NHTSA Complaint #10433561 — 2007 JEEP COMPASS

MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2007 JEEP COMPASS LIMITED FROM A WELL KNOW DODGE DEALERSHIP IN CT. ASIDE FROM THE TERRIBLE AND FAULTY FIRESTONE TIRES, THE COMPASS HAS BEEN RELIABLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED WITH REGULARLY SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES WHEN NEEDED. JUST LAST WEEK THE RADIO AND ELECTRONICS NEEDED TO BE RESET, BUT THE VEHICLE STARTED JUST FINE. THE NEXT MORNING IT WOULDN'T START AT ALL. THE ENGINE CRANKED OVER AND OVER BUT WOULD NOT START. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START, THE ENGINE WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP IN NC, WHERE WE MOVED TO. THEY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE FOR $86.00 AND WERE NOT ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE US WITH A LOANER CAR. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE JEEP ONLY HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT SO WE WERE SHOCKED. THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED US ALMOST $750.00 TO REPLACE IT! I HAD THE JEEP TOWED TO A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED GARAGE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THE MECHANIC PULLED THE FUEL PUMP OUT AND TOLD ME THE SWITCH ON THE PUMP WAS MELTED! I'M NOT A MECHANIC BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THAT IS NOT SAFE, (HAVING AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM INSIDE THE FUEL TANK). HE ALSO TOLD ME THE PUMP WAS ON NATIONAL BACK-ORDER. I HAVE RESEARCHED MANY JEEP FORUMS AND IT SEEMS I AM NOT ALONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T BELIEVE CONSUMERS SHOULD DISH OUT $22,000 FOR A NEW VEHICLE AND THEN BE SOL WHEN IT COMES TO REPLACING FAULTY PARTS LIKE THIS FUEL PUMP, JUST BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I AM PUSHING TO SEE THIS PROBLEM TURN INTO A RECALL, BECAUSE I WOULD HATE TO BE DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY AND HAVE THE FUEL PUMP SHORT OUT AGAIN CAUSING US TOO CRASH. TO TOP IT ALL OFF, I JUST GOT THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE GARAGE 2 DAYS AGO AND NOW IT'S NOT STARTING AGAIN. I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND BUYING THIS YEAR VEHICLE. *TR