2008 Jeep Compass 4X4 Suspension Problems

SEVERE NOISE AND FRAME RUSTED OUT!

NHTSA ID

11122999

Incident

Jul 2, 2018

Mileage

70,000 mi

RECEIVED THE FEBRUARY 15, 2017 LETTER ABOUT THE WARRANTY EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS/ UNLIMITED MILES ON THE FRONT AND REAR CROSSMEMBERS. AT THE TIME OF THE LETTER THE CONDITION MENTIONED HAD NOT BEEN EXPERIENCED. THE CONDITION DID PRESENT ITSELF AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION. BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR WERE RECOMMENDED BE REPLACED HOWEVER WAS INFORMED THE WARRANTY PERIOD IS FROM THE BUILD DATE WHICH WAS IN OCTOBER 2007 THEREFOR MISSING THE WARRANTY PERIOD BY A MONTH. IF THE LETTER STATED THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE AN INSPECTION COULD HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED BEFORE IT EXPIRED.

NHTSA ID

11052473

Incident

Nov 30, 2017

Mileage

105,000 mi

THE GAS TANK WILL NOT TAKE GAS. I HAD THE CATALYT. COVERTER FIXED. THE VALVE INSIDE THE GAS TANK DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, AND MY RESEARCH ONLINE SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH JEEP COMPASSES.

NHTSA ID

11019185

Incident

Feb 1, 2017

THE REAR CROSSMEMBER/KFRAME IS COMPLETLY ROTTED THRU. ALMOST ALL OF THE SUSPENSION PARTS ARE VERY RUSTY AND NEEDS REPLACED. I DID NOT FIND OUT IT WAS THIS BAD UNTIL I HEARD A THUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VECHICLE. DID RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON AND MAJOR PROBLEM.I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN THE THUMPING BEGAN. THIS IS ONE OF MY FAMILY CARS AND I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE. I AM PARKING IT UNTIL I CAN GET IT FIXED. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY BLEW ME OFF. THEY SAID THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ONLY COVERS 2007 MODELS BUT THIS IS A PROBLEM UP TO 2009.

NHTSA ID

10956741

Incident

Feb 9, 2017

Mileage

124,500 mi

I WAS PUTTING A SET OF REAR BRAKE PADS ON THE VECHICLE WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE REAR CROSSMEMBER IS ROTTED OUT. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE VECHICLE. CHRYSLER HAS TO PROMISED TO FIX THE 2007 MODELS, WHEN THE 2007, 2008, AND 2009 ALL SUFFER FROM THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE TO PAY$1500.00 OUT OF MY POCKET FOR AN 8 YEAR OLD VECHICLE THAT SHOULD NOT BE THIS RUSTED OUT.

NHTSA ID

10929992

Incident

Nov 29, 2016

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE CROSSMEMBER (SUBFRAME) IS ROTTING AWAY AND WHEN THIS PART FAILS A SERIOUS CRASH MAY RESULT. JEEP ISSUED A BULLETIN (23-012-14) FOR 2007 COMPASS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AUTHORIZING AN EXTENSION TO WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS AND IF FOUND TO REPAIR WITHOUT COST TO OWNER. JUST CALL JEEP ABOUT MY 2008 COMPASS AND THEY TOLD ME SINCE ORIGINAL FACTORY WARRANTY HAS EXPERIED I WOULD BE 100% RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COST. FIRST OFF, THE CROSSMEMBER SHOULD NOT ROT AWAY AFTER ONLKY 8 YRS, SECOND SINCE THEY ACKNOWLEDGE 2007 HAD A PROBLEM , MY 2008 SHOULD BE INCLUDED. MOST IMPORTANTLY, SINCE THE FAILURE OF THIS PART COULD RESULT IN LACK OF CONTROL AND MAY CAUSE A CRASH RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR ALL JEEPS TO INSPECT AND REPLACE ANY PARTS SHOWING SEVERE RUST AND ROTTING.

