NHTSA Complaint #10323990 — 2003 JEEP LIBERTY

ON 08/03/09, I HAD MY 2003 JEEP LIBERTY TOWED TO MY LOCAL 5-STAR CHRYSLER DEALER (MILEAGE = 148520). THE RIGHT FRONT BALL JOINT HAD BROKEN WHILE I WAS MAKING A TURN IN THE PARKING LOT. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER HAD TO PULL MY VEHICLE UP ONTO THE FLATBED, AS IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO DRIVE IT, NOT EVEN A FEW INCHES. DURING THE LOADING OF MY VEHICLE ONTO THE FLATBED OF THE TOW TRUCK, THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE HAD COME APART FROM THE WHEEL. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD COMPLETED THE NECESSARY WORK TO PUT MY VEHICLE BACK TOGETHER AND INDICATED THAT IT WAS ALL TAKEN CARE OF UNDER THE RECALL THAT WAS IN THE SYSTEM. I HAD NOT KNOWN ABOUT THE 2ND RECALL. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE & COURTESY VEHICLE INSPECTION ON 10/07/09 (MILEAGE = 151838). THE COURTESY INSPECTION INDICATED THAT THE "SUSPENSION/STEERING" WAS "CHECKED AND OK." ON 12/23/09, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE & COURTESY VEHICLE INSPECTION (MILEAGE = 158083), AND I INDICATED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HAD BEGUN MAKING A WEIRD NOISE AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS IT WAS FAIRLY COMMON, ESPECIALLY IF THE HOUSING GOT WET INSIDE. THE COURTESY INSPECTION INDICATED THAT THE "SUSPENSION/STEERING" WAS "CHECKED AND OK." ON 03/19/10, I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER (MILEAGE = 161533) BECAUSE IT FELT LIKE I HAD A FLAT TIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TIRES. IT ENDED UP THAT THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT FIRST I WAS TOLD THE DAMAGE WAS DUE TO "NORMAL WEAR & TEAR" AND "HIGH MILEAGE." AS THEY BEGAN LOOKING AT IT MORE CLOSELY, THEY COMMENTED THAT THEY HAD NOT SEEN ONE THIS BADLY DAMAGED. IT WAS REPAIRED & READY FOR PICK UP ON 03/31/10. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING OUT MORE INFORMATION ON THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION ISSUES BECAUSE I DO NOT SEE HOW AFTER ALL THE "INSPECTIONS," IT WENT FROM BEING "OK" TO BEING TOLD THAT THEY HAD NOT HAD ONE COME IN THAT WAS THAT BADLY DAMAGED. *TR