2008 Jeep Compass 4X4

RECEIVED THE FEBRUARY 15, 2017 LETTER ABOUT THE WARRANTY EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS/ UNLIMITED MILES ON THE FRONT AND REAR CROSSMEMBERS. AT THE TIME OF THE LETTER THE CONDITION MENTIONED HAD NOT BEEN EXPERIENCED. THE CONDITION DID PRESENT ITSELF AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION. BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR WERE RECOMMENDED BE REPLACED HOWEVER WAS INFORMED THE WARRANTY PERIOD IS FROM THE BUILD DATE WHICH WAS IN OCTOBER 2007 THEREFOR MISSING THE WARRANTY PERIOD BY A MONTH. IF THE LETTER STATED THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE AN INSPECTION COULD HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED BEFORE IT EXPIRED.

THE REAR CROSSMEMBER/KFRAME IS COMPLETLY ROTTED THRU. ALMOST ALL OF THE SUSPENSION PARTS ARE VERY RUSTY AND NEEDS REPLACED. I DID NOT FIND OUT IT WAS THIS BAD UNTIL I HEARD A THUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VECHICLE. DID RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON AND MAJOR PROBLEM.I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN THE THUMPING BEGAN. THIS IS ONE OF MY FAMILY CARS AND I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE. I AM PARKING IT UNTIL I CAN GET IT FIXED. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY BLEW ME OFF. THEY SAID THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ONLY COVERS 2007 MODELS BUT THIS IS A PROBLEM UP TO 2009.

I WAS PUTTING A SET OF REAR BRAKE PADS ON THE VECHICLE WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE REAR CROSSMEMBER IS ROTTED OUT. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE VECHICLE. CHRYSLER HAS TO PROMISED TO FIX THE 2007 MODELS, WHEN THE 2007, 2008, AND 2009 ALL SUFFER FROM THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE TO PAY$1500.00 OUT OF MY POCKET FOR AN 8 YEAR OLD VECHICLE THAT SHOULD NOT BE THIS RUSTED OUT.

THE CROSSMEMBER (SUBFRAME) IS ROTTING AWAY AND WHEN THIS PART FAILS A SERIOUS CRASH MAY RESULT. JEEP ISSUED A BULLETIN (23-012-14) FOR 2007 COMPASS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AUTHORIZING AN EXTENSION TO WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS AND IF FOUND TO REPAIR WITHOUT COST TO OWNER. JUST CALL JEEP ABOUT MY 2008 COMPASS AND THEY TOLD ME SINCE ORIGINAL FACTORY WARRANTY HAS EXPERIED I WOULD BE 100% RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COST. FIRST OFF, THE CROSSMEMBER SHOULD NOT ROT AWAY AFTER ONLKY 8 YRS, SECOND SINCE THEY ACKNOWLEDGE 2007 HAD A PROBLEM , MY 2008 SHOULD BE INCLUDED. MOST IMPORTANTLY, SINCE THE FAILURE OF THIS PART COULD RESULT IN LACK OF CONTROL AND MAY CAUSE A CRASH RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR ALL JEEPS TO INSPECT AND REPLACE ANY PARTS SHOWING SEVERE RUST AND ROTTING.

I PURCHASED MY CAR NEW IN 2007 WITH 98 MILES ON IT. IN 2011, WITH NEARLY 40,000 MILES, BOTH MY FRONT CONTROL ARMS NEEDED REPLACED. I HAVE SINCE NEEDED THEM (ALONG WITH THE TIRES) REPLACED AT LEAST 5 TIMES. GRANTED, I NOW HAVE OVER 140K MILES ON MY CAR, BUT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAPPEN ON A REGULAR BASIS. I'VE HAD AT LEAST 3 MECHANICS TELL ME THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS REPAIRS MADE ON OTHER COMPASS VEHICLES AND TO "HOLD ON TO MY RECEIPTS" IF THERE IS A RECALL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP COMPASS 4X4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED TO THE RIGHT. SPARKS AND FLAMES APPEARED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FLAMES EXTINGUISHED THEMSELVES AND THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AT HER RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY, FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, AND BEARING SEIZED. THE FRONT AXLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND REMAINED INOPERABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 171,000.