NHTSA Complaint #10245236 — 2002 JEEP LIBERTY

WHILE TOWING OUR 2002 JEEP LIBERTY LE BEHIND AN RV, WITH KEY IN THE FIRST CLICK POSITION, THE KEYS HAVE TWICE FALLEN OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH AND CAUSED THE FRONT WHEELS TO LOCK IN AN OTHER THAN STRAIGHT-AHEAD POSITION. THIS MEANS THE SWITCH HAS ROTATED, ON ITS OWN, TO THE OFF POSITION. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, IN 2004, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE OTHER THAN SOME SCUFFING ON THE EDGES OF THE TIRES - DUE TO THE WHEELS BECOMING LOCKED IN AN ANGLED STATE. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE, IN 2008, THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY $2,300.00 DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE JEEP. CHRYSLER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, TWICE IN 2008, BUT STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE TIRE MANUFACTURER, RATHER THAN BY THE WHEELS LOCKING. I WILL BE SENDING THE TWO LETTERS WHICH I SENT TO CHRYSLER, ALONG WITH A COVER LETTER TO YOUR OFFICE, WITH PHOTOS SHOWING THE DAMAGE TO THE JEEP LIBERTY. YOU MAY DECIDE WHETHER THE WHEELS LOCKED OR THE 3 TIRES JUST DESTROYED THEMSELVES. NATURALLY, CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS ONLY CONTACTED ME BY PHONE, SO THERE IS NO PAPER TRAIL, SAVE MY FEW NOTES WHEN SPEAKING WITH SOME PERSON I CAN BARELY UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME! *TR UPDATED 02/19/10 UPDATED 10/04/10