NHTSA Complaint #744195 — 1995 CHEVROLET CAPRICE

IN A SHOPPING CENTER MAKING A RIGHT 90 DEGREE TURN AT ESTIMATED SPEED OF 15MPH WHEN LEFT FRONT OF CAR COLLAPSED DROPPING THE LEFT FRONT FENDER DOWN ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. MECHANIC REPAIRING THE CAR STATED THAT THE LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE OFF. THIS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE LET LOWER BALL JOINT (PART #K6145) AND THE LEFT OUTER TIEROD (PART# ES2019RL. THERE WAS NO POTHOLE OR OTHER ROUGH PLACE IN THE ROADWAY AND THE AUTOMOBILE HAD NO PREVIOUS HISTORY OF ACCIDENT. MY CONCERN FOR ENTERING THIS REPORT IS THAT I HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE BEFORE THOUGH THE MECHANIC SAYS IT OCCASIONALLY OCCURS. IN MY MIND THIS PRESENTS A VERY REAL SAFETY HAZARD. HAD THIS AUTOMBILE BEEN TRAVELING AT 60MPH ON AND OPEN ROAD AND THIS HAD OCCURED THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THIS WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN SUDDENLY FLIPPING AND ROLLING OF THE CAR WITH THE VERY REAL PROBABILITY OF LOSS OF LIFE.