Steering Tie Rod Assembly problems of the 1996 Dodge Stratus

While driving front tires locked up. Contacted dealer. Tie rod came undone. This was common problem.

My wife called me to report that she was experiencing some binding in the steering as she was leaving the parking lot of a shopping mall, and had decided to return to the parking lot. I went to the lot to investigate the matter and drove the car in the lot, turning both left and right frequently, and the steering seemed to be alright. I decided to drive the car home, and then noticed that a slight clunking noise could be heard when driving over rough spots in the pavement. I decided to jack up the right front wheel to try and determine what might be loose. While manuvering the car into position in my garage, the right tie rod end ball stud separated from its socket, which of course is the connection to the right side steering knuckle. The socket and ball were very rusty and there was no lubrication present, although it is supposed to be a sealed, lubricated for life joint which does not have a grease fitting.

While pulling into a parking lot outer tie rod broke and fell off causing the consumer to loose control of the vehicle, the manufacturer was contacted but refused to do anthing about the problem.

While driving the 2 outer tie rod pins fell out, almost lost control of steering.

While pulling out of the parking lot, notice difficulty in steering. Tie rod broked and had to be replaced, there was no grease fitting on the part, the stud was missing, rubber boot destoryed after stud fell out, catastrophic failure.

Tie rod failure resulted in total loss of steering. Front wheels were oriented at 90 degrees relative to one another. Likely fatal accident avoided only through circumstance of part failing at low speed in a parking lot.

Clunk in the left front revealed failed tie rod end. Upon removal is was found that the left tie rod end had separated at the ball stud. The ball stud was only being held in place by the rubber boot. We also replaced the right tie rod end and found that it too was failing. It was showing signs of binding. Failure was imminent.

While driving out of driveway lost control of vehicle due to broken tie rod end.

While coming off the highway at 70mph the steering inner tie rod came apart and steering was lost. Dealer has not seen.