This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
At approximately 0520 a.M. on January 23, 2012 I was traveling North on West Virginia route 26 just outside of kingwood, West Virginia on my way to work. I was descending a hill around several sharp turns at a rate of speed approximately 30 mph on dry bumpy pavement. Without warning I felt a vibration which seemed to originate in the rear of my 2005 Jeep Liberty. Several seconds later a hard thump was felt underneath the floor boards accompanied by a metal scraping noise. I immediately began applying the brakes to stop the car to investigate but before I could bring the vehicle to a complete halt the rear of the car began to come around toward the front of the SUV from the right. Once I got the car completely stopped I put it into park, applied my emergency brake, turned on my hazard lights and then got out to investigate the situation. As I examined the back of the vehicle I noticed that the right rear wheel was out of alignment almost touching the back of the wheel well. I then shined my flashlight underneath of the car and saw the front end of the drive shaft lying on the street. I coasted my car into a nearby driveway to get it off of the street. I had my vehicle towed to the nearest Jeep dealership for repair. Diagnosis: Right hand rear control arm failure due to excessive erosion/rusting. I had the failed part replaced and as a precaution I had the left hand control arm replaced as well. Both old parts are available for inspection. I purchased my Jeep new in Wisconsin in 2005 and I moved to West Virginia in 2010.
The contact owns a 2005 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle began to wobble. The contact also heard a snapping noise from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The technician stated that the rear lower control arm fractured due to corrosion. There was an investigation open under NHTSA action number EA11013 (suspension:rear), that may be related to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 123,000.
Was driving about 35 mph during rush hour when I heard a loud noise, followed by a grinding noise from the rear of the vehicle. Noise went away and I picked up speed returning to about 35 when vehicle lost all control of back tires. Fishtailed as if I was slipping on an ice patch. Was able to pull over without hitting anything but was very close to the car in the left lane. Mechanic told me the right trailer arm was completely rusted through and snapped. Left trailer arm also showed signs of corrosion and is very weak. Was about 2 miles from getting on the highway during rush hour. Could have been much caused an accident.
Right rear lower control arm rotted out and fractured. Vehicle becomes almost impossible to control. Upon inspection, the left lower control arm was so thin a screwdriver could be pushed through the metal with little effort. The control arm was visibly sound to naked eye but rotted from inside out.
While making a left turn, the vehicle was felt to slip causing a momentary loss of control. On inspection, found the left rear lower control arm was rusted through along the length of the arm on the outer and inner sides. This allowed the arm to buckle. The right rear lower control arm was rusted similarly and in imminent danger of failing.
The contact owns a 2005 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that while coming to a stop, the rear passenger side tired seized without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle felt as if someone had crashed into the vehicle. After inspecting the vehicle, he noticed that the passenger side rear lower control arm was fractured as a result of excessive corrosion. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic who was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 145,000.
Rear lower control arms rusted away on both driver and passenger side on vehicle. Vehicle unsafe to drive until control arms were replaced. Control arms replaced at a cost of $360 dollars.
In backing out the driveway, the rear axle separated from the frame on the right side. The right rear control arm is completely rusted through and broke. There are signs that the left rear control arm is rusted through and about to fail also. I am lucky that I was not on the road yet.
I had just pulled off of the highway and had stopped. I pulled on to the city street when I heard a noise. I at first thought I had a flat tire. And when I was trying to pull off to a side street my Jeep had started to slide sideway into the other lane. I could not control the Jeep. I felt like I was sliding on something. Thank goodness no one was next to me or coming in the other lane or I would have caused an accident. I got my Jeep stopped and then made my way back into the other lane and turned down a side street to get out of the way. When I got out I looked on the passenger side looking for a flat. But no flat. I could see that the rear tire was slide back close to the under side of the wheel well. I could see that something had broke. I called my husband and when he got there and looked under he could see that the rear trailing arms had both broke. That they were rusted through. We had to have the Jeep towed to a dealer that was close by. They had verified that they had rusted through. In all the years that I have been driving I have never had this happen to me before. I was just very thankful that I had gotten off the highway before this broke. I know that if this would have happened at a much higher speed I could have cause a terrible wreck. I can not believe after seeing all of these complaint for the exact same thing that there has not been a recall. How can a manufacturer of cars let something like this continue. The day this happened was a clear dry day. To have this happen I could have seriously hurt myself or some other people. What are they waiting for. Some one to be killed.
While driving over a speed bump in a parking lot, heard a loud thunk. While driving home afterward, observed that the vehicle wasn't steering straight and swayed badly when applying brakes. Inspection revealed that the right rear lower suspension control arm has rusted through, and split in two lengthwise. Had this happened while traveling at highway speed I could easily have lost control of the vehicle. The dealer service department says this does not fall under the vehicle rust warranty.
