33 of the
69 complaints filed about the Plymouth Prowler
are about the suspension —
48% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2001.
I purchased my 1999 Plymouth Prowler in August of 2022. I was told that it has a recall on the front suspension lower ball joints that was issued on 03/28/2003. I contacted a dealership for an appointment to get it fixed and they said they would order the ball joints. They also said it takes a special tool to replace them of which they did not have and the would not purchase on. I contacted another dealer and was to the same thing. I can’t get anyone to fix it. What can I do. I looked on line and the tool cost about $75.00.
NHTSA complaint #11532589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE BALL JOINTS ARE WEAK. HAVE BEEN FROM THE BEGINNING. THE DON'T LAST AS LONG AS WITH OTHER CARS AND BREAK FAIRLY EASY. IT'S A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP. I WAS VERY LUCKY, MINE BROKE AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT A RESTAURANT. I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF THE INTERSTATE DOING HIGHWAY SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #11325017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PLYMOUTH PROWLER. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT AXLE DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
NHTSA complaint #11150177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PLYMOUTH PROWLER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PULLED OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE BALL JOINT DETACHED FROM THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FIRST CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (280 EAST WASHINGTON ST ROUTE ONE, NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH, MA) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE BALL JOINT DETACHED AND THE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFUSED TO COVER THE VEHICLE PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V034000 (SUSPENSION) BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED PER THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,080. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11098625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT 40 MPH ON A SMOOTH ROADWAY, CITY STREET, THE RIGHT,LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED FROM THE A-FRAME. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE ROADWAY. THERE WAS NO WARNING.. NOISE OR ANY OTHER INDICATION OF THE FAILURE. JUST THE POP OF THE FAILED BALL JOINT SEPARATING AND THEN THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE CAR SCRAPING ON THE PAVEMENT. OTHER VEHICLES IN THE AREA STEERED AROUND ME TO AVOID A COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #10995073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT 40 MPH ON A SMOOTH ROADWAY, CITY STREET, THE RIGHT,LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED FROM THE A-FRAME. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE ROADWAY. THERE WAS NO WARNING.. NOISE OR ANY OTHER INDICATION OF THE FAILURE. JUST THE POP OF THE FAILED BALL JOINT SEPARATING AND THEN THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE CAR SCRAPING ON THE PAVEMENT. OTHER VEHICLES IN THE AREA STEERED AROUND ME TO AVOID A COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #10995073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE LOWER BALL JOINTS FAIL CONSTANTLY, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY LOWER BALL JOINTS 3 TIMES IN 19,000 MILES. CHRYSLER HAS RECALLED THEM AND REPLACED THEM FREE FOR THE FIRST FAILURE, BUT WILL NOT REPLACE ADDITIONAL FAILURES. A LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE WILL CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING AND WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. EVERY TIME THEY FAIL, THEY ALSO DESTROY THE RIM. CHRYSLER KNOWS VERY WELL THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF REPLACEMENTS AFTER THEY HAVE REPAIRED THIS ITEM ONCE. EVERY TIME THERE IS A FAILURE, CHRYSLER WANTS TO SELL YOU A COMPLETE LOWER CONTROL ARM THAT COST $ 1200 DOLLARS EACH. THE LOWER BALL JOINT USUALLY FAILS WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A CURB WITH THE WHEELS TURNED, AND THERE IS A LOSS OF STEERING AT THIS POINT. CHRYSLER KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM, AND SHOULD WARRANTY THIS ITEM FOR LIFE AS MOST OF THE PROWLERS ARE VERY LOW MILEAGE WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. CHRYSLER DOES HAVE A RECALL KIT THAT IS AVAILABLE TO DEALERS ONLY THAT INCLUDES THE BALL JOINTS ONLY , BUT WILL NOT SELL THEM TO THE PUBLIC AND WE CAN ONLY BUY THEM WITH THE COMPLETE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THIS IS A SAFETY ITEM THAT CAN & WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE RECALL KIT PART NUMBER IS ( CBBTC030)
NHTSA complaint #10957684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PLYMOUTH PROWLER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED A FEW YEARS BACK FOR THE SAME FAILURE UNDER A MANUFACTURER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
NHTSA complaint #10809671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING, THE BALL JOINT SEPARATED FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND THE CAR HAD TO BE QUICKLY STOPPED. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND HAD TO BE ASSISTED TO A SAFE AREA. THE CAR WAS RECALLED IN 2003 TO ADDRESS THE SAME PROBLEM (2000 PLYMOUTH PROWLER SUSPENSION RECALL 03V034000). HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD BY THE PERSON REPAIRING THE CAR THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS THE SAME PROBLEM OF COMING APART DURING DRIVING AND IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. CHRYSLER WILL NOT HONOR THE OLD RECALL OR ISSUE A NEW ONE BECAUSE THE CAR IS A PLYMOUTH AND THEY DO NOT SERVICE OR BACK PLYMOUTH PRODUCTS AS A RESULT OF THEIR BANKRUPTCY.
