2009 Jeep Compass Suspension Problems

Your rear passenger-side tire is sitting at an unusual angle, which suggests a suspension problem. A mechanic found that your rear suspension has severe corrosion and told you the vehicle isn't safe to drive. The issue appeared around 151,000 miles and will likely require replacement of the corroded suspension components, possibly including rear struts and related hardware.

Your front subframe has rusted through and partially failed while driving, causing your front wheels to angle outward severely. You had to have the vehicle towed because the structural damage compromised suspension geometry. The fix will likely require replacing the entire front subframe assembly.

While driving, your left front lower control arm detached from the steering knuckle that connects it to the wheel, severely limiting your ability to steer. The detached control arm then became wedged between the wheel and brake assembly, forcing the tire forward into the fender and making the vehicle immobile. The fix will likely involve replacing the lower control arm and inspecting the steering knuckle and brake assembly for damage.

Your front and rear subframes are severely rusted, which creates a safety hazard while driving. Additionally, the relay fuse box located under the hood on the driver's side is rusting, which can damage the wiring connections. Addressing this will likely require replacing the rusted subframe components and possibly the relay box assembly, along with any corroded wiring.

Your Jeep Compass's subframe is experiencing rust and deterioration, which has progressed to the point where your vehicle can no longer pass inspection without replacement. You've been informed this is a safety issue, and Jeep has not issued a recall despite the problem affecting vehicles just over 10 years old. Replacing the subframe is a major structural repair that requires removing and reinstalling the frame that supports your suspension and drivetrain.

Your front suspension subframe has rusted severely, causing the left lower control arm to pull away from its mounting point. You may also notice a roughly 1-inch gap or tear running across the back seam of the subframe from rust damage. This is a structural safety issue that will require replacing or repairing the rusted subframe and reattaching the suspension components.

Your front subframe has significant rust damage that a service technician flagged as a safety concern. The subframe is a critical structural component that supports your suspension and engine, so rust that weakens it could affect your vehicle's stability and safety. This is unusual for a 2009 model and should be inspected by a qualified mechanic. Repair will likely involve replacing the damaged subframe or having it reinforced and treated to stop further rust.

Your Jeep's sub-frame has rapidly developed significant rust in just a year and a half of ownership, even though it wasn't rusted when you bought it. This is a structural component that supports your suspension and vehicle frame, so rust deterioration could eventually affect vehicle safety and handling. Addressing this will likely require professional inspection of the sub-frame, rust treatment, and potentially protective coatings or replacement parts depending on the extent of damage.

IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE, I JUST FOUND OUT THAT BOTH ARE NEED OF REPLACEMENT AGAIN AND IT THE COST IS OUT OF THIS WORLD. JEEP NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF THIS. I UNDERSTAND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE.

WHEN COMING TO A QUICK STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A VERY ROUGH ROAD SURFACE, A LOUD CLUNK IN THE FRONT END WAS HEARD. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED RIGHT TO GO STRAIGHT, ALONG WITH A LOUD TIRE SQUEAL. WE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT TO FIND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS CONTACTING THE REAR OF THE WHEEL WELL. INSPECTION UNDERNEATH REVEALED A ROTTED OUT SUBFRAME/CROSSMEMBER WHICH IS SPLIT ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE BACK. IT ALSO HAS SOME LEAKING FLUID COMING DOWN FROM ABOVE THE CROSSMEMBER WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THIS IS SATURDAY AND THE INCIDENT WAS FOLLOWED BY A $135 FLATBED TRIP TO A DEALERSHIP FOR WHAT SHOULD BE AN INTERESTING MONDAY MORNING CONVERSATION ABOUT THE HORRIFIC POSSIBILITIES IF THIS SUSPENSION HAD COLLAPSED AT SPEED.

FRONT SUBFRAME IS ROTTED OUT DUE TO CONDENSER DRAIN DRIPPING ON IT. FOUND OUT 9/3/ 17 DURING OIL CHANGE. WAS SERVICE BULLETIN 23-012-14 FOR THIS BUT ON VEHICLES AFTER 8/25/2005 AND BEFORE 7/23/2007. SEE ? BELOW WHEN HAPPENED. I JUST FOUND OUT

THE REAR SUB FRAME RUSTED OUT AND HAVE WAY WHILE MY NIECE WAS DRIVING IT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. AND TO NEW OF A CAR FOR THIS. THE REAR SUB FRAME GAVE OUT WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING.

PREMATURE FAILURE (46700 MILES) OF BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARMS FOUND DURING ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION. REPLACED BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS.

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK DEC 23 MORNING AND REAR SUB FRAME BROKE AWAY FROM CONTROL ARM SENDING ME IN THE DITCH..LUCKY IT WAS 25 MPH. HAD LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER LOOK AT IT AND BECAUSE IT WAS.MADE IT CANADA THEY WON'T FIX IT UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRNTY.. I JUST GOT THIS IN JUNE, AND STILL OWE 6500 ON IT.. CHRYSLER NEEDED TO STEP UP.. WHAT DOES IT MATTER WERE THE JEEP WAS MADE.YOUR PARTS WERE THE PROBLEM SO FIX IT..I COULD HAVE DIED BECAUSE OF FRAME ROT.. NEVER HAD A ISSUE IN MY 95 BLAZER!!