While driving approximately 30-35 mph down road, weather conditions dry, sunny, temperature 55 degrees. Heard something snap/break, lost control of car, swerved into oncoming lane. Pulled into parking lot and noticed something broke on rear passenger side of car. Called local car dealer, car was towed and right rear control arm was broken. Argued with dealer because it was very noticeable that it was rusted right through. Had nys inspection done on September 15, 2011 and was never told that something was wrong. After having it repaired, dealer never notified me that the driver side was also rusted. Took it to a repair shop the following week and also had that one replaced. I told both repair facilities that I wanted the faulty parts back. After researching for information, realized there is a NHTSA action number of EA11013 that is exactly the same thing that happened to me. I do have pictures of the parts - both the broken one and the one I had replaced if you would like them.
The rear control arm completely rusted through and broke as I was driving on a 2 lane highway. I lost control of the Jeep, luckily there were no other cars around so I was able to avoid a crash. The other arm is almost rusted through as well. This is not normal wear and tear. The corrosion is excessive! the Jeep has not been used for snow plowing or anything like that. There is no rust anywhere else on the car just the rear control arms.
I was on my way home from my job early and I had noticed a funny grinding sound when I pulled out of my parking space. I got out, checked around the truck and saw nothing. I then drove home about 7 miles from my house my car had began going right then left and I was unable to steer it at all. I was fortunate that I was not going fast and I was able to stop and pull into a parking lot. I would have crashed if this had happened minutes before when I was on the interstate. I had my car towed to the nearest garage and learned that the rear suspension control arms had both completely rusted through and the only thing keeping my Jeep rear end together was a sway bar. The mechanic says he had never seen anything like it. I have contacted Chrysler also. I purchased the car in Connecticut.
I've had multiple window regulator failures (leaving my car open to theft and damage), seat belt broken, and air condition compressor, and rear axel problems. All issues happened shortly after the warranty expired.
The contact owns a 2005 Jeep Liberty. The contact lost control of the vehicle while driving 25 mph and crashed. The contact was told the cause of the crash was black ice, but the contact beleived that the crash was caused by a loss of control in the steering wheel. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. The failure mileage was 101,000.
My Jeep is making winding and grinding noises. I thought that it was the ball joints which Chrysler eventually agreed to replace since it is considered a repeat recall for them but the noise, vibration and shimmy in the steering has persisted and the service dept. At the dealer informed me that I also need control arms and sway bar links. The service rep told me that it was not considered to be normal wear and tear. I contacted Chrysler and the person assigned to my case told me he would get back to me to follow up. Days later when I finally tracked him down in between his breaks and phone calls he told me that the dealer told him that it was just normal wear and tear. I haven't taken my car off road and it hasn't been in the snow or on salty roads. The last time that I tried to reach him I was told that he did not work on wednesdays. Still no response from Chrysler from anyone regarding whether or not its a safety concern that they will cover or assist with. I updated my case with the info that I would add to your ongoing investigation if I did not receive an update regarding assistance from them. The Jeep is 5 yrs. Old and is still making a horrible noise on the front driver's side and I cannot get a response of any kind from Chrysler. I have a power train warranty in effect until the end of November. Please let me know if you can assist with expediting this matter with Chrysler since I do not feel safe driving the Jeep in this condition. Originally, I was told by my case manager that everything including the control arms and sway bar links would be replaced along with the ball joints but now I'm being told that it was a miscommunication because its normal wear and tear. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
While driving on a private street, heard a "pop" near the back of vehicle. I stopped and checked to see if I had a flat, as the car was swerving as if I had a flat tire. However, upon inspection, tire was fully inflated but it was rubbing the back of the wheel well. The wheel was off-center and the vehicle itself was lower to the wheel. I proceeded to pull into my driveway. After viewing underneath the vehicle, noticed the rusted broken arm of the suspension system (left rear). The other side is rusted and cracked as well (right rear). Fortunately I was traveling in a subdivision at a slow rate of speed. Otherwise I feel had I been on a busier highway at higher rate of speed, may have lost control as the car was swerving while I was only doing 20mph and under.
I was informed that I would need to replace the ball joint suspension on my 2005 Jeep Liberty before it could pass inspection. When I called the Chrysler recall hotline, the representative stated that they would not pay for repairs to the Liberty B/C it was already repaired during the recall. But they were more than willing to help me find a dealership to where I would pay for the repair. This was from a faulty design, this is not from wear and tear that occurs when owning a vehicle.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Buckhannon, WV, USA