2000 Jeep Wrangler: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Aug 13, 2020 · Body, Suspension · 200,000 miles · MD

Frame rotted from the inside out around the lower control arms. The chassis is otherwise rust free, but it spontaneously rotted from the inside out. The lower control arm disconnected while driving down the highway, leaving the rear axle free floating, unstable, and very likely to cause a crash. The frame has holes in it that let water in. There is no drainage hole where the frame goes from flat on the bottom and curves up around the wheel wells. Water gets into the frame, sits there, and rots it from the inside out. There is no way to see this rot from the outside and there is no way to fix it without cutting open the frame and welding in repairs. If you google image search "jeep tj frame rot" you can see other cases of the frame failing in the exact same location. Here's a blog post with several instances of it https://sarahstonesadie.blogspot.com/2019/05/jeep-tj-frame-recall.html if you google "tj frame cap" you'll see there's an entire sub market of products specifically made to address this failure. Toyota had a frame recall, why can't jeep? It's clearly failing in the exact same place and can cause severe safety issues. Attached is a picture "pre_rot" that showed it about 6 months(?) before it completely rotted through. The other picture is after it failed while driving down the highway. It was a small rust bubble that started from the inside out that fairly rapidly resulted in complete structural failure.

Filed Jun 14, 2018 · Body, Suspension · 38,000 miles · MA

Jeep has less than 40,000 miles and is well maintained never off road. . Was driving over a bridge when the rear end felt like it was separating from the body of the jeep. Jeep became impossible to control and I was almost hit trying to get the vehicle off the road. Jeep was towed to mechanic who said the frame is no good rear control arms separated from the frame the frame had rusted out from the inside. There is no solid steel left to weld onto.

Filed May 11, 2018 · Suspension · 130,000 miles · PA

Frame rusted from inside out causing both upper and lower control arms and passenger rear to separate. Luckily it did not happen while driving , was noticed when safety inspection was done.

Filed Jul 18, 2017 · Body · 130,000 miles · MI

I was driving the vehicle and noticed that when I shifted the back end of the vehicle moved. I had the vehicle towed to a repair shop and was told that the lower rear passenger control arm had completely rusted off and broke and the drivers side was about to break at any time. I was advised to stop driving the vehicle for safety reasons

Filed Oct 12, 2015 · 115,000 miles · WI

The frame of my jeep wrangler tj model has rotted completely through. The vehicle is only 15 years old. I was driving on my way to work on city streets when my skid plate that holds my transfer case completely pulled out of the passenger side leaving a lot of stress on my transfer case. After I got it home, I would not drive it for fear of personal injury or further damage to the jeep. Luckily for me I didn't. After sitting for I noticed I had a severe lean towards the drivers side rear of the vehicle. The area where the contol arms are attatched to the frame also pulled off. That part of the frame only had 1/2 inch of material left on the top edge. If I would have been driving at this time, I could have been severely injured or killed. When I bought a new frame and had it replaced I inspected my old one. There were holes and very thin areas from the front control arms to the rear bumper. It looked like water and debris could get in the side of the frame but had nowhere to go once it was inside. This caused the frame to rot from the inside out leaving me with no warning of any damage until it started to fall apart.

Filed Apr 7, 2015 · Body, Suspension · 125,000 miles · NJ

Purchased this vehicle in 21013 from a private seller. Upon changing the engine oil one day shortly thereafter, noticed the passenger side frame area, where the rear, lower control arm is mounted, was completely rusted through! I have since had this repaired, at an additional cost of $800.00. Also, noticed the passenger side frame all along where the transmission skid plate is mounted - is completely rusted through along approximately 8" along the bottom! I can run 4 fingers in the bottom of this frame! And, the front skid plate nutserts on both sides of the skid plate, are gone! Rusted away - completely! Previous owner had the skid plate actually welded to the frame! This should never, ever happen! I have a 2003 toyota 4runner with zero frame rust - zero! Looks brand new to this day! Come take a look. Many, many, many and way too numerous to mention people have this same frame rust problem on their jeeps. Why is this? This is not safe, yet these vehicles are re-sold over and over again. This is 2015. No other vehicle - american or import - has this problem. Why is this allowed to happen? Must people get killed during their enjoyment of their supposedly "safe", in this case, american made vehicle before dealers and the federal safety agency will apply a repair bulletin? Toyota, is still buying back trucks with frame rust - why isn't the american company chrysler? Hmmmm.

Filed Jul 19, 2014 · Suspension · 44,500 miles · MD

I have a 2000 jeep wrangler with only 44,500 miles. Although it has been driven in the snow occasionally, it is not a daily driver and is kept in a garage. The frame has rusted through on both sides at the attachment point of the rear axle lower control arms. This seems to be a common problem in all jeep tj type wranglers and is attributed to the lack of drain holes in the frame. Perhaps a recall should be considered as this could cause a loss of control.

Filed Sep 3, 2012 · Body, Suspension · 69,500 miles · KY

I was driving along a rural road when I hit a bump and the transmission crossmember tore away from the bottom of the frame making it impossible to shift in to 2nd, 4th, or reverse. It is due to the bottom of the frame rotting away. Upon closer inspection I have noticed that the frame is rotted beyond repair and the lower control arm brackets are in danger of being ripped from the frame if vehicle is driven. The frame has prematurely rotted and is a danger to anyone who drives or encounters this vehicle on the road in passing. I have investigated the possibility of replacing the frame but have found it hard to find a suitable replacement due to this problem being very widespread. It is in fact so widespread that a company called auto rust repair makes prefab frame patches. These incidents of rot are very similar to the ones that caused toyota to recall many pickups over the last five years or so.

Filed Feb 25, 2003 · Suspension · 42,275 miles · ME

Bearing in the front end "slipped". This completely destroyed the front differential, damaged the axles, tie rods, and shocks. Basicly destroyed the front end.