STREET CAUSING A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALSO WHILE IN VEHICLE STOP LEVEL SURFACE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL CAR ROLLED 3-4 FEET. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V46000, REGARDING THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER, THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 09/13/06. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT CAUSING A CRASH AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER TO AWAIT INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

ON AUGUST 11, 2006 WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, MY JEEP LIBERTY BEGAN TO SWAY. I PROCEEDED TO SLOW WHEN MY REAR AXLE INCLUDING WHEELS FELL OFF. NO WARNING, THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE DISASSEMBLED. THE CONDITIONS THAT NIGHT WERE WET, HOWEVER THERE WAS NOTHING MORE THAN THAT. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED CHRYSLER MECHANIC. I INQUIRED TO WHAT WOULD CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO JUST FALL APART THIS WAY. I WAS INFORMED IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT? THERE WAS NO IMPACT WHICH WAS EVIDENT BY THE CONDITION OF MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPAIRED. THE LEFT REAR CONTROL ARM AND DRIVESHAFT HAD TO BE REPAIRED AND REINSTALLED IN ADDITION TO THE REAR END ASM AND LEFT WHEEL AND TIRE REPLACED. *JB

I PURCHASED MY 2003 JEEP LIBERTY FROM CENTRAL FLORIDA CHRYSLER/JEEP IN JANUARY OF 2004. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER AND THE DEALER DID NOT FIX THE BALL JOINTS BEFORE HE SOLD THE VEHICLE TO ME. IF IT IS TRUE THAT A RECALL TOOK PLACE IN 2003 I WOULD ASSUME THIS MATTER WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. HOWEVER, ON THE NIGHT OF JULY 1, AT 1AM I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN IN THE JEEP LIBERTY, AND PROCEEDING AT ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED AND THE STEERING WENT CRAZY. THE LIBERTY VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND HIT AN ELECTRICAL POLE AND CONTINUED INTO A FENCE. THE JEEP LIBERTY WAS TOTALED, FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO SERIOUS INJURIES. AT THE TIME I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE HELL HAD HAPPENED. NOW I KNOW. *NM

2003 JEEP LIBERTY BALL JOINT BROKE AND THE WHEEL FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. RECALL ON THE BALL JOINTS WAS ISSUED AND DEALER REFUSES TO HELP THE CONSUMER. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED SHE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. *JB THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD WITH UNREMEDIED LOWER BALL JOINT RECALL 03V-460. THE CURRENT OWNER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL BUT THE LETTER WAS SENT TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER ON 12/15/2003. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED AND A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. A PRIVATE MECHANIC WAS CONSULTED, WHO DETERMINED THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL HAD DETACHED DUE TO A SEPARATION OF THE FRONT LEFT BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 03V460000 WHICH PERTAINED TO THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 9/5/2006 - *NM

BOTH FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS SHOW EXCESSIVE WEAR AND "PLAY" TO THE POINT WHERE THE AUTHORIZED JEEP DEALERSHIP INDICATED THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *JB

BOTH REAR PASSENGER WINDOWS ON MY 2003 JEEP LIBERTY HAVE FALLEN OFF OF THE TRACK. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP, A MAN WHO WORKED THERE INFORMED ME THAT THIS HAPPENS "ALL THE TIME TO LIBERTY'S." HE CLAIMED THE MOTOR WAS TOO SMALL. I WAS UPSET WHEN THE DEALERSHIP WANTED $350 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE IT RAINS OFTEN, AND THE WINDOW SLIPPING ALLOWS FOR WATER TO GET IN. FURTHERMORE, A FRIEND WHO OWNS A LIBERTY HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM WONDERING HOW COMMON THIS PROBLEM REALLY IS, AND WHETHER OR NOT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *JB

