IllustrationCONSUMER BELIEVES HIS DAUGHTERS ACCIDENT IN WHICH SHE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL IS AS A RESULT OF THE RECALL ON FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINT BOOTS, THIS FAILURE OCCURED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE. NLM
1996 Eagle Talon
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Eagle Talon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 41.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Talon years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 6 of 44 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Suspension. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
44 reportsRECEIVED RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. CONTACTED 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS. EACH DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO DO RECALL REPAIRS. BOTH INSISTED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER TOOLS FOR REPAIRS. *AK
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #99V066003. SET APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC, AFTER CHECKING VEHICLE, THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM INDICATED IN RECALL LETTER. WAS DRIVING VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN THE WHEEL CAME OFF. TAKING VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE REPAIR …
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RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #99V066003. SET APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC, AFTER CHECKING VEHICLE, THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM INDICATED IN RECALL LETTER. WAS DRIVING VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN THE WHEEL CAME OFF. TAKING VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE. *AK
WHEN HITTING A PUDDLE OF WATER THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS THEN IT WILL GO BACK TO NORMAL. ALSO, CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE BALL JOINTS AND LOWER CONTROL ARM. TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. CONSUMER EXPERIENCED EXACTLY WHAT RECALL LETTER …
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WHEN HITTING A PUDDLE OF WATER THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS THEN IT WILL GO BACK TO NORMAL. ALSO, CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE BALL JOINTS AND LOWER CONTROL ARM. TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. CONSUMER EXPERIENCED EXACTLY WHAT RECALL LETTER INDICATED. *AK
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #99V066003ND CONTACTED DEALER. WAS INFORMED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR LOWER BALL JOINTS. COULD BRING VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION TO CHECK IF PART WAS NEEDED. *AK
I BOUGHT MY CAR AT THE END OF MARCH OF THIS YEAR WITH ONLY 16,000 MILES. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GREAT CAR WITH VERY LITTLE PROBLEMS SINCE IT HAD LOW MILEAGE. SINCE I'VE HAD IT THE TWO BELTS IN MY CAR HAVE FALLEN OFF. ALSO MY REAR RIGHT SPEAKER HAS AN ANNOYING RATTLE TO IT. THEY CHANGED MY SPEAKERS AND GAVE ME NEW ONES, BUT …
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I BOUGHT MY CAR AT THE END OF MARCH OF THIS YEAR WITH ONLY 16,000 MILES. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GREAT CAR WITH VERY LITTLE PROBLEMS SINCE IT HAD LOW MILEAGE. SINCE I'VE HAD IT THE TWO BELTS IN MY CAR HAVE FALLEN OFF. ALSO MY REAR RIGHT SPEAKER HAS AN ANNOYING RATTLE TO IT. THEY CHANGED MY SPEAKERS AND GAVE ME NEW ONES, BUT THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. THE DESIGN IS DIFFERENT FROM THE LEFT SIDE. I WANT THESE PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY MY BELTS KEEP FALLING OFF AND HOW TO FIX THE RATTLE IN MY SPEAKER.
FAN BELT COMES OFF OF PULLEYS, ESPECIALLY ON LONG TRIPS AND AT HIGH SPEEDS(70MPH), RESULTS IN LOSE OF ALTERNATOR/WATER PUMP/ AIR CONDITIONER COMPERSOR, AND POWER STEERING. VECHILE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN AFTER BELT COMES OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED A TOTAL OF 7 TIMES AND CAN NOT SEEM TO DETERMINE/FIX PROBLEM. *AK
AFTER REPLACING ENGINE HEAD GASKET CONSUMER WAS POISONED BY CARBON MIOXIDE. *AK
WHENEVER PULLING OUT HEARS A LOUD BUMPY NOISE IN THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, YET THE PROBLEM REMAINS UNEXPLAINABLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH,THE VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN ON THE FRAME DUE TO AXLE SHAFT FAILURE, THEN SLOWED DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
Official recalls
400V421002 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
Dec 18, 2000
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.
99V066003 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
Apr 5, 1999
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RUBBER BOOTS, AND IF THE BOOT IS DAMAGED, THEY WILL REPLACE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM AND BALL JOINT ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.
98V069002 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Apr 7, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ADEQUACY OF THE TRANSFER CASE OIL VOLUME, TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AND OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE MECHANISM. IF OIL VOLUME IS INSUFFICIENT, THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF OIL WILL BE ADDED. IF THERE IS TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AFFECTED COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED. IF THE TRANSFER CASE SHOWS OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION, THE TRANSFER CASE WILL BE REPLACED.
96V158002 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Aug 27, 1996
THE FUEL TANK GASKETS FOR THE FUEL PUMP AND/OR GAUGE UNIT GASKET COULD HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY INSTALLED ALLOWING FUEL OR FUMES TO ESCAPE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, THE FUEL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK AND IF THE GASKETS ARE FOUND TO BE LEAKING, REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, CAPS AND GASKETS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA98002 · Transfer Case Lockup
Opened Jan 30, 1998 · Closed Apr 30, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Wheels
No summary supplied.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Wheels
Wheels
PE97040 · Transfer Case Lockup
Opened Sep 4, 1997 · Closed Jan 30, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Wheels
ALLEGED DRIVETRAIN FAILURE THAT CAN LEAD TO LOCK-UP OF THE REAR OR ALL WHEELS.