Complaint Statistics
12 total complaints
2 crashes 1 injuries 1 deaths
Top Reported Components
| Component | Complaints |
|---|
| AIR BAGS | 3 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| TRAILER HITCHES | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
Incident date: Jun 1, 2007
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER ENTERING THE VEHICLE UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FAILURE WORSENED OVER THE YEARS. WHENEVER IT RAINED, WATER WOULD ENTER THE VEHICLE AND MOLD AND MILDEW ARE PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE
... IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAULKING BEHIND THE FIREWALL WAS DESTROYED AND NEEDED TO BE RE-CAULKED BEHIND THE FIREWALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.Read more
Incident date: Nov 17, 2014
I'M FILING A COMPLAINT AS I HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE N46/NHTSA 13V-252 BUT CANNOT GET MY CAR SERVICED. MY JEEP DEALERSHIP IN TOWN SAYS THEY CAN'T SERVICE THIS RECALL NOTICE IN A TIMELY FASHION AS THEY CAN'T GET THE PARTS FROM CHRYSLER. I HAVE A FACTORY INSTALLED - BY JEEP -TRAILER HITCH. TH
... E HITCH HAS NEVER BEEN USED TO TOW ANYTHING. "I CAN BE PUT ON A WAITING LIST AND IT MAY TAKE UP TO A YEAR." NICE CUSTOMER SERVICE. IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE 5 MINUTES TO DETERMINE THEY NEED TO DO NOTHING! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER JEEP FROM THIS DEALERSHIP AND I'M DUE FOR A NEW ONE! I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS. IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF A CRASH, EXPLOSION, AND MY DEATH, MY FAMILY PROBABLY HAS A GOOD CAUSE FOR A SERIOUS LAWSUIT. *TRRead more
Incident date: Nov 17, 2014
I'M FILING A COMPLAINT AS I HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE N46/NHTSA 13V-252 BUT CANNOT GET MY CAR SERVICED. MY JEEP DEALERSHIP IN TOWN SAYS THEY CAN'T SERVICE THIS RECALL NOTICE IN A TIMELY FASHION AS THEY CAN'T GET THE PARTS FROM CHRYSLER. I HAVE A FACTORY INSTALLED - BY JEEP -TRAILER HITCH. TH
... E HITCH HAS NEVER BEEN USED TO TOW ANYTHING. "I CAN BE PUT ON A WAITING LIST AND IT MAY TAKE UP TO A YEAR." NICE CUSTOMER SERVICE. IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE 5 MINUTES TO DETERMINE THEY NEED TO DO NOTHING! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER JEEP FROM THIS DEALERSHIP AND I'M DUE FOR A NEW ONE! I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS. IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF A CRASH, EXPLOSION, AND MY DEATH, MY FAMILY PROBABLY HAS A GOOD CAUSE FOR A SERIOUS LAWSUIT. *TRRead more
Incident date: Aug 25, 2008
WE PURCHASED OUR JEEP IN 2008 AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. SOME TIMES IT COMES ON IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, SOMETIMES AFTER DRIVING FOR AWHILE, SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL, LIKE THERE IS A BAD CONNECTION SOMEWHERE. THE CAR LOT SAID THERE WAS A RECALL AND WE NEEDED TO TAKE IT IN FOR THE FREE
... REPAIR. W WENT TO OUR LOCAL JEEP DEALER, THEY SAID THE RECALL HAD BEEN DONE, AND WHEN THE ADVISER POPPED THE HOOD TO SHOW ME WHAT WAS DONE, HE NOTICED THE WIRE LOOM WAS NOT ON THE WIRE LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE. SO HE PUT ONE ON IT. SO AS FAR AS WE KNEW THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP THAT SUPPOSEDLY PERFORMED THE REPAIR DID NOT ACTUALLY DO IT AND JUST SAID THEY DID. SO AROUND 7 YEARS WITH NO REPAIR FOR A POSSIBLE WIRE RASH. IN 2012 WE GOT NOTICE THAT ANOTHER AIR BAG RECALL NEEDED TO BE DONE, WHICH TOOK ABOUT A YEAR FOR THEM TO GET PARTS FOR. A DEALER DID THE REPAIR AND CLEARED THE AIR BAG CODE. I ASKED THE DEALER WHAT THE AIR BAG CODE WAS AND WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T READ IT JUST CLEARED IT. I ASKED WHY THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS STILL ON AND THEY SAID THEY COULD DIAGNOSE IT FOR $120 AN HOUR. