NHTSA Complaint #11173355 — 2008 JEEP COMPASS

SUB FRAME RUSTED OUT MAKING THE CAR NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND IT WOULD COST $1700 FOR REPAIR. NO NOTICE WAS SENT OUT TO OWNERS; ONLY MECHANICS. NO PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF PROBLEM. CAR WAS DRIVEN BY MY 82 YEAR OLD MOTHER IN LAW. I AM HER SON IN LAW AND I WAS DRIVING HER CAR TO TAKE HER TO AN APPOINTMENT; AND SUDDENLY IT WAS DIFFICULT TO HANDLE, GOING TO THE RIGHT. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. SUB FRAME RUST. MY MECHANIC KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM FROM JEEP, BUT RESEARCHING IT ONLINE CONFIRMED WHAT HE TOLD ME. JEEP KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY BUT DID NOT RECALL THE CAR; JUST SENT NOTIFICATIONS TO MECHANICS, NOT THE OWNERS. MY MOTHER IN LAW HAD THE CAR INSPECTED IN JULY 2018 BY HER MECHANIC. VIN NUMBER INDICATED EXTENDED WARRANTY ON FRAME EXPIRED SEPT 2018. PROBLEM HAPPENED IN DEC. 2018. I CONFIRMED ALL THE ABOVE WITH LOCAL JEEP DEALERSHIP. WE APPROACHED MY MOTHER IN LAWS MECHANIC AND HE ADMITTED KNOWING OF THE PROBLEM, BUT APPARENTLY MISSED IT IN INSPECTION OR CHOSE NOT TO TELL HER. THE CAR WAS WELL CARED FOR. OIL CHANGES ETC...79,000 MILES NEAR PERFECT BODY AND NOW I'M TOLD IT'S JUNK--AND ONLY WORTH $200! I CALLED JEEP CORP OFFICE 877-426-5337 TO MAKE A PLEA TO GET THE CAR REPAIRED SO MY MOTHER IN LAW COULD RESELL. LIVING IN A GOVERNMENT ASSISTED SENIOR APARTMENT, SHE THOUGHT HER CAR WAS AN ASSET OR INVESTMENT SHE COULD SOMEDAY RELY ON FOR A LITTLE EXTRA; BUT NOT ITS BEEN REDUCED TO A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS. NOT TO MENTION--SHE COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING AND THE CAR COULD HAVE FALLEN APART AND SHE COULD HAVE HURT HERSELF AND OTHERS. THE CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED