NHTSA Complaint #762868 — 1995 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE

ON AUGUST 8, 2001, I TOOK MY ECLIPSE TO JERRY'S MITSUBISHI IN BALTIMORE, MD TO HAVE THE INDEPENDENT FRONT CONTROL ARM AND LOWER BALL JOINT REPAIRED AS A RESULT OF NHTSA RECALL 00V421001. ACCORDING TO THE STATEMENT OF WORK, THE DEFECTIVE PARTS WERE REPLACED AND REPAIRS MADE ACCORDING TO THE RECALL NOTICE. ON JUNE 9, 2002, THE RIGHT FRONT BALL JOINT/INDEPENDENT FRONT CONTROL FAILED DURING A SLOW SPEED TURN OF LESS THAN 15 MILES PER HOUR. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE CAR ABRUPTLY STOPPED. UPON INSPECTION, THE RIGHT WHEEL HAD SEPARATED FROM THE CONTROL ARM AND WAS JAMMED IN THE FRONT WHEEL HOUSING. AT THIS POINT THE CAR WAS INOPERABLE. SERVICE WAS REQUESTED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO APPLE AUTO, BALTIMORE, MD (410-488-8788). IN CONVERSATIONS WITH DAVE, THE AUTO TECHNICIAN AT APPLE, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BALL JOINT HAD FAILED, THE CONTROL ARM HAD FAILED, AND THAT THE BEARINGS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE REMAINS THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE AXLE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THAT CANNOT BE DONE UNTIL THE CAR IS IN A DRIVEABLE CONDITION.*AK