Recalls
| Campaign | Manufacturer | Manufacturing date | Type | # of units affected | Date Owner notified Mfg | Recall Initiated by | Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products | Report Recieved Date | Record Creation Date | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT | ||||||||||||||||
| 09E056000 | QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE LLC | E (Equipment) | 5787 | 11/09/2009 | MFR | CHRYSLER GROUP LLC | 10/09/2009 | 10/13/2009 | ||||||||
| Defect Summary | Qualis 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 Summary | Separation 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 Summary | Qualis automotive will replace the ball joints free of charge. the safety recall began on november 9, 2009. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | This 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
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | |||||
| 01008 | 05/29/2001 | 620075 | Wheel alignment out of specification. *tt | 07/11/2001 | |
| 00061 | 10/20/2000 | 618888 | Advance service information regrading shock tower weld issues. *tt | 05/07/2001 | |
| 0200900 | 12/29/2000 | 618393 | Concerns with popping or squawking noise from rear suspension while driving vehicle. *jb | 04/12/2001 | |
| 0200700 | 12/08/2000 | 616715 | Experiencing ticking noise from the front strut area. *tt | 03/08/2001 | |
| SUSPENSION - REAR | |||||
| 0200301 | 06/01/2001 | 620057 | Some vehicles may exhibit a squeaking or hard rubbing type sound from the rear of the vehicle when traveling over bumpy roads. two different conditions can contribute to these sounds. the squeak may be caused by low lubricant level in t | 07/10/2001 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | |||
| 02/10/2010 | 1 | ||
| S10 appropriate handling-letter from regarding 2001 chrysler sebring *tgw the consumer stated when he turned the steering wheel to the left or the right, he could hear a grinding sound. the dealer found the left lower ball joint was worn, which was the cause of the noise. also, the front struts, oil pan and cooler lines were all leaking, and the drive belts were cracked. the heating and air condition controls were not performing as designed. *jb | |||
| 02/09/2007 | 97000 | 1 | |
| Bought used in 2007 sebring 2001 at 87k miles. at round 95k, while pulling out of parking space, heard cracking noise in steering wheel..resulting in no horn, air bag light cont illuminated so can't tell if there's a problem, and no cruise control. took car to private dealer and diagnosed clock spring, but chrysler says its not under recall protection any longer!!! crazy, i know! also, since purchase have many probs with electrical dash probs ie flashing on/dimming and radio just turning off...also not covered! and had strange humming noise since purchase while driving...finally found out what it was and had to replace both front hubs. all of these safety issues seem to be a continuing prob with other drivers as per the complaints i've read here at least as far back as i read (thru 2006). why is chrysler not being made to rectify at least the air bag (clock spring) issue they already admitted to???? really kind of the same thing with the elect issues too, but i kind of understand poss issues with that after so many miles. would really like help/advice on how to make chrysler take responsibility for that expensive clockspring/air bad issue. *tr | |||
| 12/24/2008 | 1 | ||
| I purchased a 2001 chrysler sebring 5 years ago. nice looking car, but the engine is total junk. transmission leaks, leaks oil, power steering, massive vibration when at a stop, massive engine noise. engine is junk. had to trade in for a much better and reliable car. i will not purchase chrysler again. *tr | |||
| 01/25/2002 | 6 | 02/01/2000 | |
| I have had electrical system go out twice while driving. the tires were replaced at 22,000 because they were worn out. stering wheel vibrates to the point it is inoperable.*ak | |||
| 06/11/2001 | 1 | 06/03/2001 | |
| Rear toe and camber out of range causing the vehicle to pull to the right. nlm | |||
| 06/05/2001 | 2 | 06/03/2001 | |
| While washing car consumer noticed excessive brake dust. consumer took vehicle to dealer and they stated that cambers were out of alignment. dealer said rear toe and cambers were out of range, so they set rear and front toe. 4 days later, noticed dust again. consumer stated same problem has reoccurred for last month. *ak the seal around the rear window is leaking. consumer states vehicle still pulling to the left and the right. fluid leak from left front wheel, dealer could not find any problems. dealer states excessive brake dust is normal for this vehicle. *slc | |||
| 03/27/2001 | 5 | ||
| Vehicle was experiencing a problem with a humming noise. vehiclehas been into dealer shop on five occasions, and unable to locate problem.*ak *slc | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||
| 11/29/2010 | 104000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2001 chrysler sebring convertible. while driving approximately 35 mph he heard a loud banging noise. the vehicle was pulled over and shut off. upon examining the vehicle he noticed the front passenger side wheel was very loose. he also noticed the ball joint fractured from the control arm. the vehicle was driven home and was not taken to have the failure diagnosed. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 104,000. the vin was unavailable. sm. | |||
