NHTSA complaint: 1996 CHRYSLER SEBRING — POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
IN AUGUST OF 1998 I BEGAN TO DETECT A CREAKING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL (EVEN AT A FULL STOP). I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINT HAD LOST IT'S LUBRICATION. THE SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED THAT SINCE THERE WASN'T A GREASE FITTING ON THE BALL JOINT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR COULD NOT BE DONE THAT DAY AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER IF THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, AND HE REPLIED YES. THE NEXT DAY , WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET (5 - 10 MPH) THE CAR COLLAPSED ONTO THE RIGHT TIRE. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE DAMAGE I SAW THE THE TIRE ALMOST FLAT ON THE GROUND, THE DRIVESHAFT WAS OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION, THE CV JOINT WAS PULLED FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND THE BALL JOINT WAS CUT IN HALF. THERE WAS ALSO DAMAGE TO THE FENDER OF THE CAR. SALERNO CHRYSLER INSPECTED THE LEFT BALL JOINT AND SAID IT WAS FINE. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AND A LITTLE OVER TWO MONTHS LATER THE LEFT SIDE BEGAN TO MAKE THE SAME NOISE. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE NOISE. THE CAR WAS MAKING NOISE THE NEXT DAY, AND I DECIDED TO BRING THE CAR SOMEWHERE ELSE. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO ANOTHER CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER AND THEY FOUND THE THE LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT WAS FAILING DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. I HAVE THAT PART IN MY POSSESION AND WOULD GLADLY SEND IT TO YOU. MY CONCERN IS
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation