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Prowler Ball Joint Recall
ball joints (Page 1)
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ProwlerOnline, Plymouth/Chrysler Prowler Discussion Forum
Prowler Ball Joint Recall
ball joints (Page 1)
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| This topic is 3 pages long: 1 2 3 This topic was originally posted in this forum: Political Off Topic |
| Author | Topic: ball joints |
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Spyder Prowler Junkie Posts: 138 |
posted 03-17-2003 10:01 AM
Looks like my Kat is out of commission until this blasted recall goes through. Went to wake up the Kat this weekend but when I backed it out of the garage and tried to turn off the driveway I was surprised to find the steering so tight it almost wouldn't turn. When I did finally get the steering to turn, there was a terrible screeching from the front passenger side suspension (I'd noticed a slight squeaking noise coming from that general area last fall before putting the Kat to bed for the winter) and after a few quick and gentle tests, also noticed the steering wouldn't return to center like it used to. I immediately put it back in the garage (with out any damage) and called my tech. I was advised to have the Kat towed in as soon as possible so they could look at it but they couldn't promise that Chrysler would allow the work to be done until the recall was issued. anyway, I have less than 3500 miles on my Kat so if this is the ball joints, I don't think mileage is a factor weather or not they will fail. Just some advise. If you don't have to drive your Prowler, than I advise that you don't. For those of you driving your Kats, please be careful. This message has been edited by Spyder on 03-17-2003 at 10:02 AM |
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Black Tie 161 Prowler Junkie Posts: 3563 |
posted 03-17-2003 10:06 AM
Sorry to hear that, but I smell BS from the dealer. Does your wheel have to fall off to get it fixed?!?! WTF?!  You would think Chrysler would realize they would save a lot of money fixing your cat NOW as opposed to a lawsuit, and most likely fixing alot more than a ball joint if your control arms meet the ground during a complete balljoint failure. So your dealer is suggesting you are better off driving it until it breaks so it will get fixed quicker? I'd push a little harder and make them see the BIG PICTURE here... Good luck. |
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Al's Prowler Prowler Junkie Posts: 1374 |
posted 03-17-2003 11:09 AM
Glad to hear you didn't screw up your Kat, I think it's not only BS from the dealer but from Chrysler it's self, from what I understand it will be sometime in mid too late April before Chrysler has the replacement ball joints. Al |
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Racer X Prowler Junkie Posts: 199 |
posted 03-17-2003 11:39 AM
Scarey stuff!!! I'm glad to hear it didnt fully give out. Just today I was whipping on an entrance ramp pretty fast.... I thought about the ball joints and slowed down. It's on my mind too. I drive my Kat almost every day... so I guess I will have to pay close attention until the recall. ------------------ 94' Mustang Cobra(Power Trip) 00' Trans Am WS6 Ram Air(FOR SALE!) 02' Excursion 4x2 Diesel(Our Beast!) |
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Black Tie 161 Prowler Junkie Posts: 3563 |
posted 03-17-2003 11:39 AM
AL: I agree. I am sure the dealer is following some internal guidance from DC on this issue. But if you clearly exhibit symptoms of ball joint failure, then it should be a warranty issue, not a recall issue. IMO: Recall means replacing something whether that particular vehicle needs it or not. Warranty means fixing something that broke or is about to clearly break. |
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ETMIDZT Prowler Junkie Posts: 2278 |
posted 03-17-2003 01:03 PM
Kinda sorta makes me want to wait to take my Kat outa Winter storage till the recall happens! Scary stuff! |
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WildCat Prowler Junkie Posts: 6862 |
posted 03-17-2003 01:58 PM
I had mine out yesterday and it didn't want to return to center as easy as I recall. 20,200 miles and out of warranty. Guess I will be doing little catten until it is in for recall. What I want to know are the replacements going to have grease fittings? I have drilled others and installed them, might have to on the cat. All the manufacturers have went to sealed parts on the front suspension. I heard someone say that it was because people didn't grease them so why put them in. I do not believe that. They wanted to save money up front then get you for replacement parts after it is out of warranty....moving parts need lubricated.....WHAT A DUMB PLACE TO TRY AND SAVE MONEY |
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Marty Usher Prowler Junkie Posts: 13833 |
posted 03-17-2003 02:56 PM
Still driving mine everyday out of necessity. I am pay attention to the feel pof the steering and praying if something happens it is at a low speed. I figure percentage wise, the number of failures is still a fraction of 1% of all kats and I really don't have an option to sit the kat until mid to late April. Spyder - sorry to hear about yours failing. Larry - I hope your's stays together! |
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Black Tie 161 Prowler Junkie Posts: 3563 |
posted 03-17-2003 03:35 PM
I hear ya Marty...Say the Hail Mary's and fire it up and go... LOL. GRROWL had an opinion that if the front ball joints were able to be greased, it would have pushed any moisture out of the part prohibiting possible corrosion. I think he has a good point. .......Stupid beancounters at DC trying to save pennies on a 45K car!!! |
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Spyder Prowler Junkie Posts: 138 |
posted 03-17-2003 04:10 PM
I guess the point I wanted to get across was just for everyone to be extra careful and if your steering feels weird, stop driving and get it checked out as soon as you can. It's better to be safe than sorry. A car can be fixed or replaced but people are a different story. This message has been edited by Spyder on 03-17-2003 at 04:11 PM |
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Marty Usher Prowler Junkie Posts: 13833 |
posted 03-17-2003 04:15 PM
I have slowed my Interstate entrance and exit ramp speeds from 85 MPH/high G force maneuvers to just riding the rear bumper of the car in front of me.  Seriously, I think about the ball joint failure as being a possibility and try to aware of any changes in the feeling on the steering, but I have survived having the front wheel of a 24' bed straight truck fall off at 45 MPH and having the ball joint on a Suburban I use to own fail. (It was 11 years old and had 200,000+ miles on it) I trust DC will make it right with the recall and hope mine makes it through until then. My kat will be sitting for two weeks anyway while the new engine goes in. That will get me into April ! This message has been edited by Marty Usher on 03-17-2003 at 04:21 PM |
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CJ Prowler Junkie Posts: 18860 |
posted 03-17-2003 04:41 PM
I had posted this on an earlier thread regarding the recall. I would suggest you print this off (it is from the Chrysler.com site) and take it and your car to the dealer to be fixed immediately.