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER ON THIS AND THEY SAID THEY CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO DID THE REPAIR AND THE DEALER TOLD THEM THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL THEY DID. IF THEY DID NOT READ THE CODE, HOW DO THEY KNOW? [XXX] AT CHRYSLER SAYS THAT IF YOU BUY A USED VEHICLE THEN YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS NOT CHRYSLER. 6 OTHER JEEPS WHICH HAVE HAD BOTH REPAIRS HAVE HAD THEIR AIRBAGS DEPLOY. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT NEITHER OF THE FIRST TWO FIXES HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM AND JEEPS HAVE MULTIPLE AIR BAG PROBLEMS WHERE THE ENTIRE SYSTEMS NEED TO BE GONE THROUGH AND EACH JEEP MIGHT HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS WRONG. IT IS TIME FOR A THIRD AND FINAL RECALL WHERE EACH JEEP NEEDS TO BE DIAGNOSED THEN REPAIRED INSTEAD OF CHRYSLERS ONE SIZE FITS ALL SOLUTION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TRRead more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2009
PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, BUT IT CAN'T TURN, EVEN WHILE FIDDLING WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. IF I THEN TAP ON THE KEY WITH SOMETHING, THEN IT MIGHT TURN. *TR
Incident date: Dec 1, 2009
PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, BUT IT CAN'T TURN, EVEN WHILE FIDDLING WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. IF I THEN TAP ON THE KEY WITH SOMETHING, THEN IT MIGHT TURN. *TR
Incident date: Jan 17, 2008
CRASH INTO POLE FAILED TO ACTIVATE AIR BAGS. CAR TOTALED. *TR
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Aug 15, 2006
DRIVER SEAT RECLINER HANDLE BROKE OFF WHILE MAKING THE NEEDED ADJUSTMENT, THE OPERATION OF THE RECLINER ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER IS EXTREMELY HARD. WITH OR WITH OUT A LOAD APPLIED TO THE BACK. DRIVE SEAT IS NOW RESTRICTED IN MOVEMENT AT A 25 DEGREE ANGLE. PASSENGER RECLINER WILL ONLY WORK IF
... YOU ARE OUT SIDE THE JEEP AND ASSIST FROM THE BACK SEAT TO MOVE THE SEAT BACK FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS. *JBRead more
Incident date: Dec 27, 2005
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK MY BROTHER HAD A HEART ATTACK, CAUSING HIM TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HE STRUCK A TREE DEAD CENTER AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FRONT OF HIS VEHICLE WAS PUSHED IN APPROXIMATELY 16 INCHES. PHOTOGRAPHS AVAILABLE. UNFORTUNATLY MY BROTHER IS NOT. VEHICLE INFORMATION I
... S AVAILABLE BUT NOT AT THIS MOMENT.*AKRead more
Crash
1 deaths
Incident date: Jun 21, 2005
I HAVE A 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED A NEW FUEL PUMP AND TANK. MY MECHANIC WENT TO THE WRECKING YARD AND FOUND A GOOD TANK, THE PUMP HOWEVER, HAD IT'S FILTER PIECES MISSING. THEY WERE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK. WHEN THE MECHANICS TOOK OUT MY
... DAMAGED TANK, THE SAME WAS TRUE WITH MY FUEL FILTER. IT IS UNDER MY IMPRESSION THAT THIS 2 FOR 2 DISCOVERY MAY MEAN THERE IS A CLOSE TO 100% PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMPS.Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2004
JEEP LIBERTY 2001, PROBLEM WITH BALL JOINT. *BF *JB
Incident date: Mar 15, 2003
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON ACCIDENT YET THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *NLM
NHTSA Safety Investigations — JEEP LIBERTY
Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.
