NHTSA complaint: 2002 JEEP LIBERTY — SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 25 MPH UP A HILL ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL CRASHING INTO A RETAINING WALL. THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE'S BODY. THE CONTACT AND AN ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD PASSENGER WERE BOTH WEARING SEATBELTS AT THE TIME, HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL FOR THE MINOR INJURIES. THE POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO SENT TO A BODY SHOP FOR BODY WORK. AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE BODY SHOP, THE DEALER INSPECTED AND DETERMINED THAT BOTH THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS AND REAR COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WERE COMPLETELY DAMAGED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT BUT INDENTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE COMPONENTS IN 2004. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED WHO SENT OUT AN INSPECTOR TO EXAMINED THE VEHICLE. THE INSPECTOR DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS RELATED TO A DEFECT.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation