Component

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM

315 NHTSA complaints about suspension:front:control arm:upper arm issues across 29 makes and 99 models.

The suspension:front:control arm:upper arm is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 315 filings from 29 manufacturers and 99 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 15 crashes, 0 fires, 9 injuries, and 4 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the DODGE DURANGO with 59 filings, followed by VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 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.

315
Complaints
99
Models Affected
15
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 DODGE DURANGO 59
2 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 34
3 DODGE DAKOTA 33
4 CHEVROLET BLAZER 12
5 JEEP LIBERTY 9
6 AUDI A4 8
7 AUDI A6 7
8 FORD CROWN VICTORIA 6
9 DODGE AVENGER 6
10 HONDA CIVIC 5
11 CHEVROLET TAHOE 5
12 FORD FOCUS 4
13 FORD EXPLORER 4
14 CHRYSLER SEBRING 4
15 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 4
16 BUICK ROADMASTER 4
17 FORD F-150 3
18 DODGE RAM 1500 3
19 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 3
20 MITSUBISHI MONTERO 2
21 MAZDA MILLENIA 2
22 LINCOLN TOWN CAR 2
23 JEEP WRANGLER 2
24 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 2
25 HYUNDAI SONATA 2
26 HYUNDAI ACCENT 2
27 HONDA ACCORD 2
28 GMC JIMMY 2
29 FORD TAURUS 2
30 FORD RANGER 2

Recent Complaints

2018 HONDA CR-V

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed around a curve, the passenger's side upper control arm fractured. There were no warning lights illumin

2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350

See attached document for complaint

2016 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV

The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact was able to drive the vehicl

2016 TESLA MODEL X

The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model X. The contact stated while driving 5 mph, the contact heard a squeaking sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact continued driving to the residence.

1998 HONDA ACCORD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE UPPER CONTROL ARM SQUEAKED AND WAS ABOUT TO DETACH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE I

2005 DODGE RAM 1500

2005 DODGE RAM 1500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWERTRAIN, FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY AND REAR DRIVE SHAFT U JOINTS SAFETY ISSUES. *M THE CONSUMER PROVIDED INVOICES THAT STATE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NOT WO

2003 JEEP LIBERTY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO AN UPPER CONTROL ARM FAILURE. THE T

2001 ACURA CL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 ACURA CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE UPPER CONTROL ARM RUSTED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXI

2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK350

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ SLK 350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SWE

2003 JEEP LIBERTY

FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER CONTROL ARM/BALL JOINT SEPARATED CAUSING WHEEL DISLOCATION ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED LEAVING A PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR. THE SAME MAKE/MODEL YE

2004 JEEP LIBERTY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHEN SUDDENLY THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE W

2009 MERCURY MILAN

2009 MERCURY MILAN. CONSUMER STATES FRONT SUSPENSION FAILURE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE UPPER SUSPENSION ARMS ON THE VEHICLE. RIGHT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, BOTH UPPER CONT

2006 HONDA CIVIC

2006 HONDA CIVIC. CONSUMER STATES AFTER TIRE ROTATION HE NOTICED AN INCREASE TIRE NOISE AND VIBRATION *TGW WHEN THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO HIS MECHANIC, AN INSPECTION REVEALED UNUSUAL AND UNEVEN TIRE W

1993 FORD CROWN VICTORIA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1993 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BALL JOINT BROKE, CAUSING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO COLLAPS. THE DRIVER'S SIDE UPPER CON

2007 HONDA CIVIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER YET THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A

2003 KIA SORENTO

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE UPPER CONTROL ARM BOLT HAD BROKEN

2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 10 MPH, ONE OF THE TIRES DISCONNECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FRONT LOWER CONT

2002 JEEP LIBERTY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE DRIVING AT 4 MPH, THE DRIVER TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE ENTIRE CONTROL UPPER ARM COLLAPSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT NO

2007 HONDA CIVIC

UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. VIBRATIONS NOTICED AT 15K MILES. DEALERSHIP REPORTS TSB EXISTS AND OFFERS TO REPLACE UPPER CONTROL ARMS WHICH ARE WEARING TIRES UN-EVENLY. HONDA REFUSES TO PAY FOR DAMAGE TO TIRES. C

2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

FAILURE OF MULTIPLE FRONT CONTROL ARMS IN 2001 VW PASSAT. WAS GIVEN QUOTE OF NEARLY $2100 TO REPAIR CONTROL ARMS. WAS TOLD THIS IS A "WIDE SPREAD" PROBLEM WITH VW PASSATS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN RECALL

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve suspension:front:control arm:upper arm issues?
The NHTSA has received 315 complaints about suspension:front:control arm:upper arm problems across 99 vehicle models from 29 manufacturers.
How dangerous are suspension:front:control arm:upper arm defects?
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM issues have been linked to 15 crashes, 0 fires, 9 injuries, and 4 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most suspension:front:control arm:upper arm problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for suspension:front:control arm:upper arm issues is the DODGE DURANGO with 59 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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