NHTSA ID

10899254

Incident

Aug 27, 2016

Mileage

85,000 mi

I PURCHASED MY CAR NEW IN 2007 WITH 98 MILES ON IT. IN 2011, WITH NEARLY 40,000 MILES, BOTH MY FRONT CONTROL ARMS NEEDED REPLACED. I HAVE SINCE NEEDED THEM (ALONG WITH THE TIRES) REPLACED AT LEAST 5 TIMES. GRANTED, I NOW HAVE OVER 140K MILES ON MY CAR, BUT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAPPEN ON A REGULAR BASIS. I'VE HAD AT LEAST 3 MECHANICS TELL ME THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS REPAIRS MADE ON OTHER COMPASS VEHICLES AND TO "HOLD ON TO MY RECEIPTS" IF THERE IS A RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10881692

Incident

Jun 30, 2016

Mileage

140,000 mi

WAS UNDER OUR 2008 COMPASS WHILE CHANGING THE SERPENTINE BELT AND NOTICE SEVERE RUST ROT ON THE SUBFRAME. CAN ACTUALLY PUSH MY FINGERS THROUGH IT. I SEE THAT THE 2005 THROUGH 2007 MODELS HAVE A RECALL ON THE SUBFRAME BUT NOT THE 2008 MODEL EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

10862909

Incident

May 3, 2016

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP COMPASS 4X4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED TO THE RIGHT. SPARKS AND FLAMES APPEARED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FLAMES EXTINGUISHED THEMSELVES AND THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AT HER RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY, FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, AND BEARING SEIZED. THE FRONT AXLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND REMAINED INOPERABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 171,000.

NHTSA ID

10839522

Incident

Nov 15, 2015

Mileage

171,000 mi

BALL JOINTS WENT BAD AT 44000 MILES! *TR

NHTSA ID

10638041

Incident

Sep 19, 2014

Mileage

44,000 mi

BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.... I PURCHASED 4 BRAND NEW TIRES AROUND THE END OF 2012. THE FRONT TWO TIRES WERE SO BAD DUE TO THE BALL JOINT/BEARINGS I HAD TO PURCHASE TWO NEW FRONT TIRES IN APRIL 2014. THAT'S WHEN I ACTUALLY NOTICED IT. I'M SURE THEY NEEDED REPLACEMENT SOONER THAN THAT. I WAS TOLD BOTH BALL BEARINGS AND SOMETHING CALLED A HUB BARRING TO BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT WHEEL WERE SO BAD THEY WERE SURPRISED I MADE IT THIS LONG WITHOUT THE WHEEL LOCKING UP ON ME. I'M $1800.00 IN THE HOLE DUE THE THIS PROBLEM. I'M NOW SEEING THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH JEEP COMPASS. THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO ACCOMMODATE ALL OF THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. I WANT SOME ANSWERS!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10621487

Incident

Apr 1, 2014

Mileage

40,000 mi

39000 MILES AND SO MANY SUSPENSION PROBLEMS CONTROL ARMS,BALL JOINTS,TIE RODS,STRUTS HOPING MY FAMILY DOESN'T DIE IN THIS VEHICLE WHAT I SEE IN THE NEWS ABOUT CHRYSLER LATELY SCARES THE HELL OUT OF ME TRYING TO KEEP THIS VEHICLE OFF FREEWAY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN CHRYSLER SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM BUT GOING ON LINE THERE ARE SO MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR JEEPS I DON'T BELIEVE WHAT THEY SAY THEY TELL ME IT'S 4000 MI OVER WARRANTY NOTHING CAN BE DONE I'M AFRAID THE WHEELS WILL FALL OFF WHAT THE $#%^ CAN I DO I DON'T HAVE THE L MONEY TO BUY A NEW CAR OR KEEP FIXING THIS ONE I THINK IT'S A FAULTY DESIGN AND SO DO NUMEROUS MECHANICS IN THE USA AND CANADA SOMETHING'S MESSED UP WHEN PARTS PREMATURELY GO BAD AND IF YOU LOOK INTO IT I'M SURE YOU WILL SEE A PATTERN I BABIED THIS CAR SINCE NEW HOPING IT WOULD LAST TWENTY YEARS DON'T KNOW IF ANY ONE HAS DIED BUT I THINK TO MYSELF ITS PROBABLE BEING SO MANY COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ANY KIND OF HELP AVAILABLE THIS IS MY FORTH JEEP AND I NEVER HAVE SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS WITH THE TEN OR SO CARS I HAVE OWNED HOPE YOU CAN HELP! BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS WHERE CAN I TURN DRIVING THIS IS FRIGHTENING AND I COULDN'T SELL THIS TO ANOTHER FAMILY AFTER WHAT MY MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME ABOUT THESE KIND OF JEEPS PLEASE HELP! WHAT WOULD YOU DO WHAT SHOULD I DO THANKS *TR

