NHTSA Complaint #10070363 — 2002 JEEP LIBERTY

AT THE END OF THE 2001 I BOUGHT A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY SPORT WITH SERVICE CONTRACT. MINOR PROBLEM HAVE OCCURRED IN THE FIRST YEAR. IN THE 16TH MONTH OF OWNERSHIP THE VEHICLE ENGINE FAILED WHILE I WAS MAKING A TRIP TO LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. MY FAMILY AND I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION IT SUDDENLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND HAD IT TOWED TO TOBIN JEEP IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD FAILED AND THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE ENGINE. CHRYSLER PROMISED THAT THE NEW ENGINE WOULD ARRIVE BY MAY 5, 2003 SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED ON APRIL 30, 2003. I DECIDED TO BUY A MAX CARE BECAUSE I PLANNED ON KEEPING THIS CAR FOR A LONG TIME. TOBIN THE DEALERSHIP DID LOAN ME A CAR WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT IN NEVADA. I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO DRIVE IT BACK TO CALIFORNIA WHERE MY JOB AND MY RESIDENCE ARE. IT WAS EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT FOR ME BECAUSE HAVE TO TAKE THE GREYHOUND BUS BACK TO CALIFORNIA OR LOOSE MY JOB. CHRYSLER HAS GIVEN ME $30.00 A DAY FOR MAXIMUM OF FIVE DAYS CHARGED TO MY CREDIT CARD AND CHRYSLER PROMISED TO REIMBURSE. I NOW USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. I?VE BEEN LATE FOR WORK THE LAST 3 WEEKS AND I?M STARTING TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH MY BOSS. ON MAY 28,2003 AT 9:00 PM I CALLED TOBIN JEEP THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE IN DONE AND IT JUST NEEDED TO BE TEST DRIVEN. THE NEXT DAY THE MAY 29,2003 I WAS GETTING READY TO TAKE GREYHOUND BUS AFTER WORK AT 11:00 P.M. BACK TO NEVADA TO PICK UP MY JEEP LIBERTY. I CALLED TO CONFIRM TO MAKE SURE THE CAR IS FIXED. TOBIN JEEP INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD FAILED AGAIN FOR THE 2ND TIME. BEFORE THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS THE PROBLEM AND NOW THE ENGINE VALVE HEAD IS THE PROBLEM. I CALLED AGAIN ON JUNE 10, 2003. TOBIN THE DEALER INDICATES THAT THE VALVE SPRING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE ENGINE FAILED FOR THE 3RD TIME. THE VEHICLE IS NOW 40 DAYS AND COUNTING IN THE SHOP AT TOBIN JEEP IN LAS VEGAS NEVADA. EMMANUEL LAPENA 408-296-3055