NHTSA Complaint #10860553 — 2011 JEEP COMPASS

TODAY, 4/20/2016, I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE METAL DRAGGING THE GROUND IN MY 2011 JEEP COMPASS. AFTER PARKING, I INSPECTED UNDER THE CAR TO FIND A METAL PIPE HANGING DOWN TO THE GROUND NEAR THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. I EASILY PULLED THE PIPE OUT, AND DISCOVERED IT IS THE CVT TRANSMISSION FILL TUBE. IT APPEARS THE TUBE ROTTED OFF FROM WHEREVER IT BELONGS. I HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER JEEP MODELS AS WELL, PARTICULARLY THE PATRIOT. WHILE I HAVE YET TO DETERMINE ANY DETRIMENTAL PERFORMANCE EFFECTS (IT JUST HAPPENED TODAY, AND I HAVE YET TO DRIVE IT AGAIN), THE TUBE COULD HAVE EASILY DISLODGED WHILE DRIVING AND STRUCK A CAR BEHIND ME, ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF OTHERS. MY JEEP ONLY HAS AROUND 40,000 MILES, AND HAS BEEN KEPT UP TO DATE ON ALL MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS. IF I HADN'T FOUND OTHER JEEP OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, I WOULD HAVE CONCLUDED IT WAS CAUSED BY A MECHANIC DURING A RECENT OIL CHANGE. HOWEVER, BECAUSE I HAVE FOUND DOZENS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS (AND ALSO ASSUMING THERE ARE OTHERS WHO NEVER EVEN NOTICED THAT THE TUBE HAD ROTTED OFF), I FEEL THAT THE NHTSA SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION. THANK YOU. *TR