2001 Dodge Stratus: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Dec 19, 2014 · Body, Brakes · 217,000 miles · NH

I have had this car for 2 years now with little problems. Had a few oil changes and some brake work done to it. But in the last year I have changed all the calipers in this car 2 to 3 times the break pads many times the ball joints the roaders the swing arm and the cluster dash. This was a great car till it stopped going over 30 without a terrible shake.

Filed Aug 4, 2014 · Suspension · 150,000 miles · MI

Front lower right ball joint and control arm failure. This resulted in catastrophic damage to the brake lines, control arm, loss of control, steering, tie rods, upper ball joint, cv axle severed, and bent frame. Chrysler told me that because of my VIN number I wasn't eligible for the recall repair, yet the 2001 dodge stratus, 2.4l sedan has been recalled by chrysler for this same problem, with lower control arm and ball joint failure. Had I been notified of a recall, this could of been avoided. What if I was on the highway and this happened? And why wasn't my vehicle recalled????

Filed Jun 15, 2012 · Airbags, Brakes · 98,000 miles · IN

I have had my car for a little over 3 years now. First it was the passenger side ball joint. Then a year later it was the ball joint on the driver side plus the control arm. Then it was the brakes and rotors. Then right after that I find out the ball joint I had just replaced on the passenger side needs replaced again! Now my oil light comes on at idle after the engine has warmed up. Had the oil changed as always between 2000 and 3000 miles as I should. Had the oil sending unit replaced and still have a oil light on with a full engine of oil. Now my steering column just today made a cracking sound as I was backing up with the wheel turning to the left. Then the airbag light came on and wont go off. Now my steering is stiff. Talked to a mechanic and it is a safety issue.

Filed Feb 1, 2011 · Suspension · 100,000 miles · MN

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 dodge stratus. While attempting to park the vehicle, the contact placed the vehicle in reverse with the brakes engaged, he noticed that the front end of the vehicle fell while making a clicking noise and would not shift into any gear. He looked inside of the front right wheel and noticed that the control arm and wheel bearing failed without warning. He noticed liquid coming from the wheel bearing housing and two small fragments on the ground. The dealer was contacted and stated that no major repairs had been performed on the vehicle. The contact did not inform the manufacturer nor had the vehicle been repaired or the failure diagnosed. The current and failure mileages were approximately 100,000. The VIN was unavailable. Updated 05/04/11 *bf updated 12/30/11

Filed Dec 18, 2009 · Steering, Suspension · 78,000 miles · IL · crash · 1 injury

2001 dodge stratus. Loss of control. Resulting in 2 separate crashes. I did sustain injury in the last incident. I was trying to turn left into a parking lot, wheel turned only partially. I could not get it to move the correct direction, and I ran into a tall (15in.) curb. Sustained whiplash and a large knot on my head. The 1st incident was while trying to turn left and my car would not go that way. I ended up hitting yet another tall curb,due to loss of control. It may be worthy to note I have replaced the lower control arm on the drivers side, but am still getting periods of having a hard time turning my wheel. This occurs whether in motion or just starting my car and turning the wheel to leave . I also had to replace right side due to failure of the wheel to turn right as well. I actually was going about 30mph and barely made my turn, almost broadsiding a sitting vehicle. When I checked it, my tire was "bent inward' at the top. The whole tire was, well, like this, / (but actually bent the other way, inward. My steering wheel works randomly. Please advise, as this is my only mode of transportation. I don't know what else to have fixed on it! I've already dipped almost $2000 "fixing" it. Thank you. The incident date below is just the latest. The one where I hit my head. As of today, my steering has a mind of its own.

Filed Nov 4, 2009 · Suspension · 120,000 miles · IL

Regarding our 2001 dodge stratus, lower control arm ball joint failure. Originally on october 25th of 2005 we had the left front control arm/ball joint assembly replaced because of severe squeaking during suspension movement. This was caused by lubrication failure. There is no way to re-lube this joint on this design. The assembly was replaced with the only available part at the time from dodge. For the past couple of weeks I had noticed that during abrupt braking the vehicle would pull strongly to the left, then recover when the brakes were released. I had scheduled for inspection appointment on 11/10/2009. Then on11/2/2009 the same exact ball joint failure occurred to the left side when my 16 year old son was driving the vehicle. I had read the federal safety agency campaign # 09e-056 regarding the qualis failure and wondered if it could be related somehow. Please advise.

