Tl*the contact owns a 2002 jeep liberty. While the contact was making a left hand turn at a low speed she noticed that the front driver side tire suddenly broke away from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the control arm ball joint needed to be replaced. Prior to the failure, the contact heard a knocking noise in the front end of the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 100324.
2002 Jeep Liberty suspension complaints
Page 5 of 18: complaints 101 to 130 of 494, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 jeep liberty. While driving 25 MPH the vehicle began to shimmy. After driving the vehicle to the side of the road the front passenger side ball joint had fractured, and then the tire separated from the vehicle. Two years prior an identical failure occurred on the driver-side. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealership. The current and failure mileages were 106000.
Recall #009v119000 dated apr 09, 2009 expected to begin october 2009 covering 2002 jeep liberties excludes the state of louisiana - condition described in the recall exactly describes the problem with my vehicle. Since chrysler is aware that this condition does exist, why does it exclude the state of louisiana. "the front suspension upper control arm ball joint may experience a loss of lubrication which could lead to corrosion, accelerated wear & possible separation while driving. Consequence: failure of the ball joint could result in a loss of steering capability, increasing the risk of a crash." previous recall on lower ball joint has been taken care of.
I left my house to go to work and started to pull away when I heard a clunk and then a terrible grinding noise - I tried to back up and the upper ball joint in my jeep snapped and took the brake line with it. I got out and the wheel/tire was hanging sideways on the vehicle. Thank god I was not driving on the highway at the time. Chrysler says this is not a recall and will not consider fixing it. I am very disgusted as this is a safety issue and the lower ball joints had been recalled previously and there is a bulletin now out about the upper. Because there is no recall connected to my VIN they will not consider it however. I will be fighting this.
I was pulling out of my driveway last night and the front drivers wheel fell off. The upper control arm with the ball joint snapped in half.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 jeep liberty. While driving 40 MPH, the vehicle began to shake and vibrate through the steering wheel. The contact heard a lot of noise in the vehicle. Through online research, the dealer found the federal safety agency campaign id number 09v119000, the federal safety agency action number ea08008 (suspension:front:control arm). The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in the recall, although the failures were identical. The failure mileage was 110,000 and current mileage was 120,000. Updated 09/14/09. *lj updated 09/15/09.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 jeep liberty. The contact took her vehicle to the repair shop and was informed that the front suspension control arm needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired at the cost of $400. The contact called the dealer to check for any recalls and was informed that her VIN was excluded from the federal safety agency campaign id number 09v119000 (suspension:front:control arm). The failure mileage was 90,000.
2002 jeep liberty-driving 30mph in residential neighborhood front driver's side dropped to street and car immediately went right up on the curb and missing a tree by inches. The front upper ball joint had separated and the tire was on its side under the front end. The joint was bone dry. Husband bought parts and fixed the vehicle.
I had just backed out of a parking space in a busy parking lot, drove forward about 20 feet going no more than 7-10 MPH, then made a left - still within the parking lot. When turning, I heard a grinding noise, then suddenly, the front end of my 2002 jeep liberty renegade collapsed onto the front tire of the driver's side. The upper ball joint of the vehicle had completely separated, knocking the wheel off in the process. This incident occurred in the late afternoon on a sunday (when mechanics are not open). Aaa towed the jeep to a local garage nearby; however, on monday morning, I called chrysler to file a complaint about what had happened. My call was picked up by an overseas customer service rep. He told me that if I could have the car towed to a chrysler dealer, they would see what they could do about covering the repair, but to call back after they'd spoken with the dealer. Later that afternoon, I called back. Long story short, my call was escalated to a guy in detroit, who at first said that the call center rep had no business suggesting that my repair would be covered. When I told him I have photos of what happened to the car, he authorized the repair. The dealer had to replace the upper control arm and ball joint, and the brake line which was severed when the front end collapsed! I asked the dealer for the defective parts. He said chrysler would want them because they were covering it "under warranty." this is a major defect and safety issue - one of many in the 2002 jeep liberty. I shudder to think what would have happened if I had pulled out onto the busy highway! While I was happy that chrysler covered this cost, the car needed further adjustments when it was returned to me as the suspension felt loose and the vehicle was pulling to the left and shaking. The dealer said these were all unrelated (?!), and charged me for those repairs.
Was turning right onto a busy road when the front upper ball joint failed. Managed to get to the side of the road. Was told by a local dealer that chrysler would not do anything for this, regardless of the numerous complaints I've read about online. I replaced the upper control arm myself. $226.00 in parts.
