WE WERE RETURNING HOME TO CANADA FROM A HOLIDAY IN CALIFORNIA THROUGH THE REDWOOD FOREST AND SEVERAL OTHER MOUNTAINOUS/CLIFF SIDE HIGHWAYS. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN WASHINGTON STATE WE HEARD A THUMP AND THEN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TRUCK WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER OFF THE ROAD. WHEN WE TRIED TO JACK UP THE TRUCK, TO CHANGE THE TIRE, WE REALIZED IT WAS SOMETHING FAR MORE SERIOUS. THE LEFT BALL JOINT STEM WAS STUCK THROUGH THE ALUMINUM RIM. THE CONTROL ARM WAS ALSO BROKEN. THERE WAS OVER 200 FEET OF RUBBER LAID WHILE TRYING TO STOP AND CORKSCREWS OF ALUMINUM FROM THE WHEEL ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. THIS ALL HAPPENED WITH 22,377KM DRIVEN. THE BALL JOINTS WERE THEN REPLACED AGAIN WITH THE RECALL IN NOV/2003. ON MAY 4/06 THE BALL JOINT SEPARATED AGAIN WHILE PULLING ONTO THE STREET FROM A PARKING LOT. THIS TIME WE ARE OUT OF WARRANTY @145,534KM. THE REPAIRS/TOWING AMOUNTED TO APPROX. $700. THE BILLS HAVE BEEN FORWARDED TO DAIMLER CHRYSLER CANADA FOR REIMBURSEMENT. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN OFF ROAD. *JB
2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
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
