Recalls


CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER ARM
10E059000FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATION E (Equipment)22689MFRCHRYSLER GROUP LLC12/27/201012/27/2010
Defect SummaryFederal-mogul is recalling certain replacement control arm assemblies, part numbers k7425, 10945, fa4510x, k7427, 10946, and fa4611x, sold for use on various passenger vehicles listed above. the ball joint on the control arm assembly can fail causing the ball stud to wear through the control arm housing resulting in noise and/or separation of the ball stud from the housing.
Consequence SummaryIf there is a separation of the ball stud from the housing, the driver can loose steering control, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Corrective SummaryFederal-mogul will notify owners of record and replace the affected control arms free of charge. the safety recall is expected to begin during january 2011. owners may contact federal-mogul at 1-877-489-6659.
NotesThis recall only pertains to replacement control arm assemblies and has no relation to any original equipment installed on vehicles manufactured by chrysler llc.owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov .
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT
09E056000QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE LLC E (Equipment)578711/09/2009MFRCHRYSLER GROUP LLC10/09/200910/13/2009
Defect SummaryQualis automotive is recalling certain aftermarket ball joints sold for use on certain passenger vehicles. the socket may have been excessively hardened which could cause it to crack near the retaining ring groove allowing the ball stud to separate under impact load. the subject ball joints were sold as four part numbers, d10945, d10946, g10945, and g10946. the affected control arms, d10945 and d10946, are stamped with the following dates on the ball joints: 134308, 135708, 100109, 102709, 104109, 105509, 107609, 108909, 110309, 113209, and 116609. the g10945 and g10946 are the same part as the d10945 and d10946 respectively. they are labeled differently depending on the aftermarket customer.
Consequence SummarySeparation of the ball stud from the socket of the ball joint housing would allow the control arm to collapse and the wheel to fold in causing loss of steering control, possibly resulting in a crash.
Corrective SummaryQualis automotive will replace the ball joints free of charge. the safety recall began on november 9, 2009.
NotesThis recall only pertains to aftermarket ball joints and has no relation to any original equipment installed on vehicles produced by chrysler.owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov .

Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
SUSPENSION - REAR
020020308/08/200310003529Revised rear suspension lateral control links. *tt10/22/2003

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
SUSPENSION
10/23/201185000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2004 dodge stratus. while driving approximately 35 mph, the contact heard a grinding sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. the grinding sound progressed over time and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. the mechanic advised the contact that the front driver and passenger side lower ball joints, outer tie rods and the stabilizer bar would have to be replaced. the contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 09e056000 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint) but was advised by the manufacturer that the vin was not included in the recall. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 85,000. kmj
10/23/201185000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2004 dodge stratus. while driving approximately 35 mph, the contact heard a grinding sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. the grinding sound progressed over time and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. the mechanic advised the contact that the front driver and passenger side lower ball joints, outer tie rods and the stabilizer bar would have to be replaced. the contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 09e056000 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint) but was advised by the manufacturer that the vin was not included in the recall. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 85,000. kmj
10/06/2012800001
 Driving over a small bump in the road, the car rear suspension made a clanging noise. upon investigation, the left rear shock absorber top mount is broken, and the shock is loose and rattling, not performing its function to stabilizer the vehicle over standard road conditions. loss of suspension during braking maneuver on wet roads could lead to an accident from loss of control of vehicle. *tr
10/06/201280000
 Driving over a small bump in the road, the car rear suspension made a clanging noise. upon investigation, the left rear shock absorber top mount is broken, and the shock is loose and rattling, not performing its function to stabilizer the vehicle over standard road conditions. loss of suspension during braking maneuver on wet roads could lead to an accident from loss of control of vehicle.
07/29/20121201
 Heard a pop, pulled over and the tires are in different directions. called the local dealer and they say no recalls on this vin, however, the parts it seems were recalled for other vin numbers on this vehicle. specifically recall id 79805 and recall id 86458. *tr
07/29/2012120
 Heard a pop, pulled over and the tires are in different directions. called the local dealer and they say no recalls on this vin, however, the parts it seems were recalled for other vin numbers on this vehicle. specifically recall id 79805 and recall id 86458.
