NHTSA Complaint #11056050 — 2008 JEEP LIBERTY

WHILE DRIVING ON X WAY AT 70 MPH HEARD NOISE AND SAW SECTION OF ROOF SLIDER LIFTING UP AND AIR GUSHING. SLOWED TO PULL OFF AND WHOLE PANEL LIFTED UP AND ALMOST BLEW OFF. STOPPED AND PANEL CRASHED DOWN WITH FRONT CORNER COMING INTO PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS IN THE SEAT! WE TAPED THE PANEL DOWN TO NURSE IT HOME ON SIDE STREET AT UNDER 40 MPH. DEALER SAID WOULD COST MORE THAN $1000 TO FIX, PROBABLY MORE AND REPAIR WOULD NOT BE GUARANTEED. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX. WE NEVER USED THE SLIDER IN THE PAST. INQUIRIES ON INTERNET REVEAL MANY SIMILAR INCIDENTS BY OTHER OWNERS AND THEIR ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR WITH ESTIMATES OVER $3000. DEFINITELY A SERIOUS ISSUE. COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF CAR IF NOT ALREADY STOPPING, PANEL COULD HAVE SEPARATED AND HIT OTHER CARS, PANEL COMING INTO CAR COULD HAVE INJURED DRIVER OR PASSENGER!