NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Engineering Analysis EA97-016: LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT FAILURE
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Engineering Analysis EA97-016 on September 29, 1997 and closed it on November 20, 1997. NHTSA's investigations file lists the Chrysler Cirrus and Dodge Stratus for it and links recall 97V-201 to it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- EA97-016 (also written EA97016)
- 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 November 20, 1997
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
- Component
- Suspension
- Recall linked by NHTSA
- 97V-201: CHRYSLER/LOWER CONTROL ARM, reported
- Vehicles and equipment
- Chrysler Cirrus and Dodge Stratus
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Engineering Analysis EA97-016.
try.vin does not copy NHTSA's investigation documents; NHTSA's investigation record lists the ones NHTSA has published.
BY LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 6, 1997, THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THIS AGENCY OF ITS DECISION TO INITIATE A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO CORRECT THE DEFECT IDENTIFIED IN THIS EA.THE RECALL WILL ALSO COVER 1996 AND 1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS/DODGE STRATUS VEHICLES, AS WELL AS 1995 THROUGH 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE AND PLYMOUTH BREEZE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH IDENTICAL LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS.AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 599,00VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL.THE MANUFACTURER'S INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THAT PROCESS VARIABILITY, TOGETHER WITH THE BALL JOINT HOUSING COVER CRIMPING OPERATION, CAN RESULT IN AN INEFFECTIVE SEAL THAT PERMITS A LOSS OF LUBRICATION AND ACCELERTED WEAR OF THE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY.THIS CONDITION CAN LEAD TO FAILURE AND SEPARTION OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT.THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED AS NHTSA 97V-201 AND A COPY OF CHRYSLER'S LETTER TO NHTSA IS ATTACHED HERETO.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Engineering Analysis EA97-016. 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.
Chrysler
All Chrysler recallsDodge
All Dodge recallsWhat 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 EA97-016
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.