NHTSA Complaint #10884002 — 2004 HONDA ACCORD

JAN. 2015 TRAVELING AT 25 TO 30 MPH, DRIVER FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED CAUSING WHEEL TO TURN SIDEWAYS IN WHEEL WELL, WHICH RESULTED IN DISABLING VEHICLE, SEPERATED CV SHAFT AND FENDER DAMAGE. NO INJURIES AND HAD TO HAVE TOWED. MAY 2015 TRAVELING 20 TO 25 MPH, PASSENGER LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED CAUSING WHEEL TO TURN SIDEWAYS IN WHEEL WELL, RESULTED IN DISABLING VEHICLE AND DAMAGE TO FENDER. LOCAL POLICE WERE CALLED, NO INJURIES AND VEHICLE TOWED. JULY 2016 BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, PASSENGER FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED, CAUSING WHEEL TO TURN SIDEWAYS IN WHEEL WELL, RESULTED IN DISABLING VEHICLE, DAMAGE TO FENDER, SEPARATED CV SHAFT, AND DENTED THE OIL PAN, NO INJURIES. THERE IS A FAULT IN THE DESIGN OF THE LOWER BALL JOINT PLACEMENT, THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE IS NATURALLY CAUSING THE BALL TO PRESS AGAINST THE RETAINING EDGE OF THE SOCKET, RESULTING IN METAL ON METAL CONTACT CAUSING THE RETAINING EDGE TO WEAR RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT. THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THIS WOULD BE TO REDESIGN THE FRONT SUSPENSION STEERING KNUCKLE AND LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE BALL JOINT SHOULD BE PRESSED INTO THE SOCKET WITH WEIGHT ON THE WHEELS NOT PULLING IT APART. MY ONLY SUGGESTIONS UNTIL SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS, IS GO TO A SERVICE GARAGE AND HAVE THEM CHECK THE BALL JOINTS WITH A PRY BAR BETWEEN THE STEERING KNUCKLE AND LOWER CONTROL ARM, IF THERE IS MOVEMENT HAVE IT REPLACED AND KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS. JUST SHAKING THE WHEEL BY HAND ISN'T ENOUGH TO SEE THE MOVEMENT. DO NOT PICK THE VEHICLE UP BY THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, IT CAN RESULT IN CONTROL ARM BUSHING SEPARATION.