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Suspension, steering, brakes and wheels

Problems with control arms, ball joints and bushes: symptoms, cost and affected models

We have documented 244 faults with control arms, ball joints and bushes in 226 cars. The most important by severity and frequency: corrosion of the rear multi-link axle eccentric bolts (Audi A4 B9), corrosion of the rear axle arm eccentric bolt nuts (Audi e-tron, Audi Q7 4M and Audi Q8) and corrosion of the eccentric bolts on the multi-link rear axle (Audi Q5 II). At an independent garage, the repair costs from €300 to €750 depending on the engine or car.[1][2]

Documented faults
244
79 of high or critical severity
Cars analysed
226
with at least one fault on this part
Affected models
226
car generations in our database
Garage repair
€300–€750
Depending on engine and car, including VAT

6 sourcesHow we work

How it works and why it fails

Control arms, ball joints, bushes and drop links

Control arms (wishbones) connect the wheels to the body through ball joints and rubber bushes, and the drop links connect the anti-roll bar. They are wear parts which, on some models, give out sooner than normal or have had mounting defects corrected by the manufacturer.

What to do

Knocking over bumps, creaking when turning, a vibrating steering wheel or uneven tyre wear usually point to these parts. After replacing them, have the wheel alignment done. A badly worn ball joint can come apart: do not let it slide.

General explanation by MotorFiable. The specific faults of each engine and car, with their sources, are on the linked pages.

Common symptoms

The symptoms that come up most often in the documented faults with control arms, ball joints and bushes. Open each one to see what other faults cause it.

Problems with control arms, ball joints and bushes by car

Faults documented on specific cars, which occur with any engine. From most to least important.

