2003 Jeep Liberty Other / unspecified Problems

The ball joint and cv axle broke making me wreck. I had no control of the steering.

NHTSA ID

11503737

Incident

Jan 22, 2023

On 7/10 I'm driving down the road towards the freeway. I hear a very loud pop that startles me. I pull over & discover lower ball joint has separated causing the lower control arm to slip out of socket into the wheel & than separate from wheel. I mean its still attached to the vehicle but vehicle is completely disabled. It caused significant damage to the right front wheel and somewhat minor damage to the right front fender. Theres literally metal shaving all over the road from it carving the metal out of my wheel. Get home and my boyfriend tells me that he's discovered 3 safety recalls. So we call FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) they said they would have it towed to the dealership no problem but they needed a $103 for the tow that they would reimburse later. They told us to pick any dealership. So FCA has it towed from my driveway on 7/13 at 8:45pm to Lithia Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Portland Dealership. Safety recall F23 was replaced by the dealership but the manufacturer (FCA) has not fixed the damage and is denying responsibility. FCA calls on 9/16 to finally tell us that a certified inspector has determined the damage to the wheel and fender is not from the recall. Which is a lie and I can take it to a mechanic and have that verified. They also go on to state they are not going to reimburse the $103 for the tow. So we go to the dealership to pick up the car the next day. I speak with Will in the service department and ask to see a copy of the inspection that the FCA is talking about. Will tells me that FCA never sent an inspector out and there is no inspection report stating that the damage is not from the recall. I have lots of photos of everything. Please contact me

NHTSA ID

11435190

Incident

Jul 10, 2021

SON WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF, IN MID TURN-. ON A PUBLIC ROAD, ABOUT TO TURN ONTO THE INTERSTATE. LUCKILY, WASN'T GOING 65. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. OUR MECHANIC SAID THE BALL JOINT BROKE LOOSE, BENDING THE AXLE AS WELL, DAMAGING THE WHEEL AND TIRE. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL OF THIS NATURE, BUT SAID IT DIDN'T APPLY TO THIS VIN. I AM TOTALLY CONVINCED IT MUST BE DEFECTIVE AS WELL. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DEADLY ACCIDENT. I AM BEGGING FOR THIS TO BE INVESTIGATED.

NHTSA ID

11352366

Incident

Aug 28, 2020

Mileage

220,000 mi

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN THE QUICK CHEK PARKING LOT AFTER I CAME OUT OF THE STORE TO GO TO WORK AND I HEARD A BIG BANG THUMP. I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND LOOKED AROUND THINKING MAYBE SOMEONE WAS BEHIND MEBUT THERE WAS NOT. I HAD A FEW GUYS PUSH THE VEHICLE SLOWLY TO ANOTHER PARKING SPACE ABOUT 200 FT AWAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND PUT INTO PARK AGAIN. I IMMEDIALTELY CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO COME TO HELP ME AFTER I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE TO SEE THAT THE WHEEL WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE FRONT SUSPENSION UNDER THE VEHICLE. A FLATBED CAME AND TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A WRECKER TO LIFT AND ALSO DOLLIES TO GET THIS VEHICLE TO THE CLOSEST AUTOMOTIVE FACILITY NEARBY. ONCE THERE THE NEXT DAY THEY INSPECTED IT AND TOLD THAT I NEEDED A LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS AND ALSO CONTROL ARM FOR THIS VEHICLE. I CALLED FCA CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE ABOUT THIS MATTER AND WAS TOLD THAT IF I WAS TO TOW IT TO ONE OF THERE FACILITIES THAT IF THE RECALL ON IT THAT WAS DONE IN 2007 WAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THEY WOULD ADDRESS THIS MATTER AND FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE AND IT WOULD BE COVERED FOR THE RECALL FOR THE MOST PART.

