I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT FELT LIKE I HAD A BLOWOUT. I BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL OVER AND FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BROKE. I SKIDDED TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, LOOKED AT THE WHEEL, AND IT WAS FACING TOWARD THE SKY. LUCKY FOR ME THIS HAPPENED ON A SUNDAY MORNING WITH VER…
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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT FELT LIKE I HAD A BLOWOUT. I BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL OVER AND FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BROKE. I SKIDDED TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, LOOKED AT THE WHEEL, AND IT WAS FACING TOWARD THE SKY. LUCKY FOR ME THIS HAPPENED ON A SUNDAY MORNING WITH VERY LIMITED TRAFFIC, OR IT COULD HAVE BE FATAL. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A SHOP, AND THEY SAID THE BALL JOINT AND AXLE BROKE, THE FRONT TIRES WERE RUINED, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS WAS ABOUT $1500. THE SHOP REPLACED THE BALL JOINT AND AXLE, AND WERE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING A WHEEL FOR ME. I AM NOT SURE IF THE OLD PART WAS AVAILABLE OR NOT. SOMEONE INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE BALL JOINTS, SO I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO ASK THEM ABOUT MY CAR, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT A DEALERSHIP HAD CORRECTED THE RECALLED BALL JOINT ON FEBRUARY 20, 2002. HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT EASY TO BELIEVE THAT IF THEY HAD FIXED IT CORRECTLY ONLY FIVE YEARS AGO THAT IT WOULD HAVE BROKEN IN SUCH A MANNER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10190092
95,000 miles · Dec 10, 2004
Power TrainCrashInjury
TRANSMISSION JUMPS IN AND OUT OF GEAR WHEN EVER IT FEELS LIKE IT CAUSING THE FRONT TIRES TO LOCK UP AND THE PASSENGERS TO BE TOSSED AROUND . IT WILL CONTINULLY DO THIS UNTIL I STOP THE CAR THEN ITS FINE FOR A MINUTE THEN IT DOES IT AGAIN . NO MATTER WHAT I DO IT KEEPS HAPPENING . *AK
NHTSA ODI #10102607
35,000 miles · Jul 14, 2003
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION WENT ON MY CAR - 1998 DODGE AVENGER, 35,000 MILES. 8AK
NHTSA ODI #10026052
Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2000
Power Train
HAVE PROBLEMS WITH NOISE COMING FROM LEFT FRONT OF ENGINE WHEN PUTTING CAR IN AND OUT OF GEAR AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING TOOK IN FOR SERVICE AND TOLD IT WAS THE SOLENOID ON THE TRANSMISSION. NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALER AND TOLD IT WAS THE CLUTCH PAKS ON OR IN THE TRANSMISSION
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
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.
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