1998 Chevrolet Truck M/L Van

OUR 1998 CHEVY BLAZER WITH 60,000 MILES # 1GNDT13W3W228738 HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BALL JOINTS. THEY WERE NOT FAIL SAFE. LUCKILY THE CAR WAS ONLY MOVING AT 5 MILES AN HOUR ENTERING A PARKING GARAGE WHEN THE UPPER BALL JOINT ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL DISINTEGRATED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE PART HAD NEVER BEEN LUBRICATED EITHER BY US, THE PREVIOUS OWNER (WE BOUGHT IT OFF A LEASE 2 YEARS AGO) OR EVEN THE CHEVY DEALER WHERE WE HAD THE LAST OIL CHANGE DONE IN AUGUST OF 2003. HAD THIS OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED THERE CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURIES TO US OR OTHER DRIVERS. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF THE BALL JOINTS FAILING - NO UNUSUAL TIRE TREAD WEAR, NO DIFFICULTY STEERING. WE NOTICED WHILE STEERING THAT THE FRONT WHEELS FELT LOOSE, BUT DEALER ASSURED US AT OIL CHANGE IN AUGUST THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. WE HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 BALL JOINTS, HOWEVER THIS PART IS NOT FAIL SAFE. THE SERVICE DEPT. AT CHEVY DEALER SAID THEMSELVES THAT THEY HAVE SEEN MANY BALL JOINT FAILURES NOW THAT THESE CARS ARE GETTING OLDER. ALTHOUGH WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE BALL JOINT NEEDS TO BE LUBRICATED, THE SERVICE DEALER DID NOT NOTICE THE PROBLEM, NOR HAD THEY LUBRICATED IT AT THE LAST OIL CHANGE, NOR IS THE PART FAIL SAFE. *JB