NHTSA Complaint #10558996 — 2002 JEEP LIBERTY

WE WERE TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON I75 AT A SPEED OF ONLY APPROXIMATELY 15MPH DUE TO A CAR ACCIDENT AHEAD OF US. ALL OF SUDDEN MY CAR DROPPED AND I HEARD A SCRAP OF METAL AGAINST ASPHALT. I SLOWLY PULLED CAR OVER TO CENTER MEDIAN AND GOT MY CHILDREN TO THE CENTER OF THE GUARDRAILS TO KEEP THEM SAFE. UPON EXPECTING VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT THE WHEEL ON THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED AWAY FROM THE CAR, THE MOLDING WAS DETACHED AND THE METAL THAT HOLDS THE WHEEL IN PLACE WAS SITTING ON THE ROADWAY. WE HAD TO WAIT FOR OVER 3 HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK DUE TO NEEDING A TOW TRUCK THAT HAD A LIFT, NOT A FLATBED. BY THE TIME THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED, THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED AND WE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP THAT COULD HAVE THE REPAIRS COMPLETED FOR US BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE BALL JOINT NUT FELL OFF OF THE BOLT THAT HOLDS IT IN PLACE. THE ENTIRE BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS LUBRICATED. THE REPAIR PERSON CHECKED THE OTHER SIDE AND SUGGESTED WE TAKE TO HAVE INSPECTED, AS IT DID NOT HAVE A COTTER PIN TO HOLD THE NUT ONTO THE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY. THE TOTAL COST FOR THE REPLACEMENT WAS $240. BECAUSE OF OUR SPEED, NO ONE WAS HURT. DUE TO THE FACTS KNOWN ABOUT THE JEEP LIBERTY, I WAS THANKFUL WE WERE NOT TRAVELING AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 70MPH OR WE WOULD HAVE HAD A VEHICLE TURN OVER AND POSSIBLE INJURIES OR DEATH. I HAVE PHOTOS AS WELL AS RECEIPTS SHOWING THIS ISSUE. *TR