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2002 JEEP LIBERTY — SUSPENSION:REAR

crash2 injured · 395522 · 2003-02-25

Vehicle

Make
JEEP
Model
LIBERTY
Year
2002
Manufacturer
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Component
SUSPENSION:REAR
Miles at failure
3,000
Speed
60 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
2
Fire
No
Crash
Yes
Police report
Yes
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

UPON MAKING A SLIGHT LANE CORRECTION AT APPROX. 60 MPH, MY DAUGHTER'S 2002 JEEP LIBETY BEGAN SWERVING UNCONTROLLABLY. SHE FELT NO RESISTANCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL AS SHE TRIED TO STOP THE SWERVING. AT NO TIME DID SHE APPLY THE BRAKES. WITNESSES SAID IT APPEARED SHE HAD A FLAT TIRE. EVENTUALLY, THE VEHICLE ENTERED THE GRASS MEDIAN AND ROLLED 2.5 OR 3.5 TIMES COMING TO REST ON THE ROOF FACING ON-COMING TRAFFIC. THE COMPLETE REAR END(TIRES AND DIFFERENTIAL) SEPARATED AND ENDED UP APPROX. 75 FEET FROM THE VEHICLE. THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE OR CV JOINT WAS BROKEN. NEITHER HER PASSENGER OR HER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS BROKEN AT THE END OF THE MOTION OF THE ROLLING. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE BRUISED AND CUT. WE BELIEVE THE AXLE FAILED AND CAUSED THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL ACCIDENT. THIS VEHICLE HAD APPROX. 3000 MILES ON IT. AT 1800 MILES THE ENGINE HAD THROWN A ROD AND THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED COMPLETELY. THE JEEP LIBERTY IS STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND AND OF POOR DESIGN PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF THE REAR SUSPENSION. DAIMLER-CHYSLER HAS LOWERED THE SUSPENSION IN OBVIOUS RESPONSE TO ROLL OVER INCIDENTS.*JB..*AK

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10008098
Machine
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