NHTSA ID

10595717

Incident

Jun 2, 2014

Mileage

39,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 2010. WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET ONE OF THE TIRES REPLACED. THE AUTOMOTIVE MECHANICS FOUND MULTIPLE PROBLEMS IN THE CONTROL ARM AND THE BALL JOINT OF THE WHEEL. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON TO JEEP COMPASS. I JUST WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS NOT SUPPOSE TO OCCUR UNLESS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ALL THE TIME OR ALWAYS DRIVEN TO VERY FAR DESTINATIONS. IN THIS CASE, IT IS NOT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM MIGHT BE CAUSE BY SOMETHING ELSE, LIKE BUMPS ON THE ROAD, OR A HEAVY OBJECT HIT ON THE ROAD. I DO NOT RECALL ANY INCIDENTS WITH MY JEEP COMPASS THAT COULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW AND NOT SUPPOSE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF PROBLEM THAT COULD POTENTIALLY HARM MY FAMILY AND MYSELF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10498265

Incident

Feb 14, 2013

Mileage

23,973 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE WHEN SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE UPPER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT WARRANTY WOULD COVER THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ID

10465148

Incident

Jul 9, 2012

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP COMPASS 4X4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE WHEN THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,850. UPDATED 08-01-12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED ON JULY 14, 2012 AT A COST OF $ 402.00. UPDATED 08/01/12

NHTSA ID

10465099

Incident

Jul 7, 2012

Mileage

53,850 mi

THE STEERING BEGAN TO PULL SHARPLY TO THE SIDE. WHEN THE JEEP WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP, THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO GET THE PART IMMEDIATELY FROM THE DEALER BECAUSE THE PART WAS KEPT IN STOCK BECAUSE IT IS SO OFTEN REPLACED. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT LOWER BALL JOINTS TYPICALLY LAST AT LEAST TWICE AS LONG AS THESE AND THAT CONTINUED DRIVING WITHOUT REPLACEMENT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN LOSING COMPLETE STEERING CONTROL. HE SAID HE BELIEVED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS TO HAVE A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW. UPON RESEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, HAVING TO REPLACE THEIR LOWER BALL JOINTS WITH EVEN FEWER MILES AND MORE FREQUENTLY. THIS COULD EASILY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE SHOULD AT LEAST BE A SAFETY NOTIFICATION SENT OUT TO ALERT OTHER DRIVERS OF THE DANGER CAUSED BY THIS DESIGN FLAW. WHEN I WROTE TO CHRYSLER, I RECEIVED A LETTER ASKING ME TO CALL TO DISCUSS THE MATTER. WHEN I CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WAS UNWILLING TO ADMIT TO A FAULT IN THE PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10442370

Incident

Nov 16, 2011

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP COMPASS 4X4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,970.