PE — Closed
— Model Year: 2012
Occupant Restraint Controller Failure
The Office of Defects Investigation opened this Preliminary Evaluation to investigate VOQ complaints alleging a failure of the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) module in model year (MY) 2012 Jeep Liberty.The purpose of the investigation was to understand Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) complain
... ts stating that the air bag warning light remained illuminated while the vehicle was in operation.In many cases the warning light issue was reportedly corrected by a replacement of the ORC module. In 2013 FCA issued NHTSA safety recall 13V282 to address ORC module failures caused by an electrical over stress (EOS) condition that damaged an internal resistor.The failure lead to non-deployment of the active head restraints in rear impact crashes of sufficient severity to require deployment.This condition would also result in illumination of the air bag warning light and set a B2208 diagnostic trouble code (DTC).Recall 13V282 involved two different remedies based on the model year and model of the recalled vehicle.Some models were repaired by replacing the ORC with an updated unit.However the subject vehicles of this investigation, which made up the largest population in the recall, received a software update to the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM), another electronic device that is involved in powering of the ORC. After the investigation was opened, FCA began collecting failed subject vehicle ORC modules so they could be analyzed for failure causation.From June 2017 to August 2017 FCA obtained 13 ORC modules and analyzed 10 of them.FCA determined 9 contained evidence of the resistor over stress condition.Of that group, 7 had experienced resistor failures prior to the TIPM being re-flashed under the recall action.In these cases, replacement of the ORC module would have been the only effective repair to extinguish the air bag warning lamp.This observation correlates well with VOQ complaints ODI received from consumers who experienced an airbag warning light illuminated when they presented their vehicle in for the original 13V282 repair.Many of these consumers were told the TIPM re-flash did not fix the warning light issue, and that their ORC module needed to be replaced (at the consumer's expense). ODI notes that 8 of the 10 analyzed ORCs displaying the resistor EOS condition also had DTC B1BCF stored.This code is related to the detection of a possible internal fault with a rollover sensor.FCA conducted additional testing and concluded that the presence of the resistor failure caused the subsequent setting of the this DTC. On October 4, 2017 FCA decided to conduct a safety recall to replace the subject vehicle ORC modules with a redesigned device.FCA submitted the defect information report to the agency on October 10, 2017. See NHTSA 17V640 for further details.Accordingly the investigation is closed.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under the following ID numbers: 10994134, 10994095, 10993838, 10993675, 10993482, 10991764, 10985011, 10984531, 10980350, 10970003, 10969021, 10957076, 10948802, 10945162, 10938664, 10928226, 10917300, 10904332, 10896571, 10893915, 10888324, 10887727, 10865180, 10862586, 10860359, 10853737, 10850921, 10850366, 10837723, 10837086, 10816784, 10816174, 10810454, 10787829, 10778572, 10766688, 10761468, 10761189, 10747749, 10746608, 10744774, 10736037, 10730658, 10717657, 10706097, 10684125, 10681813, 10652841, 10648367, 10641248, 10622487, 10619379, 10618765, 10617657, 10614874, 10608301, 10605955, 11041327, 11047850, 11030130, 11012891, 11024995, 11051267, 11012170Read more
PE — Closed
— Model Year: 2012
Jeep Liberty Door Fires
The driver's side power master window switch (PMWS) evaluted during this investigation controls the power windows for all four doors, the power mirrors and door locks.The PMWS is located on the driver's side door panel.Chrysler advised that the PMWS was used on multiple vehicle platforms including m
... odel year (MY) 2011 Dodge Nitro, MY 2011-2012 Jeep Liberty and MY 2011 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan for a total of approximately 425,000 vehicles.At the opening of the investigation, ODI identified two reports of fire near the vicinity of the PMWS on MY 2012 Jeep Liberty Vehicles.During the course of the investigation, ODI determined that one of the complaint fires was not likely caused by a PMWS failure as available evidence indicated the fire started in the dashboard as opposed to the door panel area.Accordingly, the report was removed from the above counts.In response to ODI's October 30, 2013 information request (IR) letter, Chrysler advised that it was only aware of the same two fire reports as ODI and that it had concluded one of the reports did not involve a PMWS failure.ODI has not identified any new subject vehicle reports involving PMWS fires during the course of the investigation.In addition to the reports alleging fire, ODI evaluated other reports and data related to PMWS failures including consumer complaints, field reports, law suits, and warranty claims provided by Chrysler in its response.ODI interviewed owners of complaint