Nine problems related to front suspension lower ball joint have been reported for the 1997 Chrysler Sebring. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
The contact owns a 1997 Chrysler Sebring convertible. The contact stated that the driver side ball joint detached from the socket while the contact was driving. The dealer diagnosed that the lower ball joint need to be replaced. The vehicle was included in the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number: 09e056000 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint), but the manufacturer refused to cover the repairs. The manufacturer proposed that the contact pay 50 percent of the cost of the repairs due to the age of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 115,000.
The contact owns a 1997 Chrysler Sebring. The contact stated that the front driver's side lower ball joints failed while pulling out of a parking space. The dealer stated that the ball joints were repaired in 1998 according to NHTSA campaign id number 97v201000 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint). In addition, the vehicle was previously repaired according to NHTSA campaign id number 00v421002 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint) in 2000. The contact did not remember the first recall repair; however, it is in the system as being repaired by the dealer. He believes that the repair was never performed, but was documented as completed in order to get paid by the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 140,000.
While driving down a side road at 15 mph, after going through the 2nd of 2 small dips, the front ball joint broke on the 1997 Sebring and the car stopped. We got out, saw front wheel turned out at sharp angle, the right front of car dropped. Sheridan police drove by,we made an accident report. After having the car towed 2 blocks, the ins. Co. Was called we contacted phil long Chrysler in littleton CO. To find price on the part. They asked for VIN number and determined there was recall on that vehicle. They said car was fixed once under recall, they wanted to see it. We had it towed there. Bernie said they would at least fix the ball joint. They estimated the damage and called district rep to come see the car. We were called and told district rep said no, they would not fix the car under the recall. We also owed them $100 (diagnostics). We were told by service manager, scott vansickle, there was nothing they could do. The car was 10 years old, had 160,000 miles. [recalled part was fixed at 20,000 miles in 1998. ] decision was made by the district rep. And, besides, those parts wear out. I asked for name and number of district rep - chris g. At 1-800-992-1997. I called, was told by alex, after much referral with his supervisor, that car had already been fixed and there was nothing they could do. I told him I wanted to speak with district rep, chris g, he said he was not at that number, they didn't have a district rep there, I needed to go through dealer for that. I asked him for his name, alex, and supervisor's name,ryan. Chrysler's rep, ( chris g. ) has offered to do absoluteley nothing to remedy this problem and is unwillling to do anything. I am lucky I was going slow and noone was hurt. This accident could have happened at 65 mph on the freeway and the 3 of us could have been killed. I find it appalling that Chrysler claims no responsibility for the fault of this part.
The contact owns a 1997 Chrysler Sebring convertible. On July 9, 2007, while driving 10 mph, the control arm detached from the vehicle. The failure caused the axle to fall off the vehicle. There were no warning indicators prior to the failure. The control arm and axle were replaced on July 11, 2007 for $1,080. The dealer stated that her VIN was excluded from recall # 00v421002 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint). The current and failure mileages were 135,000.
Right front lower ball joint fractured and ripped out the drive shaft from the transmission causing loss of steering. A new lower control arm and drive shaft was installed to correct the problem.
Making left hand turn driver side wheel collapsed.
Front lower ball joint failed while driving.
The consumer received a recall (00v421002) notice regarding ball joints and took vehicle to the dealer. The recall could not be performed by the dealer because the part was on national back order.
While traveling at 25 mph steering became very difficult to steer, and made a strange noise. Took vehicle to mechanic, and the mechanic stated tha t lower lateral ball joint failed.