FRACTURE OF THE TIP OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE REAR AXLE OF A CHRYSLER
CHEROKEE, 1996, CAUSES SERIOUS ACCIDENT
Report written by Santiago Duran
Metallurgical Engineer
Full-tenured Professor of Metallurgical Engineering National Polytechnical
University of Venezuela

	On the eighth of June, 1996, at approximately 10:00 a.m. the blue Cherokee
Sport, license  tag number KAD-28, a 1996 model. Body car serial number
8Y2FJ33VCTV091220 overturned on the side described the accident in these
terms: "As we drove along towards the city of Valencia, approaching the
town of Nirgua, at the site known as Las Palmas, at one of the road curves,
one of the wheels of the left rear side of the vehicle suddenly came off,
which caused the car to continue moving unbalanced which in turn caused it
to slide off and fall into a drainage ditch, overturning immediately..."
	In this accident both of the drivers parents were killed, while driver
himself and his wife both seriously hurt. All four were passengers in the
vehicle.

	Once the transit authorities intervened and the legal investigation of the
accident was carried out, the judge that ruled on the case found no fault
on the part of the driver, based on the following evidence:
The driver was not under influence of alcohol.
There was no lack of ability or any kind of negligence in the driving of
the overturned vehicle.
There was no other action or undue omission on the part of the driver.
The weather conditions were normal. The visibility was also normal. The
pavement was completely dry.
The asphalt on the part of the road where the accident happened as well as
a reasonable span of road before that particular spot, were in good
condition.
The speed at which the vehicle traveled al that particular time was under
the limits set up by Venezuelan law.

 	Based on all these concurrent facts the court of justice acting on the
accident ruled that there was no responsibility whatsoever on the part of
the driver since the causes of it were not attributable in any way to him.
He could not have foreseen the possibility of such mechanical failure.

Possible causes of the accident

	Upon careful revising of the failure that originated the accident the
following facts were established:
The vehicle was still under the period of manufacturer warranty  at the
time of the accident.
The kilometer counter of the vehicle at the time of the accident was
stopped around 12.000 kilometers (about 7 500 miles).
While under this warranty period the vehicle had not suffered any
collisions or dents on the body, nor on the chassis, much less impacts on
the wheels that in any way might have impaired their proper functioning.
The only possibility that this might have happened (that is, causing
crevices of fissures that then led to the fracturing of the axle) would be
during the manufacturing process or while the car was under the care of the
dealer that sold it.
By the time of the accident, the owner of the vehicle had complied with all
the check ups maintenance procedures recommended by the manufacturer
regarding such vehicle.
The fracture evidence of the axle was unexpected and started at the
bearings.
All the evidence around the fracture point leads to the conclusion that
this particular axle tip did not comply with the technical requirements of
the manufacturing for such parts.
All the facts regarding the accident were duly reported to Chrysler de
Venezuela LLC through the dealer, hoping that the company would take
responsibility in the case. Up to now here has been no answer on the
company.
	At the present time Chrysler de Venezuela LLC is being sued in a court of
law in order to call its attention to the matter and force it to assume a
responsible situation.
	All the gathered facts leas to the conclusion that the quality of the
vehicle is at least questionable, given that its manufacturing process does
not comply with all of the procedures for quality control of mechanical
elements so vital for its adequate performance on the road.
	Presently, as a prevention campaign. All information pertaining to similar
accidents that might have happened throughout the world involving these
Chrysler vehicles is being assembled via Internet.
	If the conciliatory avenue taken in order to resolve this case should be
proven inadequate as far as compensatory payment is concerned, the
demandants will consider giving publicity to the accident  through all the
media within their reach, alerting potential consumers of the risks and
dangers their lives will run if they purchase a motor vehicle manufactured
by Chrysler de Venezuela LLC.