Dodge Dart ball joint problems

Filed Feb 28, 2026 · TN

I am reporting a serious safety concern involving a 2016 Dodge Dart GT (VIN: [XXX] ). The selling dealership represented the vehicle as accident‑free and undamaged, but after delivery I discovered significant, undisclosed front‑end and structural issues. The affected components include the front bumper, radiator support area, subframe, suspension, brakes, and cooling system. These components are available for inspection. My safety was put at risk because the vehicle shows clear evidence of prior impact and improper or incomplete repairs. A mechanic’s inspection documented a salvage‑yard front subframe installed for unknown reasons, a leaking lower radiator hose, rusted struts and shocks, suspension bushings beginning to fail, a bent left‑rear lower control arm, and brakes that “feel like they don’t want to stop the vehicle,” possibly due to rusted rotors and pads. The mechanic also noted alarming rust inside the frame and stated that the rust alone would justify returning the vehicle. All four tires show high/low spots consistent with belt separation, creating a wobble at speed. These conditions create multiple safety hazards: compromised crash protection, potential airbag sensor misalignment from prior front‑end impact, cooling‑system failure risk, loss of braking ability, suspension instability, and possible loss of control due to tire belt separation. The Carfax also shows a radiator replacement shortly before sale, strongly suggesting a front‑end collision that was not disclosed. The problem was confirmed by an independent service center. The manufacturer, police, and insurance have not yet inspected the vehicle. No warning lamps appeared prior to discovering these issues; the defects were concealed and UNKNOWN to me at purchase. I unknowingly operated a vehicle with compromised structural integrity and multiple safety‑critical defects, placing me and other drivers at risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 4, 2021 · Wheels · CA

From control arms are welded down and some sort of screw goes through transmission. Mechanics are unable to remove and replace the front control arms because of that. If I cannot get the front control arms replaced, I cannot get an wheel alignment.

Filed Oct 3, 2020 · Visibility · 105,000 miles · PA

First my wiper fluid would not spray, which caused the check engine light to come on. Then, one day I went to put my turn signal on and my wipers would not turn off from that moment forward. It was not raining and the wipers were not on already. My car was in park when this happened. Parked on a suburban street. I was advised it's an issue with the ribbon in the control arm. I have avoided accidents, but I also cannot drive at all if it's raining. I had my friend cut the power from the motor b/c of course no fuse. My wipers wouldn't stop moving and then they started stopping in the middle of the windshield while driving which became even more dangerous. It's extremely costly to fix.

Filed Mar 14, 2020 · Visibility · 69,086 miles · IL

The wiring cable that is inside the wiper control arm to the left of the steering wheel that controls the windshield wipers has cracked due to the fraile wires and the continued actions of using the wipers. The wipers stay on at a slow speed all of the time. Unable to control the function. Wears out hw motor for the arms / wipers, and unsafe to drive car. When car is started, the arms rotate non stop/ cannot find a replacement fix for the problem. My mechanic said he can make repairs if there was replacement parts. I don't want to die driving this car. I have been able to avoid car crashed up to now. I need the car to get to work every day.the trade in value

Filed Jun 13, 2019 · Steering, Suspension · 48,000 miles · IN

When putting the car into gear, and turning the wheel and starting to move, there is a popping/snapping sound coming from the front end. It has been in the shop three times for this issue. First time when it went to the shop, they replace front strut mounts. This lasted about 6 months and the noise has come back. Second time they said I needed a new tie rod. Replaced and within a week later, could hear the noise again. Took it back to the shop and they couldn't diagnose it. They loosened all the nuts and bolts on the front end, retightened/torqued them, and within a few days after leaving the shop, the noise came back.

Filed May 17, 2019 · Suspension, Transmission · 46,000 miles · CA · crash

Purchased car new jan 2017. On 3/3/19 at approx. 18 MPH while attempting a left turn in to our neighborhood I heard a loud pop and car jerked to the left hitting a curb. Upon visual inspection of the car it appeared that the axle popped out of joint and control arm broke in two. Because of this two parts malfunctioning the car hit the curb, cracking the wheel and causing body damage to the vehicle.

Filed Apr 16, 2019 · Airbags, Body · 48,000 miles · AZ · crash · fire

Upon driving the car on the freeway yesterday, the 2016 dodge dart started to shake and the car would not slow down. The passenger front wheel control arm, tire, and cv joint completely feel off the vehicle which caused an accident.

Filed Aug 31, 2017 · Suspension · 54,225 miles · PA · crash

On march 31, 2017, I hit a curb with the driver side front tire of my vehicle damaging parts of the suspension, including the control arm, as well as the body. At the time, I assumed that when I hit the curb, my wheel was turned, which caused the damage to the suspension. Car was repaired. At times the vehicle would make a clunking noise while turning left or when accelerating. Also at times, at highway speed, the vehicle would vibrate. On august 17, 2017, I was stopped to yield for a vehicle crossing a one lane bridge. This bridge was flat and smooth, with a curve around to the left in my direction of travel. I started moving to go over the bridge and was traveling between 5-10 m.p.h., as I approached the left curve, I started to turn the steering wheel slightly left in anticipation of the curve. The steering wheel became non responsive and I was unable to steer my vehicle and the vehicle kept going left, causing me to impact a curb and guard rail, again on the driver side front. The body shop said I had to have hit something to snap the brand new control arm. I hit nothing prior to impact with the curb and guard rail. There is minimal body damage but the control arm is snapped. I am wondering if there is some type of possible defect with the control arm that would cause it to fracture and snap, leading to my loss of steering control and collision. I have read where defective control arms have been noted on other dodge vehicles.

Filed Jan 27, 2017 · Suspension · 6,647 miles · FL · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 dodge dart. While driving approximately 30 to 35 MPH, slowing down, and veering left, the vehicle became difficult to control. The front end of the vehicle pulled to the right on its own and struck a curb. The front wheels straightened out and the vehicle landed in the yard of a sub-division. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The air bags had not deployed. The dealer diagnosed that the lower control arm snapped into two pieces. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 6,647. Updated 05/31/17*lj updated 06/30/2017

Filed Oct 27, 2016 · Airbags, Suspension · 25,000 miles · WY · crash

I was driving on the highway and the car started shaking when I reached 65 MPH. When I got to 70 MPH, it stopped I thought I was okay but I wasn't. The tire separated from the axle and the lower control arm fell off causing me to crash. I ran into a guardrail and if it wasn't there, the car wouldn't have stopped and I could possibly be dead. Upon impact, the air bags didn't deploy either. This is life threatening. Something needs to be done about this vehicle!!! This isn't the first time the control arm fell off. It fell off 3 other times to. I am fed up with chrysler. They won't do anything about this vehicle. It is a casket on wheels. It is a death trap and the next time something like this happens, the person might not live to tell the story. Hopefully nothing like this happens but if it does, maybe it will wake chrysler the [xxx] up!!!! Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).