| 09/01/2007 | 136000 | 2 | 07/02/2007 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2001 chrysler sebring. while driving 30 mph, the steering wheel locked and the driver side front wheel assembly detached when making a left turn. the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure; however, he replaced the driver side front axle and both front ball joints. approximately two months later, while driving 5 mph, the steering wheel locked. the contact stated that he had to turn the vehicle off and restart it for it to perform normally. as of december 17, 2007, the mechanic had not inspected the vehicle. the failure mileage was 136,000 and current mileage was 138,888. | |||
| 01/25/2003 | 4 | 11/29/2000 | |
| Front end suspension, wheel bearing & steering - grinding noise when going over small holes or hills such as speed bumps & pot holes. almost never when driving directly forward, but often when turning. dealer made 4 (four) repair attempts and still has not gotten it right. not 2 months after last repair, which took six weeks to get all the parts together (during which the lemon law coverage for my car expired - go wonder about that..) the noises have returned again. other issues, i have seen 6 total issues mentioned in this site that i can identify with. as for those sudden accelerations some have mentioned, yes i agree the pedals are too close which makes it easy to mash both brake & gas pedals. *jb | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER ARM | |||
| 12/29/2005 | 63192 | 1 | 11/01/2001 |
| While driving in rush hour traffic on a busy interstate, the right front ball joint failed catastrophically and the front end began to shake violently. fortunately i was able to stop quickly and pull into the median. i had the car at the dealership only 2 months prior with popping noises in the front suspension. the service department performed an inspection and said all front end components tight and sound /no failures detected. less than 2,000 miles later, the ball joint failed! what is even more concerning is that the same exact symptoms were experienced 2 years ago and many components of the front suspension (including both ball joints) were replaced. the first occurrence of this problem was at 37,000 miles and cost me $598.66 (since the warranty only covered to 36,000 miles - ironic, huh?). the most recent failure occurred at 63,000 miles and cost me $693.06. upon driving the car into the garage after being towed, the service manager said that the ball joint popped completely out of it's joint and showed me that the tire was only barely hanging on. he also said i was lucky that i hadn't went 20 more feet on the freeway because the tire would have fallen off and there would have been much more damage and possibly injury. the dealership made the repairs but would not cover any of the expenses. the dealership also would not accept responsibility or refund the cost for the faulty inspection that was performed 2 months prior to the catastrophic failure of the ball joint. *jb | |||
| 06/25/2005 | 53190 | 1 | 02/08/2004 |
| Front top ball joint snapped when pulling out of a parking spot. no warning, had to be towed for repair. found damaged control arms on both sides when replacing both front top and bottom ball joints. only 53,000 miles on the car! intend to write to chrysler. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT | |||
| 04/04/2008 | 37200 | 1 | |
| On my 2001 chrysler sebring one of the ball joints on the passenger side front wheel separated in a parking lot, causing the wheel to become detached. the mechanic determined it was rusted out which was surprising since the car only had 37k miles. the vehicle was in michigan and ohio for 5 years and california for 2 years. the mechanic was surprised and he said it normally takes over 100k miles for this type of problem. there were no injuries and the car was repaired (with replacement of all ball joints and the control arms) and i have the parts. *tr | |||
| 12/29/2005 | 63192 | 1 | 11/01/2001 |
| While driving in rush hour traffic on a busy interstate, the right front ball joint failed catastrophically and the front end began to shake violently. fortunately i was able to stop quickly and pull into the median. i had the car at the dealership only 2 months prior with popping noises in the front suspension. the service department performed an inspection and said all front end components tight and sound /no failures detected. less than 2,000 miles later, the ball joint failed! what is even more concerning is that the same exact symptoms were experienced 2 years ago and many components of the front suspension (including both ball joints) were replaced. the first occurrence of this problem was at 37,000 miles and cost me $598.66 (since the warranty only covered to 36,000 miles - ironic, huh?). the most recent failure occurred at 63,000 miles and cost me $693.06. upon driving the car into the garage after being towed, the service manager said that the ball joint popped completely out of it's joint and showed me that the tire was only barely hanging on. he also said i was lucky that i hadn't went 20 more feet on the freeway because the tire would have fallen off and there would have been much more damage and possibly injury. the dealership made the repairs but would not cover any of the expenses. the dealership also would not accept responsibility or refund the cost for the faulty inspection that was performed 2 months prior to the catastrophic failure of the ball joint. *jb | |||
