Chevrolet Cruze ball joint problems

Filed Jul 17, 2024 · Steering · 61,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the steering wheel pulled to the left forcibly. The contact also stated that the vehicle was oversteered, and the wheel made the vehicle move in a straight line. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the inner tie rod had separated from the steering gear and both inner tie rods and tires needed to be replaced. The contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 15V442000 (Steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 61,000.

Filed Jul 8, 2024 · Wheels · KS · 2 injuries

On [XXX], the right front passenger side control arm/ball joint broke as my daughters were driving home. The car was in motion on a major street in Kansas City, KS when the control arm/ball joint broke. My daughter was in the right-hand lane when it broke as the car was in motion. The front of the car forcefully propelled in the air, landed, and jerked my daughter into the side walk. Afterwards, she fought the car over to the left-hand turn lane to stop in a somewhat safer spot on a major street. My oldest daughter driving suffered neck injuries from the seatbelt and my youngest daughter bumped her head. Both were hurt. An independent mechanic diagnosed the issue as well as Hendrick Chevrolet in Shawnee Mission Kansas. The parts are available for inspection. Hendrick Chevrolet failed to properly diagnose this issue when my car was in their care and service department on 06/14/24. I paid for an inspection but Hendrick Chevrolet's technician failed to record play in the broken wheel and if the car was in need of an alignment. This is unacceptable behavior considering the technician had both front tires off to inspect the brakes and was paid to perform a complete inspection on my car as described in Chevy's inspection literature provided by the dealership. He also provided an incorrect brake pad measurement. Through several Chevrolet/Chevy Cruze online forums, Cruze owners have asked several questions and recorded several comments regarding having a broken control arm and having to replace the ball joint bolt. Also, recalls were previously issued with other GM vehicles having a right-front passenger side defective control arm, which potentially could be a GM fabrication issue with control arms. No warning lamps, noises, or messages alerted to this issue. This would have been a fatal incident involving my daughters and other drivers if it occurred on the highway at a higher rate of speed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 28, 2019 · Engine, Steering · 115,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2014 chevrolet cruze. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic to have new tires installed. The contact was advised that the two frontal tie rods needed to be replaced, along with the catalytic converter. The tie rods were replaced, but the catalytic converter was not replaced. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.

Filed Jan 25, 2019 · Visibility · 93,000 miles · MD

The windshield wiper linkage failed via a ball joint failure in the wiper mechanism. This caused the driver side wiper to become free moving, staying attached to the car. When it failed, it wound up getting pinned against the driver side door, forcing me to exit the vehicle via the passenger side. This failure occurred when I was driving through western md on interstate 68 near grantsville, md, during a light snow and salting operations were underway. I was using the wipers and washer fluid to keep the windshield clear of salt. After this failure, I used cable ties to tie the loose wiper arm to the attached wiper arm, therefore disabling my wipers until we got to our destination, two hours further down the road. I had to stop every 10-15 minutes to clear the salt off of the windshield. I replaced the part, but have the oem part available for inspection, if requested. I noticed this specific part was recalled on the 2013 chevrolet equinox.

Filed Mar 25, 2018 · Steering · NH

I own a 2011 chevy cruze. It has 67,000 miles. About a month ago, I started to notice a feeling of my steering taking on a mind of its own. So just last week, I went and got new brakes, rotors, tires, front end alignment, balance. Cost a pretty penny, but needed for safety. I had them check for front end issues that might be related to steering problems. They said the front end was tight. Tyrods, ball joints, axle, etc. This confirmed to me, that the steering issue was from the steering column. There is also a crunching sound in the steering, when turning wheel from a parked position. Well the still has steering issues. On the straight away, it feels like the tires are independently turning. I then have to turn the steering wheel to compensate and correct. This in turn causes, over turning. The tires and the steering wheel are not working together. This makes me so scared to drive this car. I have a small passanger, daily. I also drive on a 50 mile trip once or twice a week. Please help

Filed May 3, 2017 · Visibility · 126,989 miles · PA

I believe the gm recall 25302 on chevrolet equinox vehicles should be expanded to include the cruze model. I own each of these models and have not had an issue yet on the equinox, but the cruze had to have wiper ball joint replacement that is explained in this existing recall. Please consider expanding this recall to include all modules of chevrolet that utilize this same wiper ball joint because this design fault exists on the cruze model as well. My cruze was fixed at a garage that is not chevrolet dealer affiliated, so I'm not sure how the federal safety agency tracks these types of issues. The issue with the cruze was that the passenger side wiper blade was no longer moving, the ball joint was broken and no longer functioning and had to be replaced.

Filed Oct 13, 2016 · Suspension · 112,000 miles · NY

Just bought the vehicle and was driving and kept hearing a clunking noise in the front end and noticed the from rotors was indicating replacement so took backto dealer and they also found that the front stabilizer link on drivers side was snapped in half causing outer tie rod needing replacement and could of caused a crash as you would lose control of vehicle once outer tir rod disconnected.

Filed Feb 4, 2016 · Steering · 59,000 miles · GA

Left outer tie rod began to show problems at 59000 miles. The steering had a thud sound when turning left or right. Also, when driving over bumps on the road or grass you could feel strong vibrations from the front steering.

Filed Sep 18, 2015 · Airbags · 500 miles · PA · crash

Airbags front and side failed to deploy in a t-bone type crash approx traveling 40 MPH, causing 12k worth of damage to the vehicle, the front wheel fell off and broke the front tie rod & axel, and no airbags deployed.

Filed Nov 18, 2014 · Transmission, Visibility · MI

Vehicle surges when car is in idle position (breaking). This vehicle was not in an accident, however during a surge the car bumper went over a parking block that had a tie rod sticking up. When I backed up the car, it pulled the drivers side bumper away from the front end. Also, an engine light goes on when the window defroster is on, stating that the AC is being shut off (AC is not on, the heater is) and shuts down the HVAC system.