Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Jeep Liberty submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 494 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 494, in the owner's own words
The lower ball joint on passenger side failed. Didn't notice any symptoms prior to it breaking. I understand that it was apparently under recall. It was repaired around the recall date but it failed again and is considered recurring failure.
At approximately 6:30 am 9/25/2024, I was transporting a friend to her home in a neighboring city. After ten minutes of travel, I exited a four lane bridge. As I slowed and set up for traffic negotiations, We heard a bang, like maybe tire blowout, I initiated a full stop to safety, disembarked vehicle to find that; THE RIGHT FRONT BALL JOINT HAD EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE! Thus, the tire was sliced the tire mount rim was deeply grooved. Had vehicle towed to my home. It is in the condition left by the towing company. So, I called my neighborhood dodge boys and wàs assured that "they were not obligated not interested in repairing this near calamity, for the "RECALLED LOWER BALL JOINT COMPONENTS WERE DEALT WITH IN 2006.. TOO MANY YEARS HAVE PASSED FOR THIS EVENT TO BE REPAIRED BY RECALL OR WARRANTY". OK THEN, HOW ABOUT THE AIRBAG OPEN RECALL AT THE STEERING WHEEL.. REPLY, NO. NOTHING MISSED OR ELIGIBLE. Well, that's it.. Thanks for the venting space. And seriously, thank you for what you do.
Well my 2002 jeep liberty has been messed up lately,it will just not crank so I thought it was the battery but it turned out to be the ignition switch also it did this off an on for about 6months ,the heat went out when I bought it and it will act as if it is overheating but it won't do anything for while then all of my windows have problems with the motor s in them the suspension, control arms I've had to change ,and the cruise control button will stick and keep going while you are driving it almost caused me to wreck on the interstate you have to turn the vehicle completely off once you get it to stop if you can get it to stop. out of all the vehicles I've had this is the first to take off by itself
Ball joints are coming apart and leaving me stranded on several occasions leading to costly repairs.
THE CAR CHUGG IN AND OUT GOIN DOWN THE ROAD IF FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS GOIN TO FALL OUT OF IT THE IT DIES THE STEERING SO SO BAD IT FEELS LIKE A TIRE IS GOIN TO FALL OF AT ANY MOMENT THE VALVE COHERE GASKET NEEDS REPLACED THE BRAKES ARE NON EXISTING I ALMOST CRASHED INTO SOME E HEAD ON AFTER IT DIED ON ME WHILE I WAS GOIN 50 MPH DOWN THE [XXX] I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 2 WEEK HOBART AUTO SALES HAVE IT TO ME IN REPLACE OF A VEHICLE THEY HAD SOLD ME THAT DIDN'T HAVE A TITLE TO IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, WITHOUT WARNING THE DRIVER'S SIDE BALL JOINT FRACTURED CAUSING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO SEPARATE IMPALING THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO STEER THE VEHICLE INTO A GAS STATION WHERE A TOW TRUCK RESPONDED AND PICKED UP AND TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE PLACE WHERE THE VEHICLE REMAINED. NO DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V119000 (SUSPENSION) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 217,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PRESTIGE CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE LOCATED AT 6520 CENTENNIAL CENTER BLVD, LAS VEGAS, NV 89149, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOWER AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V1190000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE HAD WORN OUT DUE TO A CORRODED BALL JOINT. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V119000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE RECALL REPAIR HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH ANYONE REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
RECALL # 09V119000 RECALL DATE 04/09/2009 SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM AND RECALL # 06V288000 RECALL DATE 08/03/06 SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT. VEHICLE HAS HAD PROBLEMS DRIVING WITH SPEEDS OVER 15MPH. HEAVY VIBRATION AND UNEASY DRIVING. DEALER MADE A REPAIR ON ONE LOWER BALL JOINT TO SATISFY RECALL BUT THE PROBLEM IS RETURNING. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALLS DO NOT INCLUDE MY VIN. THE RECALLS ARE YEAR AND MODEL SPECIFIC. IF THE VEHICLE RECALL AFFECTED ONE CONTROL ARM LOWER BALL JOINT IT SHOULD ALSO APPLY TO THE OTHER SIDE. BALL JOINTS SHOULD BE REPLACED IN SETS. BOTH UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS ARE PART OF THESE RECALLS. THIS CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ANY DRIVER IF DEALERS CAN USE VIN NUMBER TO DISCLAIM NECESSARY RECALLS ON VEHICLES.
