Front Suspension Lower Ball Joint problems of the 1998 Dodge Avenger

The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that since 2010, both lower ball joints failed. The contact was driving 35 mph when the driver side ball joint failed and the tire began to lean. After having the driver side repaired, the passenger side failed when the contact was driving 45 mph, causing the contact to spin around and end up facing oncoming traffic. The contact referenced recall 00v421002 (suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint) but had never been notified. The failure mileage was unknown. The current mileage was approximately 140,000.

1998 Dodge adventure. Consumer took vehicle for a state inspection which approved the vehicle. Twenty days later on 7-26-05 the ball joint fall off the vehicle. The consumer heard a loud popping noise, and then consumer5 lost total control of the vehicle, and it hit a road sign and ran through another . There had been no other problems with the vehicle. The consumer had the vehicle towed to home. Consumer had another state certified inspection mechanic look at the vehicle, and they told him there was no way it should have passed inspection. When he contacted the diamler/Chrysler manufacturer, they said would send someone out to look at the vehicle, this was on 8-1-05. A police report was issued.

I experienced 2 failures of the control arm lower ball joint on my 1998 Dodge Avenger. The right side failed on 4/18/04 - I had vehicle towed to dealer for repairs, dealer denied failure was caused by recalled ball joint issue and dealer performed recall inspection on the left side at that time also. The left side then failed on 4/25, only 5 days after the dealer "inspected" the ball joint in compliance with the recall - unbelievable! this time the left wheel came off which had the potential for a severe if not fatal accident! my daughter had just exited the interstate and went around a very sharp exit ramp bend. I had the vehicle towed to the Dodge dealer for repairs, and again the dealer is denying the recall failure. I secured the old parts from the left side - and clearly there is corrosion in the ball joint that cause failure of the ball stud. I talked to the shop-tech doing the repair work and he commented on how you could see the corroded metal in the ball socket and then where the break occured you could see the shinny metal. I am trying to deal with daimlerchrysler corporate on reimbursement for costs of the actual repairs and for collateral damage to the tires and wheels. Beyond that however, I am greatly concerned regarding the "inspection" not catching the imminent left side failure only 5 days later - this to me demonstrates a potential flaw in the recall requirements; and, I am greatly concerned that there may be others out there that may not be as lucky as my daughter was in avoiding a very serious or fatal accident from this type of failure - I think more drastic measures should be instituted. Dave lojek.

While driving consumer heard a loud noise coming from the front end. Dealership mechanic informed consumer that front lower arm ball joint wore out. But the problem was not yet resolved.

If my vehicle is involved in a recall, I should not have to pay to have my vehicle "diagnosed" to see if it is defective, especially when I have inspected it and know that the "ball joint" recall for my 1998 Dodge Avenger is a definite problem.

I recently had my front-end ball joints replaced on my 1998 Dodge Avenger at ken nelson auto plaza in dixon, IL. This problem was a recall I had done already in may of 2001. Recall #967 from NHTSA. They were suppose to put newly designed lateral arm ball joints on my vehicle at that time. The "new" ball joints didn't last one year and 8 months. I was told I had to pay for the repair this time, for which I did. The cost was $312. 60. I do not believe I should be paying for the material defects that were under the original recall work which failed in such a short time.

Recall to inspect the lower lateral arm ball joints and replace them if necessary. The consumer has replaced the lateral link twice prior to receiving the recall notice.

The contact received recall 00v421002 five years ago. When she took the vehicle to the dealership they stated there was nothing wrong with the ball joints. The ball joints were making an intermittent clung at that time. The problem got progressively worse. The contact states it sounded like the wheel was going to fall off. The vehicle was taken to the dealership on October 19, 2005. They stated there was excessive wear on lower ball joints, and they should be replaced soon. The vehicle was checked at two other places ,and they stated the same thing. When she called Chrysler, they insisted that the dealership had to do the work. Chrysler then called the dealership, and they stated the recall was on the boot that covered the ball joint and it was not sealed properly. The dealership stated the boot was not damaged, it was just the ball joint.

Consumer received recall 00v421002/ lower ball joint failure in mail and contacted dealership to have this defect repaired. Dealership stated that they would have to hear from manufacturer, and service was refused. Please provide any additional information/attachments.

The recall repairs regarding the ball joints failed within 1 year, consumer had to bear the financial responsibility to have them replaced. Recall # 00v421002.