NHTSA Complaint #10165755 — 2004 JEEP LIBERTY

ON AUGUST 16TH, 2006 MY WIFE AND I WERE ON OUR WAY HOME WHEN HER 2004 JEEP LIBERTY CAME TO A ABRUPT STOP WHILE IN TRAFFIC (ABOUT 20-25 MPH TO 0 MPH IN A FLASH OF A SECOND, THRUSTING US BOTH FORWARD). THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT GOOD (HEAVY RAIN, LOW VISIBILITY), HOWEVER, OUR TRIP WAS UNEVENTFUL UP TO THIS POINT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP THEREAFTER. MY COMPLAINT STEMS FROM THE EARLIER CONVERSATION MY WIFE HAD WITH A LOCAL CHRYSLER-DODGE-JEEP DEALERSHIP (BAXTER AUTO GROUP). UPON CALLING THEM ON MONDAY AUGUST 14TH, 2006 TO RESERVE AN APPOINTMENT SHE WAS ASKED TO DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM. SHE NOTED THAT THERE SEEMED TO BE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING... AND THAT THE WHEELS SEEMED TO "GRIND" WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE. WE HAD HEARD ON FROM HER FATHER THAT CERTAIN JEEPS WERE BEING RECALLED FOR STEERING AND OR FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. WHEN SHE ASKED THE SERVICE PERSON WHETHER OR NOT SHE SHOULD BE CONCERNED HE NOTED THAT, "IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT OCCURRING ALL OF THE TIME THEN SHE SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THE RECALL BEGINS IN SEPTEMBER." THE DEALERSHIP WAS DEFINITELY NOT PROACTIVE IN HELPING US WITH THIS PROBLEM. I COULD ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO THE TWO OF US IF THIS VEHICLE FAILURE HAPPENED ONE TO TWO MINUTES EARLIER ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING 60 MPH (IN HEAVY RAIN WITH MODERATE TRAFFIC). THOUGH THE RECALL ON THE 2003-2006 MODEL YEAR JEEP LIBERTY DOES NOT START UNTIL SEPTEMBER I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE CHRYSLER BECOME MORE PROACTIVE. IF SOMEONE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS WE DID... THEN THE DEALERSHIPS SHOULD WASTE NO TIME AT ALL AND REMIND THE DRIVER THAT THEY ARE NOW DRIVING AT THEIR OWN RISK. OR A BETTER IDEA WOULD BE TO NO LONGER DRIVE THE VEHICLE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME FOR ANY OTHER INFORMATION. *NM