Ok, so I take it in for the oil/filter (I know, but it's free!) and get that call from the dlr while I'm having breakfast: "Well, you need an air filter (duh) and your LBJs are shot." 54K miles. "Since it's a safety issue, you really need them replaced while it's here. But we're covering them under warranty even though the recall was done 2 years ago." (Like they wouldn't have had a fight/lawsuit if they didn't!) Gee, and I thought that shuddering when I braked was due to a warped rotor!

So, I go back to the dlr and what's sittin inside the shop but another KJ with what looks like a blown tire peeled off the rim. Except the wheel is sittin at a funny angle. And there's a jackstand underneath the suspension on that side. Hmmm.....
Wonder what happened to him? ( I really felt like leaving a L.O.S.T. card on his window but figured he wouldn't get it.)

Gonna go over to the NHTSA link and file a complaint now. Again, Why hasn't someone started a class action suit over this?

Report Date : June 22, 2006 at 10:51 AM
SEARCH TYPE : VEHICLE
YEAR : 2005
Make : JEEP
Model : LIBERTY
Type : MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE

NHTSA Action Number: NHTSA Recall Campaign Number:
EA06008 N/A
Make: JEEP Model: LIBERTY
Manufacturer : DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION
Year : 2005
Component :
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

Date Investigation Opened : May 31, 2006
Date Investigation Closed : Open
Summary:
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 INFORMATION ABOUT THESE AND OTHER JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES. BASED ON THE INFORMATION REVIEWED IN PE06-004, THE RANGE OF SUBJECT VEHICLES UNDER INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL MY 2002-06 JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES THAT USE THE SAME OR SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT. ODI IS AWARE OF 495 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS THAT ALLEGE 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. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE COMPLAINT COUNTS REPORTED ABOVE ONLY INCLUDE MY 2002-03 LIBERTY VEHICLES IF IT WAS DETERMINED THE ALLEGED BALL JOINT SEPARATION OCCURRED AFTER PRIOR RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED (SEE BELOW) OR IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECT TO THE PRIOR RECALL BECAUSE ITS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (VIN) FELL OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF AFFECTED VEHICLES IDENTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER. 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 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 IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS ONGOING. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER STUDY THE FREQUENCY AND SCOPE OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AND THE ADEQUACY OF THE REMEDY PROVIDED BY THE PRIOR SAFETY RECALL.

I would love to see proof of this. I'm not buying it.

Just got back from the dlr. Brought them a copy of the NHTSA investigation report I referenced above. They say they weren't aware of any investigation and wanted to keep the report to look at. I gave it to them.

Then they told me something interesting: "Since there was a recall on the LBJs, they'll be replaced for life."
I said: "Are you sure about that?" They said "Yes, anytime there is a recall, that part is covered for life." Hmmm...... Interesting.

Also, they told me that almost all the time that the LBJs fail, they fail at low speed, usually during a full lock turn like when parking when the LBJ is under greatest stress. Then they told me to check out the red one outside. That's what happened to that one. I'm thinking to myself "Is it really a good idea for the dlr to be pointing out vehicles that had failures to the customers?" Oh well.

They should talk to my dealer and the customer service rep at the 800 number who both told me there was nothing they could do.

Then they told me something interesting: "Since there was a recall on the LBJs, they'll be replaced for life."
I said: "Are you sure about that?" They said "Yes, anytime there is a recall, that part is covered for life." Hmmm...... Interesting.