Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
The most-reported problem — Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint (13.9% of complaints) — is covered by 2 NHTSA recall campaigns.
Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint complaints here are 4.7× the median for that category across the 965 model-years tracked on this site.
All 6 of the most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint | 47 · 13.9% | Recalled | Recall 04V596000 · Recall 08E064000 |
| Electrical System | 47 · 13.9% | Recalled | Recall 06V339000 |
| Exterior Lighting | 23 · 6.8% | Recalled | Recall 02V322000 |
| Suspension | 20 · 5.9% | Recalled | Recall 04V596000 · Recall 08E064000 |
| Suspension:front | 18 · 5.3% | Recalled | Recall 04V596000 · Recall 08E064000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 18 · 5.3% | Recalled | Recall 06E024000 |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Percentages are the share of the 338 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
NHTSA campaign 04V596000 · 2004 · reported 12/21/2004
EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE UPPER BALL JOINT MAY ALLOW IT TO SEPARATE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 08E064000 · 2008 · reported 10/20/2008
IMPROPER SEATING OF THE WHEEL CAN RESULT IN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION, BRAKE ROTOR NOISE, DIFFICULTY REMOVING THE WHEEL AFTER INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE, AND POSSIBLY WHEEL-END SEPARATION DURING VEHICLE OPERATION.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 06E024000 · 2006 · reported 03/15/2006
A JAMMED OPEN THROTTLE COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH OR INCREASED STOPING DISTANCES WHEN BRAKING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 06V339000 · 2006 · reported 09/07/2006
THIS MAY ALLOW DEVELOPMENT OF A HIGH RESISTIVE SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE CONNECTOR, WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 02V322000 · 2002 · reported 12/02/2002
IF THE LIGHTS FAIL, A VISIBILITY PROBLEM COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 04V216000 · 2004 · reported 05/05/2004
DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
“RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V596000 CONCERNING BALL JOINT WEAR. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET THE DEALER TO HONOR THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. MANUFACTURER…”NHTSA complaint 10114982 — filed 03/30/2005 · SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
“INDEPENDENT MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE UPPER FRONT BALL JOINT IN MY 2003 DODGE DURANGO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE RECALL FOR…”NHTSA complaint 10114155 — filed 03/16/2005 · SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
“BALL JOINT MALFUNCTION ON DODGE DURANGO SLT 4X4. MY DURANGO IS NOT LISTED ON THE RECALL AS 600K OTHERS ARE HOWEVER THE NOISES, AND UNNATURAL…”NHTSA complaint 10112455 — filed 03/03/2005 · SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint issues are the most-reported category, cited in 47 of 338 NHTSA complaints (13.9%), followed by electrical system (47), exterior lighting (23), suspension (20). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
338 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 29 involved a crash, 18 involved a fire, and 28 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Yes — 6 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 04V596000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
6 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
