1999 Plymouth Prowler Suspension Problems

I purchased my 1999 Plymouth Prowler in August of 2022. I was told that it has a recall on the front suspension lower ball joints that was issued on 03/28/2003. I contacted a dealership for an appointment to get it fixed and they said they would order the ball joints. They also said it takes a special tool to replace them of which they did not have and the would not purchase on. I contacted another dealer and was to the same thing. I can’t get anyone to fix it. What can I do. I looked on line and the tool cost about $75.00.

NHTSA ID

11532589

Incident

Apr 26, 2023

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PLYMOUTH PROWLER. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT AXLE DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

NHTSA ID

11150177

Incident

Nov 6, 2018

Mileage

54,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PLYMOUTH PROWLER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED A FEW YEARS BACK FOR THE SAME FAILURE UNDER A MANUFACTURER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ID

10809671

Incident

Dec 10, 2015

Mileage

72,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PLYMOUTH PROWLER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL 03V034000 SUSPENSION, FRONT CONTROL ARM, LOWER ARM IN 2003. ON DECEMBER 31, 2009 WHILE HE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AND ENTERING AN EXIT THE LOWER CONTROL FAILED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,000.

NHTSA ID

10298255

Incident

Dec 31, 2009

Mileage

30,000 mi

THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT RECALL 03V-034000,THE BRAKE SYSTEM LAMP RECALL 99V-245000, THE FRAME STRENGTH RECALL 99V-313000, AND THE GEAR SHIFT POSITION LIGHTING RECALL 98V-104000 BECAUSE THE PARTS HAVEN'T BEEN AVAILABLE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER 3 YEARS. *LA

NHTSA ID

10082195

Incident

Feb 20, 2000

Mileage

800 mi

THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE REGARDING THE RECALL FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10015836

Incident

Apr 14, 2003

1ST. THING I NOTICED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WAS THE STEERING OF THE CAR WAS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO CONTROL, AND I WAS HEARING CRACKING AND POPPING NOISES COMMING FROM THE FRONT END BUT I NOR ANYONE ELSE WHO ALSO HEARD THE NOISES COULD TELL JUST WHERE THEY WERE COMMING FROM , AND I OWN A CAR LIFT BUT EVAN AFTER MANY MANY INSPECTIONS I COULD NEVER SEE ANYTHING WRONG OR OUT OF PLACE , I WAS TOLD THAT MY STEERING RACK WAS MAKING A LOT OF NOISE SO I HAD AND ALINEMENT DONE AND WAS TOLD THAT I DID HAVE ( SOMETHING WRONG ) BUT THEY DID NOT NO WHAT IT WAS EITHER , SO AFTER DISCUSSING THIS WITH MY DEALER ON 8-7-02 AND MAKING AN APPOINTMENT FOR A NEW STEERING RACK TO BE INSTALLED ON 8-19 -02 , BUT ON 8-8-02 AT 7:50 AM AND DRIVING OVER A BRIDGE ON NORTH 14TH. STREET THE LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT CAME APPART AND LET THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL AND TIRE ASSY. FLY OFF BUT STILL ATTATCHED FROM THE UPPER BALL JOINT AND BRAKE LINE BUT BOUNCING VILENTLY AGAINST THE GROUND AND BODY UNTILL I COULD QUIT SLIDING DOWN THE BRIDGE AND STEAR THE CAR AROUND THE CORNER AND OFF OF THE MAIN STREET , I CALLED MY DEALER AND LATER REQUESTED THAT THE STRESSES UPPER BALL JOINT BE REPLACE AS WELL AS THE RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT BUT WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT DO THAT , I AM VERY WORRIED THAT WHAT HAPPENED ON THE LEFT SIDE WILL SOON HAPPEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND I DONT WANT TO GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN , I WAS ONLY GOING 35 MPH AND DRIVING IN TOWN BUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN ON THE INTERSTATE AT 75 MPH , I NOW THINK OF IT AS A TICKING TIME BOMB READY TO GO OFF AT ANY TIME AND THE DRIVING EXPERIANCE WONT BE THE SAME ANYMORE .*AK

NHTSA ID

765616

Incident

Aug 8, 2002

LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT SNAPPED, AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

8014269

Incident

Jun 29, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINT BROKE CAUSING THE RIGHT WHEEL TO FALL OFF, NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. *AK *JG

NHTSA ID

8006276

Incident

Mar 23, 2002