NHTSA Complaint #11032196 — 2009 JEEP COMPASS 4X4

WHEN COMING TO A QUICK STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A VERY ROUGH ROAD SURFACE, A LOUD CLUNK IN THE FRONT END WAS HEARD. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED RIGHT TO GO STRAIGHT, ALONG WITH A LOUD TIRE SQUEAL. WE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT TO FIND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS CONTACTING THE REAR OF THE WHEEL WELL. INSPECTION UNDERNEATH REVEALED A ROTTED OUT SUBFRAME/CROSSMEMBER WHICH IS SPLIT ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE BACK. IT ALSO HAS SOME LEAKING FLUID COMING DOWN FROM ABOVE THE CROSSMEMBER WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THIS IS SATURDAY AND THE INCIDENT WAS FOLLOWED BY A $135 FLATBED TRIP TO A DEALERSHIP FOR WHAT SHOULD BE AN INTERESTING MONDAY MORNING CONVERSATION ABOUT THE HORRIFIC POSSIBILITIES IF THIS SUSPENSION HAD COLLAPSED AT SPEED.