2007 Jeep Compass 4X4

THE EVENT INVOLVED DRIVING AT MODERATE SPEEDS IN A SMALL CITY ENVIRONMENT 25-30 MPH. I HAD JUST TURNED FROM A BUSY STREET INVOLVED WITH CONSTRUCTION TO ANOTHER BUSY STREET AND NEEDED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY, SO I FIRMLY PRESSED DOWN THE GAS PEDAL, BUT INSTEAD OF GOING FASTER, I HEARD A LOUD SNAP AND THE MAIN (DARK GRAY PLASTIC!) PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOOR OF THE CAR, LEAVING ME VULNERABLE TO TRAFFIC--WHICH POLITELY BACKED OFF WHEN I UNEXPECTEDLY SLOWED DOWN IN FRONT OF THEM. AFTER TURNING ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A SAFE PLACE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, AND CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE. I WAS ABLE, AFTER SOME EXPERIMENTATION, TO FIND A ONE INCH STUB OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL OVER THE POTENTIOMETER, WHICH I WAS ABLE TO USE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE PEDAL, ON INSPECTION, HAS A FACTORY BUILT-IN CIRCULAR AND TWO TRIANGULAR HOLES THAT PENETRATE THE SHAFT--THE BREAK OCCURRED HERE--AND TWO GROOVES BESIDE THESE HOLES. I HAD TO PURCHASE A REPLACEMENT ACCELERATOR ASSEMBLY--SAME FLAWED DESIGN--WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THIS ITEM AND IT WAS INSTALLED 6/5/09 AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. AT MY REQUEST, I OBTAINED THE ENTIRE DAMAGED PART. I HAVE BOTH PIECES, AND CAN PHOTOGRAPH THEM IF REQUESTED, OR CAN MAIL THEM TO SOMEONE FOR INSPECTION. MY ISSUE IS THAT THIS ITEM'S FAILURE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A COLLISION IF THE OTHER DRIVERS HADN'T POLITELY SLOWED TO ALLOW MY EMERGENCY PULL-OVER TO TAKE PLACE. IT ALSO IS A STRUCTURAL WEAKNESS THAT COULD RENDER THE VEHICLE NON-DRIVABLE AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE. THE ENTIRE PEDAL BROKE OFF COMPLETELY WITHOUT ANY INTERMEDIATE PARTIAL BREAKAGE TO WARN ME THIS WAS COMING. I BELIEVE THIS PEDAL ASSEMBLY SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH A REDESIGNED PEDAL WITHOUT THE STRUCTURAL WEAKNESS I DESCRIBED ABOVE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE MANUFACTURER. I HOPE THEY USE SOMETHING A BIT BETTER THAN PLASTIC. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 JEEP COMPASS 4X4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED PLASTIC BURNING AND THEN SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. BEFORE SHE COULD STOP THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT WAS DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS BELIEVED TO BE ELECTRICAL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 28,000.

MY NEW JEEP COMPASS HAS A $120 OPTIONAL FULL SIZE SPARE. THE CAR HAS 18" TIRES ON THE GROUND. THE SPARE IS A 17" TIRE. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I HAD A FLAT WHEN I CAME OUT OF WORK AT 10:30PM IN SNOW\ICE STORM AND HAD AAA COME AND CHANGE IT. DUE TO POOR ROAD CONDITIONS I HAD TO HAVE THE 4WD ENGAGED ALL THE WAY HOME[33MILES]. THE ESP SYSTEM CONTINUALLY APPLIES THE BRAKE ON THE SMALLER TIRE SINCE THE SYSTEM SENSES IT IS SPINNING FASTER. I THINK THIS IS HAZARDOUS TO VEHICLE CONTROL ON SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS. I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH AN 18" SPARE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 JEEP COMPASS 4X4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE IDLING AND WITH THE CLUTCH IN GEAR. ON AUGUST 19, 2007, WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. SHE ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE AND THE CLUTCH WAS DOWN, THE VEHICLE FORCED ITSELF TO DRIVE BACKWARDS. AFTERWARDS, THE CLUTCH STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. THE DEALER TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SLAVE CYLINDER SNAPPED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 400.