Chrysler Suspension: Lower Ball Joint

Chrysler is recalling about 599,000 vehicles over a problem with the suspension. Separation of the ball joint could cause a loss of steering control increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Campaign
97V201000
Manufacturer
CHRYSLER CORPORATION
Reported
13 November 1997
Vehicles
599,000
Built between
Jul 1994 – Jul 1997
Models
4
Recall type
Vehicle
Initiated by
NHTSA investigation
Owners notified
15 December 1997
Repaired
Not reported
Unrepaired
Not reported

Does this affect my vehicle?

This recall covers vehicles built between July 1994 and July 1997. If yours was built outside that window, it is not part of this recall.

  • 1995-1997 Chrysler CirrusBuilt July 1994 to July 1997
  • 1995-1997 Chrysler SebringBuilt July 1994 to July 1997
  • 1995-1997 Dodge StratusBuilt July 1994 to July 1997
  • 1995-1997 Plymouth BreezeBuilt July 1994 to July 1997

What the defect is

Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The lower control arm ball joint can separate due to loss of lubrication.

What could happen

Separation of the ball joint could cause a loss of steering control increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

What gets fixed

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BALL JOINT END HOUSING COVER SEAL FOR LEAKAGE WITH A HIGH PRESSURE AIR TESTER AND THE RUBBER BOOT WILL BE VISUALLY INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE. IF THE COVER SEAL LEAKS OR THE BOOT IS DAMAGED, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WILL BE REPLACED.

Timeline

  1. Vehicles builtJuly 1994 to July 1997
  2. Recall reported to NHTSA13 November 1997
  3. Owners notified15 December 1997

Your rights

A safety recall repair is free. Under US federal law the manufacturer must fix a safety defect at no cost to you — no charge for parts, labor or diagnosis — whether or not you are the original owner. A dealer cannot charge you for recall work, and cannot require you to have bought the vehicle from them.

That entitlement is not unlimited. It applies where the vehicle was first sold less than 15 years before the recall was announced — 5 years for tires. Past that a manufacturer may still do the repair free of charge, and many do, but they are no longer obliged to. This recall was reported on 13 November 1997.

To arrange the repair, contact any franchised dealer for the brand. If a dealer refuses the work or tries to charge for it, you can report that to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/recalls or on 1-888-327-4236.

Official source

Recalling manufacturer
CHRYSLER CORPORATION
Recall initiated by
ODI

Everything on this page — the models listed, the build dates and the repair figures — comes from the manufacturer's filing to NHTSA and describes the vehicle line as a whole, not any individual car. Only the manufacturer can confirm whether a specific vehicle is affected, and whether its recall work has already been carried out. Check yours by VIN and read the official notice at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Additional notes

Owner notification began december 15, 1997.OWNERS who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chrysler at 1-800-992-1997.ALSO contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393.

Check your own vehicle

This page describes the recall, not any one car. To see which recalls cover a specific vehicle, search by make, model and year.

A VIN lookup here identifies your vehicle and shows recalls issued for that make, model and year. It cannot tell you what is still open on your individual car - only the manufacturer knows that. Search by VIN instead, or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov for whether a recall is still open on your individual car.

Same component

Same brand