NHTSA Complaint #10305331 — 2003 JEEP LIBERTY

WE PURCHASED A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY ON DECEMBER 4, 2002, IN KENT, OHIO, THAT WAS MANUFACTURED IN NOVEMBER 2002. WE HAVE LIVED IN AKRON, OHIO, CONTINUOUSLY SINCE 2002. WE DRIVE THE JEEP IN THE EASTERN SUBURBS OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, VERY FREQUENTLY TO VISIT FAMILY AND TO TAKE OUR SON TO SCHOOL. OHIO IS A SALT BELT STATE, AND AKRON AND THE EASTERN SUBURBS OF CLEVELAND EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE SNOWFALL DURING THE WINTER THAN OTHER AREAS OF OHIO DUE TO LAKE EFFECT. THE RIGHT FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY BECAME LOOSE, ALMOST TO THE POINT OF FAILURE, AND WAS REPLACED ON APRIL 26, 2008, AT OUR COST OF $597.87. ON DECEMBER 17, 2007 NHTSA OPENED PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE07-Q62 FOR 2002 -2003 JEEP LIBERTYS BASED ON COMPLAINTS OF FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION. ON APRIL 7, 2009, CHRYSLER NOTIFIED THE NHTSA THAT '[T]HE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT [OF 2003 JEEP LIBERTYS] MAY EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF LUBRICATION WHICH CAN LEAD TO CORROSION, ACCELERATED WEAR, AND POSSIBLE SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING[,]' AND AGREED TO 'CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES.' ADDITIONALLY, CHRYSLER STATED THAT '[T]HE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE ALLEGED SEPARATIONS OCCURRED IN SALT BELT STATES. A REVIEW OF SOME RETURNED PARTS INDICATED COMPROMISED SEALING, LOSS OF LUBRICATION WHICH RESULTED IN CORROSION, ACCELERATED WEAR AND SEPARATION.' HOWEVER, CHRYSLER HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE US FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE FAILED FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY BECAUSE IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN NOVEMBER 2002 AND NOT BETWEEN MAY 2002 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 2002, EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME PART, MANUFACTURED ON THE SAME ASSEMBLY LINE WITH THE SAME MATERIALS, AND CHRYSLER ADMITTED THAT '[N]O ROOT CAUSE FOR THIS INCREASE IN THE RATE OF SEPARATION DURING THIS FIVE MONTH BUILD WINDOW IN 2002 HAS BEEN DETERMINED.' WE REQUEST THAT THE RECALL BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE JEEP LIBERTYS MANUFACTURED IN NOVEMBER 2002. *TR