2004 Jeep Liberty Complaint Log

I OWN A 2004 JEEP LIBERTY. ON MAY 6TH WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL FELL OFF AND CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER. THE BALL JOINT HAD BROKEN AND DEALER WISHED TO REPLACE BOTH BALL JOINTS. SINCE THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY I WOULD HAVE TO PAY. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND THAT THERE HAVE MANY MANY COMPLAINTS AND OCCURRENCES OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER JEEP LIBERTY OWNERS. THE 2002 AND 2003 JEEP LIBERTIES HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. CHRYSLER SAID THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR AS THE CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. MY ARGUMENT IS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE BALL JOINTS ARE DEFECTIVE AND IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THIS CAR AND THE CAR WILL EVENTUALLY BE RECALLED. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THEIR RESPONSE. IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED AND THIS HAPPENED THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *NM

I WAS DRIVING ALONG APPROACHING A STOP SIGN WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR LURCHED AND STOPPED. WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL TO MOVE OUT OF THE CENTER LANE, THE BALL JOINT FELL OUT OF THE WHEEL AND THE CONTROL ARM FELL TO THE PAVEMENT. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH THE VEHICLE FELT AS THOUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WAS FLAT AND A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 5/23/2006 - *NM

2004 JEEP LIBERTY LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. *NM

HI, I WAS DRIVING ON I405 NORTH NEXT TO RIGHT MOST LANE ON 28TH APRIL IN A 2004 JEEP LIBERTY SPORT AND LOST CONTROL BECAUSE OF THE STEERING PROBLEM, WHEN I TRIED TO GAIN CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME JAMMED AND I WASN'T ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL AND HIT THE CONCRETE DIVIDER AFTER CROSSING ALL THE LANES . I CAME TO KNOW THE BALL JOINT DEFECT AFTER READING THE RECALL NEWS OF JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES. I PUT FORWARD 3 THEORIES BEHIND THE ACCIDENT TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. I CLEARLY MENTIONED THEM THE STEERING WHEEL WAS JAMMED SO I DIDN'T ABLE TO STEER. THE POLICE CRUISER PUSHED MY VEHICLE TO THE BREAK DOWN LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE IS WITH THE CENTURY 21 INSURANCE COMPANY. THE 3 THEORIES I PUT I) STEERING FAILURE. II) TIRE BURST III) HIT AND RUN BY SOME OTHER VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS STILL INVESTIGATING THE ACCIDENT. I GOT A REPORT FROM THEM WHERE THEY MENTIONED NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TIRES. THE THIRD OPTION POLICE REPORT TELLS NOTHING. I TOLD THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO LOOK IN TO STEERING FAILURE AS THE VEHICLE STILL WITH THEM. I HAVE NOT HEARD THE INVESTIGATION RESULT FROM THEM YET. WHEN I READ THE NEWS ARTICLE TODAY, WHICH CONFIRMS MY FIRST THEORY. MY JEEP WAS A 2004 MODEL AND HAS 26,470 MILES AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT. I CAN PROVIDE THE JEEP COMPANY ANY INFORMATION THEY NEED. *JB

WIFE WAS BACKING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY, WHEN SHE HEARD A SHARP CRACK AND THEN A GRINDING SOUND. WHEN I GOT HOME TO INSPECT, THE RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT HAD BROKEN AND THE CONTROL ARM WAS GRINDING AGAINST THE WHEEL. CALLED DEALER BUT THEY HAD TO TOE THE LINE AND SAY "NOT UNDER WARRANTY" BECAUSE LIBERTY HAD 49000 MILES. CALLED DC AND THEY WERE VERY NICE AND SAID THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. THIS FAILURE WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC IF IT BROKE DURING MY WIFES COMMUTE. SHE TRAVELS 40 HIGHWAY MILES ONE WAY. *NM