NHTSA complaint #10779131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PLYMOUTH PROWLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V0034000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED TEN YEARS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,000.
NHTSA complaint #10519367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE ORIGINAL CASE NHTSA CAMPING ID NUMBER 03V034000 HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETELY RESOLVE THE CAR'S CONTINUES TO LOOSE CONTROL BY THE LOWER CONTROL ARM JOINTS SEPARATE AND THE COMPLETE WHEEL SEPARATE FROM THE CAR CAUSING THE COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL AND CRASH OF THE CAR. IS THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM AGAIN!
NHTSA complaint #10479314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN A 2001 CHRYSLER PROWLER AND ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2010 I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A CAR SHOW AND THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED. THE LOWER SUSPENSION "A" ARM COLLAPSED AND THE WHEEL CAVED IN. JUST AN HOUR EARLIER I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. THIS BALL JOINT WAS THE REPLACEMENT FROM A RE-CALL FOR ALL PROWLER BALL JOINTS. THE BALL JOINT THAT FAILED WAS THE "NEW" DESIGN AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT TOO FAILED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED BOTH LOWER BALLS JOINT UNDER THE PREVIOUS "RE-CALL" NOTIFICATION FOR THE SECOND TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10359386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PLYMOUTH PROWLER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL 03V034000 SUSPENSION, FRONT CONTROL ARM, LOWER ARM IN 2003. ON DECEMBER 31, 2009 WHILE HE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AND ENTERING AN EXIT THE LOWER CONTROL FAILED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,000.
NHTSA complaint #10298255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PLYMOUTH PROWLER. IN 2001, THE CONTACT FIRST EXPERIENCED FAILURE WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LOWER BALL JOINT AT THE COST OF $1,800. IN 2003, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V034000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER ARM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER A TOTAL OF FIVE TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 8, 2008. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #10259249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*- THE CONTACT SAID THAT THE FONT SPANKING BALL JOINT HAS A RECALL THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. THE CONTACT SAID THAT HE HAD MADE A RIGHT TURN AND ACCELERATED TO 16 MPH WHEN THE BALL JOINT FAILED. THE CONTACT SAID THAT HE WILL HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A SHOP AND THAT HE WILL SAVE ALL PARTS AND THE REPAIR ORDER.
NHTSA complaint #10176365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS VEHICLE HAS FREQUENT FAILURES OF THE FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS.THEY ARE PRONE TO LEAKING SUSPENSION FLUID ONTO THEMSELVES AND THE SURROUNDING CHASSIS, BRAKE ,EXHAUST AND ENGINE COMPONENTS. IT IS DRIVEN NORMALLY AND HAS FEW MILES. THERE IS NO DECERNABLE CAUSE TO THE FAILURE. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE SHOCK ABSORBERS ARE EITHER POORLY MADE OR OF A DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, ONCE AT 2000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 8000 MILES. THIESE REPAIRS WERE DONE UNDER WARRANTY.THEY ARE NOW LEAKING AGAIN AT 16000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10111821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLE'S LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE RECALLED 18 MONTHS AGO BUT THE DEALER STILL HASN'T RECEIVED THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *NM RECALL CAMPAIGN 03V034000. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10109587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.