NHTSA ID

11173151

Incident

Jan 28, 2019

Mileage

128,565 mi

TOOK MY LIBERTY TO MY MECHANIC BECAUSE IT STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE SOUND UP FRONT WHEN EVER I MADE A TURN. UPON INSPECTION MY LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD DISINTEGRATED, CRUMBLED INTO THEIR HANDS. THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW LUCKY I WAS THAT IT DID NOT BREAK WHILE DRIVEN. NOTHING WAS HOLDING IT IN OR TOGETHER. COME TO FIND OUT THERE ARE RECALLS ON BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. I HAVE HAD THE LOWERS FIXED AND PAID FOR WITH LIFETIME WARRANTED PARTS. I NEED REIMBURSED FOR THE LOWER $488.27. THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ALSO MUST BE FIXED ON A SEPARATE RECALL THAT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF. DO THESE PEOPLE HAVE ANY IDEA HOW BLOODY AND DEVASTATED AN ACCIDENT WOULD BE WHEN YOUR WHEEL SHEARS OFF AND THERE IS NO STEERING? IT'S CALLED FLIPPING THE FRINGING JEEP OVER!!! NOT ONLY IS IT UNACCEPTABLE THAT I WASN'T NOTIFIED BUT I COULD HAVE KILLED MY FATHER AND OTHERS IN AN ACCIDENT. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME STRAIGHT UP IF I HAD GONE OVER A BUMP OR TURNED I WOULD HAVE WREAKED! I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD ACCIDENTS WITH MORE DAMAGE OR A FULL TOTAL OF THEIRS AND OTHERS ARE NOT BEING REIMBURSED FOR THE ENTIRE DAMAGES. THI FIXED WRONG THE FIRST TIME BY THE DEALER, BEFORE THEIR WREAK. HOW IS THAT NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY? THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR ANY OF THOSE JEEPS OR MINE NOT BEING FIXED. THESE ARE STRAIGHT UP RECALLS SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS, REALLY WRONG.

NHTSA ID

11096444

Incident

May 15, 2018

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS THE FRONT PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE FISHTAILED AND COLLIDED WITH THE MEDIAN, ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES, SPUN OUT, AND LANDED ON ITS ROOF. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AND OTHER AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED TWO BROKEN FINGERS ON THE LEFT HAND, CONTUSIONS, LEFT BODY SIDE MUSCLE SORENESS, AND A CONCUSSION. THE REAR PASSENGER OCCUPANT SUSTAINED A CUT TO THE RIGHT ARM AND LEFT LEG AND BRUISING. THE MIDDLE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISING, AND THE DRIVER SIDE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES. ALL OCCUPANTS REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER A BALL JOINT RECALL AND A POSSIBLE CONTROL ARM RECALL. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 131,000. ..UPDATED 05/09/17 *BF *AS

NHTSA ID

10979219

Incident

Apr 15, 2017

Mileage

131,000 mi

MY BOYFRIENDS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVER AND MY DAUGHTER (BOTH MINORS) HEAD BUSTED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDSHIELD. CARS IN FRONT OF THEM STOPPED ABRUPTLY AND THEY WERE GOING 55 MPH AND COULD NOT GET STOPPED, HITTING THE CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF THEM. NEITHER DRIVER NOR PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. MY DAUGHTER IS LUCKY! *TR

NHTSA ID

10704259

Incident

Jan 28, 2015

Mileage

154,000 mi

WHEN THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED MY HUSBAND AND I TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL MAGUIRE CHRYSLER OF 502 N FRANKLIN ST.WATKINS GLEN NY 14891 DEALER , @ THAT TIME WE HAD RESEARCHED AND HEARD THAT OUR MAKE AND MODEL JEEP LIBERTY HAD A RECALL ON FRT BALL JOINTS, BUT WE WERE ASSURED BY OUR DEALER THAT OUR MAKE AND MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED. HOWEVER ON 10/21/2014 MY SON DRIVING HOME FROM COLLEGE HAD EXPERIENCED THE TIRE JUST BREAKING OFF. AFTER BEING TOWED TO THE DEALER IT WAS STATED THAT BOTH FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACING.AS WELL AS REPLACING FRONT BRAKE HOSES THAT WERE DAMAGED FROM THE INCIDENT.ON NOVEMBER 13,2014 I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER STATING SAFETY RECALL F23-LOWER BALL JOINTS.THIS WAS AFTER WE HAVE HAD PROBLEM FIXED AND PAID FOR.MY MAIN COMPLAINT IS BRINGING THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION, AND THEM SWEEPING IT UNDER THE CARPET , THEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENS ENDANGERING OUR CHILD, THANKFULLY ON THE FLAT NOT WHILE COMING DOWN THE STEEP HILL ON HIS ROUTINE TRIP.I FIND IT EXTREMELY HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW OF THE RECALL BEFORE THE CUSTOMER. I FEEL THEY COULD HAVE AND SHOULD HAVE RESEARCHED THIS RECALL ON TWO OCCASIONS, 1ST WHEN WE FIRST BROUGHT IT TO THERE ATTENTION AND SECOND WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED,THIS IS SHADY BUSINESS NOT THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10658990