I HAVE A JEEP LIBERTY 2004 SPORT EDITION WITH 10,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER OWNING IT ONLY A WEEK, I NOTICED THAT WHEN DRIVING AND GOING UP GRADE , MAYBE 10 DEGREES ON THE FREEWAY AT SPEEDS OF AROUND 40-50 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGIN TO SLOW DOWN OR LOSE SPEED. I WOULD GIVE IT MORE GAS, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO SLOW DOWN-HESITATE. THE VEHICLE DOESN'T IMMEDIATELY TAKE OFF, OR ACCELERATE, IT 'HESITATES'. I WOULD GIVE IT JUST A HAIR MORE GAS, STILL NO ACCELERATION- VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SLOW DOWN. THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ONE DAY AS I WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE TO THE EXPRESSWAY, WHEN THE CAR HESITATED, I EVEN PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR WHICH I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE GONE TO MY DEALERSHIP, WHERE I HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THEY TOLD ME THERE A DESIGN CHANGE ON THE 2004 FOR THE TRANSMISSION THAT DOES THIS. I CAN NOT TELL YOU HOW FRUSTRATING IT IS DRIVING A CAR WHICH HESITATES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HITS 40 MPH. IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS ABOUT TO SHUT DOWN. A TECH DROVE THE CAR WITH ME AND HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. SO I SPEND 20,000 DOLLARS ON A CAR THAT I REALLY CAN DRIVE OVER 40 MPH. CHRYSLER IS NOT WILLING TO HELP OUT. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR MANY OTHER LIBERTY OWNERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. HERE IS THE LINK THIS, THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY THAT I FOUND. HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/WEBX?ED_SEARCHRESULTS@@.EF01B1B!KEYWORDS=ALLIN%3AMSGTEXT%20LIMIT%3A.EF01B1B%202004%20LIBERTY%20HESITATION&COUNT=20. *NM

I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON MY 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. I HAVE 26, 000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND THE BALL JOINTS SEEM TO HAVE FAILED. I AM CHOOSING TO REPLACE THEM WITH WHAT I HOPE WILL BE A BETTER QUALITY PRODUCT. *NM

2004 JEEP LIBERTY LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. I HAD TO REPLACE (AT MY COST) THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AT APPROXIMATELY 40,237 MILES. I BELIEVE THE OEM PART IS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE FAILURE WAS SUCH LOW MILEAGE. ORIGINAL UNSERVICEALBE BALL JOINTS ARE IN MY POSSESSION. *NM

2004 JEEP LIBERTY AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES HAS THE FRONT BALL JOINT RUSTING OFF AND WHEEL DROPPING COMPLETELY DOWN. AS MY DAUGHTER BACKED FROM PARKING SPOT THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL FELL OFF. THE JEEP WAS FIXED BY DEALERSHIP AT NO COST, HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP HAS SEEN 10-12 JEEPS WITH THE BALL JOINT RUSTING OFF SINCE JEEP NO LONGER HAS GREASED FITTINGS. BOTH BALL JOINTS REPLACED, WHEEL REPLACED AND WHEEL FLARE..............MY DAUGHTER COMMUTES TO SCHOOL AND I THINK HOW TERRIBLE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING AT 65 MPH...............*NM

EASY ROLLOVER/NON-DEPLLOYMENT OF DRIVER AIRBAG IN SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON APRIL 10, 2006,WHILE TRAVELLILNG IN RIGHT LANE, UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT, ON I-85 IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA, A LARGE GERMAN SHEPHERD TYPE DOG RAN OUT IN FRONT OF THE 2004 CHRYSLER JEEP LIBERTY I WAS DRIVING. I SWERVED TOWARDS THE ROAD SHOULDER, IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY ROLLED OVER(SIDE TO SIDE), AND THEN HIT A GUARD RAIL, HEAD ON. THE JEEP THEN FLIPPED OVER, BACK TO FRONT. I LANDED UPSDIE DOWN, WITH SMOKE FILLING THE CAR. THE DRIVER STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG HAD NOT DEPLOYED! THOUGH DIISORIENTED, I MANAGED TO FREE MYSELF FROM THE SEAT BELT, CRAWL OVER THE PASSENGER SEAT, AND WEDGE THE DOOR OPEN TO CRAWL OUT. AN AMBULANCE TOOK ME TO THE HOSPITAL, WHERE I WAS THOROUGHLY EXAMINED. I SUFFERED NO SEVERE INJURIES-IN FACT,MIRACULOUSLY ESCAPED WITH ONLY SEVERE ACHES AND PAINS. AS MY CHEST HAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, I EXPERIENCED THE MOST PAIN IN MY STERNUM. TWO WEEKS LATER, I STILL AM IN PAIN, ESPECIALLY IN THE CHEST AREA. JUST DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I CALLED CHRYSLER TO ALERT THEM TO THE ROLLOVER, NON-DEPLOYMENT OF STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG. I WAS REFERRED TO A LEGAL DEPARTMENT REP WHO DEMONSTRATED A NASTY DEMEANOR UNTIL I ASSERTED I WAS NOT INTERESTED IN PURSUING ANY LEGAL RECOURSE, BUT WAS ONLY INTERESTED IN BRINGING THIS INFORMATION TO THEIR ATTENTION, AS ANOTHER PERSON INVOLVED IN SUCH AN ACCIDENT MIGHT NOT HAVE AS FORTUNATE AN OUTCOME AS I. A FEW DAYS LATER, A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR, HIRED BY CHRYSLER, CALLED ME TO ASK FURTHER QUESTIONS AFTER HAVING EXAMINED THE CAR AT THE SALVAGE YARD. A FEW DAYS AFTER THAT, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM DAIMLER-CHRYSLER, ASSERTING THAT THE TYPE ACCIDENT I HAD, WOULD NOT SET OFF THE SENSORS THAT WOULD DEPLOY THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAGS. I FIND THIS LUDIICROUS. THE CAR IS TOTALLED. AFTER THE INITIAL ROLLOVER, I HIT A GUARD RAIL, HEAD ON. MY CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL HARD! I'M STILL IN PAIN. *NM

2004 JEEP LIBERTY, BALL JOINT BROKE, WHEEL FELL OFF,HAD TO REPLACE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT, WHEEL, & RIGHT AXLE SHAFT. ONLY HAD 52,000 MILES. THE FACTORY DID PAY 50% OF REPAIR. I HAD COMPLAINED TO DEALER DURING WARRANTY PERIOD THAT I HEARD A NOISE WHEN GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS IN THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE AND THAT THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. AFTER REPAIR I NO LONGER HEAR THE NOISE AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT VEER TO THE RIGHT. *NM

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE LOWER BALL JOINT IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION SEPERATED. *NM

MY WIFES CAR IS A 2004 JEEP LIBERTY SPORT [XXX], AND SHE IS THE MAIN DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE. ON MARCH 31ST 2006 I DECIDED TO TAKE HER CAR TO MICHIGAN THAT DAY. WHEN I GOT IN IT I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WAS NOT RIGHT. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT IT SEEMED LIKE YOU REALLY HAD TO WORK AT KEEPING IT GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE IT DIDN'T WANT TO STRAIGHTEN BACK OUT LIKE MOST CARS DO. YOU ACTUALLY HAD TO TURN THE WHEEL TO GET IT GOING BACK IN A STRAIGHT DIRECTION AGAIN. I DECIDED I NEEDED TO STOP AND HAVE A TRAINED SERVICE TECHNICIAN LOOK AT THE VEHICLE THAT MORNING. WHEN I GOT THERE AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THE MAINTENANCE MAN HE SAID LETS TAKE IT FOR A TEST DRIVE. HE STATED THAT HE DIDN'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE GOING DOWN THE ROAD BUT DID NOTICE IT WAS A LITTLE HARD TO TURN. HE STATED THAT THEY COULDN'T LOOK AT IT THAT DAY, SO HE SCHEDULED FOR ME TO BRING IT BY ON WEDNESDAY APRIL 5TH WHICH WAS 5 DAYS AFTER I HAD TAKEN IT BY. HE ASSURED ME EVERYTHING WAS OKAY AND THAT IT WAS ALRIGHT TO DRIVE. ON APRIL 4, 2006 MY WIFE CALLED ME AT 9:05 A.M. TO LET ME KNOW THAT THE CAR HAD BROKEN DOWN. I ASKED HER WHAT WAS WRONG, AND SHE STATED THAT SHE BARELY GOT IT INTO THE YMCA PARKING LOT WHERE SHE WAS DROPPING OFF MY 3 YEAR OLD FOR PRESCHOOL. WHEN IT BROKE MY WIFE SAID THE VEHICLE DROPPED LIKE SHE HAD A BLOW OUT. THE WRECKER STATED THAT IT WAS A BROKEN BALL JOINT AND COULD NOT BELIEVE THIS SINCE THERE IS ONLY 24,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THANK GOD THIS HAPPENED AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED INSTEAD OF GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH WITH MY THREE YEAR OLD AND SEVEN YEAR OLD SONS IN THE CAR. THEY COULD VERY WELL PUT ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART ON THIS VEHICLE, AND I AM TERRIFIED TO PUT MY FAMILY BACK INTO THIS CAR SINCE THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL OR RETRO FIT. THE NEXT TIME COULD COST MY FAMILY THEIR LIVES. I HOPE THIS ISSUE CAN BE RESOLVED SAFELY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT. THE LIBERTY IS AT SHOP WAITING FOR REPAIR. *NM *JS

