This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Lower left ball joint failed without warning during low speed (2 mph) driving, causing the wheel to fall off, also destroying part of the sway bar and the left drive shaft. At highway speed, such a failure would have resulted in complete loss of control. The vehicle was in the dealership the prior day for routine maintenance and the dealership also performed state safety inspection four months prior. There was no evidence of ball joint wear or damage prior to the failure.
Consumer stated that while pulling from a stop vehicle felt like it was in neutral. Vehicle was towed to dealer. Dealer stated it was a problem with the driveshaft.
The left driveshaft interconnecting shaft on my 1996 Caravan sheared at the outer edge of the damper weight. I was driving with my family, was stopped at a red light, and heard and felt a loud thump when I attempted to move the car when the light turned green. The car would not move. I looked under the car and saw that the left driveshaft (axle) was sheared. The car was towed and repaired at a Dodge dealer. I could not get a satisfactory explanation from the service department as to why this had happened. I have kept the damaged part. The "tuned damper weight" which encircles the "interconnecting shaft" at about midpoint on the shaft had rusted and rotted out (etched) the circumference of the shaft, weakening the shaft and creating a stress fracture point which will shear under normal stress loads. The shaft is 27mm in diameter where it is not corroded, but at the cross-section where it sheared at the outer edge of the rubber cover of the damper weight, the shaft is corroded down to 21mm, more than a 22% reduction in shaft diameter! apparently the metal used in the damper weight is subject to severe rusting, and the rubber cover around the weight traps moisture. Note: The tripod and cv joints are not damaged; the driveshaft assembly is literally broken in half. If this had happened while we were in motion we could have been injured or killed, particularily if I had been driving on the highway or making a turn with oncoming traffic. This is a serious safety issue. Because it is caused by corrosion over time weakening the driveshaft, I am very concerned that driveshafts of this design (or lots using this combination of materials) will be breaking more and more frequently (approximately 6 years before failure?), causing accidents, injuries, and deaths.
Left driveshaft interconnecting shaft on my 1996 Caravan sheared at the outer edge of the damper weight. I was driving with my family, was stopped at a red light, and heard and felt a loud thump when I attempted to move the car when the light turned green. The car would not move. I looked under the car and saw that the left driveshaft (axle) was sheared. The car was towed and repaired at a Dodge dealer. I could not get a satisfactory explanation from the service department as to why this had happened. I have kept the damaged part. The "tuned damper weight" which encircles the "interconnecting shaft" at about midpoint on the shaft had rusted and rotted out (etched) the circumference of the shaft, weakening the shaft and creating a stress fracture point which will shear under normal stress loads. The shaft is 27mm in diameter where it is not corroded, but at the cross-section where it sheared at the outer edge of the rubber cover of the damper weight, the shaft is corroded down to 21mm, more than a 22% reduction in shaft diameter! apparently the metal used in the damper weight is subject to severe rusting, and the rubber cover around the weight traps moisture. Note: The tripod and cv joints are not damaged; the driveshaft assembly is literally broken in half. If this had happened while we were in motion we could have been injured or killed, particularily if I had been driving on theway or making a turn with oncoming traffic. This is a serious safety issue. Because it is caused by corrosion over time weakening the driveshaft, I am very concerned that driveshafts of this design (or lots using this combination of materials) will be breaking more and more frequently (approximately 6 years before failure?), causing accidents, injuries, and deaths.
When driving at low and high speeds the vheicle becomes very difficult to steer straight, consumer noticed the problem when drivning at highway speeds. Consumer has contacted the dealer, dealer has replaced the driveshaft, problem still occurs.
- Coal Center, PA, USA
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Consumer was driving 50 to 55 mph and the transmission locked up, causing the vehicle to stop instantly and the occupant was pushed in the the windshield. Also ABS brakes pulsated under heavier braking applications/child safety seat locked up, and it was nearly impossible to get 2-year old out/heater hose developed a hole and leaked/replaced power window fuse, and driveshaft broke, vehicle lost control, driver sustained injuries.
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- Hanover, NH, USA