Component

STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM

435 NHTSA complaints about steering:linkages:knuckle:spindle:arm issues across 39 makes and 184 models.

The steering:linkages:knuckle:spindle:arm is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 435 filings from 39 manufacturers and 184 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.

Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 101 crashes, 1 fire, 66 injuries, and 8 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the DODGE DAKOTA with 18 filings, followed by FORD EXPLORER and FORD RANGER. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.

Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.

435
Complaints
184
Models Affected
101
Crashes
1
Fires
8
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 DODGE DAKOTA 18
2 FORD EXPLORER 16
3 FORD RANGER 14
4 DODGE RAM 1500 12
5 DODGE RAM 12
6 FORD WINDSTAR 9
7 DODGE NEON 9
8 DODGE STRATUS 7
9 CHEVROLET S10 7
10 PLYMOUTH NEON 6
11 MITSUBISHI GALANT 6
12 HUMMER H2 6
13 FORD F-150 6
14 FORD AEROSTAR 6
15 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 6
16 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 5
17 SATURN SL 5
18 LINCOLN LS 5
19 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 5
20 JEEP CHEROKEE 5
21 FORD MUSTANG 5
22 FORD FOCUS 5
23 DODGE RAM 2500 5
24 DODGE DURANGO 5
25 CHRYSLER SEBRING 5
26 CHEVROLET IMPALA 5
27 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER 4
28 GMC JIMMY 4
29 FORD CROWN VICTORIA 4
30 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 4

Recent Complaints

2016 JEEP CHEROKEE

The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while making a turn, the vehicle experienced the death wobble. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independen

2019 JEEP COMPASS

2019 JEEP COMPASS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO BROKEN LEFT FRONT KNUCKLE.

2008 FORD CROWN VICTORIA

The right front wheel hub broke at the weld when turning in a parking lot. The part is available for inspection. Had this happened at freeway speed, the right front wheel would have departed the vehic

2019 PETERBILT 389

- The steering arm on the driver side of the Dana D-Series axle that was installed from the Peterbilt factory on a new 2019 Peterbilt 389 that was purchased new by Acord Transportation, Inc. is what f

2009 TOYOTA TACOMA

STEERING SHAFTKNUCKLE IS EXPOSED AND CORRODES RESULTING IN STIFF STEERING. STARTS OUT INTERMITTENT THEN GETS REALY HARD TO TURN, TRUCK HAS ONLY 62269 MILES ON IT AND THIS IS A COMMAN PROBLEM WITH THIS

2005 SATURN RELAY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN RELAY. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING FAILED AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE ALSO VEERED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED

2005 DODGE VIPER Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE VIPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A C

2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA

2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POSSIBLE SPINDLE ARM PROBLEM CAUSING PREMATURE TIRE WEAR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES TWICE, DUE TO THE DEFECT. THE DEALE

2000 DODGE CARAVAN Crash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SPINDLE BROKE ON THE TIE ROD CAUSING THE WHEEL TO BUCKLE UNDERNEATH, AS A RESULT SHE LOST CONTROL AND T

2007 NISSAN MAXIMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECREASE IN POWER. HE RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND WHEN DEPRESSING IT A SECOND TIME, THE FAILU

2006 PONTIAC MONTANA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC MONTANA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFIC

2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER Crash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HE WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH. HE WAS ON A SECONDARY ROAD WHEN THE RIGHT HAND STEERING KNUCKLE BROKE. THE DRIVER ALSO STATED THA

2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA Crash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE RIGHT FRONT KNUCKLE JOINT BROKE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE NUDGED AGAINST THE CURB CAUSING THE WHOLE FRONT WHEE

2005 KIA SEDONA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SEDONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH HE FELT A VIBRATION WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. WHEN HE PULLED OVER HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT END SUSPENSION HAD

2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA PURCHASED NEW IN 2006. SHE STATED SHE WOULD HEAR A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE STEERING WHEEL UPON TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR

2007 SATURN VUE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN VUE. WHILE EXITING A PARKING SPACE HE LOST HIS HIS ABILITY TO STEER. HE HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER, IN WHICH A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE

2005 CHRYSLER SEBRING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER SEBRING TOURING. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH SHE HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING. THE STEERING COLUMN ALSO TURNED UPSIDE DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INT

2006 DODGE RAM 2500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE STEERING KNUCKLE FRACTURED; WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF STEERING. HE WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO

2004 INFINITI G35

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 INFINITI G35 SEDAN. THE CONTACT FELT ABNORMAL PULSATION WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE INSPECTION ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND H

1999 DODGE DAKOTA

CALIPER BOLTS SEPARATING FROM SPINDLE CAUSING CALIPER TO FALL ON TO BRAKE ROTOR. LOSS OF BRAKING TO WHEEL, DIFFICULTY STEERING VEHICLE. SPINDLE (STEERING KNUCKLE) HAD TO BE DRILLED OUT AND RE TAPPED

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve steering:linkages:knuckle:spindle:arm issues?
The NHTSA has received 435 complaints about steering:linkages:knuckle:spindle:arm problems across 184 vehicle models from 39 manufacturers.
How dangerous are steering:linkages:knuckle:spindle:arm defects?
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM issues have been linked to 101 crashes, 1 fires, 66 injuries, and 8 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most steering:linkages:knuckle:spindle:arm problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for steering:linkages:knuckle:spindle:arm issues is the DODGE DAKOTA with 18 complaints.
Where does PlainCars get its safety data?
All vehicle safety data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database, which collects reports from vehicle owners about safety-related defects.

Data Sources

Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.

Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.

Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.

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