02/01/2012
 Car is making crunching sounds in rear. brought into the dealership on route 38, lumberton nj 08060 and was told it's the rear suspension/struts etc and would cost $1100.00 to fix. my sister has the same car, same year and hers broke last year. i then looked online and saw there are so many complaints about this problem. the parts that were put onto car during assembly line were like plastic and they crumble and cause the whole rear to fall, cause accidents, cause tires to fly off the car and deaths. this should be a recall immediately. my mom is very angry. she paid for both cars and wont buy another american made car again unless they recall this issue. she called dodge headquarters 800 number and spoke to jake and he said there was nothing he could do. please do something.
03/15/2010210/25/2008
 2004 dodge stratus left axle broke off while driving. consumer also states that the tire fell off, brake rotor was replaced and then the ball joint went bad. *kb the consumer also stated the transmission gasket was replaced twice and the vehicle smelled hot. *jb
04/29/2009239001
 I was driving at 30mph coming to stop where i heard this loud clunk like if i ran over a large rock and bottomed out on it. nothing happened to the car from what i can see but i see that there are many other complaints for this issue on this car. *tr
SUSPENSION - FRONT
07/01/200880000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2004 dodge stratus. while driving 10 mph, she attempted to make a right turn, felt a bump and loud noises under the hood. she immediately drove the vehicle to a local mechanic. the mechanic stated that the failure was a result of the upper aluminum strut mounts and needed to be replaced immediately. the dealer stated that the parts would not be available until 08/14/08. the vehicle is parked and has not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 80,000.
08/31/20053045008/31/2005
 Click sound in left front area when accelerating (fwd and reverse) and breaking. seems to be a common problem with stratus r/t and the similar mitsubishi eclipse. similar complaints and discussion can be found here. http://www.eclipseforums.org/fortopic8583-0-asc-0.html. *nn
SUSPENSION - REAR
12/26/201088000
 Have a 2004 dodge stratus and upper left rear strut mount has broken. this is the second time this has happened since buying the car new.
08/15/2010101000
 My 2004 dodge stratus has defective parts. the aluminum rear strut upper mount brackets corroded so bad thet fell apart in 4 pieces and corosion dust . these brackets are obviously defective to fall apart like this on a vehicle only 6 years old. there needs to be a recasll for dodge to replace these parts or pay for the parts already replaced. i need the car. i can't wait for a recall. i will keep the defective parts
07/20/2008498001
 Through normal driving i exited off a highway ramp and heard a loud clang and thought my car had bottomed out. when i looked under the car the part that attached my rear drivers side tire to the shock had broken free. a neighbor told me it was the upper link to the rear view. my car is now undriveable. the rear wheel tilts onto the shock and rubs, also every small bump in the road sounds and feels like the car is bottoming out. *tr
08/20/20081420001
 There was a distinctive rattle coming from the right rear suspension. the failure was the upper strut mount. the right and left strut mounts were replaced. the original material was aluminum and the replacement was painted steel. the dealer said a few months ago there was a waiting list of thousands of these parts. do not have the old parts left at tire store. *tr
08/16/2008660001
 My vehicle failed inspection because the rear strut mounts need to be replaced. my mechanic reports that this is a very common occurrence in dodges and thought their might even be a recall issued on this part but my research indicated that is not the case. *tr
07/26/2008900001
 2004 dodge stratus - approx 90,000 miles at first, i noticed a thumping on the rear passenger side of vehicle. after continuing to drive the car while trying to determine cause, the rear strut mounting bracket broke. after looking under the car, it was determined that the mounting bracket broke due to corrosion. it was also seen at this time that the driver side rear bracket was broke as well, leaving the car undrivable and unsafe. after we contacted the dealership, they told us there is a national backorder on this part and no foreseen date of when they will get the parts to fix my car. we have also contacted local salvage yards to find replacements until the new parts arrive, with no success. *tr
07/26/2008690001
