NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Engineering Analysis EA02-033: BALL JOINT SEPARATION

Closed

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Engineering Analysis EA02-033 on November 26, 2002 and closed it on February 10, 2003. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1997–2001 Plymouth Prowler for it and links recall 03V-034 to it.

Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file

Key facts

NHTSA number: EA02-033 (also written EA02033)
Investigation type: Engineering Analysis A more detailed stage of a defect investigation, opened when NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation decides an issue merits further review, often after a Preliminary Evaluation or a Recall Query; it can include vehicle testing, surveys and further information requests.
Status: Closed February 10, 2003
Opened: November 26, 2002
Closed: February 10, 2003
Vehicle or equipment manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Components: Suspension; Suspension — Front — Control Arm; Suspension — Front — Control Arm — Lower Arm; Suspension — Front — Control Arm — Lower Ball Joint
Recall linked by NHTSA: 03V-034: DAIMLERCHRYSLER/LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS, reported February 5, 2003
Vehicles and equipment: 1997–2001 Plymouth Prowler

NHTSA's summary

As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Engineering Analysis EA02-033.

try.vin does not copy NHTSA's investigation documents; NHTSA's investigation record lists the ones NHTSA has published.

ODI HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE HAD ONE OR BOTH OF THEIR LOWER BALL JOINTS SEPARATE AND CAUSE THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO DROP TO THE GROUND.DAIMLER CHRYSLER?S ASSESSMENT OF THE BALL JOINT FAILURES IS THAT THE JOINT FAILURE MAY BE PRECIPITATED BY THE LOSS OF JOINT LUBRICATION.THE LOSS OF LUBRICATION COULD RESULT IN ACCELERATED WEAR AND POSSIBLE JOINT SEPARATION. DAIMLER CHRYSLER BELIEVES THAT THE LOSS OF JOINT LUBRICATION IS THE RESULT OF LEAKS OR TEARS IN THE RUBBER BOOT THAT PROTECTS THE BALL JOINT.THESE LEAKS OR TEARS COULD BE CAUSED BY CONTACT WITH OTHER INTERNAL PARTS OF THE BALL JOINT OR TORSIONAL LOADING THAT TWISTS THE BOOT.BY LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 4, 2003, THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THIS AGENCY OF ITS DECISION TO INITIATE A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR ALL OF THE 11,698 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT FROM JANUARY, 1997 TO MARCH, 2001 TO CORRECT THE DEFECT IDENTIFIED IN THIS EA (COPY ATTACHED).

THE ACTION IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA AS RECALL NO. 03V-034.

Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation

NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Engineering Analysis EA02-033. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.

Plymouth

Plymouth Prowler
- 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001

All Plymouth recalls

What an NHTSA investigation is

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.

An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.

Sources

NHTSA's investigation record for EA02-033

Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.