Component

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

4,785 NHTSA complaints about suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint issues across 35 makes and 248 models.

The suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 4,785 filings from 35 manufacturers and 248 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 238 crashes, 11 fires, 154 injuries, and 6 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the DODGE DURANGO with 1,128 filings, followed by JEEP LIBERTY and DODGE DAKOTA. 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.

4,785
Complaints
248
Models Affected
238
Crashes
11
Fires
6
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 DODGE DURANGO 1,128
2 JEEP LIBERTY 966
3 DODGE DAKOTA 631
4 TOYOTA TUNDRA 144
5 LINCOLN LS 143
6 CHEVROLET BLAZER 120
7 MITSUBISHI GALANT 99
8 CHRYSLER SEBRING 94
9 DODGE AVENGER 86
10 LINCOLN TOWN CAR 69
11 FORD CROWN VICTORIA 67
12 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE 54
13 GMC JIMMY 52
14 TOYOTA SEQUOIA 48
15 EAGLE TALON 45
16 FORD F-150 41
17 TOYOTA TACOMA 40
18 FORD EXPLORER 39
19 HONDA ACCORD 34
20 DODGE STRATUS 34
21 DODGE RAM 1500 34
22 DODGE RAM 2500 33
23 JAGUAR S-TYPE 28
24 FORD F-250 SD 21
25 CHEVROLET S10 20
26 CHRYSLER CIRRUS 17
27 CHEVROLET LUMINA 17
28 TOYOTA 4RUNNER 16
29 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS 16
30 DODGE INTREPID 16

Recent Complaints

2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

The contact owns a 2001 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, there was a thumping and clicking sound coming from the front of the vehicle before the front passen

2006 JEEP LIBERTY

The contact owns a 2006 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that while reversing, the contact noticed an abnormal sound before the vehicle stopped. The contact stated that upon inspecting the vehicle, th

2006 JEEP LIBERTY

The contact owns a 2006 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated while driving on the highway at 55 MPH, there was an abnormal popping sound coming from the front passenger’s side, and the vehicle started t

2012 DODGE RAM 3500

The contact owns a 2012 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving uphill at 55 MPH, the contact became aware that the vehicle was not exceeding 55 MPH. The contact stated that the check engine w

1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR

See attached document for complaint.

2006 TOYOTA TUNDRA

Lower ball joint broke Lower control arm collapse causing the to come off

2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA

The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the steering wheel suddenly pulled to the right and front driver's side wheel detached from underneath the

2020 CHEVROLET TAHOE

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH, the front passenger’s side tire detached. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road. The vehicle

2011 HYUNDAI TUCSON

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that there was an unknown abnormal sound detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent tire cen

2003 JEEP LIBERTY

The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that moments after exiting the freeway, the front end of the vehicle began to shake and vibrate. While driving approximately 5 MPH, there was a

2018 FORD FUSION HYBRID

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, there was a clicking sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the d

2006 DODGE STRATUS

The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Stratus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal sound coming from the front passenger’s side of the vehicle. The contact s

2016 FORD F-250

The contact owns a 2016 Ford-250. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced severe shaking and vibration after driving over bumps on the roadway. The vehicle was

2015 NISSAN ROGUE

The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, she heard an abnormal rubbing and squeaking sound coming from underneath both front wheel wells. The vehicl

2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA

Complete failure and separation of the lower ball joint. Caused the wheel to fall off, damaging the front fender and jamming the front door making the door stuck closed. Fortunate we did not crash int

2007 JEEP LIBERTY

The contact owns a 2007 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front passenger’s side tire inadvertently detached. There was no warning light illuminated. The ve

2004 JEEP LIBERTY

The contact owns a 2004 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that after making a left turn, the front driver-side wheel detached and no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was then towed to an in

2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA

The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH, he depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to engage. As a result, the contact crashed into a sm

2003 JEEP LIBERTY

The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that on multiple occasions while driving at various speeds, an abnormal sound was heard coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was ta

2019 GMC SIERRA 1500

The contact owns a 2019 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the front driver’s side tire detached from the vehicle. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. T

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint issues?
The NHTSA has received 4,785 complaints about suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint problems across 248 vehicle models from 35 manufacturers.
How dangerous are suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint defects?
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT issues have been linked to 238 crashes, 11 fires, 154 injuries, and 6 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint issues is the DODGE DURANGO with 1,128 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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