NHTSA Complaint #11377317 — 2011 JEEP COMPASS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET ASTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT FRACTURED WITH NO WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY A YEAR LATER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO STATED THE IDLE ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIE ROD, IDLE ARMS, AND LINK BAR WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE NOISE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT A PIECE OF SHARP METAL WAS CUTTING INTO THE BALL JOINT RUBBER BOOT. THE CONTACT FOUND AN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V328000 (SUSPENSION) ONLINE WHICH COULD BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CONTACTED BICAL CHEVROLET OF VALLEY STREAM (709 W. MERRICK RD, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580) WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000. *LN*JB*LN*JB*JB