vehicles when additional information was required.In addition to the subject Jeep Liberty, ODI reports for the additional Chrysler vehicles that use the same PMWS were also reviewed.ODI identified two additional ODI complaints (see ODI 10523317 and 10474901) involving Chrysler minivans that alleged door fires that were, or may have been related to a PMWS failure.In discussions with ODI, Chrysler stated that it conducted a search for consumer complaints alleging PMWS related door fires on the additional vehicles that use the same PMWS but did not identify any responsive reports.Based on ODI's assessment of available data, the overall failure rate for the PMWS, which was used in a large population of vehicles, appears to be low, and the failure rate for those that resulted in fires is even lower.Additionally the data does not indicate a trend, climatic, or regional effects indicative of an actionable defect issue.A safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, the investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.The ODI report cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10459029Read more
EA — Closed
— Model Year: 2003
Inadvertent Air Bag Deployment
The investigation was opened based on reports of frontal air bag inadvertent deployments (ABIDs) on model year (MY) 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles.Data provided by Chrysler indicate that the air bag squib filter circuitry inside the Occupant Restraint Control (ORC) module can degrade and result in
... an inadvertent air bag deployment, without a crash or impact, while the vehicle is being operated on the roadway.As of Oct. 04, 2012, ODI is aware of 131 frontal ABIDs on the Jeep Liberty vehicles resulting in 62 injuries consisting of burns, cuts and bruises to the upper body region.There were no reports of loss of vehicle control or vehicle crashes.Some owners noted that the air bag warning light (ABL) and/or chime had activated just seconds prior to the air bag deployment, while others stated that they did not observe any prior ABL illumination.Chrysler's analysis found there were no reports of ABID on Liberty vehicles build after March 28, 2003, a date which coincides with a filter circuit design change in the ORC module.The Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Viper were identified as having the same basic circuit.ODI is aware of 61 frontal ABIDs with 31 injuries on the Grand Cherokee and none on the Dodge Viper.In its Nov. 07, 2012 letter (12V-527), Chrysler announced plans to recall 744,822 Jeep Vehicles (MY02-03 Liberty through 03/28/03 and MY02-04 Grand Cherokee through 5/23/03).The remedy consists of installing an in-line jumper harness with an integrated squib circuit electrical filter.In addition, in Feb 05, 2013 letter (13V-040), Chrysler added the MY03-04 Dodge Viper (through 6/30/04) with a similar remedy, bringing the total number of recalled vehicles to 748,482.During the investigation ODI contacted the ORC module supplier (TRW) to determine the usage of this circuitry in other manufacturers? vehicles.As a result, ODI sent peer Information Request (IR) letters to five other manufactures.Toyota's response identified 72 frontal ABIDs resulting in 31 injuries.The rate and failure mode/trend were consistent with the subject defective issue as reported by Chrysler.In a Jan. 30, 2013 letter (13V-029), Toyota announced plans to recall 897,709 MY2003-2004 Corolla/Matrix and Pontiac Vibe vehicles and will utilize a similar remedy to that of Chrysler consisting of adding an in-line noise filter to its air bag wire harness.Honda's IR response reported 126 unique ABIDs for both frontal, side impact and/or side curtain air bag deployments across 4 models and 800k vehicles.However upon further review, no more than 25 of the reports appeared to be frontal ABIDs.The remaining involved less aggressive non-frontal ABIDs mainly stemming from side sensors that trigger side and/or side curtain air bags upon undercarriage debris strike or heavy door slams.The Honda rates are lower than those from the recalled Liberty and Toyota models, and with the exception of the MY 2002-2003 Odyssey, the other Honda models' failure mode/trend was also less severe.ODI will continueto monitor the affected Honda models.There were no reports of ABIDs from the other three peer manufacturers.It should be noted that since the October 2012 data collection date, ODI has received 4 additional Jeep Liberty and 2 Jeep Grand Cherokee reports for frontal ABIDs with two reports alleging loss of vehicle control and crashes. To date, the ORC modules from the two crash vehicles have not been available for detailed analysis by Chrysler or ODI, so the cause of the ABIDs cannot be confirmed at this time.Accordingly the investigation is closed.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAIRead more
PE — Closed
— Model Year: 2002
Inadvertent Air Bag Deployment
Based on analysis of Chrysler's response, and including ODI's consumer complaints, ODI has identified 87 reports of air bag inadvertent deployment incidents resulting in 50 alleged injuries.The injuries consists of burn/cuts and bruises to the upper body region.Forty-two (42) of the 87 incidents inv