I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN IN A PARKING LOT AT APPROX 5 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED. AT THIS POINT I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE, AND WAS FORCED TO STOP IN THE LOT ENTRANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD THE BALL JOINT RECALL WORK PERFORMED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT END WAS PULLING AND SWAYING BADLY TO THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. TWICE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WAS REPLACED. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN NOVEMBER 2004 UNDER RECALL # 03V460000; SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT. THE SECOND TIME WAS IN JUNE 2005. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE BRAKE INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE BALL JOINTS WERE SO BAD THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING AND SWAYING TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE DEALERSHIP DIRECTED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A ROAD, THE BALL JOINT ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE MAKING THE VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE AND TEARING UP MY WHEEL. LUCKILY, MY SON WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE MAIN ROAD AND CALL FOR HELP. THIS VEHICLE WAS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY SPORT WHICH I BOUGHT IN OCTOBER, 2005. THIS INCIDENT LEFT ME WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION TO WORK DUE TO THE UNCOOPERATIVE STAFF AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MAIN JEEP CONSUMER OFFICE. THE GARAGE HAULED THE VEHICLE TO REPAIR BUT INSISTED ONLY REPAIRING THE JOINT THAT HAD BROKE. WHEN I ASKED FOR A NUMBER TO CONTACT THE MAIN JEEP COMPANY, I WAS TOLD THIS DEALERSHIP HAD NO SUCH NUMBER. I FEEL THIS WAS A LIE BECAUSE THE NEXT DAY I WAS ABLE TO ACQUIRE A NUMBER FROM ANOTHER DEALERSHIP IN OUR AREA. I HAVE REQUESTED BOTH BOTTOM BALL JOINTS BE REPLACED BUT SO FAR HAVE BEEN DENIED. I AM TRYING TO PROTECT MY FAMILY FROM HAVING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND FEEL EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT IT HAS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT A RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED IN REGARDS TO THE LOWER FRONT BALL JOINTS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PART WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART. THE VEHICLE SOON EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS WHEN THE BALL JOINTS FAILED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE AXLE WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND AN INVESTIGATOR WAS SENT TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. THE INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD ONLY COVER THE RECALL REPAIRS FOR THE BALL JOINTS BUT NO DAMAGES THAT WERE CAUSED BY THE DEFECT.

AS I MADE A RIGHT TURN AT 5 MPH, I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER OR DRIVE THE CAR. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CRASHED. THE LOWER BALL JOINT HAD FAILED, DIGGING INTO THE WHEEL. THE WHEEL ACTUALLY SEPARATED FROM THE CAR AS WE WERE REMOVING THE CAR FROM THE TOW TRUCK. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM 2 OR 3 YEARS AGO, AND I HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE AT THAT TIME. HOWEVER, IT STILL FAILED SO THE RECALL WORK WAS INEFFECTIVE. THE DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO ASSURE ME THAT THE REPAIR WILL PREVENT THE PROBLEM FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. ACCORDING TO DISCUSSIONS AT JEEPSUNLIMITED.COM, OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME FAILURE EVEN AFTER HAVING THE RECALL WORK DONE. *JB

ON JUNE 6, 2006, MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL(T-BONE) COLLISION. A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF IT AFTER CROSSING 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC. SPEED WAS 55 MPH. I WAS STRUCK IN THE DRIVERS FRONT AND SMASHED THE FRONT OF THE AUTO. INSURANCE TOTALED THE CAR AS DAMAGE WAS IN EXCESS OF $11,000. A PASSENGER WAS IN THE CAR. BOTH WORE SEAT BELTS. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED IN SPITE OF A FRONTAL COLLISION THAT TOTALED THE VEHICL. *NM

AFTER PURCHASING THE 03 JEEP LIBERTY 4X4. I WAS MADE AWARE OF THE LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. I JUST HAD MINE CHECKED BECAUSE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED. WITH 27,000 MILES ON IT, IT HAD ALREADY HAD NEW BALL JOINTS ADDED TO IT. THIS MAKE ME NERVOUS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. I HEARD THEY GO OUT EASILY AND YOU MUST CHECK THESE LOWER BALL JOINTS OFTEN. THIS IS JUST POOR ENGINEERING, AND FOR MY FAMILY, JUST MAKES FOR AN UNEASY, SORT OF A HOSTILE DRIVING ENVIRONMENT, DUE TO CONSTANT NERVOUSNESS. *JB

1. REALLY NOTHING LEAD UP TO FAILURE, IT WAS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF MY LOWER BALL JOINTS. THANK GOD WE WERE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AND NOT AT 70 MPH. 2. BASICALLY MY LEFT FRONT TIRE COLLAPSED, CAUSING ME TO CALL FLATBED TOW TRUCK, FRONT WHEEL FENDER DAMAGE AND OVER $500 IN REPAIRS TO JUST THE LOWER BALL JOINT. 3. CHRYSLER WILL NOT DO AN INVESTIGATION, BECAUSE REPAIRS WERE DONE. I WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF N.D. THEY SAID THEY WOULD COVER THE BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT. I HAVE THE OLD BALL JOINTS, ONE EXHIBITS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND THE OTHER HAS THE TELL-TALE LUBRICANT LOSS DESCRIBED IN THE REPORT. NOTE--I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE RECALL AND HAD WORK DONE. EVIDENTLY THE BALL JOINTS WERE NOT REPLACED, BUT THE HEAT SHIELD WAS INSTALLED. *JB

