1996 Dodge Stratus suspension problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE, STRUCK THE CURVE AND TRAVELED INTO TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED HER THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS SEPARATED FROM THE SOCKET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09E056000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 116,000. UPDATED 02/28/13 *BF THE LOWER BALL JOINT AND AXLE WERE REPLACED.”

“WHILE DRIVING FORWARD AT ABOUT 25-30 MPH, THE STEERING LOCKED TO THE RIGHT, RIGHT SIDE FELL DOWN AND PULLED CAR SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT. THERE WAS NO STEERING, NO CONTROL. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, PULLED CAR UP A CURB INTO A FIRE HYDRANT THEN ANOTHER 25 FEET INTO A POLE. CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE FRONT END PARTS ARE ALL IN TACT, ONLY THE LOWER CONTROL ARM IS CRACKED WHICH CAUSED THE WHEEL TO TURN COMPLETELY TO THE RIGHT. EVERYTHING WAS INSPECTED ON VEHICLE AND THERE IS NOT ANY OTHER EXPLANATION OR EVIDENCE PRIOR TO THE CURB THAN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE CAR LOST CONTROL CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE. *NM”

“WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP, I NOTICED A NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. I INSPECTED THE AREA AND FOUND THAT THE BRACKET WHICH SECURES THE TRAILING ARM LINK HAD DISINTEGRATED FROM RUST. THE TRAILING ARM LINK WAS "FLOATING" AT THE FRAME END. IT SERVES TO PROVIDE STABILITY FOR THE ENTIRE REAR SUSPENSION. I REPLACED THE BRACKETS ON BOTH SIDES (LEFT AND RIGHT) AS THE OTHER SIDE WAS ALSO NEAR FAILURE. THE REST OF THE FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE ARE NEARLY RUST FREE. THE FAILED AND NEARLY FAILED PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *NM”

“DT: THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE ON 1996 DODGE STRATUS. THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC REFERRED THE CONSUMER TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE CAR WAS REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CAR MADE NOISES WHEN THE BRAKE WERE APPLIED, AND IN REVERSE IT POPPED. THE CONSUMER WAS TAKING THE CAR BACK TO MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT BEEN IN CONTACT WITH CHRYSLER AS OF NOW.*AK”

“CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 97 V 201 000 CONCERNING LOWER CONTROL ARM. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE RIGHT WHEEL COLLAPSED DUE TO LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK”

“2ND REQUEST FAX FWD EMAIL FM BEHALF OF [XXX] (TX) RE NUMEROUS DEFECTS ON A 1996 DODGE STRATUS (VIN#[XXX]). *MR THE A/C LEAKED, ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS MALFUNCTIONED, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS, AND POOR DRIVEABILITY. THERE WAS STEERING OSCILLATION WHEN DRIVEN ABOVE 50 MPH, ROUGH RIDE WHEN THERE WAS AN IRREGULAR SURFACE, ERRATIC IDLE, PERFORMANCE LOSS, OVERHEATING IN TRAFFIC AND OR THE A/C WOULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, WARM-UP SAG, HESITATION/DIE OUT, REAR GRID DEFOGGER INDICATOR LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED, INSIDE LIGHTS WORKED IMPROPERLY, ERRATIC LATE HARSH TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, FREQUENT RUMBLE OR GEAR NOISE FROM THE FRONT BETWEEN 50 AND 70 MPH, MUSTY ODOR AND DEFOGGER FAILED TO CLEAR THE GLASS. *SCC THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO IN NEED OF AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND STRUTS. *JB *TR”