NHTSA ID

10429403

Incident

Dec 1, 2008

Mileage

18,970 mi

OUR 2008 JEEP COMPASS HAS BALL JOINT AND TIE ROD END FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10426985

Incident

Sep 14, 2011

Mileage

38,417 mi

I BOUGHT MY COMPASS NEW IN JUNE, 2008. I COMPLAINED ABOUT A CRACKING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT END THE 2ND DAY I HAD THE CAR. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER & THEY REPLACED THE R/F AXLE. IT STILL MADE THE SAME CRACKING NOISE. I TOOK IT BACK & THE DEALER SAID THE BOLTS ON THE CONTROL ARM WEREN'T TIGHTENED PROPERLY. STILL THE SAME NOISE, SO I WENT ON LINE LOOKING FOR ANY TSBS. I READ ABOUT FRONT END PROBLEMS WITH 2007 DODGE CALIBERS & 2007 JEEP COMPASSES & PATRIOTS PARTICULARLY WITH THE BALL JOINTS.TURNS OUT THAT UNDERSIZED BOLTS WERE INSTALLED IN THE CONTROL ARMS. BY NOW I FELT THAT THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE & WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER & THE SERVICE TECH SAID LET'S TAKE A TEST DRIVE, I REFUSED & TOLD HIM TO DRIVE IT HIMSELF, AS I WASN'T GOING TO GET BACK BEHIND THE WHEEL UNTIL THEY SOLVED THE PROBLEM (REMINDING THEM OF THE LEMON LAW, AS THIS WAS THE 3RD TIME I WAS THERE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM). WHILE THE DEALER INSISTED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT ONE OF THE CARS LISTED IN THE TSB, THEY DID REPLACE THE CONTROL ARM BOLTS WITH NEW ONES & REPLACED THE STABILIZER LINKS. IN FEB. OF 2009 MY DAD PURCHASED A 2008 COMPASS & IT HAD THE SAME NOISE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER & THEY REPLACED THE CONTROL ARM BOLTS. SINCE THEN THERE HAVE BEEN NO PROBLEMS OR NOISES, ALTHOUGH MY JEEP ONLY HAS 17K MILES. DO YOUR HOMEWORK & CHECK OUT TSBS. YOU JUST MIGHT SOLVE YOUR OWN PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10425054

Incident

Jul 7, 2008

Mileage

100 mi

MY 2008 JEEP COMPASS, WITH APPROXIMATELY 32,000 MILES, REQUIRED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS TO BOTH BE REPLACED OR RISK A SERIOUS POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THESE PARTS SHOULD HAVE LASTED AT LEAST TWICE AS LONG AS THEY ACTUALLY DID AND THE TECHNICIAN AT THE JEEP DEALERSHIP I SPOKE WITH SAID THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL OF JEEP WITH THIS SPECIFIC PART. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE IT INSPECTED BECAUSE IT WAS RIDING ROUGH. IF WE HAD NOT TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AT THE TIME WE DID THEN THERE WAS A STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT THE PARTS FAILURE (LOWER BALL JOINTS) COULD HAVE CAUSED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE FRONT END RESULTING IN THE WHEEL AND TIRE SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN FOR ANY FAMILY WHO OWNS THIS MODEL OF JEEP. WE HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER DIRECTLY TO CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CARE DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM AND TELLING THEM OF OUR DISSATISFACTION WITH THE PART BOTH NEEDING REPLACED WELL BEFORE THIS PART SHOULD NORMALLY BE DUE FOR INSPECTION. WE FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR A PARTS RECALL BY CHRYSLER. WE SOLELY WISH TO FORWARD ON OUR SAFETY CONCERN TO YOUR ORGANIZATION FOR FURTHER REVIEW. WE SUSPECT THAT THIS ISSUE MIGHT BE A TREND AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR CONCERN IS VOICED; MAINLY IN ORDER TO PREVENT A FUTURE INCIDENT IN WHICH A FAMILY IS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THEIR WHEEL SEPARATES FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING A SERIOUS COLLISION OR POSSIBLY A DEATH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10421646

Incident

Aug 11, 2008

Mileage

32,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP COMPASS SPORT 4X4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE IN SNOWY WEATHER, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE REAR LOWER BALL JOINTS, WHICH WERE FRACTURED AND CAUSING THE TIRES TO WEAR PREMATURELY, WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. UPDATED 04/29/11

NHTSA ID

10384199

Incident

Feb 22, 2010

Mileage

20,000 mi

BALL JOINT ON THE 2008 JEEP COMPASS IS HAS GONE BAD AFTER JUST 50,000 MILES. OVER 1/2 " OF PLAY IN THE JOINT THAT COULD CAUSE SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING A DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10352204

Incident

Jul 10, 2010

Mileage

50,000 mi