  1. 1Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalAudi A4 B9Corrosion of the rear multi-link axle eccentric boltsYes: Audi recalled A4 B9s built between November 2019 and April 2021 because the eccentric bolts that secure the rear axle arm can corrode and break. A second campaign in 2022, for the same build period, extended the recall to uneven tyre wear caused by the same loss of geometry.Repair: €0
  2. 2Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalAudi e-tronCorrosion of the rear axle arm eccentric bolt nutsAudi recalled several models, including the e-tron, built between 7 November 2019 and 16 April 2021 because the nuts on the rear axle arm's eccentric bolt can break through stress corrosion, with a risk of accident.
  3. 3Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalAudi Q5 IICorrosion of the eccentric bolts on the multi-link rear axleYes: Audi recalled Q5 II cars built between November 2019 and April 2021 because the eccentric bolts that secure the rear axle arm can corrode and break. A second campaign in 2022, for the same build period, extended the recall to the uneven tyre wear caused by the same loss of geometry.Repair: €0
  4. 4Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalAudi Q7 4MCorrosion of the rear axle arm eccentric bolt nutsAudi recalled the Q7 built between 7 November 2019 and 16 April 2021 because the nuts of the rear axle arm eccentric bolt can break through stress corrosion. The Safety Gate alert indicates a risk of accident.
  5. 5Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalAudi Q8Corrosion of the rear axle arm eccentric bolt nutsAudi recalled the Q8 built between 7 November 2019 and 16 April 2021 because the nuts of the rear axle arm eccentric bolt can break through stress corrosion. The Safety Gate alert indicates a risk of accident.
  6. 6Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalCitroën Jumpy IIICorrosion in the bolt and bushes of the front suspension armYes: a Stellantis and Toyota campaign (November 2025) inspects the front suspension arm mounting of the Jumpy and Spacetourer because corrosion can weaken the bolt and even break it, with partial loss of control of the car. The inspection and, if needed, replacement of the parts are free.
  7. 7Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalFiat Ducato IIINon-conforming steering knuckle: the wheel axle can break (2019 and 2020 units)Yes: Fiat issued a recall (code 6291) for Ducatos built in 2019 (55,842 units worldwide) because the wheel axle could be faulty and break, affecting the steering and handling. The DVSA, with the same reference, describes it as non-conforming steering knuckles.
  8. 8Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalFord Transit CustomLower suspension arms with missing, partial or insufficiently penetrated weldsTwo 2020 campaigns (20S47 and 20S53) affect the Transit Custom's lower suspension arms: on vehicles from October 2019 to July 2020 welds may be missing or partial, and on vehicles from June to September 2020 the weld penetration of the left arm does not meet the specification. There is a risk of breakage and of an accident.
  9. 9Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalFord TransitLower suspension arms with missing, partial or insufficiently penetrating weldsTwo 2020 recalls (20S47 and 20S53) affect the Transit's lower suspension arms: in units built from October 2019 to July 2020, welds may be missing or partial, and in units built from June to September 2020 the weld penetration on the left-hand arm does not meet the specification. There is a risk of breakage and an accident.
  10. 10Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalHyundai Elantra ICorrosion of the front suspension arms (2012 recall)Yes: in 2012 a recall was issued for 2002-2003 Elantras because the front suspension arms can corrode from the inside until they weaken and break, with a risk of losing directional control. In Germany the repair, which keeps the healthy arm or replaces the damaged one, is free and takes one hour.
  11. 11Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalHyundai TrajetCorrosion of the rear suspension armsIt does exist: Britain's DVSA recalled Trajets (and Santa Fes) built between 2000 and 2004 because corrosion could weaken the rear arms until they broke and affect steering control. The check measures the thickness of the metal and either applies wax or replaces the arms.
  12. 12Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalLand Rover Range Rover Evoque IFront lower arm to knuckle bolt incorrectly tightened (2016 recall)In 2016 Land Rover recalled 343 Evoque models built between March and August 2016 in the UK: the bolt joining the front lower arm to the knuckle may have been incorrectly tightened and fatigue early, with a risk of the joint separating.
  13. 13Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda CX-7Lower front suspension ball joint that can seize or break through corrosionYes: a recall covers CX-7s built between May 2007 and August 2012 because water can get into the lower front suspension ball joint and cause corrosion and seizing; in the worst case the ball joint breaks and control of the steering can be lost. The complete lower arm is replaced.
  14. 14Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase V W447Suspension wishbone with insufficient welding and risk of breaking (November and December 2019)Yes: Safety Gate alert A12/01136/21 affects 165 V-Class and Vito models built between 25 November and 19 December 2019 because insufficient welding can break the suspension wishbone and make it harder to brake and steer the car.
  15. 15Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz SLC R172Defective nuts on the rear axle tie rod ball jointYes, there was a preventive campaign: some SLCs built between January and May 2016 may have been fitted with nuts that do not hold the tightening tension at the ball joint of the rear axle tie rod. If it worked loose, control of the car could be reduced; the official service checks it with the chassis number.
  16. 16Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz SLK R172Defective nuts on the rear axle track rod ball jointYes, there was a precautionary campaign: some SLKs built in the first months of 2016 may have nuts that do not hold their tension at the rear track rod ball joint. If it loosened, the car's handling could get worse; the official dealer checks this using the chassis number.
  17. 17Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Vito W447Insufficient welding of the suspension transverse arm with risk of breakage (November and December 2019)Yes: 165 Vito and V-Class vehicles built between 25 November and 19 December 2019 may have a suspension transverse arm with insufficient welding that could break and impair braking and steering. Safety Gate classified it as an accident risk (alert 30/2021).
  18. 18Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel Corsa EPossible failure of the joint between the steering knuckle and the lower suspension armYes: in 2015 Opel recalled the 2014-2016 Corsa E and Adam because the connection between the steering knuckle and the lower suspension arm could fail, with a risk of loss of stability and control of the car.
  19. 19Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel Grandland IBreakage of the lower front suspension arm ball joint bolts (2024 build)Opel and Peugeot have recalled more than 32,000 Grandland, 3008 and 5008 models built between 2023 and 2025 because the bolts that fix the ball joint to the lower front suspension arm can break; if that happens, the wheel stops responding to the steering and the car can become uncontrollable.
  20. 20Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel Insignia ACorroded and possibly broken rear track rods (2022 recall)In 2022 Opel recalled Insignia A vehicles built between December 2007 and July 2013 because the rear axle track rods may break through corrosion and affect stability.
