Plymouth Prowler ball joint problems

Filed Jul 16, 2023 · Suspension · AZ

I purchased my 1999 Plymouth Prowler in August of 2022. I was told that it has a recall on the front suspension lower ball joints that was issued on 03/28/2003. I contacted a dealership for an appointment to get it fixed and they said they would order the ball joints. They also said it takes a special tool to replace them of which they did not have and the would not purchase on. I contacted another dealer and was to the same thing. I can’t get anyone to fix it. What can I do. I looked on line and the tool cost about $75.00.

Filed May 18, 2020 · Suspension · 73,000 miles · LA

The ball joints are weak. Have been from the beginning. The don't last as long as with other cars and break fairly easy. It's a problem that needs to be addressed asap. I was very lucky, mine broke as I was pulling into a parking spot at a restaurant. I had just gotten off the interstate doing highway speed.

Filed May 29, 2018 · Suspension · 65,080 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 plymouth prowler. While the vehicle was being pulled out of the garage, the ball joint detached from the lower passenger side control arm. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was towed to first chrysler dodge jeep ram (280 east washington st route one, north attleborough, ma) where it was confirmed that the ball joint detached and the ball joint assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and refused to cover the vehicle per the federal safety agency campaign number: 03v034000 (suspension) because the vehicle was previously serviced per the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 65,080. The VIN was not available.

Filed Jun 21, 2017 · Steering · 88,000 miles · MI · crash

Lower right ball joint came apart

Filed Jun 14, 2017 · Suspension · 99,300 miles · TX

While driving straight at 40 MPH on a smooth roadway, city street, the right,lower ball joint separated from the a-frame. The steering wheel locked. I was able to guide the vehicle to the right edge of the roadway. There was no warning.. Noise or any other indication of the failure. Just the pop of the failed ball joint separating and then the right front of the car scraping on the pavement. Other vehicles in the area steered around me to avoid a collision.

Filed Apr 12, 2017 · Suspension · FL

Front lower ball joint broke.

Filed Feb 28, 2017 · Suspension · 18,000 miles · CA

The lower ball joints fail constantly, I have had to replace my lower ball joints 3 times in 19,000 miles. Chrysler has recalled them and replaced them free for the first failure, but will not replace additional failures. A lower ball joint failure will cause loss of steering and will cause an accident. Every time they fail, they also destroy the rim. Chrysler knows very well that this is a problem, but will not cover the cost of replacements after they have repaired this item once. Every time there is a failure, chrysler wants to sell you a complete lower control arm that cost $ 1200 dollars each. The lower ball joint usually fails when pulling away from a curb with the wheels turned, and there is a loss of steering at this point. Chrysler knows this is a problem, and should warranty this item for life as most of the prowlers are very low mileage with less than 30,000 miles. Chrysler does have a recall kit that is available to dealers only that includes the ball joints only , but will not sell them to the public and we can only buy them with the complete lower control arm. This is a safety item that can & will cause an accident. The recall kit part number is ( cbbtc030)

Filed Dec 11, 2015 · Suspension · 72,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 plymouth prowler. While the vehicle was being serviced for regular maintenance, the mechanic noticed that the front lower ball joints were fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired a few years back for the same failure under a manufacturer recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.

Filed Oct 1, 2015 · Suspension · 52,500 miles · NJ

While driving, the ball joint separated from the lower control arm and the car had to be quickly stopped. The car was not drivable and had to be assisted to a safe area. The car was recalled in 2003 to address the same problem (2000 plymouth prowler suspension recall 03v034000). However, I was told by the person repairing the car that the replacement part has the same problem of coming apart during driving and it is a major safety hazard. Chrysler will not honor the old recall or issue a new one because the car is a plymouth and they do not service or back plymouth products as a result of their bankruptcy.

Filed Jun 11, 2013 · Suspension · 50,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 plymouth prowler. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH, there was a sudden loss of power steering assist without warning. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the front lower control arm ball joints needed to be replaced. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was recently serviced under the federal safety agency campaign number: 03v0034000 (suspension) however, the failure recurred ten years later. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 142,000.