 My 2004 dodge stratus had the passenger side rear strut mount fail. it was oxidized and broke when going over a bump. i brought it in for repair and there is no parts for this. they are on back order. *tr
07/20/2008670001
 2004 dodge stratus 67,000 miles the rear strut tower broke off of the vehicle due to corrosion causing the tower to become lodged into the tire, damaging the tire, which could have caused an accident. this issue was caught prior to an accident. chrysler is unable to keep up with the demand for these parts, leading me to believe that this is an on going issue with the vehicle. there is a national back-order on the rear strut mounts and mounting plates and the dealership is unable to provide a time as to when my vehicle can be repaired. *tr
06/15/2008410001
 Failure of the rear upper strut mounts on a 2004 dodge stratus sxt due to corrosion. was told by dodge dealer over 9000 of these items are back ordered. the car is un-drivable and dangerous as is. one has completely failed the other is almost corroded through. parts are un-available through manufacturer and third party vendors. *tr
07/05/200870300109/25/2005
 Tl*the contact owns a 2004 dodge stratus. while driving at an unknown speed over a bump in the road there was a rattling noise coming from the vehicle. when her husband drove the vehicle, he experienced the same failure. the failure felt as if the rear end was loose or unstable. the dealer stated that they could order the part for the repair, but did not know when it would arrive because it was on back order. the failure mileage was 70,300 and current mileage was 70,700. updated 09/16/08. *lj updated 09/18/08. *jb
05/14/2008744451
 Failure of mounting bracket for rear struts: 2004 dodge stratus, date of mfg 09/2003. *tr
06/08/2008798001
 Events leading up to failure was just normal driving conditions for 79,500 miles. the failure was a rear strut mount breaking and losing suspension in the rear. this is a permanent failure and the opposite side is showing a crack and is ready to break as well. as of now the vehicle is not operable and if it were to have broke at a different time it could have caused loss of vehicle control. to correct the failure service will be needed but there is a multiple month wait for parts according to local dealerships. the old parts will be available once replacement parts can be provided. *tr
04/19/2007110/21/2003
 2004 dodge stratus with rear end problems. consumer had the resonator replaced, and then was told the rear struts needed to be replaced. when her dad was replacing the struts they broke into pieces because of all of the corrosion. *kb the consumer stated when she purchased the vehicle, there was a minor problem with the horn. the consumer stated she thinks there may be a problem with the transmission. as the vehicle changes gears, it will not change smoothly and ends up jerking back and forth as she tries to increase speed. the consumer stated the only way to stop it, is to take her foot off the accelerator and then accelerate through to the next gear *tr
07/07/200766887203/06/2003
 Heard loud clanking while driving. when home inspected right rear upper strut mount and found it broken. called dealer, who replaced both sides. left side was eroded from the top around the spring cup where salt water was probably sitting in winter, causing severe erosion coupled with the jouncing of the strut which caused breakage. *ak
06/01/2007619001
 Right rear upper strut mount corroded and failed. the rear suspension had no support as the top of the strut became detached from the vehicle. no accident resulted but this seems to be a very poor design for areas of the country where salt is used to clear snow from roads. previous years design of the upper mount was a steel mount. in 2004 the mount appears to be aluminum and very susceptible to corrosion. the only available repair was replacement of the mount. i replaced both mounts as the other was beginning to corrode as well. *tr
02/11/200630951105/29/2004
 Dealer said i had to have rear lateral link replaced to align car properly. dodge stratus sxt had 31,000 miles on it but dealer said it was not covered under 3yr 36,000 mile warranty. manufacturer was called and they said it was covered. dealer would not refund cost to replace part. *jb
05/27/200526600108/09/2004
 The left rear lower arm control snapped causing damaged to the leftside drivetrain components including frame and cross member the whole rear was replaced including the gas tank
SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS
02/29/2008104995206/10/2006
 2004 dodge stratus rear upper strut mounts breaking from corrosion. i have pictures and the parts that i can send. *tr