NHTSA Complaint #10860750 — 2008 JEEP COMPASS FWD

I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE TO A LOCAL PLACE (NOT DEALER). HE TOLD ME THAT THE CRADLE/K FRAME WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED AND LOOKED DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, HE RECOMMENDED I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND SEE IF IT COULD BE REPAIRED THERE AT NO CHARGE TO ME, HE SAID AN 8 YEAR OLD CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE THAT MUCH RUST. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT GANDRUD JEEP (GREEN BAY, WI) TODAY AND THEY CONFIRMED THE CRADLE/K BAR WAS THOROUGHLY RUSTED AND HAD A LARGE CRACK IN IT. THEY TOLD ME THE 2007 JEEP COMPASS HAS THE SAME ISSUE AND JEEP EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS ON THE FRAME SO THIS COULD BE REPAIRED FOR NO CHARGE. THEY ALSO TOLD ME IT WAS EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE IT AND THAT I SHOULDN'T. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR TOMORROW TO HAVE IT REPLACED, IT'S GOING TO COST APPROXIMATELY $1200 TO REPLACE THAT PIECE. I LOOKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS SITES/BLOGS/COMMENTS ON OWNERS OF THE 2008 JEEP COMPASS HAVING A COMPLETELY ROTTED FRAME AND FRUSTRATION THAT THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S MODEL WAS RECALLED/EXTENDED WARRANTY SO IT COULD BE REPLACED. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS FAULTY PIECE THAT THE OWNERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF AND REPLACED. I DON'T BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR, THERE IS CLEARLY SOME ISSUE WITH THE COATING ON THIS PIECE THAT CAUSES IT TO RUST SO QUICKLY AND COMPLETELY. I AM LUCKY THAT THE GUY CHANGING MY OIL MENTIONED IT TO ME, I USUALLY WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE BUT THEY'RE OUT OF THE WAY. I ALSO AM CONCERNED THAT EVERY 3-4 MONTHS I GET AN OIL CHANGE AND GANDRUD NEVER MENTIONED IT TO ME, I DON'T KNOW HOW QUICKLY THIS PART RUSTED OR IF THEY NOTICED. PLEASE CONSIDER RECALLING THIS PART, THIS RUSTED BAR COULD CAUSE MANY ISSUES (EVEN FATAL) IF LEFT ALONE. I ALSO TOOK A FEW PICTURES THAT I WILL BE SENDING INTO JEEP.