... olved the driver frontal air bag, and the remaining 45 incidents involved both the driver and passenger frontal air bags inadvertently deploying without a crash.These incidents occurred both at vehicle startup or while the vehicle is being operated on the roadway.Some owners noted that the air bag warning light had illuminated, or had intermittently illuminated, and that this occurred just prior to the air bag deployment, while others stated they did not observe any illumination of the air bag light. Inspection of the Occupant Restraint Control (ORC) module conducted by Chrysler indicates that an internal electronic circuit (an ASIC chip) which controls air bag deployment fails due to an electrical over stress (EOS) condition possibly caused by a transient voltage spike.Chrysler is in the process of identifying potential root causes of the component failure and/or a source for the electrical over stress.In addition, Chrysler noted that there have been no reports of inadvertent air bag deployment in vehicles manufactured after a March 19, 2003 production date.However, Chrysler had not identified a component or other change that would explain why the inadvertent deployments ceased. Accordingly, this investigation has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA12-001) to further study the alleged defect and its consequences.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers: 10435710 10429579 10429306 10428411 10407276 10399551 10335637 10283484 10249231 10166706 10055405Read more
EA — Closed
— Model Year: 2004
Rear Suspension Control Arm Failure
In a letter dated March 2, 2012 Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) submitted a Defect Information Report (NHTSA recall No. 12V-085) to the NHTSA identifying a safety defect regarding rear suspension lower control arm corrosion in approximately 210,000 model year (MY) 2004 and 2005 Jeep Liberty vehicles,
... originally sold or currently registered in a Salt-belt state (Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia).According to Chrysler, excessive corrosion could result in fracture of a rear suspension lower control arm which may result in a loss vehicle control.In analysis of both Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) data submitted to the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) and consumer complaint data submitted to Chrysler, ODI identified 54 non-duplicative reports alleging failure of one or both rear lower control arms due to excessive corrosion.Thirteen of these complaints allege that the failure resulted in some loss of vehicle control.For purposes of this analysis, loss of control events involve alleged complete or partial departure from the intended lane of travel.An additional 11 complaints reported difficulty maintaining control of the vehicle when the rear lower control arm failed.All of the complainant vehicles were either originally sold or registered at the time of the incident in a Salt-belt state.ODI did not identify any reports (complaints or warranty claims) related to rear lower control failure due to excessive corrosion in the approximately 138,000 MY 2004 and 2005 Liberty vehicles that are not included in this recall (i.e., not sold or currently registered in a Salt-belt state).In Chrysler?s Defect Information Report, Chrysler stated that during the investigation a field survey of MY 2004 and 2005 Jeep Liberty vehicles was conducted.In total, Chrysler is aware of 83 incidents alleging rear control arm fracture (including complaints and field study results).Based on Chrysler?s decision to conduct a safety recall this investigation is closed. The associated VOQs are: 10449912, 10448981, 10448406, 10448119, 10447069,10446737, 10445029, 10443863, 10443222, 10441248, 10438681, 10437308, 10436416, 10436231, 10436024, 10434927, 10434157, 10433963, 10430852, 10429346, 10428006, 10427087, 10426644, 10426393, 10419094, 10417697, 10416623, 10410148, 10409668, 10402048, 10397413, 10392160, 10388448, 10365118, 10360057, 10360049, 10345985Read more
PE — Closed
— Model Year: 2004
Rear Suspension Control Arm Failure
During Preliminary Evaluation (PE11-013), the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) conducted an analysis of consumer field data from its Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) database and from complaint data submitted to ODI by Chrysler. ODI's analysis of VOQ data identified 13 complaints alleging fail
... ure of either the right or left rear lower control arm due to excessive corrosion.All of these complaints were associated with vehicles originally sold or registered in a salt belt state (for the purposes of this investigation, 'salt belt' includes Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia).All of the complaints were associated with vehicles manufactured in model years (MY) 2004 or 2005. Three of these complaints also allege a loss of vehicle control due to the rear lower control arm failure. No complaints related to the alleged defect were identified on vehicles manufactured during MYs 2002 or 2003. Similarly an analysis of Chrysler complaint data identified 11 complaints (2 of which are duplicative of VOQs) alleging failure of a rear lower control arm due to excessive corrosion.All 11 of these