NHTSA Complaint #10354178 — 2007 JEEP COMPASS

MY 2007 JEEP COMPASS BEGAN TO MAKE CREAKING NOISES UNDER THE HOOD AT ABOUT 58,000 MILES AND THEN IT QUICKLY GREW LOUDER AND MORE OMNIOUS SOUNDING AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES WHEN GOING AT SLOW SPEEDS AND ON UNEVEN GROUND. I WORK ON THE ROAD AND SO THE MILES PILE UP QUICKLY. HOWEVER, I LIVE IN THE CITY AND DO NOT TAKE MY CAR OFF ROAD. I ASSUMED THE NOISE WAS MY SWAY BAR - AGAIN - AS DID MY MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME TO GET IT TO HIM WHEN IT WAS CONVENIENT. IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT THE NOISE WAS LIKELY MORE THAN THE SWAY BAR AND I DROPPED IT OFF TO MY MECHANIC. HE DIAGNOSED IT AS NEEDING NEW BALL JOINTS AND SOME TIRE RODS. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR A RECALL OR KNOWN ISSUE AND THERE IS A MULTITUDE OF OTHER COMPASS OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED AT LESS THAN 60,000 MILES. THAT IS NOT SATISFACTORY LONGEVITY FOR BALL JOINTS. THIS IS A $900 REPAIR THAT SHOULD NOT BE PAID BY THE CONSUMER. A RECALL SHOULD BE MADE FOR THIS ISSUE. A VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE TO THOSE WITHIN IT AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. *TR