NHTSA complaint: 2002 JEEP LIBERTY — SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
SINCE PURCHASING THIS 2002 JEEP LIBERTY FOR MY 23 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IT HAS PULLED TO THE LEFT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS RELEASED. IT WAS RETURNED TO THE JEEP DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIR. EACH TIME IT WAS REALIGNED AND WAS OK FOR A TIME THEN STARTED TO PULL TO THE LEFT AGAIN. WE ALSO REPLACED THE TIRES TRYING TO ELIMINATE PROBLEM, WHICH CONTINUED UNTIL THE 3/31/05 ACCIDENT. MY DAUGHTER WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ON 3/31/05 A SUNNY DRY DAY IN NEW BRITAIN CT WHEN SHE SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF HER JEEP AND SIDE SWIPED THE JERSEY BARRIER. ALTHOUGH THIS CAN'T BE PROVED WITHOUT MORE INVESTIGATION, I BELIEVE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM , WHICH IS CASTED NOT PRESSED STEEL, HAD A PARTIAL CRACK THAT TOTALLY FAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE JEEP LIBERTY AND IT SIDE-SWIPED THE JERKY BARRIER. THERE WAS ABOUT $6,000 DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE JEEP, NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED. THE POLICE OFFICER ATTRIBUTED THE ACCIDENT TO TIRE FAILURE, SINCE THE 2 DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES WERE FLAT. WHEN EXAMINING THE JEEP AT THE BODY SHOP, I NOTICED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS BROKEN. I DIDN'T THINK THE CRASH WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN. ON CLOSER EXAMINATION OF THE PART IT LOOKED TO ME LIKE THE BROKEN EDGE WAS ABOUT HALF RUSTED. TO ME THIS INDICATED A PREEXISTING CRACK IN THE CASTING. I AM REPORTING THIS INCIDENT BECAUSE I CAN'T PROOF THE JEEP'S PART FAILED. THE JEEP IS ADVERTISED AS AN "OFF ROAD" VEHICLE AND AS SUCH
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation