NHTSA Complaint #10241283 — 2002 JEEP LIBERTY

ON 09/08/2008, THE VEHICLE(2002 JEEP LIBERTY SPORT), WAS BEING DRIVEN AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED APPROXIMATELY 5MPH EXITING RIGHT OUT OF A PARKING LOT. IT WAS AT THIS TIME THE DRIVE OF THE VEHICLE HEARD A LOUD POP OR CRACKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AND THEN CAME TO A STOP AT WHICH TIME THE DRIVER STRUGGLED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OUT OF TRAFFIC. THE DRIVER THEN EXITED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THE TIRE WAS FOLDED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER NOTICED A BROKEN PART THAT WAS LATER DETERMINED TO BE THE UPPER BALL JOINT. HAD THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED MAINTAINING VEHICLE CONTROL WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER OR TO OTHER MOTORISTS. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THIS VEHICLE RECEIVED A RECALL FOR A SIMILAR PART IN 11/2006, THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THIS RECALL AND ALL OTHER RECALLS HAD BEEN COMPLETED ACCORDING TO JEEP RECORDS. THE OWNER IS CURRENTLY AWAITING AN ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR. *TR