NHTSA Complaint #11102640 — 2007 JEEP COMPASS

WHILE COMING TO A STOP, AT A LIGHT IN HEAVY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES FELT SHARP JERK IN STEERING WITH A LOUD SNAP NOISE. NOT KNOWING WHAT IT WAS WHEN LIGHT CHANGED AND I PROCEEDED FORWARD APROX. 2-3FT WHEN CAR CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP JERKING TO THE LEFT. IMMEADIATELY PLACED CAR IN PARK AND LOOKED OUT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW TO SEE FRONT LEFT WHEEL ANGLED BACK APROX 35 DEGREES AND JAMED INTO FENDER WELL. CALLED TOW COMPANY AND POLICE ARRIVED TO DIRECT AND DIVERT TRAFFIC, NO POLICE REPORT MADE BY POLICE BECAUSE NO INJURIES OR OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED. TOW TRUCK DRIVER & POLICE BOTH STATED I WAS FORTUNATE, BECAUSE HAD I BEEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN IT HAPPEND IT COULD BEEN VERY SERIOUS AND/OR FATAL TO NOT ONLY ME BUT OTHERS AS WELL. CAR TOWED TO NEAREST REPAIR SHOP WERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY HAD ACTUALLY RUSTED/ROTTED THROUGH ON LEFT FRONT END OF VEHICLE AND BROKE WITH EVERYTHING ATTACHED TO IT (STEERING LINKAGE, LEFT AXLE, TIE ROD, ETC.) COMING LOOSE. RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THERE HAND BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN 23-012-14 ISSUED FOR FRONT AND REAR CROSSMEMBER CORROSION AND LOOKING AT OTHER FORUMS (IE MYJEEPCOMPASS.COM) AND SAFECAR.GOV AS WELL. CONTACTED JEEP CUSTOMER SERVICE GIVEN CASE #34535927.HAD TO PAY TO HAVE CAR TOWED AGAIN, THIS TIME TO A JEEP DEALER TO INSPECT AND CONFIRM SUBFRAME FAILED. WHEN I ASKED WHY THERE WASN'T A RECALL INSTEAD OF JUST A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT NOBODY SEES EXCEPT THE DEALER I COULD NOT GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER. JEEP DID AGREE TO COVER CROSSMEMBER REPLACEMENT AFTER CONFIRMED, BUT NOT TO PAY FOR THE PARTS THAT WERE DAMAGED FROM THE FAILURE OF THE CROSSMEMBER WHICH CAME TO $844.81 I HAD TO PAY. I THINK THAT WOULD BE A SMALL PRICE FOR THEM TO PAY IN LIGHT OF WHAT THE COST COULD AND WOULD HAVE BEEN TO THEM FOR SERIOUS INJURIES AND/OR FATALITY RELATED TO THEIR KNOWN DEFECT. NOW I GET STUCK PAYING FOR THEIR DEFECT.