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To:nhtsa.webmaster@dot.gov
From:plewis51@gmail.com
Subject:Jeep Liberty Lower Ball Joint Failure
Comments: Due to the increase in Lower Ball Joint Failure for 2004 and up Jeep Liberty model, I am concerned regarding the safety of my family and myself. I am a current owner of a 2004 Jeep Liberty, which has a build date of December 2003. With this in mind I believe that my Lower Ball Joints are in danger of failing, as DCX has never resolved the issue. My choices are a catch 22 because I will have to spend my own money in order to improve the safety of driving my Jeep Liberty. A.) I have to spend $125.00 out of my pocket in order to replace equipment that should have automatically been recalled by Chrysler Jeep. Or B.) I will have a Lower Ball Joint failure, causing major/minor damage that will still cost money to fix. Please recognize the importance of recalling 2004+ Lower Ball Joints for the Jeep Liberty. It should not come to death before Chrysler Jeep will step up and resolve the problem.

From NHTSA Web Site.

Thank you for contacting the U.S. Department of Transportation's Vehicle
Safety Hotline Information Center.

You may visit our website at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/ for information
on how to file a Vehicle Safety Complaint. The methods to file a
complaint are as follows:

* Website
* Contacting our Hotline

You may also visit our website at www.safercar.gov for information
pertaining to Recalls and Defects. This site will provide you with the
following resource information:

* Filing a Complaint
* Ongoing Investigations
* Checking for Recalls

Filing a complaint is your first step in helping NHTSA identify safety
problems. NHTSA reviews your complaint and compares it to other
complaints. If a trend is suspected and a problem has a potential for
causing a risk to safety, the agency will open an investigation. If
NHTSA believes the data indicates a safety-related defect exists, the
manufacturer is asked to conduct a recall. NHTSA does not usually
request a recall on single complaints unless NHTSA identifies a severe
potential risk to safety based on their investigations.

Chapter 301 of Title 49 of the United States Code (U.S.C.) requires a
manufacturer of motor vehicles or items of motor vehicle equipment that
contain a defect relating to motor vehicle safety to remedy the defect
without charge.

If you have previously repaired the defect on your vehicle involved in
this recall, you may be eligible for reimbursement. Please contact your
local dealer or manufacturer directly. However, the statute does not
authorize the NHTSA to require manufacturers to reimburse owners for
collateral costs associated with a safety recall (e.g., lost wages while
the vehicle is being repaired, car rentals, damage caused by the defect,
etc.). Nor does the statute authorize the Federal government to
reimburse vehicle owners for any costs associated with safety recalls.
If you have already had a failure believed to be related to a recall and
have not done so, you may consider contacting your insurance company,
local Consumer Protection Agency, Better Business Bureau, or your
State's Office of the Attorney General for assistance regarding your
request. You may also wish to consult with a private attorney of your
choice who should be able to advise you on appropriate action.

We hope that you find this information helpful. However, if you need
additional information on our services please feel free to contact us at
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Thank you,

NHTSA.dot.gov Response Team

Disclaimer: "This response is for information purposes only and does not
constitute an official communication of the U.S. Department of
Transportation. For an official response, please write U.S. Department
of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400
7th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590.

I believe that it would be in our best interest to flood the NHTSA with complaints, even if we have not had such a failure ourselves (yet!). Here is a link to file a complaint:

I believe that it would be in our best interest to flood the NHTSA with complaints, even if we have not had such a failure ourselves (yet!). Here is a link to file a complaint:


I don't think it would be in anyones interest to file false claims/complaints. All DC has to do is get ahold of a posting like this and they'll take it back to NHTSA and claim that a bunch of the complaints are invalid and that the problem is not as significant as it may seem. Government may be slow but I'd bet they know spam when they get it.

I don't think anyone was saying we should file a false claim. There is a problem. We all know about it. I'm sure in your claim you can state something like: "While this has not yet happened to my vehicle I'm sure that it will and I am concerned about it." I believe that would clarify your intention.