NHTSA Complaint #11278657 — 1999 JEEP WRANGLER

I STARTED HEARING A BANGING/CLANGING NOISE UNDER THE REAR OF THIS VEHICLE UPON STARTING/STOPPING OR REVERSING. THE NOISE IS BEST DESCRIBED AS A SHARP METALLIC CLANG. UNDERCAR INSPECTION REVEALED THE FRAME HAS CORRODED TO THE POINT THE UPPER CONTROL ARM MOUNTS HAVE PULLED AWAY FROM THE FRAME AND THE TRACK BAR THAT LOCATES THE AXLE SIDE-TO-SIDE HAS SEPARATED FROM THE REAR AXLE HOUSING ALONG WITH THE UPPER CONTROL ARM MOUNT SEPARATING FROM THE AXLE HOUSING. REPAIR OF THIS VEHICLE REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE FRAME ALONG WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPLETE REAR SUSPENSION AND AXLE HOUSING. THIS SAME VEHICLE WAS REPORTED TO YOU 03 NOVEMBER 2016 FOR THE SAME ISSUE INVOLVING THE CENTER SECTION OF THE FRAME RUSTING THROUGH CAUSING THE TRANSFER CASE MOUNT/SKID PLATE TO DROP. SAFETY CAPS WERE INSTALLED ON THE FRAME AT THIS TIME AND THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED BACK INTO SERVICE.