NHTSA Complaint #10288893 — 2007 DODGE CALIBER

I HAVE A 2007 DODGE CALIBER SXT THAT I HAVE OWNED FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS. I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC TODAY THAT THE BALL JOINTS ON THE FRONT NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY ARE DANGEROUSLY DEFECTIVE AND IF THEY BREAK WHILE I AM DRIVING, THEY COULD CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT BALL JOINTS SHOULD NOT BE WORN OUT ON A CAR THAT IS 2 YEARS OLD AND ONE WITH 41,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. HE SAID THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE LIKELY DEFECTIVE AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURE. THE FRONT TIRES CAN BE FREELY MOVED AND JIGGLED WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH LITTLE EFFORT. I HAVE GOTTEN NO HELP FROM MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER IN REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS AND AM FORCED TO RISK MY LIFE EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL I CAN AFFORD THE REPAIR WHICH WILL COST BETWEEN $500 AND $1,200. BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE LIKELY DEFECTIVE AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURE, I SUSPECT THAT ALL OTHER DODGE CALIBERS MANUFACTURED AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE SAME PARTS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE OWNERS ARE SIMPLY UNAWARE THAT THEIR VEHICLES ARE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *TR