10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 4 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 57,758 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
I have a 2003 Jeep Liberty with 95,000 miles on it and the upper ball joint on the passenger side broke in half today while I was pulling out of a filling station. The tow truck operator who also owns a garage stated that he had never seen one of these break like this one did. I was lucky that I was only going 2 miles an hour when it broke because if I had been going faster, I would have wrecked the vehicle. My Jeep has never been off-road since I have owned it. Jeep does currently have a recall in place for the lower ball joints which they say get corroded and separate from the control arm. The upper ball joint did the same exact thing but does not appear to be included in the recall. I could have been killed or maybe even injured someone else had this happened on the highway.
- Louisa, VA, USA
- on 12/21/06 at 7:30 am the contact took her 2003 Jeep Liberty to miller arnell Chrysler located 9850 indianapolis Indiana 46322. The repairs on perform recall 06V288000 were performed on the vehicle. After the repair while making either left or right turns the contact felt a clunking noise coming from the floor by the drivers side. The contact continued to drive the vehicle for two weeks and thought nothing of the noise, but is sure that it began after the repairs were done. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer on 1/13/07. The contact was told there is a separation of the control arm that leaves excessive play and needs to be repaired. The dealer explained that these repairs were going to cost $398 and not covered by the dealer. The contact wants the dealer to cover these repairs because they were either caused by the defect on the vehicle or when the vehicle was been worked on. Updated 02/22/07.
- Munster, IN, USA
Upper (not lower) ball joint failure on '03 Jeep Liberty. Vehicle has 44,000 miles, dealer serviced every 3,000 miles until last service of 36,000 miles. Awaiting parts (10/12 weeks on existing lower ball joint recall). Right upper ball joint failed, seperating from control arm at 60 mph on interstate 95 in Delaware. Vehicle skid a few hundred yards with the front right wheel laying nearly flat on the road surface. Narrowly missed collision with car in next lane but was able to get to right shoulder even with reduced steering control.
- Savage, MD, USA
: the contact stated while driving 40 mph on the interstate, the contact's spouse lost control of the vehicle. While going up a hill, the vehicle veered to the left and the vehicle went out of control. The spouse was unable to steer the vehicle and hit a guard rail. There were injuries sustained and a police report was taken. An independent mechanic determined all of the damage was noted on the left side where the lower ball joint was located. The vehicle was due for an inspection and the contact noticed the left tire was wearing prematurely. The independent mechanic noted the ball joint on the right side was bad and ready to come loose. There was a NHTSA recall, #06V288000, regarding the suspension: Front: Control arm: Lower ball joint. The vehicle was not included in the recall due to the VIN. Updated 11/06/06.
- Waymart, PA, USA
2003 Liberty ball joint separated. The lower ball joints were replaced previously at 16,000. The upper ball joints also needed to be replaced.
- Chardon, OH, USA
: the contact stated recall #03V460000 concerning the lower ball joint was performed on the vehicle on 01/14/04. Yesterday while pulling into the garage, the contact heard a popping sound. The contact exited the vehicle and noticed the upper ball joint was detached. There are several complaints noted on the internet regarding problems with the upper ball joints. There were no problems with the vehicle prior to the incident. The vehicle was towed to the nearest service dealership where the vehicle is awaiting inspection. Updated 7/3/2006 -
- Chardon, OH, USA
Upper and lower ball joints have gone bad after only 31K miles on Jeep Liberty. I talked to the service manager at outten Jeep and he informed me it was not covered. I feel this is a danagerous and premature failure of this part and should be covered by warrentiejust for safety alone I.
- Allentown, PA, USA
2003 Liberty upper ball joint failed. The polymer bushings and seal failed to maintain lubrication. *****
- Chagrin Falls, OH, USA
Right upper ball joint on 2003 Jeep Liberty failed due to defective polymer bushing and grease seal. Noticed in a parking lot.
- Chagrin Falls, OH, USA
: the contact stated there was difficulty steering the vehicle followed by a rubbing noise from the steering compartment while turning. The vehicle was seen by an independent repair shop. The repair shop personnel replaced the left front upper ball joint. This repair remedied the problem.
- Mogadore, OH, USA
Routine check of vehicle during rotation of tires revealed lower ball joint movement, and right upper ball joint failure.
- Quakertown, PA, USA
03 Jeep Liberty limited ball joint replacement for the 2nd time in 58K miles.
- Meadville, PA, USA
There was a recall concerning the lower ball joints. The consumer stated that there was no problem with the lower ball joints. There was a problem with the upper ball joints. The consumer heard knocking noises coming from underneath the vehicle. The problem started before 4-30-04. When the consumer took vehicle to the dealer previously they told them what the problem was. The consumer has not had the problem corrected as of yet.
- Green Spring, WV, USA
The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Liberty. The vehicle had a recall on the ball joints and they serviced the vehicle. But on August 10, 2005 while traveling about 10-15 mph the lower ball joint on driver's side fell out. About thirty minutes afterwards while driving on a very busy parkway at about 55-65 mph and if the ball joint fell out the recall work did not solve the problem.
- Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
Contact received a recall notice for the lower ball joint and had the repair work done. Seven months later the ball joint failed again while the vehicle owner's son was driving at 35 mile mph. The ball joint failed while driving over a bridge, and T vehicle was damaged. Vehicle had to be towed to the owners home, and then to the dealership for repairs. The wheel and brakes, both fell off the vehicle. The police were called. However no report was filed because there was no crash. Repairs were done.. the owner noticed that before the ball joint failed. There was too much play in the steering. When the wheel is turned it takes the tire a minute to catch up. The owner is concerned that the ball joint is about to go out again. The replacement parts do not seem to be any different than the original parts. The caller heard a report of a lady dying with the same problem in her vehicle.
- Sinton, TX, USA
While driving at approximately 20 mph driver lost control of the vehicle and the driver side wheel locked up. Owner had the vehicle towed to the dealer, where it was discovered that the ball joint completely separated from the housing.
- Mohawk, NY, USA
While pulling out of a parking space the upper ball joints failed. As a result, the front end collapsed. The cause has yet to be determined. No injuries reported. Vehicle was towed to nearest dealer for evaluation.
- Hoboken, NJ, USA
There was vibration in the front end when speed exceeded 40 mph. Dealership inspected vehicle, but couldn't locate the cause of the vibration. A week later, while driving on the highway front left wheel nut flew off and hit the grill. On another occasion the front left tire fell off while reversing. Vehicle was taken back to dealership, and dealership replaced the ball joints.
- Middleboro, MA, USA
While making U-turn at an intersection front ball joints snapped, separating from the vehicle. Vehicle was towed to the dealer, who was repairing the problem. Phone interview update (Oct 5, 05): The consumer said that he had received a recall notice two months after he filed the complaint.
- Owings Mills, MD, USA
- Lee's Summit, MO, USA