Daimlerchrysler Corporation: Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint
Daimlerchrysler Corporation reported this defect to federal regulators on Dec 18, 2000 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 393,796. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
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.
16 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Chrysler Sebring | 93 | 6 | 3 | 14 |
| 2000 Dodge Avenger | 22 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 Chrysler Sebring | 172 | 9 | 6 | 25 |
| 1999 Dodge Avenger | 62 | 5 | 2 | 6 |
| 1998 Chrysler Sebring | 267 | 10 | 5 | 33 |
| 1998 Dodge Avenger | 58 | 6 | 1 | 14 |
| 1998 Eagle Talon | 17 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 1997 Chrysler Sebring | 210 | 11 | 4 | 37 |
| 1997 Dodge Avenger | 83 | 6 | 0 | 15 |
| 1997 Eagle Talon | 24 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 1996 Chrysler Sebring | 343 | 12 | 10 | 41 |
| 1996 Dodge Avenger | 157 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
| 1996 Eagle Talon | 44 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 Chrysler Sebring | 132 | 5 | 4 | 19 |
| 1995 Dodge Avenger | 196 | 3 | 3 | 23 |
| 1995 Eagle Talon | 209 | 6 | 6 | 15 |
What this page is, and what to do next
A recall is not an opinion. It is a Part 573 report a manufacturer is required by federal law to file once it decides a defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety, and it commits them to repairing the vehicle at no cost to the owner. The three passages above are the manufacturer’s own wording as published by NHTSA.
This page describes the campaign. It cannot tell you whether one particular car has already been through the shop — that is tracked by VIN, and only the manufacturer knows it. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a franchised dealer, quoting campaign number 00V421002.
Full record for the 2000 Chrysler Sebring → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →