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:lower Ball Joint (27.9% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint complaints here are 7.5× the median for that category across the 965 model-years tracked on this site.
3 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 3 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint | 67 · 27.9% | Recalled | Recall 00V359001 |
| Suspension | 23 · 9.6% | Recalled | Recall 00V359001 |
| Air Bags | 22 · 9.2% | No official action | — |
| Suspension:front | 21 · 8.8% | Recalled | Recall 00V359001 |
| Steering | 10 · 4.2% | No official action | — |
| Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls | 10 · 4.2% | No official action | — |
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 240 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 00V359001 · 2000 · reported 11/03/2000
IF THE BALL JOINT ATTACHING NUTS ARE NOT ADEQUATELY TIGHTENED, THEY CAN LOOSEN AND, ULTIMATELY, RESULT IN FRACTURE OF THE BALL JOINT STUD. IF THE BALL JOINT FRACTURES, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF 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.
“2001 LINCOLN LS V8...LOOSE BALL JOINTS CAUSING MAJOR DRIVING PROBLEMS. FIRST COMPLAINT IN NOV. WHEN THE CAR APPEARED TO BE DRIVING ON ICE...I COULDN'T CONTROL…”NHTSA complaint 10176911 — filed 12/25/2006 · SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
“CAR PULLS AND WEAVES. TOOK CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. THEY INDICATED RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT/CONTROL ARM BROKEN. RUINED FRONT TIRES ($177 EACH - LESS…”NHTSA complaint 10175933 — filed 12/12/2006 · SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
“: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE HITS A BUMP THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND. THE…”NHTSA complaint 10174008 — filed 11/21/2006 · SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint issues are the most-reported category, cited in 67 of 240 NHTSA complaints (27.9%), followed by suspension (23), air bags (22), suspension:front (21). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
240 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 20 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, and 13 reported injuries. 1 deaths were reported.
Yes — 1 NHTSA safety recall campaign, including campaign 00V359001. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
3 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.