I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 2003 JEEP LIBERTY AS DESCRIBED IN EA06008. THE FRONT RIGHT BALL JOINT WAS REPAIRED PURSUANT TO THE RECALL IN 2004 (03V-460). SHORTLY AFTER THE RECALL I OBSERVED UNUSUAL NOISES AND GRINDING SENSATIONS IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION, SO I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER THAT HAD CONDUCTED THE RECALL REPAIR. THEY DETERMINED THAT A HEAT SHIELD HAD BEEN INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, AND ADJUSTED IT. APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS LATER (AUGUST 2004) THE NOISES RETURNED MORE SEVERELY, AND A DIFFERENT AUTHORIZED JEEP DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT RIGHT BALL JOINT HAD TO BE REPLACED, AT SIGNIFICANT COST TO ME. MOST RECENTLY, THE RIGHT FRONT BALL JOINT COMPLETELY FAILED JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO (JUNE 2006). THIS TIME THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BECAME COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE STEERING CONTROL BAR, RESULTING IN OVER $3000 IN REPAIR COSTS. LUCKILY, MY PREGNANT WIFE WAS DRIVING ONLY 3 MPH IN A SMALL ALLEY WHEN THIS OCCURRED. HAD IT OCCURRED AT HIGHER SPEEDS, THERE SURELY COULD HAVE BEEN FAR MORE TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES. *JB

I NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE IN THE FRONT OF MY 2003 JEEP LIBERTY LIMITED 4WD ON FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2006. I DROVE THE NEXT DAY TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE, JULY 8. AS I WAS BACK UP TO PARK THE CAR STALLED A LITTLE AND BEGAN A GRINDING NOISE. AS I PULLED BACK THE LEFT WHEEL POPPED OUT. *JB

LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED WHILE I WAS IN WILLIAMSBURG. BROKEN BALL JOINT ALSO PUNCTURED THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WHILE RESTING UP AGAINST IT. HAD TO HAVE MY JEEP LIBERTY TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEN HAD TO PAY TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE RICHMOND AIRPORT TO RENT A CAR SINCE EVERYTHING WAS CLOSED IN WILLIAMSBURG AT 3:30 ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON. JEEP WAS REPAIRED THE FOLLOWING WEEK WITH A SUGGESTION TO FIX THE UPPER BALL JOINT SOON SINCE IT ALSO HAD SOME 'PLAY' IN IT. WHILE HAVING THE UPPER BALL JOINT REPLACED LOCALLY, MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE THE UPPER BALL JOINT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL SINCE IT LOOKED JUST AS BAD. HE SUGGESTED REPLACING THE LOWER BALL JOINT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE LEFT TO ME. THE LOWER BALL JOINT THAT HAD FAILED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS RETAINED BY THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP IN WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA. *NM

I ONLY STOPPED TO REALIZE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WHEN I SAW THAT THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION GOING. WE LOST CONTROL OF OUR 2003 JEEP LIBERTY IN THE WINTER OF 2003. WE DID NOT REPORT IT AS IT WAS A HILL THAT HAD ICE. WE HAD THE CAR IN 4WD LOW AND NEVER WENT BEYOND 2 MILES AN HOUR. THE CAR CONTINUED TO SLIDE AND SLIDE AND THERE WAS NO CONTROL OVER IT AND WE ENDED UP HITTING THE MOUNTAIN, THE BETTER OF THE 2 SCENARIOS THE OTHER GOING OFF A CLIFF. EVERY HILL I DRIVE I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM MOSTLY WHEN THERE IS SNOW ON THE GROUND (EVEN FRESH NON-ICE) SNOW IF THERE IS ANY DEGREE OF ANGLE TO THE HILL, I CAN NOT DRIVE IT. I HAVE SLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES ON ANGLED DIRT ROADS BUT NOT TO THE DEGREE THAT I CONTINUE TO HAVE WITH SNOW COVERED HILLS....AFTER READING THE REPORT I REALIZED THAT THIS COULD BE CAUSED TO THE RECALL AND ISSUES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE...I AM NOT CERTAIN, BUT AM GIVING THIS INFORMATION SHOULD IT HELP IN ANY WAY....THANKS! *JB