NHTSA Complaint #10181822 — 2005 JEEP LIBERTY

MY 2005 JEEP LIBERTY 4X4 WAS SERVICED ON JANUARY 11, 2007 AT ITS PLACE OF PURCHASE (BROWN DAUB CHRYSLER IN EASTON, PA). I HAD DESCRIBED TO MY SERVICE TECH THE CAR WAS MAKING A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND THAT THE CAR HAD PULLED TO THE RIGHT OFF AND ON (EVERY FEW DAYS) WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE FOUND A "NORMAL NOISE" RELATED TO AN AIR VALVE IN THE POWER STEERING, AND THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. I WAS OPERATING THE JEEP LIBERTY ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD. I HAD THE VEHICLE IN PARK AT A DRIVE-UP ATM. WHEN I SHIFTED THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE, THE FRONT TIRES GRABBED, THE CAR KICKED FORWARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE JEEP RODE UP OVER A CONCRETE CURB AND STRUCK A CEMENT POLE, SHATTERING THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW, RIPPING OFF THE DOOR HANDLE, CAUSING A DENT AND PAINT DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. BEYOND THIS PROBLEM, THE JEEP HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR A BROAD RANGE OF MECHANICAL PROBLEMS AT LEAST SEVEN OTHER TIMES SINCE THE PURCHASE DATE (OCTOBER 2004). THE FUEL SENDING UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO RECALLS, AND FOUR MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THE SENSOR WIRES HAD "RUBBED THROUGH COMPLETELY" ON THE TRANSMISSION. RIGHT NOW, THE VEHICLE IS AT A BODY SHOP FOR REPAIR AND INSPECTION. IT WILL THEN BE RETURNED TO BROWN DAUB FOR A THOROUGH DIAGNOSTIC CHECKUP OF THE POWER STEERING AND/OR STEERING COLUMN. BEYOND THE STEERING ISSUE, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE CAR HAS 'KICKED FORWARD' - NORMALLY THIS OCCURS AFTER STOPPING ON WET ROADS (AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS) MY MAIN CONCERN, AGAIN, IS THE STEERING ISSUE THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ACCIDENT. I BELIEVE IT NEEDS TO BE FURTHER INVESTIGATED. *JB