The Chrysler corporation has issued a recall for more than 209,000 Jeep Liberties, manufactured between July 2003 and July 2005, due to a risk of suspension-system corrosion. The corrosion, affecting model years 2004 through 2005 is the result of contact with salt, so only those vehicles owned by people in states where the roads are salted in the winter months are affected: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C.
These Jeep Liberties may begin to corrode in the rear suspension area, causing damage and possibly breakage to the lower control arms. In the most severe cases, this can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle, according to a recent report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Chrysler will begin informing consumers of the recall in April. The owners of affected vehicles will then be instructed to return the Liberties to an authorized Jeep dealership, which will install new rear lower control arms at no cost.
As a Los Angeles car accident lawyer, I am well aware of the problems a malfunctioning auto part can cause. If you or someone you care about has been injured in an automobile accident caused by a defective car part, I urge you to consider contacting an experienced car accident attorney.