I RECENTLY HAD MY FRONT-END BALL JOINTS REPLACED ON MY 1998 DODGE AVENGER AT KEN NELSON AUTO PLAZA IN DIXON, IL. THIS PROBLEM WAS A RECALL I HAD DONE ALREADY IN MAY OF 2001. RECALL #967 FROM NHTSA. THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO PUT NEWLY DESIGNED LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS ON MY VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. THE "NEW" BALL JOINTS DIDN'T LAST ONE …
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I RECENTLY HAD MY FRONT-END BALL JOINTS REPLACED ON MY 1998 DODGE AVENGER AT KEN NELSON AUTO PLAZA IN DIXON, IL. THIS PROBLEM WAS A RECALL I HAD DONE ALREADY IN MAY OF 2001. RECALL #967 FROM NHTSA. THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO PUT NEWLY DESIGNED LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS ON MY VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. THE "NEW" BALL JOINTS DIDN'T LAST ONE YEAR AND 8 MONTHS. I WAS TOLD I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR THIS TIME, FOR WHICH I DID. THE COST WAS $312.60. I DO NOT BELIEVE I SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THE MATERIAL DEFECTS THAT WERE UNDER THE ORIGINAL RECALL WORK WHICH FAILED IN SUCH A SHORT TIME.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE. ALSO, MMC HAS ADDED THE POTENTIAL OF LEAKING MOISTURE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE BALL STUD TO CORRODE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERCEDES MMC'S PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN, SEE 99V-066.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT FOR WEAR. BALL JOINTS THAT EXHIBIT WEAR BEYOND THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS. BALL JOINTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE CLEANED AND A SPECIAL SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED TO PREVENT INTRUSION OF MOISTURE.
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