The defect
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE CONSTANT TENSION FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS MAY EXPERIENCE CONTAMINATION. IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD WITH THIS CONDITION, THE BALL JOINT MAY EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE WEAR AND LOOSENESS.
The risk
WHEN THE DRIVER CONTINUES TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE WITH THIS CONDITION, THE CONTAMINATION CAN LEAD TO CORROSION, ACCELERATED WEAR AND POSSIBLY SEPARATION FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Jeep Liberty | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 |
Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeep Liberty | 2002 | 1,808 | 8 |
| Jeep Liberty | 2003 | 1,352 | 7 |
| Jeep Liberty | 2004 | 1,101 | 7 |
| Jeep Liberty | 2005 | 1,118 | 5 |
| Jeep Liberty | 2006 | 1,372 | 9 |
Other suspension recalls in 2006
36 of the 490 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2006 concerned the suspension; DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION filed 203 campaigns in all.
| 06V490000 21 Dec 2006 | PACCAR INCORPORATED |
| 06V475000 18 Dec 2006 | CROSSROADS RV |
| 06V480000 15 Dec 2006 | MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES, INC |
| 06V473000 13 Dec 2006 | FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC. |
| 06V458000 29 Nov 2006 | MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES, INC |
| 06V460000 29 Nov 2006 | STARCRAFT RV, INC. |
| 06V424000 2 Nov 2006 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
| 06V405000 25 Oct 2006 | WESTERN WORLD, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2006