2003 Jeep Liberty Steering 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.

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

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN MANEUVERING ON ITS OWN AND THE VEHICLE ULTIMATELY CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN. THE VEHICLE'S AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUFFERED SEVERE INJURIES INCLUDING A CONCUSSION AND BRUISING TO HIS RIB CAGE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION ON THE SCENE AND WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL. A POLICE WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOW YARD. THE DEALER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 03V460000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. VIN-(XXXX) REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

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.

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.

I WANT MY CAR INCLUDED IN RECALL J17. MY CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE SAFETY RECALL "CHRYSLER RECALL NO. J17", CAMPAIGN # 09V119000 . I HAVE VERIFIED WITH CHRYSLER THAT MY CAR WAS BOTH BUILT AND SOLD IN ILLINOIS, AND THEREFORE IN THE TARGET RECALL POPULATION. SEE FOLLOWING EXCERPT FROM RECALL TEXT: CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 42,469 MY 2002-2003 JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN SALT BELT STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA , WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT MAY EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF LUBRICATION WHICH COULD LEAD TO CORROSION, ACCELERATED WEAR, AND POSSIBLE SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, A LOUD SQUEAKING AND CLANKING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND IT BECAME HARD TO CONTROL WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED SLIGHTLY, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

THIS CAR LEAKS POWER STEERING FLUID. MANY SIMILAR JEEP 2002 AND 2003 HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 50000 MILES. THE DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM.

EVERY TIME I TURN A CORNER MY STEERING MAKES A VERY SQUEAKY NOISE. I HAVE VISITED THE JEEP FORM AND MANY OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE WHEN ITS HOT

WHILE DRIVING AN EXTREMELY SHORT DISTANCE FROM MY HOME DRIVEWAY (MAYBE 50 FEET), MY "DRIVER SIDE" SEATBELT PRETENSIONER AND AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL FOR AIRBAG/SEATBELT PRETENSIONER ON MY VEHICLE (M35 (12V-527) OR N13 (13V-040) R06). WHEN I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE INTO SUNCOAST CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM, THEY TO TOLD ME THE RECALL WAS FOR ONLY THE "PASSENGER SIDE" AND "DRIVER SIDE" WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY REASON WHY THE "DRIVER SIDE" AIRBAG AND SEATBELT PRETENSIONER DEPLOYED. THEY SAID THE COST TO REPLACE MY AIRBAG AND SEATBELT PRETENSIONER WOULD BE JUST UNDER $1500.

WE WERE DRIVING ON A BUSY STREET TO GO OUR HOUSE WHEN WE HEARD A WARNING TONE WHEN WE WERE TURNING OVER A ROUNDABOUT. AFTER 10 SECONDS, THE AIR BAGS BLEW UP ALL OF A SUDDEN. IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT WE ARE RUNNING ONLY AT 10 MILE PER HOUR OR SLOWER AS IT WAS RUSH HOUR AND THERE WAS TRAFFIC. ALSO MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO PUT ON THE BRAKE TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. WE WERE BADLY SHAKEN, TRAUMATIZED AND HAD BRUISES ON OUR ARMS AND CHESTS DUE TO SOME PARTS BURSTING TOWARDS US. THE STEERING WHEEL COVER AND DASHBOARD WHERE THE AIR BAGS WERE ARE PRETTY DAMAGED. WE TOTALLY CUT OUT THE AIR BAGS TO AVOID THE REPEAT OF THIS INCIDENT. MY HUSBAND IS NOW TRAUMATIZED TO DRIVE THE JEEP. WE ALSO HEARD SOME STRANGE SOUNDS IN THE SERPENTINE BELT. WE DON'T NOW IF IT'S CONNECTED TO THE AIR BAG EXPLOSION. OUR CAR WAS BOUGHT SECOND. THE FIRST OWNER WHO IS AMERICAN IMPORTED THE JEEP FROM THE US AND BROUGHT IT HERE (ANOTHER COUNTRY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA). WE ARE LIVING ABROAD (NOT IN US) AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN FILE THIS COMPLAINT ON THE DEFECTS OF THE JEEP LIBERTY WE ARE USING. WE HOPE SOMEONE CAN RESPOND AND HELP US. I AM PUTTING THE CONTACT DETAILS OF MY BROTHER WHO LIVES IN THE US IN THE PERSONAL INFORMATION IN CASE SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT US. *TR

I HAVE REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND HOSE MULTIPLE TIMES AND ALL THOSE TIMES THE PUMP WENT BAD RIGHT AWAY, I BELIEVE THERE MIGHT BE MORE TO THE PROBLEM THAN JUST THE PUMP. WHEN THE PUMP FIRST GOES OUT I LOOSE CONTROL OF STEERING. IS THERE ANY RECALL ON THIS? *TR

I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO DAIMLER CHRYSLER IN REGARDS TO THE BALL JOINTS I FEEL THE RECALL PARTS WERE NEVER FIXED AND COULD NOT GET AN ANSWER AS TO WHETHER THEY WERE EVER REPLACED THIS VEHICLE AT ONE TIME WAS IN AN ACCIDENT NOT KNOWN WHEN I PURCHASED THIS JEEP TO BE SAFE AND IT IS THE WORSE VEHICLE EVER I HAVE A FOUR YEAR OLD AND LIKE I SAID TO DAIMLER CHRYSLER IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ME OR MY FAMILY WHILE RISING IN THIS VEHICLE THERE WILL BE A LAWSUIT. *TR

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SWITCH LANES, IT FELT AS IF THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWERVE BETWEEN LANES. I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING, THEREFORE THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SWERVE AND EVENTUALLY SLID OFF ROAD INTO A MEDIAN FULL OF TREES. ONCE IN THE MEDIAN, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL OVER. THE VEHICLE ROLLED 3 OR 4 TIMES, EVENTUALLY COMING TO A STOP PASSENGER-SIDE DOWN. THERE WAS DAMAGE ALL OVER THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING THE FRONT AND SIDES. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN LESS THAN A YEAR AGO TO GET FIXED DUE TO A RECALL ON THE AIR BAG SYSTEM, BUT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING CRASH. I WAS TAKEN VIA AMBULANCE TO A LOCAL TRAUMA UNIT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE PASSENGER SIDE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2006 AS A SECOND OWNER AND IN THE 7 YEARS I HAVE OWNED MY JEEP I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY BALL JOINTS NOW 3 TIMES. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND SERIOUSLY SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MAKERS AS TO WHY EVEN AFTER BEING RECALLED THEY HAVE GONE OUT TWICE. LUCKILY I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH (OR I SHOULD SAY CHRYSLER HAS BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH) TO NOT HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING SERIOUS HAPPEN TO ME OR MY FAMILY DUE TO THIS. THANKS. *TR

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V537000 (STEERING). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.