2003 Jeep Liberty Suspension Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that while turning the steering wheel to the left or the right, the steering wheel was difficult to turn due to a loss of power steering assist. There was a grinding sound while turning the steering wheel. The sound was loud enough to hear outside of the vehicle. There was an unknown orange warning light displayed briefly. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact found information online related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V119000 (Suspension); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11723481

Incident

Mar 9, 2026

Mileage

160,000 mi

The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that moments after exiting the freeway, the front end of the vehicle began to shake and vibrate. While driving approximately 5 MPH, there was an abnormal banging sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact stated that suddenly the wheels would not turn, and the vehicle became undrivable. The vehicle was towed to the residence and later examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the driver's side ball joint arm had fractured. The independent mechanic replaced the driver's side ball joint assembly and the lower control arm, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 189,000.

NHTSA ID

11547176

Incident

Aug 5, 2023

Mileage

189,000 mi

The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated while her boyfriend was driving approximately 35 MPH, the front passenger’s side wheel stopped while the front driver’s, the rear driver’s and passenger wheels continued turning. As a result, the vehicle stalled; however, the engine remained revving. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence and then towed to the dealer where the vehicle remained. The vehicle had not yet been diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed of the NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 03V460000 (Suspension), 09V119000 (Suspension) and 06V288000 (Suspension). The contact was then informed that the vehicle was not covered under recall or warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 300,000.

NHTSA ID

11522272

Incident

May 2, 2023

Mileage

300,000 mi

The contact owns a owns 2003 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH there was an abnormal noise like squeaking or chirping coming from both front wheel wells. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the front lower ball joints needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact had stated that he related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 06V288000 (Suspension) completed in November 2006 on his vehicle. The contact felt that the repair parts for the recall were the same sourced OEM parts and that was why the ball joints failed. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.

NHTSA ID

11513291

Incident

Mar 22, 2023

Mileage

124,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11503737

Incident

Jan 22, 2023

The contact's husband owns a 2003 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the front driver's side suspension of the vehicle inadvertently lowered, and the tire became flat. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the front driver's side lower ball joint had fractured and needed to be replaced. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 06V288000 (Suspension). The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

NHTSA ID

11490014

Incident

Oct 15, 2022

Mileage

75,000 mi

The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that on multiple occasions while driving at various speeds, an abnormal sound was heard coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the lower ball joints failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the issue and the contact was informed that there was no recall associated with the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.

NHTSA ID

11477846

Incident

Aug 5, 2022

Mileage

55,000 mi

Lower passenger front ball joint corroded and broke in half. Luckily this happened backing out of a parking space . Somehow this vin does not show on the F23 RECALL???

NHTSA ID

11443488

Incident

Dec 10, 2021

Front lower control arm ball joints are worn on both sides an it's only the bottom ones. No Safety hazard yet but I'm sure if it fails it will be scary. Multiple other vehicles made prior to the moth this one was manufactured had a recall on the lower ball joints. I believe this vehicle is also affected by faulty front lower control arm ball joints. No warnings an I've had excessive play in the ball joints for about about as long as I have had the vehicle but as I said it's only the lower front all other joints remain intact an in working order

NHTSA ID

11435264

Incident

Dec 25, 2020

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BALL JOINT AND CONTROL ARM DETACHED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MARTIN SWANTY CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (2640 E. ANDY DEVINE AVE, KINGMAN, AZ 86401) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE RESULTS FROM THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TIE ROD, BALL JOINT, UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND CV AXLES WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED A THIRD TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AGAIN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11397524

Incident

Apr 15, 2020

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, A LOUD BOOMING SOUND WAS HEARD. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SUSPENSION HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD FAILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER BOB MOORE JEEP LOCATED AT 4627 S MEMORIAL DR, TULSA, OK 74145, AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V288000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. *BF*JB

NHTSA ID

11373041

Incident

Nov 2, 2020

Mileage

200,000 mi

THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS ON THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED AND REPLACED BEFORE. BOTH FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS ARE BAD AGAIN. WILL THEY BE COVERED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN DUE TO RECALL ISSUES BEFORE AND STILL ARE BAD

NHTSA ID

11361485

Incident

May 15, 2020

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V119000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11329172