complaints were from consumers operating vehicles in a salt belt state and vehicles manufactured in either MY 2004 or 2005. Three of these complaints (not duplicative of VOQs) also allege a loss of vehicle control due to the rear lower control arm failure.The original scope of PE11-013 included MY 2002 through 2005 Jeep Liberty vehicles as they were in the same generation.In response to an Information Request (IR) letter sent by ODI, Chrysler provided information and sample components identifying a substantial design change of the rear lower control arms after MY 2003 and beginning with MY 2004.Analysis of complaint data from both data sources (ODI and Chrysler) did not identify any applicable complaints (lower control arm failures due to excessive corrosion) from vehicles manufactured during MY 2002 or 2003.Similarly no complaints from either data source were found in states outside of those identified as salt belt states.Chrysler stated in its IR letter response that its investigation and analysis is ongoing to determine the scope, possible root causes of the unusual lower control arm corrosion, and define possible consequences to motor vehicle safety. Based on ODI's data analysis from both sources (ODI and Chrysler data), this investigation has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA11-013) focused on vehicles originally sold or registered in a salt belt state and produced during MY 2004 and 2005, to further assess the scope and potential safety consequences of the alleged defect.Read more
EA — Closed
— Model Year: 2003
UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION
ON APRIL 7, 2009, CHRYSLER LLC SUBMITTED TO ODI A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT INDICATING THAT IT WOULD RECALL APPROXIMATELY 42,469 MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2003 JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES TO REMEDY A DEFECT THAT CAN RESULT IN UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING (09V-119).THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE BUI
... LT FROM MAY 2002 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2002 AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, KENTUCKY, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN.ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER, THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT MAY EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF LUBRICATION WHICH CAN LEAD TO CORROSION, ACCELERATED WEAR, AND POSSIBLE SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING. CHRYSLER'S RECALL PROCEDURE INSTRUCTS DEALERS TO REPLACE THE FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. ALTHOUGH THE SPECIFIC CAUSE FOR THE DEFECT IN THE RECALLED PRODUCTION RANGE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED, ODI'S ANALYSIS OF UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATIONS BY VEHICLE BUILD DATE SHOWS A CLEARLY DEFINED AND SIGNIFICANT SPIKE IN THE RATE OF SEPARATION DURING THE FIVE MONTH PRODUCTION RANGE COVERED BY 09V-119, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR ONLY 11 PERCENT OF SUBJECT VEHICLE PRODUCTION BUT APPROXIMATELY 70 PERCENT OF SEPARATION INCIDENTS.SEVENTY-FOUR (74) OF THE UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION INCIDENTS IDENTIFIED BY ODI OCCURRED IN VEHICLES PRODUCED IN THE RECALL MONTHS, RESULTING IN A SEPARATION RATE OF 174 PER 100,000 VEHICLES.THE SEPARATION RATE IN THE REMAINING SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER, AT 9 INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES.AT THIS TIME, THE DATA DO NOT SHOW A DEFECT TREND IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT OUTSIDE THE RECALL RANGE AFTER APPROXIMATELY 6-8 YEARS IN SERVICE. THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.Read more
PE — Closed
— Model Year: 2002
UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION
ODI HAS RECEIVED 22 COMPLAINTS OF UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION ON MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 JEEP LIBERTY 4X4 VEHICLES.THE SEPARATION OF AN UPPER BALL JOINT ON EITHER OF THE FRONT WHEELS CAN RESULT IN THE AFFECTED FRONT WHEEL COLLAPSING, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN VEHICLE DISABLEMENT AND CAUSING A LOSS OF V
... EHICLE CONTROL.THERE IS ONE COMPLAINT OF A FAILURE AT 75 MPH, 1 FAILURE AT 60 MPH, 3 FAILURES AT 40 MPH, 2 FAILURES AT 25 MPH, 7 FAILURES OCCURRING WHILE THE DRIVER WAS PULLING INTO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND 2 FAILURES THAT OCCURRED WHEN THE DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ACROSS THE FLOW OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC.ONE COMPLAINANT ALLEGED ALMOST BEING HIT BY AN ONCOMING TRUCK AS A RESULT OF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEING DISABLED IN THE FLOW OF CROSSING TRAFFIC.ANOTHER REPORTED THE COLLAPSE OF THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT, AS A RESULT OF WHICH THE VEHICLE ENDED UP IN A DITCH JUST MISSING A COLLISION WITH A TELEPHONE POLE.CHRYSLER LLC., IS CONTINUING TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODI HAS UPGRADED THE INVESTIGATION TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA08-008) TO CONTINUE TO ASSES THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.Read more