| 06/25/2005 | 53190 | 1 | 02/08/2004 |
| Front top ball joint snapped when pulling out of a parking spot. no warning, had to be towed for repair. found damaged control arms on both sides when replacing both front top and bottom ball joints. only 53,000 miles on the car! intend to write to chrysler. | |||
| 06/18/2005 | 62000 | 1 | |
| Dt: caller said the wheel fell off in driveway without warning. the top upper ball joint gave way, leaving the bottom ball joint to hold the tire. dealer said this was normal. manufacturer has not been contacted yet. caller has not had it fixed. *ak | |||
| 03/19/2004 | 1 | 05/01/2001 | |
| While driving 25 mph consumer heard a sound coming from the rear. consumer pulled to the side, and noticed that the vehicle was leaning to the left. vehicle was taken to the mechanic for inspection, and mechanic determined that the ball joints needed to be replaced. *ak *nm | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - HUB | |||
| 05/14/2007 | 95195 | 4 | 03/15/2001 |
| Heard something rip or break inside steering wheel when pulling out of a parking space, followed by the air bag light turning on. no problems with steering, but fear a costly repair for the air bag and or clock spring mechanism. had to replace hub bearings 3 times. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - WHEEL BEARING | |||
| 03/01/2006 | 59000 | 1 | |
| Dt*: the contact stated there was a puddle under the vehicle. the dealership determined the cooler hose needed to be replaced. there is a nhtsa recall, # 01v011002, regarding the transmission cooler hose. the vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however, it is not included in the recall due to the vin. updated 8/14/2006 - the wheel bearings were worn. *nm | |||
| 03/22/2003 | 28316 | 2 | 09/10/2001 |
| Both front wheel bearings had to be replaced on my chrysler sebring at around 25,000 miles. the dealer said he's changed at least 4 other sebring's front wheel bearings. i think chrysler should order a recall to prevent a serious accident.*jb | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR | |||
| 06/26/2008 | 113000 | 1 | |
| Rear mounting bracket on the strut broke, car was making a banging noise in the rear. i was afraid to drive the car home from work and had the car towed. could have resulted in a serious accident had the car not been towed. part has been unavailable from chrysler since 6/26 and will not be available until at least the first of august. i am told there are 8000 of these parts on back order nationally, and the way the part oxidized, i'm curious why there has not been a recall. i've done some research and this is not a common part to have to replace. also chrysler refuses to offer me a loaner car until the part is available. *tr | |||
| 06/05/2001 | 16 | 06/03/2001 | |
| Nary 05/21/2003 *mr the consumer experienced rear brake suspension, transmission slippage, rear window sealant loose, and steering problems. *cb | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR - AXLE - NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY | |||
| 05/24/2005 | 70000 | 1 | 05/15/2001 |
| Upper ball joint in passenger side rear suspension failed causing the wheel to fold inward with an associated temporary loss of vehicle control. new part was installed and upon inspection, the old ball joint appeared rusty and corroded. | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR - SHOCK ABSORBER | |||
| 07/10/2006 | 1 | ||
| I heard a rattling noise coming from the back end of my 2001 chrysler sebring. i needed to pick up children and intended to look into noise when i got home. about a mile from home on a bumpy country road, the rear passenger side tire blew out. while changing the tire, it was discovered that the strut support had corroded and broken, throwing the shock into my tire. tire is destroyed and strut/shock needed to be replaced. the mechanic looks at the other side and finds that it too is corroded and ready to break. a friend is a mechanic for a chrysler dealer and says he has seen this before and chrysler knows this is a problem, but has not issued a recall. this malfunction sent my car into the oncoming traffic lane, and i was just lucky that i was in the country and no one was coming the other way! the warranty on my car expired 2 months ago. is chrysler in any way responsible for the repair costs? *jb | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS | |||
| 03/14/2006 | 2 | 05/14/2004 | |
| The rear shock mounts completely corroded away and had to be replaced. i noticed a knocking sound when i would hit a bump and the shock and spring was completely loose from the frame because of the faulty brackets that had failed. also the radio stopped working when the battery failed and the only thing it will do now is flash the treble/bass lights and will not function.*cn | |||