I WAS ENTERING THE INTERSTATE FROM AN ENTRANCE RAMP. AT THE TOP OF THE RAMP, I HEARD A LOUD POP & STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. I PULLED OUT OF TRAFFIC NEXT TO A CONCRETE WALL AND STOPPED TO CHECK IF I HAD A TIRE BLOW-OUT. UPON SEEING THE TIRES WERE OKAY, MY HUSBAND GOT INTO THE VEHICLE, PUT IT INTO GEAR AND BEGAN TO DRIVE IT. WITHIN 3 FEET, THE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY APPARENTLY GAVE WAY & THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE FELL, RESTING ON THE TOP OF THE TIRE. WE WERE STRANDED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AT THE ENTRANCE RAMP/INTERSTATE CONNECTION IN A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM, PRAYING FOR OUR LIVES. I AM DIABETIC, AND THE STRESS CAUSED MY BLOOD SUGAR TO RISE AND I WENT INTO TACHYCARDIA. FORTUNATELY, I HAD MEDICATION WITH ME AND DID NOT HAVE TO GO TO A HOSPITAL. AAA SENT A FLATBED WRECKER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A NEARBY DEALER WHO, AFTER JEEP REFUSED TO REPLACE THE PARTS AT THEIR EXPENSE, REPAIRED THE JEEP USING OUR PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *JB

DRIVING TO MY CHILD'S SCHOOL WHEN I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE, STOPPED THE CAR AND FOUND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL COLLAPSED AND TURNED IN. IT WAS TOWED TO BY AAA TO PERKINS IN CRESTWWOOD KY. ( A JEEP DEALER) LEFT BALL JOINT SEPARATED CAUSING THE COLLAPSE WAS REPORTED TO ME AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED. A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER PICKING UP MY CAR I HEARD A RATTLING NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY FOUND NOTHING. ON MARCH 24 2006 I HEARD A POPPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND DECIDED TO TAKE THE JEEP IN TO THE NEAREST DEALER WHO WAS NEIL HUFFMAN IN LOUISVILLE .THE MECHANIC REPORTED THAT THE RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT WAS LOOSE AND IT NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. I LEFT THE CAR WITH THEM SO THE COULD FIX THE PROBLEM. ON MARCH 30,2006 I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND TURNED MY CAR WHEN I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE THEN A POP. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND FOUND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL COLLAPSED AND TOWED IT IN TO BY AAA TO NEIL HUFFMAN JEEP DEALER WEAR THEY FOUND THE RIGHT BALL JOINT COLLAPSED. I DID NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS JOB SINCE I JUST HAD IT IN . THE 2001,2002,AND 2003 JEEP LIBERTY'S WERE RECALLED FOR FAULTY BALL JOINTS. THE 2004'S HAVE NOT BEEN YET. MAYBE THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM! *JB

REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED. *NM

BALL JOINT FAILURE. VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. SQUEAKING/SQUEALING NOISES. TOOK VEHICLE FOR WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND FOUND OUT THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. BLACK SOOT SUBSTANCE CONTINUALLY COATING HUB CAB OF FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. *JB

