NHTSA Complaint #10273693 — 2002 JEEP LIBERTY

I HAD JUST BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN A BUSY PARKING LOT, DROVE FORWARD ABOUT 20 FEET GOING NO MORE THAN 7-10 MPH, THEN MADE A LEFT - STILL WITHIN THE PARKING LOT. WHEN TURNING, I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE, THEN SUDDENLY, THE FRONT END OF MY 2002 JEEP LIBERTY RENEGADE COLLAPSED ONTO THE FRONT TIRE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE UPPER BALL JOINT OF THE VEHICLE HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED, KNOCKING THE WHEEL OFF IN THE PROCESS. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED IN THE LATE AFTERNOON ON A SUNDAY (WHEN MECHANICS ARE NOT OPEN). AAA TOWED THE JEEP TO A LOCAL GARAGE NEARBY; HOWEVER, ON MONDAY MORNING, I CALLED CHRYSLER TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. MY CALL WAS PICKED UP BY AN OVERSEAS CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. HE TOLD ME THAT IF I COULD HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A CHRYSLER DEALER, THEY WOULD SEE WHAT THEY COULD DO ABOUT COVERING THE REPAIR, BUT TO CALL BACK AFTER THEY'D SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER. LATER THAT AFTERNOON, I CALLED BACK. LONG STORY SHORT, MY CALL WAS ESCALATED TO A GUY IN DETROIT, WHO AT FIRST SAID THAT THE CALL CENTER REP HAD NO BUSINESS SUGGESTING THAT MY REPAIR WOULD BE COVERED. WHEN I TOLD HIM I HAVE PHOTOS OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CAR, HE AUTHORIZED THE REPAIR. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE UPPER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT, AND THE BRAKE LINE WHICH WAS SEVERED WHEN THE FRONT END COLLAPSED! I ASKED THE DEALER FOR THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. HE SAID CHRYSLER WOULD WANT THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE COVERING IT "UNDER WARRANTY." THIS IS A MAJOR DEFECT AND SAFETY ISSUE - ONE OF MANY IN THE 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD PULLED OUT ONTO THE BUSY HIGHWAY! WHILE I WAS HAPPY THAT CHRYSLER COVERED THIS COST, THE CAR NEEDED FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS WHEN IT WAS RETURNED TO ME AS THE SUSPENSION FELT LOOSE AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT AND SHAKING. THE DEALER SAID THESE WERE ALL UNRELATED (?!), AND CHARGED ME FOR THOSE REPAIRS. *TR