NHTSA Complaint #11344261 — 2000 JEEP WRANGLER

THE FRONT PORTION OF THE FRAME HAS RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT, NEARLY SEVERING THE STEERING GEAR BOX AND FRAME, FROM THE REST OF THE FRAME. IN ADDITION THE FRAME IN THE SAME LOCATION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ALSO SOFT TO THE POINT THAT I COULD COMPRESS THE FRAME WITH MY BARE HAND. I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM AFTER INVESTIGATING WHY THE JEEP WAS SUDDENLY DIFFICULT TO KEEP STRAIGHT WITHIN THE TRAVELING LANE OF WASHINGTON STREET. THANKFULLY, I WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT BACK. I WAS QUOTED $2,200 TO FIX BOTH SIDES OF THE FRAME THROUGH A METAL FRABRICATOR, BUT HE SUGGESTED REPLACING THE ENTIRE FRAME, AS THERE WAS FURTHER ROT CLEAR UP TO THE SPRING BUCKETS. ULTIMATELY I'LL BE FORCED TO TAKE A $4,600 LOAN TO REPLACE THE FRAME. JEEP TJ'S ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR FRAME RUST ISSUES, BUT THE FACT THAT THE RUST WAS UNSEEN JUST WEEKS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT, COMBINED WITH A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING STABILITY, IS WORTH TAKING NOTE OF CONCERN. TWO YEARS AGO THIS JEEP HAD NO VISIBLE RUST ANYWHERE ON THE BODY OR FRAME. THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS REPLACED WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, AND AT THAT TIME THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPROMISED.