NHTSA Complaint #10327800 — 2007 DODGE CALIBER

I HAVE A 2007 DODGE CALIBER SXT THAT I HAVE OWNED FOR JUST OVER 3 YEARS. IT HAS 38,000 KM/23,612 MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP TODAY TO SWAP OUT MY WINTER TIRES FOR MY SUMMER TIRES. WHEN I PICKED IT UP, I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS ON THE FRONT NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY ARE WORN. IN FACT, HE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND I SHOULD GET THESE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. HE THEN TOLD ME THAT THE WARRANTY HAD JUST EXPIRED AND THAT THE COST TO REPLACE THESE WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $1000.00. HE SAID THAT THE CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END INDICATES THAT THIS IS TRUE. I DO NOT HEAR ANY CLUNKING NOISE AND MY VEHICLE RUNS AND DRIVES VERY SMOOTHLY. I HAVE NOT PURSUED THIS MATTER WITH DODGE YET AS AT THE MOMENT I AM IN SHOCK. THIS VEHICLE IS A HIGHWAY DRIVEN VEHICLE AND USED VERY SELDOM IN THE CITY. THE ROADS THAT I DRIVE ARE PAVED AND VERY WELL MAINTAINED. I DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT AND IN NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, ABUSE THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS PRACTICALLY NEW GIVEN THE VERY LOW MILEAGE. I JUST WANTED TO DOCUMENT THIS PROBLEM IN CASE THERE ARE OTHER CALIBER OWNERS OUT THERE WHO RUN INTO THIS PROBLEM. NOT ONLY DO I NOT HAVE $1000 TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS, I NOW HAVE THE STRESS OF KNOWING THAT MY VEHICLE IS DANGEROUSLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR