ON JUNE 13 2011 MY COMPASS WITH ONLY 17085 MILES ON IT, HAD CRACKED A FRONT SPRING THAT HAD GRINDED A RING AROUND MY PASS SIDE TIRE. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT I NOTICED SOME NOISE IN THE FRONT END SO I BROUGHT IT TO A DEALER FOR SERVICE. I WAS TOLD WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND HOW SURPRISED THE SERVICE DEPT. WAS WITH THIS INCIDENT. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. IT TOOK A WHILE BUT AFTER SOME COMPLAINTS AND DISGUST WITH THE DEALERSHIP, BUT MORE SO WITH CHRYSLER, EVERYTHING DID GET COVERED BUY THE 2 PARTIES. NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT MY VEHICLE WAS AND STILL IS UNDER WARRANTY. TODAY IS JANUARY 3 2013 AND GUESS WHAT? I NOW HAVE TO CONTACT THE DEALER AND PROBABLY CHRYSLER AGAIN. MY COMPASS IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WITH ONLY 27450 MILES AND NOW THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SPRING IS CRACKED AND IS BEGINNING TO DO THE EXACT SAME THING TO MY OTHER TIRE AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DEALER WILL SAY OR DO BUT I WILL CONTACT THEM FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, THEY ARE CLOSED AT THIS TIME. I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM OR JUST A FLUKE? TO ME THIS SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE A POSSIBLE DEFECT AND PUT UNDER A RECALL. IF ANYONE OF THESE TIRES WOULD HAVE BEEN WARN DOWN ENOUGH AND A TIRE WOULD HAVE BLOWN OUT, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS AND OR DEADLY ACCIDENT. *TR
2009
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A NOISE IN THE FRONT AT LOW SPEED, WHEN BACKING AT LOW SPEED AND SLIGHT FRONT VIBRATION AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AT MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND DRIVEN AT NORMALLY EXPECTED CONDITIONS, NEVER INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT OR MISHAP CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH FAILED PARTS SUCH AS BEING DRIVEN INTO A DITCH, ETC. TIRES WERE REPLACED AT AROUND 45,000 MILES. INSPECTION AT DEALER SHOWED BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED INSPECTION AND THE TIRES WERE "ABNORMALLY WORN" AT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES OF USAGE. MECHANIC AND SERVICE MANAGER EXPLAINED THAT VEHICLE WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE SINCE THERE WAS A RISK OF THE FRONT WHEELS SHEARING OR BREAKING OFF DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE BALL JOINTS.I HAD THE REPAIR COMPLETED IMMEDIATELY AT A COST OF $833.01. WHEN RESEARCHING AUTO PARTS ONLINE I HAVE FOUND THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE AS OEM AT AROUND THE COST THE DEALER CHARGED ME OR A "PROBLEM FIXER" PART WAS AVAILABLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL COST. THIS PROBLEM FIXER PART WAS A GREASABLE BALL JOINT AND THE OEM AS WELL AS THE FACTORY ORIGINAL PARTS ARE NOT GREASABLE. IT SEEMS THAT THE PART MANUFACTURERS IF NOT THE AUTOMAKER IS WELL AWARE THAT A NON-GREASABLE BALL JOINT IS A BUILT IN DEFECT AS WELL AS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE A HANDLING OR DRIVING ISSUE, ONLY AN ANNOYING AND OCCASIONAL NOISE AND SLIGHT VIBRATION AND AT LESS THAN 55,000 GENTLY DRIVEN AND CAREFUL MILES IT WAS NEVER THOUGHT THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN ANY POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD WITH THIS VEHICLE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT SUCH A VITAL PART SHOULD FAIL SO RELATIVELY EARLY WITHOUT ABUSE OR INCIDENT TO CAUSE IT TO FAIL. *TR