PE — Closed
— Model Year: 2006
DIESEL FUEL LEAK
OVERHEATING OF THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AT THE FUEL HEATER ON THE FUEL FILTER / WATER SEPARATOR ASSEMBLY CAN CAUSE A FUEL LEAK THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION.OPERATORS REPORT THE SMELL OF DIESEL FUEL, SMOKE, DIFFICULTY STARTING AND/OR POOR ENGINE OPERATION.THE FUEL LEAKAGE IS REPORTED BY SOME OPE
... RATORS AS SEEPAGE, WETNESS, SEVERAL DROPS, AND AN OZ PER MINUTE.EVIDENCE OF OVERHEATING OF THE CONNECTION WAS OBSERVED BY SOME OPERATORS AND REPORTED AS BURNED OR DISCOLORED ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AT THE FUEL HEATER.SEVEN OPERATORS REPORT SMELLING OR SEEING SMOKE.ONE REPORTED A VEHICLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE HOWEVER THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT IDENTIFIED, AND LINKAGE OF THE FIRE CAUSE TO THIS ISSUE IS NOT LIKELY TO BE ESTABLISHED.THE LOCATION OF THE FUEL FILTER / WATER SEPARATOR ASSEMBLY IS NOT NEAR THE LOCATION OF THE TURBO CHARGER WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ENGINE.THE TURBO CHARGER WOULD PRESENT A POTENTIALLY HOT SURFACE HOWEVER DUE TO THE LAYOUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ITS COMPONENTS, DIESEL FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION WOULD NOT LIKELY MIGRATE TO THE TURBO CHARGER.AT THIS TIME, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AND THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.Read more
PE — Closed
— Model Year: 2007
INTERIOR FIRE, PASSENGER SIDE DASH AREA
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON NOVEMBER 21, 2006 BASED ON TWO OWNER REPORTS AND ONE E-MAIL REPORT ALLEGING AN INTERIOR FIRE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AREA OF THE DASH PANEL.DAIMLERCHRYSLER (DCC) HAS IDENTIFIED A DEFECT IN THE BLOWER MOTOR OF THE HVAC SYSTEM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND IN CERTAIN 2007
... MODEL YEAR LIBERTY VEHICLES.THE DEFECT REPORT STATES, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS THE HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIRCONDITIONING (HVAC) BLOWER MOTOR MAY OVERHEAT AND CAUSE AN INTERIOR FIRE.DCC WILL RECALL 149,065 VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL HVAC BLOWER MOTOR WITH ONE OF A NEW DESIGN.THE VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ARE ALL 2006 MODEL YEAR AND 2007 MODEL YEAR JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES BUILT FROM START OF PRODUCTION THROUGH AUGUST 15, 2006.SEE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 07V089 FOR DETAILS.Read more
EA — Closed
— Model Year: 2003
FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINT SEPARATION
ON JANUARY 6, 2006, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATIONIN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES.ODI SENT A LETTER TO THE MANUFACTURER ON FEBRUARY 7, 2006 REQUESTING INFORMATION ABOU
... T THESE AND OTHER JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES.CONSEQUENTLY, THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS ON MAY 31, 2006 AND THE RANGE OF SUBJECT VEHICLES UNDER INVESTIGATION WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL MY 2002-2006 JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 566 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ALLEGING INVOLUNTARY FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATION IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODI IS ALSO AWARE OF ONE NON-INJURY CRASH AND THREE ALLEGED INJURY INCIDENTS (TWO CRASH INCIDENTS AND ONE NON-CRASH INCIDENT) RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES.THE COMPLAINT COUNTS REPORTED ABOVE ONLY INCLUDE THOSE MY 2002-03 LIBERTY VEHICLES WHERE THE ALLEGED BALL JOINT SEPARATION OCCURRED AFTER PRIOR RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED (SEE BELOW) OR IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRIOR RECALL.THE MANUFACTURER CONDUCTED A PRIOR SAFETY RECALL (03V-460) TO ADDRESS THE SUBJECT ISSUE IN CERTAIN MY 2002-03 JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES.ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S NOVEMBER 4, 2003, DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT (SUBMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH 49 CFR PART 573), ?THE CONSTANT TENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS MAY EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF LUBRICATION WHICH CAN LEAD TO CORROSION, ACCELERATED WEAR AND POSSIBLY SEPARATION FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE.A CONSTANT TENSION BALL JOINT WHICH HAS SEPARATED FROM THE KNUCKLE MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WITH MINIMAL ADVANCED WARNING.?HOWEVER, EVIDENCE INDICATES THAT SOME VEHICLES SERVICED UNDER RECALL 03V-460 CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE INVOLUNTARY BALL JOINT SEPARATIONS.THE MANUFACTURER HAS MADE NUMEROUS CHANGES IN THE DESIGN, MATERIAL COMPOSITION, MANUFACTURE, QUALITY CONTROL, SUPPLY, AND INSTALLATION OF THE SUBJECT BALL JOINTS SINCE THE PRIOR SAFETY RECALL WAS INITIATED IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE WITH RESPECT TO SEALING, LUBRICATION, AND JOINT RETENTION CAPABILITY.BY LETTER DATED AUGUST 1, 2006, DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO ADDRESS POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS IN APPROXIMATELY 826,687 MODEL YEAR 2002-2006 JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 2, 2001 AND MARCH 15, 2006, INCLUDINGALL VEHICLES SUBJECT TO THE PRIOR RECALL.THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER ASSIGNED TO THIS RECALL IS 06V-288 (DAIMLERCHRYSLER RECALL CAMPAIGN F23).DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL REPLACE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS WITH IMPROVED COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.Read more