Failure of upper ball joint let side on 2-27-09, two days after the lower ball joint on same side was replaced as per recall. The replacement of the lower ball joint was the fourth such replacement. I initiated the repair two days earlier after the vehicle began to make a grinding noise. The lower ball joint failed a couple of years ago while the vehicle was traveling in reverse at low speed while backing out of a parking space. The failure of the upper ball joint happened about five minutes after traveling at 70 MPH down an interstate. After exiting the freeway, I pulled the jeep into a parking lot of a convenience to check directions and then pulled out at low speed - less than 10 MPH. It failed.
Jeep liberty 2002- had the ball joints replaced as part of the recall, 2 years later replacement is now defective. Jeep replaced again.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 jeep liberty. While driving approximately 18 MPH, the contact heard loud noises and then lost control of the vehicle. She had to continue to apply her brakes in order to stop the vehicle. A certified mechanic diagnosed the vehicle as having ball joint failure. The contact found two recalls regarding the ball joints for her year, make, and model vehicle. The federal safety agency campaign id number was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 205,000.
Took 2002 jeep liberty for oil change. Informed vehicle needs 2 new upper ball joints. Bottoms were recalled by chrysler. Why not the uppers as well????
2003 jeep liberty top passenger side ball joint separation. While turning right into our driveway the top ball joint separated causing the wheel to lean to the outside of the vehicle.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 jeep liberty. The contact's vehicle was repaired in 2007 according to the federal safety agency campaign id number 06v288000 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint). One year later, while attempting to make left turns, he heard a loud popping noise coming from the rear driver's side tire. He has not had the vehicle inspected to determine the cause of the failure. The upper part of the radiator also produced a hairline crack, causing radiator fluid to leak from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who found the source of the leak at the radiator tube. The failure mileage was 60,000 and current mileage was 81,000. Updated 10/14/08. *lj the lower ball joint failed. Updated 10/15/08
My daughter was driving and turning into a parking lot, as she was turning left to park the car, she said something happened. She got out of the car to find the drivers side wheel had collapsed. The upper ball joint broke or separated causing the tire to collapse. This caused the jeep to be totally disabled and I'm sure will be a very expensive repair. What is even scarier is that this could have happened on the highway and something much worse could have occurred. How unsafe is this vehicle!!! Please look into this vehicle. The SUV has not been repaired yet. It is still being looked at. I noticed that this is not the only complaint about this problem. Please take care of this so that our families are not in danger!
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 jeep liberty. The contact received a safety recall notice and took his vehicle to the dealer, but they were closed. He called the dealer to schedule an appointment and was informed that they would be unable to service the vehicle for at least a week. There had been no failure to date. The federal safety agency campaign id number was unknown.
On 09/08/2008, the vehicle(2002 jeep liberty sport), was being driven at a slow rate of speed approximately 5mph exiting right out of a parking lot. It was at this time the drive of the vehicle heard a loud pop or cracking noise. The vehicle jerked forward and then came to a stop at which time the driver struggled to move the vehicle to the side of the road out of traffic. The driver then exited the vehicle and discovered the tire was folded under the vehicle. The driver noticed a broken part that was later determined to be the upper ball joint. Had this incident occurred at a higher rate of speed maintaining vehicle control would have been impossible causing injury to the driver or to other motorists. It should be noted this vehicle received a recall for a similar part in 11/2006, the lower ball joint. This recall and all other recalls had been completed according to jeep records. The owner is currently awaiting an estimate for repair.
My 2002 jeep liberty 2x4 always bounces when I drive it. It bounces and the steering wheel turns by itself when I hit a bump at slow speed. Regularly, I hear a popping sound when I turn the wheel to make a turn. I have had the vehicle serviced regularly and had the recall item completed (front ball joint) but still have the problems. I have placed all new tires on the vehicle but the problems still exist. I am afraid to drive the car on the freeway at high speed because I can feel that the car does not operate correctly. I cannot afford to buy another car at this time but feel that this car is not completely safe to drive. Please note: this is a recurring problem rather than an incidental problem.. Which started about a year and a half ago and has gotten progressively worse. Thank you for your concern and for letting me bring this to your attention.
Front left (driver's side) suspension collapsed while driving the vehicle.
