2005 DODGE STRATUS Wheels Problems

WAS DRIVING 25 MPH DRIVING ON PARAMOUNT BLVD AT WHITTIER BLVD, IN PICO RIVERA, CA, WHEN THE CAR MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE, THEN FELT AS THOUGH WE WERE DRAGGING SOMETHING. ONLY DROVE 50 FEET BEFORE PULLING OVER, AS IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. WE THOUGHT IT WAS INITIALLY A FLAT TIRE, UNTIL WE GOT OUT. OUR MECHANIC INSPECTED IT, AND DETERMINED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD FAILED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT WAS CLEAR FROM THE PICTURE THAT THE BALL JOINT WAS RUSTED AND SNAPPED FREE OF ITS HOUSING.

WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BROKE OFF IT WAS THE CONTROL ARM I HAVE HAD IT FIXED. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER THAT INCIDENT I HAD THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE ALSO DO THE SAME. I GOT IT FIXED. NOW MY BACK DRIVER SIDE WHEEL IS TILTING IN LIKE IT WANTS TO BREAK OFF. SINCE NOTICING THIS I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT AND HAS BEEN STUCK IN MY DRIVEWAY 4 MONTHS UNTIL I CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET IT FIXED WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS AGAIN

I WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY ON HIS WAY TO WORK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN HE COULDN'T STEER. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE JUST TURNED IN SIDEWAYS AND WOULDN'T MOVE WITH ANY MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. WE JACKED UP THE CAR TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AND WE SAW THE ARM WITH THE BALL JOINT WAS COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE SOCKET. BY THE LOOKS OF IT, THE CRACK IS NEAR THE RETAINING RING GROOVE. WE CAN MANUALLY MOVE THE TIRE AS IT IS COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM. I WAS VERY UPSET WITH THIS AND THE FACT I WASN'T NOTIFIED THIS WAS AN ISSUE. NOT ONLY COULD MY LIFE HAVE BEEN IN DANGER BUT ALSO MY NEPHEW WHO I LET USE THE CAR AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROADS EVERYDAY. AN ISSUE LIKE THIS WOULD FOR SURE CAUSE A FATALITY AT A FAST...

ONE DAY I WENT TO BACK OUT, I TURNED THE WHEEL AND HEAR THIS CRUNCHING, CLUNKING SOUND WHICH SOUNDED LIKE A HUGE ROCK SCRAPPING ON METAL. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND WALKED AROUND THE CAR AND SAW NOTHING. IT STARTED AGAIN AS SOON AS I STARTED THE CAR BACK UP. ANYTIME I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, I HEARD THIS SOUND. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE TIE-ROD ENDS. HE SAID A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS ISSUE BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL YET. I CALLED THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD FIX IT SINCE THERE WERE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS. NOPE ! THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX IT FOR FREE WITHOUT AN OFFICIAL RECALL. IT'S A COSTLY REPAIR $900-$1100 B/C IT REQUIRES MANY DIFFERENT SERVICES - TIE ROD ENDS, TIRES, BALANCE, ALIGNMENT, BUT THEY WOULD NOT DROP THE PRICE BY A SINGLE...