2008 Jeep Compass

I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND NOTICED A MUFFLED HUMMING NOISE, LOCATED IT UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS COMING FROM THE T.I.P.M. THEN MY VEHICLE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIT UP, INTERIOR OVERHEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT, DOOR LOCKS AND SECURITY SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING, HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, A/C STOPPED COOLING, WIPERS, TURN SIGNALS STOPPED. THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING, AND THE WINDOWS AND SUNROOF WORKED. I TRIED TO LEAVE QUICKLY TO GO HOME, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T COME OUT OF PARK BECAUSE APPARENTLY THAT IS ELECTRONIC CONTROLLED ALSO. I LOOKED UP ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THE FUSE BOX/ TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULATOR IS WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM. IT IS THE BRAIN OF THE CAR. I READ THAT THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF THIS VEHICLE MAKERS MODELS WITH THIS PROBLEM. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS PARKED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS THAT WERE DRIVING WHEN THERE CONTROLS AND LIGHTS AND SIGNALS GO OUT. THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY MALFUNCTIONS THAT THE PART WAS/IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. THIS COULD GET NOT ONLY THE OWNERS AND FAMILIES HURT, BUT OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD AS WELL. IF YOUR CAR DEVELOPS BRAIN DAMAGE WHILE IN OPERATION. APPARENTLY THE COMPANY IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT THIS. IT CONTROLS ALL AREAS OF FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE AND YOU CANT PROPERLY OR SAFELY OPERATE A VEHICLE WITHOUT IT.

2008 JEEP COMPASS ENGINE CRADLE FAILED NYS INSPECTION DUE TO PREMATURE RUSTING. 2007 MODEL YEAR WAS EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS ON ENGINE CRADLE BECAUSE OF PREMATURE RUSTING. MY JEEP WAS MANUFACTURED IN MARCH OF 2008. I AM SURE THE ENGINE CRADLE PART WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2007 AND PLACED INTO THE 2008 BECAUSE NO REPLACEMENT OR UPDATE WAS MADE TO THE PART BETWEEN 2007 AND 2008. JEEP REFUSED TO COVER THE 2008 WHICH I HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIR. THIS PART IF NOT REPAIRED AND DURING AN ACCIDENT WILL CAUSE SERIOUS STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN PHOTOS AND THE FAILED NYS INSPECTION NOTICE. I HAVE ALSO MADE A COPY OF THIS REPORT FOR MY RECORDS.

I HAD MY JEEP IN FOR IT'S YEARLY INSPECTION. DURING THE INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED MY CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD JUST HAD THEM REPLACED DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S INSPECTION. HE ALSO FOUND THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SUBFRAME IS RUSTING THROUGH. I CONTACTED THE DEALER (I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR JUST OVER TWO YEARS) AND WAS ONLY TOLD THERE IS NOT OPEN RECALL.

STOPPED FOR AN OIL CHANGE,WAS TOLD THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS VERY RUSTED,MECHANIC SUGGESTED I CALL CHRYSLER,HE SAID THIS SHOULDN"T BE THAT RUSTED. SAID THAT THE 2007 MODELS WERE BEING FIXED BY CHRYSLER UNDER THE WARRANTY. WHEN I CALLED CHRYSLER THE CHECKED THE VIN # AND SAID IT WASN'T ON THE LIST. THEY DIDN'T REALLY HAVE AN ANSWER FOR ME. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT I CAN'T AFFORD. SUS

I TOOK MY 2008 JEEP COMPASS IN FOR SERVICE AND THE TECHNICIANS FOUND THROUGH RUST IN THE ENGINE CRADLE, CONTROL ARMS, AND TIE RODS. I HAD TO HAVE THESE COMPONENTS REPLACED AT A COST OF $2900. THIS CAR IS LIGHTLY USED, STORED IN A GARAGE AND ONLY HAS 115532 MILES. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER / DESIGN DEFECT TO HAVE MAJOR STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS THROUGH ON A CAR THAT IS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE EFFECTED PARTS THAT I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SUBMIT AS EVIDENCE.

I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR STATE INSPECTION AND A "CREAKING" TYPE NOISE. IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE THE K FRAME RUSTED THROUGH THEREFORE FAILING STATE INSPECTION. I WAS ADVISED THAT THIS IS THE SAME BODY TYPE (PLATFORM) USED IN THE 2007 DODGE CALIBER AND THE SAME PART NUMBER. THE 2007 DODGE CALIBER WAS RECALLED DUE TO THIS PART FAILURE WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE AND OTHER COMPONENTS TO FALL OUT OF THE CAR. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE AS THEY RECALLED THE 2007 CALIBER BUT UNLESS FORCED IS NOT TAKING CARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN OTHER VEHICLES MADE USING THE SAME PLATFORM AND PARTS. WHEN THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY ONLY 2 YEARS LESS THAN 25000 MILES I HAD TO HAVE A TIE ROD REPLACED. I WAS ALSO ADVISED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT "THESE VEHICLES ARE KNOWN FOR THIS ISSUE".