Incident

Oct 21, 2014

Mileage

125,417 mi

RE: IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL: N46/ NHTSA 13V-252 THE FUEL TANK ON MY VEHICLE HAS A CHANCE OF EXPERIENCING A FUEL LEAK DURING REAR END COLLISIONS. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN CAUSE AN UNDERBODY FIRE & DEATH!! {CHRYSLERS WORDS} THIS RECALL WAS INITIATED JULY 2013, HERE IT IS NOV 2014 & THE RECALL WAS JUST COMPLETED, BECAUSE WHEN THEY ISSUED THE RECALL, IT TOOK THEM A 18 MONTHS TO FINALLY GET THE PARTS, & THEY STILL DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS, WE HAD TO GO BACK A 2ND TIME, BECAUSE WHEN THEY RAN OUT OF PARTS, THEY FORGOT TO LET US KNOW, YET THEY [MOTORWORLD OF WILKES BARRE], SENT US AN EMAIL TO BRING OUR JEEP IN. A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME. THEY DID GIVE US 6 GAL OF GAS FOR A WASTED TRIP, COST OF CANCELLING MY GOLF OUTING, PRICELESS$$$. THE EXISTENCE OF A MINIMUM STANDARD DOES NOT REQUIRE N.H.T.S.A. TO IGNORE DEADLY PROBLEMS,' THE AGENCY SAID. IN ITS LETTER TO CHRYSLER, THE AGENCY CITED 32 REAR-IMPACT COLLISIONS THAT CAUSED FATAL FIRES RESULTING IN 44 DEATHS IN JEEP GRAND CHEROKEES, AND FIVE ACCIDENTS THAT RESULTED IN SEVEN DEATHS IN THE JEEP LIBERTY. CHRYSLER'S IDEA FOR THE LIMITED RECALL 'FIX' IS TO INSTALL TRAILER HITCHES ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1992'98 GRAND CHEROKEES AND 2002'07 LIBERTY VEHICLES. ONE BIG PROBLEM: RESEARCH SHOWS THE TRAILER HITCH IS ESSENTIALLY USELESS IN HIGH-SPEED REAR-IMPACT CRASHES. AS FAR AS LOW-SPEED CRASHES ARE CONCERNED, EVEN CHRYSLER ADMITS THE HITCH WILL ONLY PROVIDE 'INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE CRASH ENERGY MANAGEMENT.' TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, SOME OF THE JEEP VEHICLES THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN INVOLVED IN REAR-IMPACT FIRES ALREADY HAD A TRAILER HITCH INSTALLED. SOME GOOD IT DID THOSE OWNERS. THIS IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT READY TO HAPPEN

