NHTSA Complaint #10781115 — 2011 JEEP PATRIOT

REAR SUB FRAME THAT ATTACHES TO THE UNI BODY RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH AT A CROSS MEMBER. THIS SUB FRAME IS WHAT MOUNTS THE ENTIRE REAR SUSPENSION AND DRIVE LINE TO THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AUG. 2011 AND HAS 98.000MILES ON IT. ALSO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH WHEEL BEARINGS. NOT INCLUDING THE FACTORY SET, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS (ALL 4) 3 TIMES. NO ACCIDENTS/INJURIES WERE CAUSED BY THESE BECAUSE THEY WERE REPAIRED PRIOR TO THEM GETTING TO BAD. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION. SUBSTANDARD STEEL FOR CROSS MEMBERS AND WHEEL BEARING ISSUES WITH THESE VEHICLES ARE KNOWN AT CHRYSLER/JEEP, WHEN I ORDERED THE WHEEL BEARINGS STAFF WORKING PARTS COUNTER JOKED ABOUT ANOTHER ONE SOLD. WHEN I CALLED THE SALESMEN ABOUT THE CROSS MEMBER ISSUE I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS KNOWN AND THEY REPLACED SEVERAL RECENTLY AT OWNERS EXPENSE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE RECALL/WARRANTY EXTENSION WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN, SO KEEP MY RECEIPT FOR REIMBURSEMENT PURPOSES. THERE ARE ALSO NUMEROUS FACTORY RECALLS OR WARRANTY EXTENSIONS ON CHRYSLER/JEEP PRODUCTS DO TO THESE ISSUES.