It happened again yesterday! I have a jeep liberty 2002. My front passenger side wheel fell off while I was driving (with my kids) in a residential area:had it been on the highway, I know there would have been injuries. I have had two recalls. First recall 2004 and another at the end of 2007. January 2008 while I driving both front tires popped off (very scary), then second recall was done. Since this was supposedly taken care of, I thought that all was ok and then it happens again last night! Why can somebody make jeep find an answer before there is a fatality, or is this what hey are waiting for? The right number of deaths.
It happened again yesterday! I have a jeep liberty 2002. My front passenger side wheel fell off while I was driving (with my kids) in a residential area:had it been on the highway, I know there would have been injuries. I have had two recalls. First recall 2004 and another at the end of 2007. January 2008 while I driving both front tires popped off (very scary), then second recall was done. Since this was supposedly taken care of, I thought that all was ok and then it happens again last night! Why can somebody make jeep find an answer before there is a fatality, or is this what hey are waiting for? The right number of deaths.
My 2002 jeep liberty with 90,000 miles, the front right upper ball-joint failure occurred when I was attempting to make a left turn across the flow of oncoming traffic. As I turned south on mound rd from hall rd in sterling heights michigan I, heard a loud noise from the front right and then the wheel separated and I lost control of the vehicle. My jeep was towed that night to utica van dyke service for repairs 586‑739‑2680.
I was driving my jeep liberty 2002 sport 4-wheel drive truck. I went over a set of railroad tracks and I heard a terrible squeak! I pulled over into a bank parking lot to find my tire under my car. The upper ball joint broke causing me to have my truck towed and fixed.
Lost control and rolled over.... Recall #f23 by daimler chrysler lower ball joints jeep liberty.
I bought my 2002 jeep liberty used in 2005. My excitement over the new used vehicle was shortly lived. Before I could even make a payment my vehicle had a major problem. My mother was driving it on a paper route in the country early in the morning when she went to pull away from the mailbox she said the car would no longer move. She proceeded to get out and saw the lower control arm and the tire hanging there. She had to walk and knock a strangers door at 6 in the morning to call a tow truck. It was towed to a local mechanic that then investigated recalls on the liberty and found that it was a recall. It was then towed to jeep and I was informed about being reimbursed for the towing by diamond chrysler which I never was. It was fixed and my window washer fluid reservoir was busted and so was my wheel well which was also replaced. Then I still had the same noise that I had before this so I called jeep but they told me if they looked at it and it wasn't the ball joint/control arm then they would charge me and I didn't have the money so I didn't take it in. Then in 2006 I got the recall notice from jeep and had it replaced again. I am still continuously having the same problem. I here the same loud popping noise when I turn hard and you can tell it still isn't right. I saw this investigation and I feel that I should inform you so we can get these vehicles either fixed or off the road. There are several complaints on blogs about the liberty's and I feel my money has been wasted with this malfunction of a vehicle. I am truly scared for my safety and others. There were the original sets, then the first recall, and then a second recall with no solution to the problem. Please please help!
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 jeep liberty. The contact's vehicle was repaired according to the federal safety agency campaign id number 06v288000 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint) in 2007. One year later, while attempting to make left turns, he heard a loud popping noise coming from the rear driver side tire. He has not had the vehicle inspected to determine the cause of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000 and current mileage was 80,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 jeep liberty. The vehicle exhibits poor steering and the steering wheel will not return to its normal position. The driver struck a parked vehicle because the wheel would not turn in order for her to pull into a parking space properly. The vehicle was serviced for two the federal safety agency campaign id numbers (03v460000, 06v288000) regarding both front lower ball joints. The vehicle was diagnosed with front lower ball joint failure again at 18,000 miles. A police report was filed. The current mileage was 107,000 and failure mileage was 105,000. The consumer stated that chrysler would repair the vehicle at no cost to the owner due to the fact that 2 recalls were already performed. The consumer further stated had to pay out of pocked for the repairs. Updated 06/02/08
I have a 2002 jeep liberty. The ball joint separated and caused me to crash into a cement wall on I-77 in west virginia. I picked up the car after it was repaired in wv and brought it home. I had to have more work done after I got back because it still was not right. The ball joints have been replaced at least 4 times. I was told by one of the mechanics that they were still using the joints that were causing the problem because they had not figured out how to re-design them. The last time I had it repaired they (hopefully) put ones on that are a new design. I have had to have it towed because it was unsafe to drive because the joint was so bad -- I check it regularly! My insurance company is progressive. Chrysler settled with them and paid for all the repairs after the crash.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2002 Jeep Liberty?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history