NHTSA Complaint #10891827 — 2016 JEEP CHEROKEE

MY DAUGHTER [XXX] WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT 2 LANE ROAD WHEN THE JEEP SUDDENLY RAN OFF THE ROAD ON THE RIGHT. SHE MANAGED TO GET IT BACK ON THE ROAD BUT THEN IT FLIPPED OVER ONTO THE DRIVER SIDE AND SLID DOWN THE ROAD APPROXIMATELY 100 FT BEFORE SLIDING OFF THE ROAD AGAIN AND THEN CAME TO REST. SHE DID NOT COLLIDE WITH ANYTHING AND THE ONLY DAMAGE TO THE JEEP WAS THE DRIVER SIDE FROM THE SLIDE AND THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED AT THE LOWER BALL JOINT MOUNTING HOLE AND THE STEERING KNUCKLE BROKE IN TWO. I DO NOT KNOW WHICH OCCURRED FIRST. THE TIRE AND WHEEL WERE NOT DAMAGED OTHER THAN GOUGES ON THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL CAUSED BY IT ROTATING AROUND THE BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE. CHRYSLER HAD THE JEEP INSPECTED BUT DECLINED TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. AS A RESULT, MY DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW SUFFERED A SIGNIFICANT LOSS IN VALUE EVEN THOUGH THE JEEP WAS ONLY 2 MONTHS OLD AND HAD ONLY 1,035 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. MY DAUGHTER SUFFERED ONLY A CONCUSSION BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SERIOUS IF SHE HAD BEEN TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. IF THERE IS A FAULT WITH THE STEERING KNUCKLE OR LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THESE JEEPS, THEN THERE WILL BE MORE ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLY SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH. I HAVE BEEN A PROFESSIONAL AUTO MECHANIC FOR 40+ YEARS AND HAVE NEVER SEEN A STEERING KNUCKLE OR CONTROL ARM BREAK LIKE THESE DID. MY DAUGHTER HAD JUST LEFT MY HOME 30 MINUTES EARLIER, AFTER HAVING LUNCH WITH HER MOM AND I AND WAS ONLY 1/2 MILE FROM HER HOUSE WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. SHE HAD NO ALCOHOL. MY DAUGHTER AND HER HUSBAND ARE BOTH PHYSICIANS AND I AM FILING THIS ON THEIR BEHALF SINCE THEY ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH VEHICLE PARTS TERMINOLOGY AND HAVE VERY LIMITED TIME, WHEREAS I AM RETIRED. THE REGISTERED OWNER IS MY SON-IN-LAW [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR