The defect
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. ALSO, MMC HAS ADDED THE POTENTIAL OF LEAKING MOISTURE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE BALL STUD TO CORRODE.
The risk
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERCEDES MMC'S PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN, SEE 99V-066.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT FOR WEAR. BALL JOINTS THAT EXHIBIT WEAR BEYOND THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS. BALL JOINTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE CLEANED AND A SPECIAL SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED TO PREVENT INTRUSION OF MOISTURE.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Chrysler Sebring | 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 |
| Dodge Avenger | 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 |
| Eagle Talon | 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 |
Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chrysler Sebring | 1995 | 132 | 3 |
| Chrysler Sebring | 1996 | 343 | 7 |
| Chrysler Sebring | 1997 | 210 | 5 |
| Chrysler Sebring | 1998 | 267 | 3 |
| Chrysler Sebring | 1999 | 172 | 1 |
| Chrysler Sebring | 2000 | 93 | 1 |
| Dodge Avenger | 1995 | 196 | 2 |
| Dodge Avenger | 1996 | 157 | 2 |
| Dodge Avenger | 1997 | 83 | 2 |
| Dodge Avenger | 1998 | 58 | 2 |
| Dodge Avenger | 1999 | 62 | 1 |
| Dodge Avenger | 2000 | 22 | 1 |
| Eagle Talon | 1995 | 209 | 5 |
| Eagle Talon | 1996 | 44 | 4 |
| Eagle Talon | 1997 | 24 | 3 |
| Eagle Talon | 1998 | 17 | 3 |
Other suspension recalls in 2000
49 of the 541 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2000 concerned the suspension; DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION filed 203 campaigns in all.
| 00V426000 26 Dec 2000 | POLARIS INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 00V358010 26 Dec 2000 | TRAVEL SUPREME, INC. |
| 00V358004 22 Dec 2000 | SOONER TRAILER |
| 00V358009 21 Dec 2000 | SUNNYBROOK RV INC. |
| 00V358003 20 Dec 2000 | PETERSON INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 00V358011 19 Dec 2000 | PERFORMANCE FIRST, INC. |
| 00V358007 18 Dec 2000 | MO TRAILERS |
| 00V421001 18 Dec 2000 | MITSUBISHI AMERICA |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2000