NHTSA ID

10655036

Incident

Jul 1, 2013

Mileage

190,000 mi

I JUST WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT INREGARD TO TRAILER HITCH THAT WAS NOT INSTALLED ON MY JEEP LIBERTY. THE DEALER SAID EVEN BEFORE THE PART FINALLY CAME THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHECK THE JEEP FOR CORROSION. I DO NOT FEEL MY JEEP HAS ANY MORE CORROSION ON THE FRAME THEN ANY 2003 JEEP WOULD HAVE. I'M SURE IF I WANTED TO PAY FOR A TRAILER HITCH ,ONE WOULD OR COULD BE INSTALLED. I THINK SINCE I TALKED TO NUMEROUS JEEP LIBERTY OWNERS, WHO WERE ALSO TURNED DOWN, THAT THIS IS CHRYSLER WAY OF GETTING AROUND THE COST OF INSTALLING THE TRAILER HITCH. I BELIEVE THIS IS A STALL TACTIC & AWAY CHRYSLER CAN GET AROUND THE RECALL. I HOPE YOU CAN CHECK ON THE NUMBER OF HITCHES THAT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED OR IF THE DEALERS GET A KICKBACK BY SAYING THEY CANNOT INSTALL A TRAILER HITCH! THANK YOU! *TR

NHTSA ID

10644888

Incident

Oct 14, 2014

Mileage

90,548 mi

LEFT DRIVER SIDE, UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATED FROM CONTROL ARM. WHEEL COLLAPSED OUTWARD. FORTUNATELY, IT HAPPENED AFTER LEAVING THE INTERSTATE DRIVING 70 MILES PER HOUR. ENTERING SERVICE STATION WHEEL COLLAPSED. HAPPENED TO TALK TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. INDIVIDUAL SAID THAT THIS IS A CURRENT AND ON GOING PROBLEM WITH TODAY'S VEHICLES. THE FRONT COMPONENTS ARE BEING DESIGNED SO THEY CANNOT BE MAINTAINED PROPERLY. LACK OF GREASE FITTINGS, PRESSED IN JOINT DESIGN ON BALL JOINTS TO CONTROL ARM , INSTEAD OF RE ENFORCED WITH BOLTS OR OTHER SAFE MEASURES. INDIVIDUAL STATED THAT IT IS OCCURRING ON MOST ALL MAKES AND MODELS. INSTEAD OF JUST REPLACING THE DEFECTED BALL JOINT, THE CONTROL ARM, WITH NO OTHER DEFECT, BUT THIS, HAS TO BE REPLACED, COSTING EVEN MORE MONEY. HAS BEEN REPORTED, THAT DEATHS HAVE OCCURRED. THE MENTAL IMPACT AND FEELING INSECURE AFTER A FIX IS ONGOING. I SEE MORE DEATHS AND ACCIDENTS OCCURRING BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10483240

Incident

Oct 4, 2012

Mileage

90,627 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ABNORMALLY STEERING TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10478722

Incident

Oct 3, 2012

Mileage

100,000 mi

I WAS HEADING TO FRIEND'S PLACE AND HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF THE HIGHWAY WHEN I PULLED INTO HER STREET. I WENT UP A SLIGHTLY RAISED DRIVEWAY IN ORDER TO TURN THE CAR AROUND WHEN I HEARD A LOUD, GRINDING SOUND. I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE SOMETHING HAD GOTTEN STUCK UNDER THE CAR, SO I GOT OUT TO CHECK BUT SAW NOTHING. I GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND CONTINUED TO REVERSE IT IN ORDER TO PARK, BUT THE NOISE STARTED RIGHT BACK UP AGAIN AND STEERING HAD NOW BECOME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. I EVENTUALLY PARKED THE CAR, GOT OUT AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WAS BENT IN BECAUSE THE BALL JOINT HAD COME OUT. I KNOW THAT THERE WERE RECALLS REGARDING THIS IN 2003, 2006 AND 2009. I AM PLANNING TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP TOMORROW TO ALERT THEM OF THE SITUATION. HOWEVER, ANY HELP THAT YOU CAN HELP ME WOULD BE GREAT! THANK YOU! *TR

NHTSA ID

10452838

Incident

Mar 23, 2012

Mileage

89,000 mi

MY DAUGHTER HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE UPPER LEVEL (H.O.V LANE) OF THE 59TH ST. BRIDGE IN QUEENS NY AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS SHE WAS TURNING UPWARD ON A VERY SHARP TURN, WHICH THEN LED TO HER COLLIDING HEAD FIRST WITH THE SIDEWALLS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10225378

Incident

Feb 29, 2008

Mileage

54,500 mi

NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR ANYTHING ABOUT THE JEEP NOW. WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL FEEL OFF THE BALL JOINT SNAPPED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10194088