PE — Closed
— Model Year: 2004
FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINT SEPARATION
ON JANUARY 6, 2006, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES.ODI SENT A LETTER TO THE MANUFACTURER ON FEBRUARY 7, 2006 REQUESTING I
... NFORMATION ABOUT THESE AND OTHER JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 93 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS THAT ALLEGE INVOLUNTARY FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATION IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODI IS ALSO AWARE OF TWO ALLEGED INJURY INCIDENTS RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT (ONE CRASH INCIDENT AND ONE NON-CRASH INCIDENT), BOTH RESULTING IN MINOR INJURY.THE MANUFACTURER CONDUCTED A PRIOR SAFETY RECALL (03V-460) TO ADDRESS THE SUBJECT ISSUE IN CERTAIN MY 2002-03 JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES.ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO THE AGENCY (IN ACCORDANCE WITH 49 CFR PART 573) DATED NOVEMBER 4, 2003, ?THE CONSTANT TENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS MAY EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF LUBRICATION WHICH CAN LEAD TO CORROSION, ACCELERATED WEAR AND POSSIBLY SEPARATION FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE.A CONSTANT TENSION BALL JOINT WHICH HAS SEPARATED FROM THE KNUCKLE MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WITH MINIMAL ADVANCED WARNING.?THE MANUFACTURER HAS MADE NUMEROUS CHANGES IN THE DESIGN, MATERIAL COMPOSITION, MANUFACTURE, QUALITY CONTROL, SUPPLY, AND INSTALLATION OF THE SUBJECT BALL JOINTS SINCE THE PRIOR SAFETY RECALL WAS INITIATED IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE WITH RESPECT TO SEALING, LUBRICATION, AND JOINT RETENTION CAPABILITY.THE MANUFACTURER'S INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATION IS ONGOING.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-008) TO FURTHER STUDY THE FREQUENCY AND SCOPE OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AND THE ADEQUACY OF THE REMEDY PROVIDED BY THE PRIOR SAFETY RECALL.Read more
EA — Closed
— Model Year: 2002
FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE MALFUNCTION
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) HAS CLOSED THE INVESTIGATION OF FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES IN MODEL YEAR 2002 JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES.ON AUGUST 26, 2006, ODI OPENED PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE)05-046 TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINT REPORTS THAT ALLEGED PROBLEMS WITH LATCHING AND UNLATCHING THE FRONT SE
... AT BELT BUCKLE.SEVERAL OF THE COMPLAINTS REPORTED THAT SOMETHING WAS BROKEN INSIDE OF THE BUCKLE.THE INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT SOME BUCKLES MAY EXPERIENCE FAILURE AND SEPARATION OF ONE, OR BOTH, OF THE INTERNAL LATCH GUIDE LEAF SPRINGS.LACK OF LEAF SPRING FUNCTION DOES NOT APPEAR TO INHIBIT BUCKLE OPERATION BECAUSE THERE IS ANOTHER SPRING THAT RETURNS THE RELEASE BUTTON.HOWEVER, A SEPARATED LEAF SPRING MAY IMPEDE THE MOTION OF THE BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTON IF IT BECOMES ENGAGED WITH MOVING PARTS.ANALYSIS OF THE AVAILABLE DATA SHOW THAT VEHICLES EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BUCKLES WERE EARLY PRODUCTION VEHICLES PRODUCED PRIMARILY IN CALENDAR YEAR (CY) 2001.IN EARLY CY 2002, A CHANGE WAS MADE TO THE TOOLING USED TO PRODUCE THE BUCKLES. THIS CHANGE AFFECTED THE LEAF SPRINGS AND APPEARS TO HAVE HAD A POSITIVE EFFECT IN CORRECTING THE BUCKLE ISSUES THAT WERE EXPERIENCED IN THE EARLY PRODUCTION VEHICLES.THE COMPLAINT REPORT TREND IS DOWN AND THE FREQUENCY OF CONSUMER REPORTS IN CY 2006 HAS DECLINED TO THAT OF CY 2004.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.Read more
PE — Closed
— Model Year: 2002
FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE MALFUNCTION
THIS INVESTIGATION OF FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WAS OPENED ON AUGUST 26, 2005.THE BASIS FOR OPENING WAS SEVEN ODI REPORTS ALLEGING THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY.THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGED THE BUCKLES WOULD NOT LATCH OR WERE DIFFICULT TO LATCH OR UNLATC
... H.SOME OF THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGED SOMETHING WAS BROKEN INSIDE OF THE BUCKLE AND OTHERS ALLEGED THAT THE BUTTON WAS STUCK DOWN AND HAD TO BE PRIED UP IN ORDER TO LATCH THE BUCKLE.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO EA05-022Read more