THIS 2004 JEEP LIBERTY SPORT WAS MOVING LESS THAN 5 MPH IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT FELL APART, DAMAGING THE AXLE AND PUSHING THE LEFT FRONT TIRE INTO THE WHEEL WELL AT AN ANGLE. THE FAILURE RESULTED IN DRIVER HAVING NO STEERING CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. FRONT LEFT BALL JOINT AND AXLE REPLACED UNDER DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY WITH $50 DEDUCTIBLE. THIS PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL IS UNDER NHTSA INVESTIGATION AND WE THINK A RECALL IS NEEDED.*JB

WHILE DRIVING INTO A GAS STATION (BEFORE ENTERING THE EXPRESSWAY) MY WHEEL CAME OFF ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD, THE WHEEL FELL OFF AND FLUIDS LEAKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN ON THE EXPRESSWAY. RELIABLE? *NM

THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED ON MY 2004 JEEP LIBERTY. THE VEHICLE HAS 29,000 MILES ON IT. THERE WAS A LOUD POP WHILE REVISING INTO A PARKING SPOT. I GOT OUT TO INVESTIGATE TO FIND THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED AND WAS NOW SITTING ON THE INSIDE RIM OF THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *JB

WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER, THE LEFT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT ON MY VEHICLE BROKE WHILE I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT MAKE ANY UNUSUAL NOISES NOR WERE THERE ANY NOTICEABLE PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE PART BREAKING. WHEN THE BALL JOINT BROKE, THE WHEEL WAS ALSO DAMAGED. WHEN I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED INTO A JEEP DEALER, I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2003 JEEP LIBERTY'S FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED ON THE 2004 MODEL. THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THIS PART SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO LAST MUCH MORE THAN THE 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS & 40,000 MILES OF MY VEHICLE LIFE. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED THE COST OF REPLACING BOTH FRONT BALL JOINTS (EXCEPT FOR A $100 DEDUCTIBLE) AND I HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED WHEEL. ($317.55). WE WERE AWAY FROM HOME AND HAD STOPPED FOR SOMETHING TO EAT AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED. JUST THINK OF THE POSSIBILITIES IF WE WERE ENROUTE OR RETURNING VIA THE EXPRESSWAYS AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 55 AND 70 MPH. I HAVE CONTACTED DAIMLER/CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY SEEM UNWILLING TO DISCUSS THIS POSSIBLE DEFECT ON THIS VEHICLE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FELL ON THE GROUND WHILE BACKING OUT A PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS NHTSA RECALL, # 03V460000, REGARDING THE LOWER BALL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT IT WAS THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT THAT BROKE APART. HOWEVER, HE REPLACED BOTH THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE BALL JOINTS BECAUSE HE BELIEVED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WOULD ALSO BREAK APART. *AK

I HAD ABOUT 35,000 MILES ON MY 2004 JEEP LIBERTY WHEN I HEARD ABOUT A LOWER BALL JOINT ISSUE AFFECTING NEWER LIBERTIES. I HAD MY LOWER BALL JOINTS INSPECTED AND FOUND THAT THEY EACH HAD ABOUT HALF AN INCH OF PLAY. AFTER TAKING THE CAR OVER TO THE JEEP DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED THE UNITS UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THEY STATED THAT THEY REPLACED THE UNITS WITH THE SAME MODEL AS WHAT WAS ON THE JEEP BEFORE. SO I GUESS IN ANOTHER 35,000 MILES I'LL BE LOOKING AT REPLACING THESE AGAIN. *JB

ON MARCH 11, 2006, I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 JEEP, LIBERTY INTO THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOME. AS I CROSSED THE THRESHOLD OF THE DRIVEWAY I HEARD A LOUD POP. I PARKED MY VEHICLE AND INSPECTED THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I SAW THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM ON THE GROUND AND THE TIRE TURNED OUTWARD. I CALLED FOR A WRECKER AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED WE COULD SEE THAT THE SUSPENSION SEPARATED AT THE BALL OF THE JOINT. ON THE GROUND ALONG THE PATH THAT THE VEHICLE TRAVELED WAS SMALL METAL SHAVINGS. I TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLECTED THE SHAVINGS. *JB

