2000 Plymouth Prowler Suspension Problems

THE LOWER BALL JOINTS FAIL CONSTANTLY, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY LOWER BALL JOINTS 3 TIMES IN 19,000 MILES. CHRYSLER HAS RECALLED THEM AND REPLACED THEM FREE FOR THE FIRST FAILURE, BUT WILL NOT REPLACE ADDITIONAL FAILURES. A LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE WILL CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING AND WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. EVERY TIME THEY FAIL, THEY ALSO DESTROY THE RIM. CHRYSLER KNOWS VERY WELL THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF REPLACEMENTS AFTER THEY HAVE REPAIRED THIS ITEM ONCE. EVERY TIME THERE IS A FAILURE, CHRYSLER WANTS TO SELL YOU A COMPLETE LOWER CONTROL ARM THAT COST $ 1200 DOLLARS EACH. THE LOWER BALL JOINT USUALLY FAILS WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A CURB WITH THE WHEELS TURNED, AND THERE IS A LOSS OF STEERING AT THIS POINT. CHRYSLER KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM, AND SHOULD WARRANTY THIS ITEM FOR LIFE AS MOST OF THE PROWLERS ARE VERY LOW MILEAGE WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. CHRYSLER DOES HAVE A RECALL KIT THAT IS AVAILABLE TO DEALERS ONLY THAT INCLUDES THE BALL JOINTS ONLY , BUT WILL NOT SELL THEM TO THE PUBLIC AND WE CAN ONLY BUY THEM WITH THE COMPLETE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THIS IS A SAFETY ITEM THAT CAN & WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE RECALL KIT PART NUMBER IS ( CBBTC030)

NHTSA ID

10957684

Incident

Aug 15, 2016

Mileage

18,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE BALL JOINT SEPARATED FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND THE CAR HAD TO BE QUICKLY STOPPED. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND HAD TO BE ASSISTED TO A SAFE AREA. THE CAR WAS RECALLED IN 2003 TO ADDRESS THE SAME PROBLEM (2000 PLYMOUTH PROWLER SUSPENSION RECALL 03V034000). HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD BY THE PERSON REPAIRING THE CAR THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS THE SAME PROBLEM OF COMING APART DURING DRIVING AND IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. CHRYSLER WILL NOT HONOR THE OLD RECALL OR ISSUE A NEW ONE BECAUSE THE CAR IS A PLYMOUTH AND THEY DO NOT SERVICE OR BACK PLYMOUTH PRODUCTS AS A RESULT OF THEIR BANKRUPTCY.

NHTSA ID

10779131

Incident

Sep 15, 2015

Mileage

52,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PLYMOUTH PROWLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V0034000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED TEN YEARS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10519367

Incident

Jun 17, 2003

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PLYMOUTH PROWLER. IN 2001, THE CONTACT FIRST EXPERIENCED FAILURE WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LOWER BALL JOINT AT THE COST OF $1,800. IN 2003, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V034000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER ARM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER A TOTAL OF FIVE TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 8, 2008. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10259249

Incident

Feb 8, 2008

Mileage

30,000 mi

THE VEHICLE'S LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE RECALLED 18 MONTHS AGO BUT THE DEALER STILL HASN'T RECEIVED THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *NM RECALL CAMPAIGN 03V034000. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10109587

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITING SINCE MARCH OF 2003 FOR PARTS. SUSPENSION WAS BROKEN. DEALER STATED PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10030048

THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T HAVE THE TOOLS OR PARTS TO PERFORM THE RECALL ON THE LOWER BALL JOINTS 03 V 034 000. *MR *SCC

NHTSA ID

10018129

Incident

May 21, 2003

Mileage

46,000 mi

THE FRONT PASSENGER LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10011840

Incident

Mar 12, 2003