Incident

Jun 12, 2020

I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, WHEN I ACQUIRED IT, I HAD IT SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY PREFORMED ALL RECALL WORK. IT HAS BEEN KEPT SERVICED AND UP TO DATE ON ANY RECALL WORK SINCE. DURING THE DAY ON CHRISTMAS EVE 2019 I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM A VISIT AT MY MOTHER'S HOME AND SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE JEEP. THERE WAS LOUD NOISE AND THINGS BREAKING OFF THE VEHICLE AS I FOUGHT TO CONTROL IT AND PULL OVER. UPON INSPECTION, SAW THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL HAD COME LOOSE FROM THE SUSPENSION, TORE OFF THE FENDER WHEEL WELL AND BROKE A PIECE OFF THE RIGHT-SIDE RUNNING BOARD. UNDRIVEABLE, I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY WERE CLOSED UNTIL AFTER NEW YEARS. IN EARLY JANUARY I FOUND OUT THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A SHEARED LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. I LOOKED IN MY FILES AND FOUND THAT THIS WAS ONE OF THE RECALLS THAT HAD BEEN PREFORMED TO THE VEHICLE. SAFETY RECALL F23- LOWER BALL JOINTS WAS DONE ON 8/1/2006. OBVIOUSLY, YOU ASSUME THIS PROBLEM IS RESOLVED AND THE VEHICLE IS SAFE AFTER THE WORK IS DONE. I LUCKILY WAS TRAVELING AT 30MPH, AND NOT AT HIGHWAY SPEED, SO I HAVE ONLY ENCOUNTERED A FINANCIAL BURDEN. (ABOUT $4K FOR RENTAL, REPAIR & BODYWORK) I AM SURE IF I WAS GOING FASTER OR IN TRAFFIC, I WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. HOW DO THE THOUSANDS OF JEEP LIBERTY OWNERS STILL ON THE ROAD WHO ARE UP TO DATE ON RECALLS CONFIDENTLY DRIVE THEIR VEHICLES IF THE RECALL WORK FAILS IN THE EXACT MANNER DESCRIBED AS THE PROBLEM MEANT TO BE FIXED BY THE RECALL? I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR CLOSE TO 40 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY VEHICLE SUFFER A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE RESULTING IN A CRASH BEFORE THIS.

NHTSA ID

11320572

Incident

Dec 24, 2019

Mileage

182,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A POPPING NOISE WHENEVER IT WAS TURNED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

11291625

Incident

Dec 11, 2019

Mileage

170,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IT SWAYS ALL OVER THE ROAD AND SEEMS VERY UNSTABLE AND DANGEROUS. FIRST THOUGHT WAS STABILIZER BAR LINKS BUT THOSE SEEM FINE AND WE CANNOT FIND A CAUSE FOR THIS ISSUE BUT I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT.

NHTSA ID

11287982

Incident

Dec 1, 2019

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO EFIRD CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE (1227 W LUCAS ST, FLORENCE, SC 29501) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL ARM, WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED BY THE FORMER OWNER WITH AN AFTERMARKET PART, FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND REMAINED AT THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 247,000.

NHTSA ID

11245663

Incident

Aug 16, 2019

Mileage

247,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE TIE ROD FRACTURED AND THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CHRYSLER DODGE WALTON BEACH (541 MARY ESTHER CUT OFF NW, FORT WALTON BEACH, FL 32548, (850) 244-7611), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11210697

Incident

May 16, 2019

Mileage

178,000 mi

2003 JEEP LIBERTY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG SYSTEM OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROL, FUEL TANK, FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS AND LOWER BALL JOINTS SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER WAS UNAWARE OF ALL THE RECALLS BEFORE BEING SOLD THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS.*JS

NHTSA ID

11195190

Incident

Dec 8, 2018

A RECALL WAS MADE FOR JEEP LIBERTY FOR THE CONTROL ARMS UPPER AND LOWER AND THE BALL JOINTS. I WAS TOLD MY VIN DID NOT HAVE THE RECALL. HOWEVER, OTHERS HAD THE RECALL AND JEEP PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. AFTER THE REPAIRS THE WHEEL HUB WENT BAD, AND A RECALL WAS MADE FOR THAT BUT NOT MY BASIC MODEL. AFTER REPLACING THE WHEEL HUB THE DRIVESHAFT WAS DAMAGED BY ALL THE ISSUES. A RECALL FOR THE SAME VEHICLE WAS MADE FOR A DRIVESHAFT AND AGAIN THE BASS MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS TIME JEEP SAID THEY WOULD FIX THE DRIVESHAFT AND WHEN IT CAME TIME THEY DENIED IT.

NHTSA ID

11174399

Incident

Sep 1, 2018

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE DRIVING ON A BACK ROAD, THE VEHICLE FLIPPED AND CRASHED AFTER THE CONTACT OVER CORRECTED THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND BECAME TRAPPED UNDERNEATH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AND HAD TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK, EYES, FACE, AND SKULL. THE CONTACT WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR TWO MONTHS AND IN A COMA FOR THREE WEEKS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRASH OCCURRED DUE TO AN UNKNOWN RECALL PERTAINING TO THE AXLE BEING MANUFACTURED TOO SHORT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11173354

Incident

Sep 22, 2018

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

THE "AIR BAG" WARNING LIGHT WILL RANDOMLY STAY ON AFTER A KEY ON AND START. IT DOES NOT TURN OFF FOR THAT DURATION OF THE VEHICLE BEING TURNED ON. THE SUSPENSION BALL JOINTS IN FRONT ARE FAILING AGAIN SINCE THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ONLY 20K MILES AGO. WITH ONLY STREET DRIVING INVOLVED.

NHTSA ID

11166361

Incident

Dec 1, 2018

Mileage

84,000 mi