quote: |
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KatAddict Prowler Junkie Posts: 1220 |
posted 03-17-2003 09:32 PM
I believe the warranty may replace the joint, but what if they replaced it today with the same joint and not a new design which the recall will provide. If this be the case the real problem is not resolved... quote: |
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Black Tie 161 Prowler Junkie Posts: 3563 |
posted 03-18-2003 07:08 AM
Thanks once again CJ!  Kataddict: Kind of an interesting question! I would ASSUME the new part would be the redesign, but who knows in that type of situation? |
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cmblockhus Prowler Junkie Posts: 2509 |
posted 03-18-2003 07:25 AM
being employeed at a Chrysler Dealership (Service Manager) I have made a number of phone calls on this recall and as yet have no firm answer from the people in my district I get more info from CJ and the gang on POA (thank you) But I will say that if anyone called with a front end problem it would be taken care of under the Warranty and at this time the ball joint can only be had as part of the control arm so that is todays fix, then next month when the recall comes out if they are doing the joint only as we all seem to belive it would be replaced again as a recall but leaving the new control arm. from a dealer stand point hope this adds light from the dealer side block-buster ------------------
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cmblockhus Prowler Junkie Posts: 2509 |
posted 03-18-2003 07:27 AM
Side note, I drive 100 miles a day to work and back at 80 + most of the time, front still feels ok but I think of it alot have almost 20,000 miles now bought in Sept 01 with 510 miles curtis |
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Black Tie 161 Prowler Junkie Posts: 3563 |
posted 03-18-2003 07:30 AM
Thanks curtis! That cleared up a lot. |
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ETMIDZT Prowler Junkie Posts: 2278 |
posted 03-18-2003 09:31 AM
I just called my dealership & talked with the Service Manager. He doesn't know too much about the re-call! I'm e-mailing him this thread...... |
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ETMIDZT Prowler Junkie Posts: 2278 |
posted 03-18-2003 01:56 PM
The service Manager called me. Has No idea what the recall is about. He said you'd hear about it on the news if it was real! I told him it has been on the news! He said really? I asked if he read the thread I emailed him(Especially the high lighted CJ portion)? Ya...Who released that? He has NO notice from D/C!! Cheeze! Yikes! Duh! |
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superdoppler Prowler Junkie Posts: 344 |
posted 03-18-2003 03:42 PM
Sounds like your dealership is as bad as the one near my house...never dreamed that'd be possible! Have them go to http://www.nhtsa.com and click on recalls and do a search on Plymouth Prowler. I'd post a direct link to the recall notice, but the site uses javascript, so that's not going to work. |
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CJ Prowler Junkie Posts: 18860 |
posted 03-18-2003 04:38 PM
Here is where I found the recall notice: go to:
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JRL Prowler Junkie Posts: 971 |
posted 03-18-2003 06:20 PM
If you're under warranty they (DC) have to fix it. JRL |
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viperrt Prowler Junkie Posts: 67 |
posted 03-18-2003 09:15 PM
As the owner of 5 Chrysler/Dodge products, I find DC's posture on this issue ridiculous. We're not talking about a faulty air conditioner switch! I would love to go on the So. Calif cruise this weekend, but even though my Kat has less than 3,000 miles, it's not going too far, or too FAST until DC gets off their butts and fixes this problem. |
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CJ Prowler Junkie Posts: 18860 |
posted 03-18-2003 09:56 PM
No offense meant to anyone, but considering that this problem only recently was brought to DC's attention, I would say they have moved pretty quickly on the issue and are working as quickly as possible to produce new replacement parts. Considering the number of vehicles they plan to recall, I would guess that they will have to make sure they have sufficient parts to be able to cover the recall numbers. I would think that everyone would agree that they would like the "fix" to be done properly. In the meantime, people just need to be cautious. I've been driving my cats for three years and have had no signs of any problems. |
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ed monahan Prowler Junkie Posts: 33595 |
posted 03-18-2003 11:05 PM
My cat is just a few weeks shy of 4 years old and has about 29,000 on it and it still runs fine. I am not going to quit having fun because 3 or 4 or 10 ball joints failed. More cats than that have bit the dust due to collisions. You have to put things into perspective. Don't forget they need two ball joints for over 11,000 cars or over 22,000 parts. That may take a little while to get them in stock. This message has been edited by ed monahan on 03-18-2003 at 11:15 PM |
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