SUBFRAME ROT. AT 70,000 MILE STEERING CONTROL WAS LOST DUE TO A CRACK IN THE FRONT SUBFRAME CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE RUST/ROT. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO INJURIES SINCE THIS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED. THE FRONT SUBFRAME HAD A COMPLETE FAILURE WITH A 12 INCH LATERAL CRACK THROUGH THE CROSS MEMBER. THIS CAUSED TOTAL FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING FAILURE. THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN OR MOVED UNDER ITS OWN POWER. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED FOR JEEP COMPASS, JEEP PATRIOT AND DODGE CALIBER. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOME ONE GETS HURT OR KILLED!

2008 JEEP LIMITED 4 X 4. WHEN CLEANING THE GARAGE, I NOTICED THE HEAD FROM A VERY LARGE BOLT ON THE FLOOR. UPON CRAWLING UNDER THE CAR, I NOTICED THAT A BOLT HAD ROTTED OFF WHERE THE REAR FRAME RIGHT SIDE BY THE SHOCK TOWER ATTACHES TO THE BODY. I HAVE HAD NOISES COMING FROM THE AREA AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SHOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WITH THIS BOLT MISSING THERE IS SOME CHANCE THERE IS EXCESS BOUNCE BETWEEN THE UPPER SHOCK TOWER AND THE FRAME. MY LOCAL BODY SHOP TOLD ME THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS WOULD BE TO DROP THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE AND GET THE BROKEN BOLT OUT TO REPLACE. VERY EXPENSIVE. THERE IS NO WAY A BOLT LIKE THIS SHOULD ROT OFF, UNLESS THE BOLTS WERE BAD TO START WITH. IF THIS HAPPENS TO A FEW MORE I COULD HIT A BUMP AND HAVE THE BODY FALL OFF THE FRAME WHILE DRIVING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME THAT HOLDS THE MOTOR WAS CORRODED AND WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A NOISE IN THE FRONT AT LOW SPEED, WHEN BACKING AT LOW SPEED AND SLIGHT FRONT VIBRATION AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AT MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND DRIVEN AT NORMALLY EXPECTED CONDITIONS, NEVER INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT OR MISHAP CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH FAILED PARTS SUCH AS BEING DRIVEN INTO A DITCH, ETC. TIRES WERE REPLACED AT AROUND 45,000 MILES. INSPECTION AT DEALER SHOWED BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED INSPECTION AND THE TIRES WERE "ABNORMALLY WORN" AT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES OF USAGE. MECHANIC AND SERVICE MANAGER EXPLAINED THAT VEHICLE WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE SINCE THERE WAS A RISK OF THE FRONT WHEELS SHEARING OR BREAKING OFF DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE BALL JOINTS.I HAD THE REPAIR COMPLETED IMMEDIATELY AT A COST OF $833.01. WHEN RESEARCHING AUTO PARTS ONLINE I HAVE FOUND THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE AS OEM AT AROUND THE COST THE DEALER CHARGED ME OR A "PROBLEM FIXER" PART WAS AVAILABLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL COST. THIS PROBLEM FIXER PART WAS A GREASABLE BALL JOINT AND THE OEM AS WELL AS THE FACTORY ORIGINAL PARTS ARE NOT GREASABLE. IT SEEMS THAT THE PART MANUFACTURERS IF NOT THE AUTOMAKER IS WELL AWARE THAT A NON-GREASABLE BALL JOINT IS A BUILT IN DEFECT AS WELL AS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE A HANDLING OR DRIVING ISSUE, ONLY AN ANNOYING AND OCCASIONAL NOISE AND SLIGHT VIBRATION AND AT LESS THAN 55,000 GENTLY DRIVEN AND CAREFUL MILES IT WAS NEVER THOUGHT THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN ANY POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD WITH THIS VEHICLE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT SUCH A VITAL PART SHOULD FAIL SO RELATIVELY EARLY WITHOUT ABUSE OR INCIDENT TO CAUSE IT TO FAIL. *TR

I WENT IN TO A MECHANIC TO SEE WHAT THIS NOISE WAS IN MY FRONT END, HE TOLD ME MY BALL JOINTS WERE BAD AND ONE WAS REACHING CRITICAL TO FAIL. I CALL MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS PART WAS WELL KNOWN TO FAIL BETWEEN 40K AND 80K MILES. I WAS WONDERING IF CHRYSLER KNOWS THIS PART IS FAILING ON VEHICLES WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL OR EVEN AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS PART. I HAVE OWNED VEHICLES WITH WELL OVER 200K MILES ON THEM AND HAVEN'T HAD BALL JOINT PROBLEMS. *TT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES SQUEAKED DURING THE WINTER AND WARM WEATHER TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE FRONT AND REAR CALIPERS WERE LUBRICATED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,858.