Incident

Jun 24, 2007

Mileage

108,984 mi

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AT THE END OF DECEMBER AND I PROCEEDED TO CALL THE LOCAL DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET THE VEHICLE TAKEN CARE. I CALLED THE END OF THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY AND WAS INFORMED BY THE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT MY NAME WOULD PUT ON THE LIST AND THE PARTS TO BE ORDERED SINCE THEY DID NOT HAVE THEM IN STOCK. THE PERSON PROCEEDED TO INFORM THAT IT WOULD TAKE AWHILE AND THAT I WOULD CONTACTED WHEN THE PARTS CAME IN AND AN APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED THEN. TODAY IS JANUARY 27TH AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN GETTING MY VEHICLE SCHEDULED FOR SERVICE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10180884

Incident

Jan 27, 2007

2003 LIBERTY BECAME DETACHED FROM TRAILER WHEN THE NUT SECURING THE BALL CAME OFF. *TS THE U-HAUL TRAILER CRASHED INTO A WALL. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10175383

Incident

Sep 4, 2006

WE HAD THE RECALL(BALL JOINTS) DONE ON OUR JEEP LIBERTY BACK IN 03. THEN ON 10/03/06 WE HAD IT BACK IN THE SHOP FOR STIFFNESS IN THE STEERING; WE WERE TOLD THE BALL JOINTS WERE FINE, AND THAT IT COULD BE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND RACK AND PINION. ON 10/31/06, THE BALL JOINTS BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN MAJOR MECHANICAL DAMAGE TO OUR JEEP!!! IF THIS IS A RECALL ON THE FIRST RECALL, WHY SHOULD WE FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AFTER WE GET IT BACK? HOW DO WE KNOW ITS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN? PLEASE GIVE US SOME INPUT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10172420

Incident

Oct 31, 2006

Mileage

54,000 mi

2003 JEEP LIBERTY SPORT - LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED FROM KNUCKLE WHILE DRIVING ON 6/24/06. NOTE: RECALL NOTICE ON LOWER BALL JOINTS RECEIVED JUNE 2004 AND REPAIR/INSPECTION IN RESPONSE TO RECALL NOTICE WAS COMPLETED 6/30/04 (LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED AND HEAT SHIELD INSTALLED) AT CROSS CHRYSLER JEEP IN LOUISVILLE, KY. FAILURE STILL OCCURRED AFTER RECALL REPAIR. NEW REPAIRS COMPLETED ON 6/30/06 AT NEIL HUFFMAN CHRYSLER/DODGE JEEP IN LOUISVILLE, KY- LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED AGAIN. ONE (1) WHEEL AND ONE (1) AXLE ALSO REPLACED DUE TO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10161229

Incident

Jun 24, 2006

Mileage

38,019 mi

FRONT END FELT LOOSE ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND WHEN BRAKING THERE WAS HEAVY CLUNKING NOISE. FOUND A RECALL NOTICE ONLINE AND CALLED MY DEALER. I WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN AND HAVE IT CHECKED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDE STATING THAT THE RIGHT SIDE WAS READY TO BREAK AT ANY MOMENT. THE DEALER ALSO INSTALLED A HEAT SHIELD BETWEEN THE FRONT ROTORS AND THE BALL JOINTS. THIS WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 32,000 MILES. STEERING FELT TIGHT AGAIN AND THE CLUNK NOISE WAS GONE. THEN AT APPROXIMATELY 43,000 MILES, THE NOISE RETURNED AND AGAIN THE STEERING FELT LOOSE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THIS TIME I BOUGHT AN AFTER MARKET REPLACEMENT PART THAT IS SOLD AS A PROBLEM SOLVER TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE BALL JOINT. THESE WERE INSTALLED BY A NON-DEALER SHOP AT APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES. NOISE AND LOOSE FEELING IN THE STEERING HAS WENT AWAY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10160686

