NHTSA Complaint #10430222 — 2002 JEEP LIBERTY

I WAS LEAVING WORK, AND DROVE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY ONTO THE ROAD. THE CAR STARTED A DRAGGING SOUND AND I COULD NOT GO, SO I STOPPED AND GOT OUT TO SEE THAT MY FRONT DRIVERS TIRE WAS SITTING SIDEWAYS. IT HAD BROKE AWAY FROM THE CONTROL ARM. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE AAA, BUT WHEN HE CAME, HE WAS NOT EVEN SURE IF HE COULD GET IT LOADED ON THE FLATBED. HE DID THOUGH SOMEHOW. THE NEXT MORNING I LOOKED ONLINE TO CHECK FOR RECALLS ON THESE CONTROL ARMS. THERE WAS ONE LISTED FOR MY STATE FOR THE CONTROL ARMS. IT WAS FOR ABOUT 42,000 JEEP LIBERTY'S (2002-2003) MODELS. I CALLED DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND ASKED WHY I DID NOT GET A RECALL NOTICE AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE MY VIN NUMBER. WELL IT SHOULD HAVE. OBVIOUSLY I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY LIKE THE DAY BEFORE DOING 65MPH. IF THE CONTROL ARM WOULD HAVE BROKE. ALL I CAN SAY IS I HAVE A GUARDIAN ANGEL. I WANT OTHER JEEP LIBERTY OWNERS TO KNOW THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN TO THEM. THEY REALLY SHOULD GET THEIR CONTROL ARMS CHECKED. MY COST TO REPAIR (INCLUDING ALIGNMENT) AROUND $500.00. *TR