NHTSA Complaint #10442370 — 2008 JEEP COMPASS 4X4

THE STEERING BEGAN TO PULL SHARPLY TO THE SIDE. WHEN THE JEEP WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP, THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO GET THE PART IMMEDIATELY FROM THE DEALER BECAUSE THE PART WAS KEPT IN STOCK BECAUSE IT IS SO OFTEN REPLACED. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT LOWER BALL JOINTS TYPICALLY LAST AT LEAST TWICE AS LONG AS THESE AND THAT CONTINUED DRIVING WITHOUT REPLACEMENT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN LOSING COMPLETE STEERING CONTROL. HE SAID HE BELIEVED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS TO HAVE A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW. UPON RESEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, HAVING TO REPLACE THEIR LOWER BALL JOINTS WITH EVEN FEWER MILES AND MORE FREQUENTLY. THIS COULD EASILY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE SHOULD AT LEAST BE A SAFETY NOTIFICATION SENT OUT TO ALERT OTHER DRIVERS OF THE DANGER CAUSED BY THIS DESIGN FLAW. WHEN I WROTE TO CHRYSLER, I RECEIVED A LETTER ASKING ME TO CALL TO DISCUSS THE MATTER. WHEN I CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WAS UNWILLING TO ADMIT TO A FAULT IN THE PRODUCT. *TR