Filed Jun 7, 2009 · Suspension · 118,112 miles · WI

Lower ball joint, upper ball joint not made very well.

Filed Sep 1, 2005 · Suspension · 27,047 miles · CA

Right rear axel broken, both rear ball joints broken and rear upper control arms broken on dodge stratus, 2001, with only 26,000 miles. Failure occurred while driving slowly. Both rear ball joints and upper control arms showed excessive play.

Filed Jun 22, 2005 · Suspension · 57,654 miles · OH

My car is a 2001 dogde stratus 4 door es. The car has 57,000 miles on it. At the time of purchase I also purchase an extended warrenty from the dealer. The was from first extended service corp. Ganley east inc. At 28840 euclid ave. Wickliffe, ohio 44092. I was driving to work on thursday 6-16-05, starting out on side roads to then the freeway and then to a main route to my work. After getting off the freeway I have about a 15 min ride. As I was pulling into my parking lot I heard a loud bang. The car at this point had a hard time moving. I called the dealer and then the extended warranty place to see if the broken (front, passenger side) control arm / ball joint was covered and they said yes. After having the vehicle towed to the dealer which costed me $100.00. The dealer inspected the car and told the extended warranty that the reason the control arm snapped was because of rust or corrosion. Being a major part on the car and the seriousness of this if the part would of snap as I was doing 65 on the freeway, I might not of been here typing this complaint. The dealer said it was out of there hands upon payment and before this the extended warrenty company said it was out of their hands as well because the dealer said that it failed because of rust. At the dealer I was never asked if I wanted the bad parts back or to see them, they never washed my vehicle after the service and after leaving the dealer and driving 2 miles after the vehicle was serviced and supposedly inspected the hub cap flew off the car and almost caused me to have an accident on the way home. I was able to retrieve the hub cap and go back to the dealer, were they determined that it was broken up either putting in on or taking it off. They were soooo nice to order me another one at their cost. I was charged $680.43 for the repairs plus another $100.00 for the tow to another company. After researching your web site I have found at least 5 other similiar complaints with the same make, model, year and parts.

Filed May 13, 2005 · 42,950 miles · NY

While driving at highway speeds the passenger side rear control arm ball joint broke, causing my right rear wheel to collapse within the wheel well of my 2001 dodge stratus es. The consequence of this is that control could have been lost causing an accident harming myself or others on the road. I maintained control of the vehicle and had the vehicle towed off the highway. I then had to again paid for the vehicle to be towed to the dealership for repair.

Filed May 4, 2005 · Steering · 59,000 miles · KS

There was a complaint I just read by [xxx] odi cse number[xxx], and I agree with him about this complaint be handled as a top priority investigation. I bought this as a used car, I knew I'd end of having to put some money into it since I was not buying a brand new car. But I've only had it for 6 months and have to put quite of bit into it. It has 59,000 miles on it. I've had to get the upper and lower ball joints replaced. A month later we heard a noise when we steered. We added power steering fluid cause we noticed it was low. Only two days after we heard the noise which got louder was hard to steer. I drive my two young kids with this car and felt unsafe in it. A friend of ours who is a mechanic looked at it and said there was a leak since the fluid was almost empty again. I was told it was power steering line. It was rubbing against the A/C line which is metal and wore a hole in the line. My mechanic said this line was in back order (obviously in high demand). When he finally got it in, seems like dodge has made some changes on the design. This was my first dodge vehicle I had purchased and first used vehicle also. Because of this, this will be the last for dodge and used. I agree with [xxx]. This needs to be investigated thoroughly before someone gets seriously injured. Again my car has only 58,000 miles on it and should not be having such serious failures. Thank you, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Mar 15, 2005 · Suspension · 29,500 miles · OH

Consumer was driving 25 MPH when the vehicle jerked as if it had struck a pot hole. Consumer got out to check the vehicle, and noticed the rear passenger tire was nearly off. The ball joints were defective and needed to be repaired.*ak the manufacture offers no assistance. Rear upper ball joints replaced and 4 wheel alignment performed.