THE CONSUMER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING AND HANDLING OF HIS 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. *NM THE VEHICLE HAD A FRONT END ALIGNMENT BUT IT NEVER REMAINED ALIGNED AS LONG AS EXPECTED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE TIRES BALANCED, ROTATED AND ALIGNMENT PERFORMED ON 3/9/06. THE LOWER BALL JOINT DEVELOPED AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF SLACK. *NM

2004 LIBERTY STEERING PROBLEMS. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY HIS MECHANIC THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT HAD DEVELOPED AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF SLACK. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER, THEY STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. *JB THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN AN ALIGNMENT AFTER 30,000 MILES. UPDATED 07/14/06. *JB

BOTH BALL JOINTS ON MY 2004 JEEP LIBERTY FAILED. SUV HAD LESS THAN 40000 MILES. *NM

JEEP LIBERTY 2004, HEAD LIGHTS BLINK ON AND OFF RANDOMLY AND I CAN HEAR AN AUDIBLE CLICKING SOUND. HAVE TAKEN TO SERVICE DEPT. THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT BALL JOINT FRACTURED AND BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND SITTING ON THE TIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS.

THE BALL JOINT OF MY LEFT FRONT WHEEL OF MY 2004 JEEP LIBERTY CRACKED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE TO THE LEFT FRONT. *JB

THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED ON MY 2004 JEEP LIBERTY COLUMBIA EDITION. THE VEHICLE HAS 67,000 MILES ON IT. FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE MAKING A LOW SPEED LEFT TURN PULLING OUT FROM A PARKING SPOT. VEHICLE WAS LEFT STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OFF THE ROAD WITH THE SUSPENSION BEARING ITS FULL WEIGHT ON THE DRIVER SIDE INNER CV JOINT. *JB

PURCHASED 2004 JEEP LIBERTY IN MARCH 2005 (LIBERTY HAS A BUILD DATE OF 01-04) AND AFTER ALIGNMENT IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN HARDER TO CONTROL ON THE HIGHWAY, CHANGED TIRES, CHECKED ALIGNMENT. FOUND OUT THAT THE BALL JOINTS ARE WORN AND ONE IS WORN ALMOST TO SEPARATION. FORTUNATELY I FOUND THIS BEFORE IT SEPARATED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY JEEP THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM, THE JEEP NOW HAS 49000 MILES AND OF COURSE IS OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY AND THEY ACT AS THOUGH IT HAS "HIGH MILEAGE" CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY 2004 LIBERTY WITH THIS PROBLEM, APPEARS THAT THE 02-04 ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM

LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINT SEPARATED LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL. *NM

AT A RECENT VISIT TO THE CHRYSLER/JEEP DEALERSHIP, (16021 MILES ON THE ODOMETER) I HAD THEM INSPECT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS ON MY 2004 JEEP LIBERTY. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE LEAKING FLUID AND WOULD REPLACE THEM UNDER WARRANTY, WHICH THEY DID. THEY EXPLAINED THAT THERE WAS NO CHANCE OF FAILURE, BUT FELT IT WAS BETTER TO REPLACE THEM. *JB

WHILE EXITING RT 2 OFF THE EXIT RAMP THE BALL JOINT IN MY FRONT LEFT TIRE SEPARATED. LUCKILY I WAS PREPARING TO STOP AT A LIGHT AND HAD SLOWED TO ABOUT 10 MPH WHEN THIS OCCURRED. UPON EXAMINATION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE RIGHT FRONT BALL JOINT IS ALSO IN NEED OF REPAIR, HOWEVER THE PART WAS BACK ORDERED BY TWO WEEKS. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR WINDOWS FELL DOWN INTO THE DORR PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT AN UNKNOWN PLASTIC PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FIVE WINDOW REGULATORS WERE DEFECTIVE. A LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED ALL THE WINDOW MOTORS AND THE REGULATOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