2002 JEEP LIBERTY...FEELS LIKE AND SOUNDS LIKE THE WHOLE FRONT END IS FALLING APART..AND THEN I WENT TO THE POST OFFICE AND AS I TURNED IN THE PARKING LOT THE JEEP MADE THE WORST NOISE..PEOPLE STARTED LOOKING..IT WAS REALLY BAD WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL..MY MECHANIC CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THE BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE CHANGED..AND I THINK SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE STEERING ....I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON BALL JOINTS AND SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE STEERING.ALSO MY BROTHER N LAW FOUND A PART LAYING LOOSE IN DOWN IN THE MOTOR..I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN AND I STILL WORK..AND I NEED MY JEEP CHECKED..I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT...PLS LET ME KNOW WHAT TO DO...THANKS..
UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED AT 140,100 MILES ALL POWER WINDOWS FAILED OVER LAST 5 YEARS HOOD LID HYDRAULICS FAILED @99,000MILES TAILGATING WINDOW HYDRAULICS FAILED@ 105,000MILES AIR COND. FAN FAILED @ 141,000 MILES TAILGATE WINDOW RUBBER GASKET FAILED @125,000MILES
I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND HIGHWAY WHEN MY UPPER AND LOWER ARMS AND BALL JOINTS JUST SNAPPED IN HALF ALSO THE WHOLE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAS NO ELECTRICAL WORKING THE HORN DOESN'T WORK SO THE AIR BAGS DON'T WORK AND THE COMPANY I GOT THE VEHICLE FROM DISABLED MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SO I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT ELSE IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE THE COMPANIES NAME IS WHEELS OF SUCCESS THE OWNER IS [XXX] SHE REFUSES TO HELP ME I HAVE CALLED SENT EMAILS TEXT ETC NO RESPONSE I GOT THE VEHICLE FROM HER IN NOVEMBER 2016 I HAVEN'T HAD IT A YEAR AND I HAVE PAID FOR REPAIRS THAT SHOULD OF BEEN DONE BEFORE GETTING IT I HAVE PAID OUT MORE THAN THE COST OF VEHICLE THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
HEAT IS NOT WORKING IT THROWS OUT COOL/COLD AIR. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY LIBERTY OWNERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. IT IS A PAIN SINCE I HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND THE CAR IS SO COLD YOU CAN SEE EVERYONE'S BREATH. I'VE HAD THE RADIATOR FLUSHED AND HAD A FEW THINGS CHECKED AND STILL NO HEAT. OVER THE SUMMER I HAD THE A/C FIXED BECAUSE IT STARTED THROWING OUT HOT AIR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND I'M SURPRISED IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. THE CAR IS DRIVEN ON A DAILY BASIS IN NEW JERSEY. CAR IS MOSTLY DRIVEN ON CITY STREETS AND OCASIONAL HIGHWAY. MY JEEP WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECALLS, BUT LOOKING FOR RECALLS TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING FOR THE HEAT I NOTICED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE CONTROL ATMS/BUSHINGS. I WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT THIS RECALL AND NOTHING WAS DONE AT THE DEALER. LAST MONTH DRIVING ONE OF MY BUSHINGS BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND I LOST A WHEEL.