Incident

Jun 10, 2006

Mileage

43,000 mi

AT 54,000 MILES THE VEHICLE SUFFERED A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR BRAKE ADJUSTER, CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE HARDWARE FOR THAT WHEEL INCLUDING THE TOTAL LOSS OF THE EMERGENCY SHOE. BECAUSE OF THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE AND, THE UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF CORROSION FOUND BY THE DEALER, THEY INSIST ON REPLACING MUCH OF THE REAR BRAKE HARDWARE ON BOTH SIDES AT A PERSONAL EXPENCE OF AROUND $800 (BRAKES ARE ONLY WARRANTED FOR 1 YEAR OR 12,000 MILES BY JEEP). ABOUT 10,000 MILES AND 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, NEW EMERGENCY SHOES HAD BEEN INSTALLED AND WORKED WELL FOR 4 MONTHS WHEN BANGING NOISES, DRAGGING, LURCHING AND, PULLING BEGAN WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY UP TO THE TIME I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SECOND TIME ON THE DATE I LIST HERE; THE DEALER HAD FOUND NOTHING THE PRIOR TIME I COMPLAINED. THERE APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH CRITICAL BRAKE PARTS CORRODING EXTENSIVELY AND FAILING IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME UNDER WHAT ARE CONSIDERED NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR THE NE PART OF THE COUNTRY. THERE MAY ALSO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE TOLERANCE OF REPLACEMENT BRAKE PARTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FACTORY AUTHORIZED COMPONENTS. AT ANY RATE, I AM NOT THE FIRST TO COMPLAIN ABOUT BRAKE HARDWARE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. I HAVE READ REFERENCES TO CORROSION RELATED BRAKE FAILURES HERE AND AT OTHER SITES. GIVEN THE WAY THE VEHICLE BEHAVED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE FAILURE OF THE DEALER TO FIND IT EARLY, A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND NEEDLESSLY EXPENSIVE SITUATION EXISTS IN AT LEAST THE EARLY PRODUCTION 2003 LIBERTYS (I BOUGHT ONE OF THE FIRST AVAILABLE ONES THAT YEAR AND NOTICED A RASH OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SUBJECT BEGINNING LAST SUMMER). *AK

NHTSA ID

10108091

Incident

Jan 26, 2005

Mileage

54,000 mi

MY WIFE JESSICA AND SON ANDREW WERE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 80 EAST BOUND THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS 2004 WHEN WE HIT A PATCH OF ICE AND WERE THROWN OFF THE ROAD, DOWN A BANK AND STRUCK A TREE HEAD ON AT A SPEED OF 40-50 MPH. OUR AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND OUR SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK UP. I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND WAS THROWN FORWARD TOWARDS THE WINDOW AND MY WIFE FLEW UP AND HIT THE GRAB BAR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I CONTACTED JEEP AND WAS TOLD THAT AN AIR BAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. MY MECHANIC HAD TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS ENOUGH FORCE TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAGS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE ANY LONGER. *NM

NHTSA ID

10106440

Incident

Dec 26, 2004

Mileage

35,800 mi

THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPAIRED, FRONT AXLE REPLACED DUE TO VIBRATIONS, 5 NEW TIRES, RADIO, ETC... THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR REPAIRS TO THE POINT WHERE THE DISTRICT MANAGER FOR CHRYSLER HAS BEEN INVOLVED. THE VEHICLE RAN A LITTLE BETTER FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME AND THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO SHIFT INCORRECTLY THE VIBRATION IS BACK AND THE DISTRICT MANAGER (MR. BILL KEUHRMAN STATES "THAT THERE IS IMPROVEMENT", AND I STATED THAT IT IS FUNNY THE WORDS HE CHOSE INSTEAD OF THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE SCARES ME TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE HESITATION DURING SHIFTING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10093759

Incident

Nov 9, 2003

POORLY DESIGNED WHEELS/RIMS HELD MUD, ICE, SNOW ETC. IN OR NEAR THE VALVE STEMS. *PH *JB

NHTSA ID

10059680

DISCOVERED THAT LUGS ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS NOT ON PROPERLY. IT WAS NOT ON ALL THE WAY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10036865

Incident

Aug 16, 2003