1996 Dodge Avenger: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Mar 2, 2016 · Suspension · 19,856 miles · WA

I was driving and the right front control lowerball joint broke. This is the third time this has happened. I called dodge dealer.they said they fix it once. They won't do it again. Well if the problem still having they need to fix it right. I could of been killed. Something needs to be done about this. Now I was on the hwy

Filed Nov 21, 2007 · Suspension · 89,500 miles · MA

The lower control arm on the left side is going and I've gone to deluca chrysler in haverhill ma twice and both times told me that it was already serviced and when I asked him what side was serviced he couldn't answer me and I asked him if they could check my since it should still be covered under recall warranty he told me no and just today I was told that any repair like control arms, tie rods, ball joints and struts are supposed to be repaired in pairs and they only repaired the right side on 8/6/02.

Filed Oct 4, 2007 · Suspension · 128,000 miles · CA · crash

Tl*the contact owns a 1996 dodge avenger. In 2005, while driving approximately 55 MPH, the contact lost control and the vehicle pulled to the right. She depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle would not stop. The vehicle crashed into a dirt hill. She had the vehicle towed to a repair shop and was informed that the lower ball joints failed. A police report was filed. The contact paid for the repair. One year later, the failure recurred. The vehicle is currently parked at her residence. Dodge wants to conduct an investigation on her vehicle, however, they are asking her to pay out of pocket for the repairs. The contact refuses because she believes this is a manufacturer defect. The VIN, engine size, and number of cylinders were unknown. The failure mileage was 128,000 and current mileage was 140,000.

Filed Nov 21, 2005 · Suspension · KS

Per two separate recall notice I received from daimler chrysler, I brought my 1996 dodge avenger into a dealership to have the lower lateral arm ball joints inspected and resealed. Upon taking it to the dealership they inspected and both times they told me no further work was needed. Specific instructions from daimler chrysler say,if the ball joints are not damaged or worn, the ball joints will be sealed. This was not done to my vehicle and on 11/21/05 while driving I lost the ability to steer when the ball joint separated.

Filed Mar 8, 2005 · Suspension · TN

Dodge avenger 1996, ball joint and axle broke. *bf recall campaign# 99v066003. This problem occurred while the vehicle was in motion. The consumer expects reimbursement. *sc the consumer received the recall letter in the mail 1 year later. The consumer was denied reimbursement because the receipt was not typed it was hand written.

Filed Feb 22, 2005 · Suspension, Transmission · 121,251 miles · NY

I am the owner of a 1996 dodge avenger. I received this car from my father. On february 26 2004 as I was leaving work, something broke. Upon having the car towed to the repair shop, I had to have the cv shaft, and the lower control arm assembly, replaced. This cost me out of pocket, $629.45. Then on 10/1/04 I had to have the spindle assembly replaced. Which cost another $ 325.16. I now realize that there was a recall on the problem with my car. I asked my father, who was the owner of the car at the time of the recall, if he was ever notified about the recall and he said no. I am upset now to find out that there was a recall and I had to pay for all the repairs out of my own pocket. I am asking if there is any way to be reimbersed for some or all of the expense that I incurred.

Filed Aug 31, 2004 · Suspension · 130,000 miles · AR · crash

While driving 55 MPH, the lower later arm ball joint separated and caused the front left wheel to detach. The vehicle wasinvolved in a collision. Tthe driver lost control and the vehicle hit a bridge. The lower lateral arm ball joints were inspected twice befrore this failure, once on on 6/5/2001 under the federal safety agency recall# 00v421002. During the inspection the dealer's technician found no problem and no repairs were done.

Filed Feb 6, 2004 · Suspension · GA

While driving 30 MPH front ball joints failed. Consumer pulled over to check. Then, consumer managed to drive home. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

Filed Oct 22, 2003 · Suspension · 160,250 miles · MI

The car (1996 dodge avenger es) was in to the dealer for service. The dealer called to inform me that the lower ball joints were ready to fall off the car and needed replaced at a cost of $260. I asked if this was the same ball joint that was covered in an earlier recall. After a long pause, the dealer confirmed that it was, and that they would take care of it (fix at no cost to me). A second service appointment was scheduled for a week later. The car went in, and the dealer replaced the lower control arms. When I picked the car up, I drove off the lot and immediately heard a clanking noise when ever I hit a bump with the right front wheel. I inspected the car myself and found a large crack in the frame around the front-most upper control arm mounting bolt on the right front strut tower. I took the car back to the dealer and the service writer remarked boy, that is the largest crack I've ever seen. You shouldnt drive that car because the wheel could fall off. I suppose the ball joints being bad and hammering the suspension caused that [frame] to crack. However, the service writer had no answer when asked how they missed the crack during the work on the lower control arm the day before. After several calls to the service department, the dealership general manager, and to the dodge customer service phone number; no one at dodge would formally acknowledge that the defective ball joints caused the stress crack or that a problem existed with the upper control arm; despite multiple complaints on the federal safety agency website for sebrings and avengers with very similar problems. I have digital pictures of the crack if anyone is interested. It has since been fixed for the safety of my wife and children, however I am very displeased with how it was handled by dodge and the dealer.

Filed Jun 3, 2003 · Suspension · MI

The federal safety agency#99-v-066-003 vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the rubber boots on the lower lateral arm ball joints of the front suspension were damaged during assembly, dirt and water can intrude. Consumer has the same problem. However this vehicle was not unde rrecall due to the VIN.

Filed Apr 15, 2003 · Suspension · TX

After the recall for the ball joints 99 v 066 000 was complete the ball joint failed and damaged other components.

Filed Feb 11, 2003 · PA · crash · fire

My daughter, michelle owned a 1996 dodge avenger es which she lost her life in. On october 6, 2001 she had an accident which the car burst into flames and exploded. It was in for recalls within the previous year for the lower lateral ball joint. On october 2000, her front end of her car fell to the ground, which we reported to you and to daimen chrysler. Daimen chrysler paid for the repairs to her car. Now her car explodes and bursts into flames killing her. She did not die from the injuries of the accident, she died from the fumes and fire. We want to know since there are reports of other daimen chrysler autos that have been in the news as to catching on fire we want it on record that her car also caught on fire. We would like to report this and to possibly save someone elses life. We want to know if the auto manufacturer held information on other makes and models that they were investigating from the consumers for recalls. The accident does not explain why the car burst in flames immediately.