- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a probe into 387,356 2002-'03 Jeep Liberty vehicles because the driver and front passenger airbags may deploy while the vehicle is in operation.
- NHTSA said it has received seven consumer complaints about the problem, including three from owners who allege that both the driver and passenger front airbags suddenly deployed without a crash.
- Chrysler told Inside Line it is "cooperating fully" with the preliminary investigation.
WASHINGTON — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a probe into 387,356 2002-'03 Jeep Liberty vehicles because the driver and front passenger airbags may deploy without a crash while the vehicle is in operation.
NHTSA said it has received seven consumer complaints about the problem, including three from owners who allege that both the driver and passenger front airbags suddenly deployed without a crash.
"Five of the seven complaints alleged an injury incident totaling five injuries," said NHTSA in its summary of the defect investigation. "Six of the seven owners stated that their vehicle was being operated on a residential roadway, with three alleging that they were traveling on a highway at speeds of 45 mph or greater when the airbag(s) deployed," it said.
In addition, NHTSA said it has received 32 early-warning field reports from Chrysler involving 10 injury incidents.
"The field reports indicated that inspections of the vehicles did not reveal any evidence of exterior vehicle impacts or damage that could have reasonably caused the airbags to deploy," it said.
Chrysler told Inside Line it is "cooperating fully" with the preliminary investigation.
Such a probe is sometimes the precursor to a recall.
Inside Line says: If you own a 2002-'03 Jeep Liberty, be aware that a preliminary investigation by NHTSA is in the works.
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tdiluv says:
10:04 PM, 09/28/2011
Thought they (NHTSA) were probing the Mustang Getrag manual transmissions (made in China) for causing serious break-ups in the driveline putting drivers at serious risk. Must have been hushed up as silence has overtaken this issue.
ttbuyer says:
12:57 PM, 09/28/2011
My wife has a 2003 Liberty and it has been an excellent (if very thirsty) vehicle.
We have had no major problems at all. We replaced a couple of batteries and the rear wiper stopped working but otherwise this has been a bulletproof vehicle.
Based on our experience my brother bought a Liberty and after more than 150,000 trouble-free miles he gave it to his son.
rayray633 says:
12:03 PM, 09/28/2011
Glad I got rid of this sh**box. Two A/C compressors, one radiator, six (yes six) rear window regulators (4 driver side, 2 passenger), 2 blown speakers, and all HVAC knobs cracked. Only 110k on the dial. But, at least we did not get unintentionally slapped in the face by an airbag.
We bought a Ford Flex (thanks to IL) and love it. My wife was pressing hard for a minivan because all her mommy friends have one, but I was able to persuade her to the Flex (she loves it, too).