SINCE THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED IT HAS GIVEN US PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER WINDOWS. WE REPLACED ON WHICH IN LESS THAT THREE MONTHS IT WAS BROKEN AGAIN. THIS WAS VERY EXPENSIVE AT THIS TIME ALL FOUR WINDOWS ARE BROKEN. I HAVE TO PUT WOOD IN THE DOORS TO KEEP GLASS FROM FALLING. NONE OF THE WINDOWS CAN BE OPENED AND NO SENSE IN FIXING DUE TO THE COST AND THEY BREAK DOWN AGAIN. *TR

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. *NM

TL* - THE CONTACT RECENTLY RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 06V288000 FOR THE 2004 CHRYSLER JEEP LIBERTY. SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE PART HAD BEEN ORDERED ON APPROXIMATELY DECEMBER 11, 2006 AND THEY WOULD CALL HER WHEN THE PART ARRIVED. THE CONTACT STATED SHE CALLED THE DEALER FOR AN UPDATE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PERSON AT THE TOP OF THE LIST HAS BEEN WAITING FOR TWO MONTHS. THE DEALER COULD NOT GIVE THE CONTACT AN ESTIMATED TIME FOR WHEN THE LOWER BALL JOINT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS AT THIS TIME. *AK UPDATED 03/02/07. *JB

FRONT DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT SNAPPED AND THE FRONT DRIVERS TIRE BENT INWARDS HITTING THE INSIDE OF THE FENDER. THE ACTUAL BREAKAGE OF THE BALL JOINT WAS PRECEDED BY A LOUD SNAPPING AND GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN AFTER THE BALL JOINT FAILED. *JB

I HAVE A BALL JOINT FAILURE ON MY JEEP LIBERTY 2004. THE MILAGE IS 21000 MILES ONLY. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT AS BEEN RECALL FOR 02 AND 03'. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LOW SPEED STOP AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A CULVERT, ROLLED 3 TIMES AND EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP ALONG THE EMBANKMENT. THE CONTACT WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE VEHICLE BY EMERGENCY SERVICES. ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. UPON INITIAL IMPACT, THE SEAT BELT RELEASED FROM THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE ADJUSTOR. *NM

1. STARTED TO HAVE ISSUES WITH FRONT END(ALIGNMENT?) @1 1/2 WEEKS BEFORE INCIDENT. ONE DAY PRIOR TO INCIDENT, THERE WAS A GRINDING IN THE FRONT WHILE TURNING RIGHT INTO A RESTAURANT PARKING LOT. 2. PRIOR TO DRIVING THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT, I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AT WHICH TIME THE LOWER BALL JOINT(DRIVER SIDE) FAILED WHILE IN MY DRIVEWAY. WHILE MOVING VEHICLE TO GET OUT MY OTHER CAR, THE RIM BECAME GOUGED FROM THE LOWER BALL JOINT. 3. THE VEHICLE WAS FLATBED AND TAKEN TO A GARAGE TO BE REPAIRED. THE DRIVER-SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH AN ALIGNMENT AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BEING REPLACED W/ THE SPARE. *NM

THIS IS AN UPDATE TO AN EARLIER COMPLAINT THAT I FILED, AS THERE APPEARS TO BE NO MECHANISM TO UPDATE A COMPLAINT. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS PRIOR TO THIS ONE ON SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT. THIS COMPLAINT IS ALSO FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I LEASED A JEEP LIBERTY 2004 WITH 37800 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING TO A DESTINATION, I LOST MY WAY AND HAD TO TURN INTO A CAR PARK. WHILE IN THE CAR PARK, I SUDDENLY NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR DIP DOWN WITH A LOUD NOISE. AS I PARKED THE CAR, THE CAR FELL FURTHER DOWN, SO I PARKED AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR. LOOKING AT THE CAR IT APPEARED TO BE LEANING TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. NEXT DAY WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING PUT ON THE TOW TRUCK, I NOTICED THAT BOTH THE WHEELS WERE FALLING APART AND THE MIDDLE PART OF THE AXLE (OR WHATEVER HOLDS THE TWO FRONT WHEELS TOGETHER) WAS BROKEN AND DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. THE CAR HAD NO PROBLEM UP UNTIL THIS POINT AND IT IS ONLY 18 MONTHS OLD. THANKFULLY THIS WHOLE EPISODE HAPPENED WHILE I WAS IN THE CAR PARK. HAD IT HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY, IT WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE BEEN FATAL. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A JEEP DEALER (A WEEK AGO). IT WILL BE RETURNED TOMORROW WITH ME HAVING TO PAY THE FULL COST OF REPAIR. I WILL ARGUE THIS WITH THE JEEP DEALER TOMORROW, AS JEEP SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CAR FALLING APART AND SHOULD NOT ONLY ABSORB THE COST OF THE REPAIR, BUT ALSO INVESTIGATE WHAT WENT WRONG AS THIS KIND OF FAILURE IS BOUND TO BE FATAL. IF THE JEEP DEALER IS NOT ACCOMMODATING, WE WILL PURSUE THIS THROUGH THE NHTSA AS WELL AS THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. WORST CASE WE WILL HAVE TO HIGHER A LAWYER. *NM

