1997 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT DETACHED FROM THE SOCKET WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09E056000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT), BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER PROPOSED THAT THE CONTACT PAY 50 PERCENT OF THE COST OF THE REPAIRS DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID

10432941

Incident

Oct 12, 2011

Mileage

115,000 mi

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A FRIENDS DRIVEWAY IN MY 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND A GRINDING SOUND. WHEN I GOT OUT TO LOOK, IT TURNS OUT THAT THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY BROKE IN HALF BY THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY. I THEN CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED AND WHEN THE TOW COMPANY CAME THEY INFORMED ME THIS WAS THE 4TH CHRYSLER CONVERTIBLE IN TWO MONTHS THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO TOW WITH THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT BREAKING. I THEN DECIDED TO CHECK FOR RECALLS AND IT TURNS OUT THERE ARE 2 RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE BUT WHEN I CONTACTED THE LOCCAL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP THEY INFORM ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY CAR. HOW CAN THAT BE WHEN YOU LIST THE FOLLOWING RECALLS 04V021000, 09E056000 AND 10E059000 ON YOUR WEBSITE. I AM JUST VERY THANKFUL THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED WHEN THIS HAPPENED OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS, LIKE TWO OF THE OTHER ACCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SHARED WITH ME. TWO OF THE OTHER VEHICLES HE TOWED, THE DRIVERS WERE INJURED WHEN THE BALL JOINT BROKE AND THEY CRASHED.

NHTSA ID

10380819

Incident

Jan 4, 2011

Mileage

15,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING A1997 CHRYS. SEBRING CONVERTIBLE ACROSS A BRIDGE OVER A LAKE, THE LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT BROKE RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. I ALMOST DIDN'T STOP BEFORE GOING IN THE WATER. CAR BLOCKED THE HIGHWAY AND A PATROLMAN STAYED WITH ME UNTIL WRECKER ARRIVED . IT DID MAJOR DAMAGE TO FRONT FENDER, PLASTIC BUMPER BRAKES AND WHEEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10343086

Incident

Feb 20, 2010

Mileage

172,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. ON JULY 9, 2007, WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTROL ARM DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE AXLE TO FALL OFF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTROL ARM AND AXLE WERE REPLACED ON JULY 11, 2007 FOR $1,080. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL # 00V421002 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 135,000.

NHTSA ID

10196051

Incident

Jul 9, 2007

Mileage

135,000 mi

RIGHT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FRACTURED AND RIPPED OUT THE DRIVE SHAFT FROM THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. A NEW LOWER CONTROL ARM AND DRIVE SHAFT WAS INSTALLED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10128386

Incident

Jul 7, 2005

Mileage

150,000 mi

IT'S A CONSTANT RATTLE NOISY AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR, WHEN WE BOUGTH THE CAR AND START DRIVING IT WE NOTICE THE NOISY WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T FOUND ANYTHING, DIDN'T DROVE THE CAR FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, MOVE TO DC, START DRIVING THE CAR AGAIN AND THE RATTLE GETTING WORST I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THEY FIX THE CAR I PAID ALMOST $900.00 AND THE PROBLEM STILL THERE, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC 1 MONTH AFTER THEY FIXED, THE INVOICE SAID 90 DAYS WARRANTY, NOW THEY SAID IT'S PROBABLY ANOTHER PROBLEM, IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM SAME NOISY. I JUST WANT MY CAR FIXED, FOR WHAT I PAID.

NHTSA ID

10127244

Incident

May 25, 2005

FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED WHILE DRIVING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10102581

Incident

Jun 1, 2000

Mileage

70,000 mi

MAKING LEFT HAND TURN DRIVER SIDE WHEEL COLLAPSED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10102545

Incident

May 5, 2004

Mileage

56,000 mi