Component

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

3,925 NHTSA complaints about suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint issues across 34 makes and 174 models.

Data updated August 2026. Counts render from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation standardized component field; severity flags cross-reference NHTSA ODI complaint flags for owner-reported crash, fire, and injury markers. This page is for informational purposes and does not replace NHTSA recall notices or a vehicle-specific inspection. Methodology · Corrections.

NHTSA ODI component intake brief

ODI category SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

3,925 filings · 174 models · 34 makes · vintage August 2026

  • FILINGS HEAVY 3,925 ODI rows
  • MODELS 174 nameplates citing this part
  • MAKES 34 manufacturers in corpus
  • CRASH 2.5% 99 crash-flagged
  • RANK #61 of 696 categories
  • SEV INJURY 3 deaths · 56 injuries
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT (this)SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM…3,925SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADSSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FO…3,935ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASHELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INT…3,866STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BARSTEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HAN…3,848
ODI filing volume neighbourhood: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT vs nearest complaint-total peers

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT sits HEAVY on ODI intake volume (#61 of 696 standardized categories) with a INJURY severity stamp (3 reported fatalities across 174 models). Open Dodge Durango (category leader) →

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT filing-volume reading

The standout signal for suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint is ODI intake volume: 3,925 filings (HEAVY band · #61 of 696 standardized categories) across 174 nameplates. Crash-flag share is 2.5%.

Heavy intake categories like this one often reflect a shared supplier or a stressed FMVSS test, open the affected-vehicles table to see whether filings cluster on a few platforms or spread evenly.

Next step: compare Dodge Durango against SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS on filing totals before treating suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint volume as a purchase signal.

3,925
Complaints
174
Models Affected
99
Crashes
11
Fires
3
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 Dodge Durango
1,830
2 Dodge Dakota
1,047
3 Chevrolet Blazer
134
4 Jeep Liberty
120
5 GMC Jimmy
63
6 Dodge RAM 1500
49
7 Dodge RAM 2500
38
8 Dodge Dodge Truck
27
9 Ford Explorer
24
10 Ford F-150
23
11 Dodge Dodge
23
12 Toyota Tundra
19
13 Oldsmobile Bravada
19
14 Chrysler Sebring
19
15 Volkswagen Passat
16
16 Mitsubishi Galant
15
17 Ford F-250 SD
14
18 Dodge RAM 3500
14
19 Chevrolet S10
14
20 Lincoln Town CAR
13
21 Ford Ranger
13
22 Dodge Stratus
12
23 Dodge Avenger
12
24 Mercury Grand Marquis
11
25 Lincoln LS
11
26 Ford E-150
11
27 Dodge RAM
11
28 Volvo S80
10
29 Toyota Tacoma
10
30 Mitsubishi Eclipse
10

Recent Complaints

2019 GMC Sierra 1500

The contact owns a 2019 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving at 10 MPH, the upper control arm and ball joint on the passenger’s side fractured, and the wheel partially detached from the v

2020 RAM 1500

The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, there was a dip in the road and the upper ball joint came out of the socket and the tire was pushed under the v

1999 Lincoln Town CAR

See attached document for complaint.

2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS FAILED IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS

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 vehi

2018 Jeep Cherokee

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the front end of the vehicle and the steering wheel would violently shake and vibrate while depressing the br

2020 Ford F-150

While backing out of a residential driveway, While turning the steering wheel the Right front wheel caught the edge of the curb and had a catastrophic failure of the right front upper ball joint. Whee

2006 Toyota Tundra

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED WITHOUT IMPACT FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHI

2004 Toyota Tacoma

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT FRACTURED. THE CONTACT LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER AND BRAKE, AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHI

2003 Dodge RAM 2500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS FALLING APART. WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED, THERE WERE PARTICLES FLYING OUT OF THE VENTS. WHILE DRIVING

2001 Toyota Tacoma

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE SUSPENSION BALL JOINT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT TH

2007 Jeep Liberty

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE BALL JOINT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC FOR FURT

2006 Dodge Dakota

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS BRAKE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND. THE CONTACT WAS A

2006 Hummer H3

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HUMMER H3. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE UPPER BALL JOINTS AND THE CONTROL ARM BE

2005 Toyota Tundra

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH OVER A BRIDGE, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY LOWERED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIV

2001 Dodge Dakota

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINT WAS WORN. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS NEED TO

2004 Jeep Liberty

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIGHTLY VIBRATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED

2002 Jeep Liberty

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS PARKING, THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND WAS INSPECTED BY A P

2004 Jeep Liberty

2004 JEEP LIBERTY. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR TOWING AND PARTS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. *JB

2000 Toyota Tundra

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL IN REGARDS TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V444000 (STRUCTURE: FRAME AND MEMBERS: UNDERBODY SHIELDS). THE CONT

Verify with NHTSA · consumer-reported counts are not verified defect findings.