NHTSA Complaint #11320572 — 2003 JEEP LIBERTY

I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, WHEN I ACQUIRED IT, I HAD IT SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY PREFORMED ALL RECALL WORK. IT HAS BEEN KEPT SERVICED AND UP TO DATE ON ANY RECALL WORK SINCE. DURING THE DAY ON CHRISTMAS EVE 2019 I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM A VISIT AT MY MOTHER'S HOME AND SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE JEEP. THERE WAS LOUD NOISE AND THINGS BREAKING OFF THE VEHICLE AS I FOUGHT TO CONTROL IT AND PULL OVER. UPON INSPECTION, SAW THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL HAD COME LOOSE FROM THE SUSPENSION, TORE OFF THE FENDER WHEEL WELL AND BROKE A PIECE OFF THE RIGHT-SIDE RUNNING BOARD. UNDRIVEABLE, I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY WERE CLOSED UNTIL AFTER NEW YEARS. IN EARLY JANUARY I FOUND OUT THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A SHEARED LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. I LOOKED IN MY FILES AND FOUND THAT THIS WAS ONE OF THE RECALLS THAT HAD BEEN PREFORMED TO THE VEHICLE. SAFETY RECALL F23- LOWER BALL JOINTS WAS DONE ON 8/1/2006. OBVIOUSLY, YOU ASSUME THIS PROBLEM IS RESOLVED AND THE VEHICLE IS SAFE AFTER THE WORK IS DONE. I LUCKILY WAS TRAVELING AT 30MPH, AND NOT AT HIGHWAY SPEED, SO I HAVE ONLY ENCOUNTERED A FINANCIAL BURDEN. (ABOUT $4K FOR RENTAL, REPAIR & BODYWORK) I AM SURE IF I WAS GOING FASTER OR IN TRAFFIC, I WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. HOW DO THE THOUSANDS OF JEEP LIBERTY OWNERS STILL ON THE ROAD WHO ARE UP TO DATE ON RECALLS CONFIDENTLY DRIVE THEIR VEHICLES IF THE RECALL WORK FAILS IN THE EXACT MANNER DESCRIBED AS THE PROBLEM MEANT TO BE FIXED BY THE RECALL? I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR CLOSE TO 40 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY VEHICLE SUFFER A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE RESULTING IN A CRASH BEFORE THIS.