THE LOWER BALL JOINT SHEARED OFF CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FALL CAUSING THE BOTTOM OF THE BALL JOINT TO LAND ON THE RIM. THUS CUTTING THE RIM ALL THE WAY AROUND IT OFF AND PUNCTURING THE TIRE. THUS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE TO A STOP AT 50 MILES AN HOUR WITH A SKID MARK. THUS HAVING TO CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK TO PICK IT UP. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. THE VEHICLE WAS ON A OFF RAMP OF A FREEWAY TO A ON RAMP OVER PASS OF ANOTHER FREEWAY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT FRACTURED AND THE WHEEL WAS BENT AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE DRIVING 7 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE BALL JOINT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
WELL WHERE DO I START. SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN MAY OF 2016 I HAVE REPLACE MULTIPLE PARTS ,BUT THEY WEREN'T PART OF ANY RECALLS. BUT NOW MY CONCERN REVIEWING RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE AND TRYING TO ADDRESS THESE NUMEROUS DEFECTS . I'M ALMOST FED UP. MY MAIN COVER IS THE J17 RECALL FOR THE UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT OF WHICH A CHRYSLER REPRESENTATIVE ADVIDEO MY MY VEHICLE WAS PART OF ,WHICH I CLUELESS ON HOW AS THE RECALL DOESN'T SPECIFY OTHER THAN 2002 TO 2003 LIBERTY VWHILES . NOW I SHOW THAT THEY WERE REPLACED IN THE PAST AND NOW THEY SINCE ARE WORN IN THE SAME DESCRIPTION THEY WERE RECALLED IN . AND CHRYSLER DENIES RESPONSIBILITY (?) .. ALSO OTHER CONCERNS WITH THE CATYLIC CONVERTER CAUSING A SULFUR SMELL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS GOING UP HILL ASO WELL AS TOWING . ONE MORE THING IS NUMEROUS ONLINE FORUM ABOUT THE ENGINE TICKING BEING NORMAL AND UNFIXABLE OTHER THEN TO REPLACE THE ENGINE . NOW ALL THIS PLUS THE MULTIPLE PARTS I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED A VEHICLE LESS THEN 15 YEARS ON THE MARKET NEEDED A IN OTHER WORDS FULLY RESTORATION IS UNACCEPTABLE. ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE STOCK 1948 JEEP THAT NEED LESS REPAIRS THAN THIS .
2002 JEEP LIBERTY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BALL JOINT BROKE AND WHEEL KNOCKED FRONT FENDER OFF OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED BALL JOINT AND LEFT FRONT WHEEL UNDER RECALL. HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RE-ATTACHING FENDER. *SMD THE DEALER STATED IT WOULD COST $350 TO RE-ATTACH THE FENDER. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HAVE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE UPPER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V119000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO COMPLETE A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THE AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. THE CONTACT HAD A SECOND MANUFACTURER RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED FOR THE BALL JOINTS AND INDICATED THAT IT WAS NOT COMPLETED PROPERLY BECAUSE THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM AN ALIGNMENT. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WOBBLED IN AN UNSTABLE MANNER CONSTANTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/16/16*LJ UPDATED 08/22/16.*JB
TAKATA RECALL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN AND DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT END AS THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED TOWARDS THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY FRACTURED. IN 2006, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V460000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER AN UNKNOWN RECALL RELATED TO THE SUSPENSION IN 2007 BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V119000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000. UPDATED 02/26/16*LJ *CN
AFTER AN INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT MY UPPER CONTROL ARMS & BALL JOINTS ARE NO GOOD FROM MOSTLY CORROSION .I HAVE 73000 MILES ON THIS TRUCK. DOING RE SEARCH I FIND A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THE RECALL STATES THAT THIS PROBLEM IS REGISTRATION SPECIFIC TO SALT BELT USAGE. AGAIN I QUALIFY FOR THAT PART AS WELL.THE RECALL IS J 17 AND IN CALLING JEEP THERE TELLING ME ABOUT THE VIN BUT NOT ABOUT THE SALT BELT STATE USEAGE .THE ARMS DO NOT CORRODE IN FLA BUT THEY DO IN NY . THE BALL JOINT AND ARM NEED REPLACEMENT THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT OF THE PART EXPOSED TO SALT. CALLING JEEP IS WORTHLESS CALLED NHSTA SAME RESULT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED AT THE DEALER UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE), IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V288000 (SUSPENSION). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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