I LEASED A JEEP LIBERTY 2004 WITH 37800 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING TO A DESTINATION, I LOST MY WAY AND HAD TO TURN INTO A CAR PARK. WHILE IN THE CAR PARK, I SUDDENLY NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR DIP DOWN WITH A LOUD NOISE. AS I PARKED THE CAR, THE CAR FELL FURTHER DOWN, SO I PARKED AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR. LOOKING AT THE CAR IT APPEARED TO BE LEANING TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. NEXT DAY WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING PUT ON THE TOW TRUCK, I NOTICED THAT BOTH THE WHEELS WERE FALLING APART AND THE MIDDLE PART OF THE AXLE (OR WHATEVER HOLDS THE TWO FRONT WHEELS TOGETHER) WAS BROKEN AND DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. THE CAR HAD NO PROBLEM UP UNTIL THIS POINT AND IT IS ONLY 18 MONTHS OLD. THANKFULLY THIS WHOLE EPISODE HAPPENED WHILE I WAS IN THE CAR PARK. HAD IT HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY, IT WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE BEEN FATAL. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A JEEP DEALER (A WEEK AGO). IT WILL BE RETURNED TOMORROW WITH ME HAVING TO PAY THE FULL COST OF REPAIR. I WILL ARGUE THIS WITH THE JEEP DEALER TOMORROW, AS JEEP SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CAR FALLING APART AND SHOULD NOT ONLY ABSORB THE COST OF THE REPAIR, BUT ALSO INVESTIGATE WHAT WENT WRONG AS THIS KIND OF FAILURE IS BOUND TO BE FATAL. IF THE JEEP DEALER IS NOT ACCOMMODATING, WE WILL PURSUE THIS THROUGH THE NHTSA AS WELL AS THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. WORST CASE WE WILL HAVE TO HIGHER A LAWYER. *NM

AFTER READING MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE ON THE 02-03 LIBERTY, I GOT CONCERNED AND CHECK THE LOWER BALL JOINTS ON OUR LIBERTY. WE HAVE AN 2004 JEEP LIBERTY WITH APPROX. 32,000 MILES. UPON CHECKING WE DISCOVERED THAT DRIVER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT HAD APPROX 1/4 INCH PLAY IN IT. THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD MAYBE A 1/16 INCH PLAY. CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INSTRUCTED THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS THEY BLAMED THE LIFT ON THE FAILURE. THIS IS NOT CAUSED BY THE LIFT IT IS A PRE EXISTING PROBLEM. CHRYSLER FIX TO THIS WAS TO INSTALL A HEAT SHIELD BEHIND THE ROTOR AND IN FRONT OF THE BALL JOINT. HOWEVER, THAT IS NOT THE FIX, IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. THE BALL JOINT IS ACTUALLY INSTALLED UPSIDE DOWN CAUSING STRESS EVERY TIME YOU HIT A BUMP. I WILL BE HAVING IT FIXED BY A NON DEALER SHOP. WE WILL SAVE ALL OUR RECEIPTS IN CASE A RECALL IS STARTED FOR THE 04-05. *NM

NO EVENTS PROCEEDING. WHILE BACKING, LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED FROM THE SPINDLE. HAVE NOT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURE YET. *NM

LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE ON 2004 JEEP LIBERTY SPORT 4 WHEEL DRIVE. *JB