NHTSA Complaint #11076772 — 2018 JEEP COMPASS

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-50MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM ATTEMPTS TO ENGAGE THE REAR AXLE FOR ADDITIONAL TRACTION. WHEN THIS OCCURS THERE IS A INTERMITTENT BANGING NOISE THAT EMITS FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE AND A BAD VIBRATION THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THIS AS A "OVER MODULATION" OF THE REAR AXLE WHICH CAUSES A BINDING OF THE DRIVESHAFT. THE SOUND WAS EXPLAINED AS THE DRIVESHAFT IS FLEXING IN THE CARRIER BEARING AND STRIKING THE EXHAUST WHEN THIS BINDING OCCURS WHICH HAS CAUSED MARKS TO APPEAR ON THE EXHAUST AND DRIVE SHAFT.. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THIS WAS A 4 WHEEL DRIVE MODULE ISSUE AND THERE WAS NO KNOWN TIME WHEN A REPAIR WOULD BE AVAILABLE HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. 3 DAYS AFTER THE DIAGNOSES WHICH WAS THE SECOND TRIP TO THE DEALER FOR THE ISSUE THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID OUT OF CONTROL. THIS OCCURRED WHILE GOING AROUND A TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH ON A WET 2 LANE HIGHWAY WITH NEITHER THE BRAKE OR ACCELERATOR APPLIED AT THE TIME. I FEAR THAT THE ISSUE CAUSES A SAFETY HAZARD TO ANYONE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR THE REAR WHEELS TO LOCK UP AT ANY TIME. THE DEALER HAS REPORTED TO ME THAT A SECOND VEHICLE OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL HAS HAD THE SAME ISSUE DAYS AFTER MINE OCCURRED. *TT *TR