  21. 21Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel Vivaro CFront suspension arm bolts and joint that break through corrosionYes: Opel campaign KN4 covers Vivaros built between 23 September 2020 and 30 June 2022 because the fixing bolts and the joint of the front arms can break through corrosion and make the car steer unpredictably. In the United Kingdom the bolts and bushes on both sides are replaced.
  22. 22Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel Zafira LifeFront suspension arms: fixing bolts and ball joint broken by corrosionYes: Opel's KN4 recall covers Zafira Life vehicles built between 23 September 2020 and 30 June 2022, because the fixing bolts and the ball joint of the front arms may break through corrosion. There are 76,778 vehicles in total across several models.
  23. 23Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 508 IIProduction campaigns on the rear axle: mounting (2020) and cracks in the stub axles (2021)The Peugeot 508 II had two separate production campaigns relating to the rear axle: in 2020 for a mounting problem that could cause unstable handling, and in 2021 for possible cracks in the rear stub axles.
  24. 24Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot Expert IIIFront suspension arms: mounting bolts and joint broken by corrosionIn September 2025 a Peugeot recall (Safety Gate SR/03211/25) was published for Expert and Traveller vehicles built between September 2020 and June 2022: the mounting bolts and the joint of the front arms can break because of corrosion, causing unpredictable steering behaviour.
  25. 25Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalPorsche Cayenne IIIFront left axle upper arm breakage due to cracked material (recall ARB2)In 2024 Porsche recalled 11,913 Cayenne cars built between 9 May and 19 June 2024 (recall ARB2): the front left upper arm could break because of cracked forged material, leading to loss of wheel guidance and a risk of losing control of the car.
  26. 26Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalPorsche TaycanSuspension bolts and arms out of specification on the first Taycans (recalls AMA3, AMB2 and AMC3)Yes, in specific batches from 2020 and 2021: three recalls cover Taycans with poorly tightened suspension threaded connections (AMA3), the front right lower arm out of specification (AMB2) and badly fitted rear arm connections (AMC3), which the Safety Gate links to arms that could come loose and cause a loss of stability.
  27. 27Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalRenault FluenceRear axle stub axle bolt badly tightened on cars from February 2016Yes: Safety Gate alert A12/1664/16 covers Fluence cars built between 1 and 17 February 2016, because the rear stub axle bolt (right, left or both) may have been left untightened or badly tightened, with a risk of sudden loss of the wheel. It is a preventive and very narrow recall.
  28. 28Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalSmart ForfourFront left hub carrier with insufficient strength (2017 campaign)A Safety Gate alert (41/2017) and the DVSA cover Forfours and Fortwos built between March and June 2017 whose front left hub carrier may lack the necessary strength and break, with loss of control. It is checked and replaced if necessary at an official dealer.
  29. 29Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalSmart FortwoFront left steering knuckle with insufficient strength (2017 recall)A Safety Gate alert (41/2017) and the DVSA cover Fortwos and Forfours built between March and June 2017 whose front left steering knuckle may lack the necessary strength and break, with a loss of control. It is checked and replaced if necessary at an official service centre.
  30. 30Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalTesla Model 3Recall for insufficient front suspension arm mounting (built 2019-2021)In December 2021 Tesla recalled the Model 3 and Model Y built between January 2019 and June 2021 because the mounting of the front suspension arms could be insufficient, with a risk of losing control of the vehicle.
  31. 31Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalTesla Model YRecall for insufficient mounting of the front suspension arms (built 2020-2021)In December 2021 Tesla recalled Model Y and Model 3 cars built up to June 2021 because the mounting of the front suspension arms could be insufficient, with a risk of losing control of the vehicle.
  32. 32Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalToyota ProAce IISuspension arm bolts and lower arm ball joint (2016-2018)In March 2019 Toyota recalled Proace vehicles built between 2016 and 2018 over three suspension defects: deformed front and rear arm bolts that could break or come loose, and a lower arm ball joint that could become loose.
  33. 33Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Jetta VIDeformation of the rear axle trailing arm after an impactAccording to campaign 42G8 in the British register (DVSA), the rear axle trailing arm on Jettas built between October 2011 and August 2013 can become deformed in a rear impact or when reversing quickly over a high obstacle; if not detected, it can break later and cause a loss of steering control.
  34. 34Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Touareg IIIRear axle control arm nuts that can break through stress corrosionVolkswagen recalled 3,741 Touareg IIIs built between September and November 2020 because the nuts on the rear axle arm's eccentric bolt could break through stress corrosion and the axle could shift at high speed. The DVSA (87 cars in the UK) refers to nuts made of non-conforming material and replaces them.
  35. 35Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo S80 IRecall: the front damper lower ball joint nut on the Volvo S80 can lose tensionIn January 2004 Volvo recalled the S60, S80 and V70 because the nut joining the front damper's lower ball joint to the suspension arm could lose tension owing to an out-of-specification tolerance; the DVSA speaks of possible suspension collapse (R/2004/012, 9,735 vehicles in the UK). It was corrected with a modified nut.
  36. 36Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo V70 IIRecall: the lower front shock absorber ball joint nut may lose tensionVolvo recalled the S60, S80 and V70 in January 2004 because the nut joining the lower ball joint of the front shock absorber to the suspension arm could lose tension due to an out-of-specification tolerance. It was corrected with a modified nut (DVSA R/2004/012; 9,735 vehicles in the United Kingdom).
  37. 37Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo XC90 IOuter ball joint pin breakage that can cause loss of steering controlA German buying guide reports that, according to the KBA, under extreme driving conditions the outer ball joint pin on XC90s from 2003 to 2006 can break and cause the car to lose the ability to steer. It lists this among the model's recalls; we have not found the official notice.
  38. 38High severityFrequency: OccasionalAudi A4 B5Premature wear of the track rod end ball joints (1999 campaign)In 1999, 38,307 Audi A4s built between March and August 1998 were recalled in the United Kingdom: faulty seals could wear the track rod end ball joints prematurely and, if the warning noises were ignored, the pivot could come loose and affect steering control.
  39. 39High severityFrequency: OccasionalAudi A4 B6Breakage of the aluminium front suspension armsOn 1.9 TDI versions, fiches-auto.fr documents fractures of the aluminium front suspension arms from 180,000-210,000 km, a safety fault because it can upset the car's directional control.Appears at around 180,000 km
  40. 40High severityFrequency: OccasionalAudi A4 B7Breakage of the aluminium front suspension armsOn the 1.9 TDI versions, fiches-auto.fr documents fractures of the aluminium front suspension arms from 180,000-210,000 km, a safety fault because it can affect the car's directional control.Appears at around 180,000 km
  41. 41High severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW X4 G02Weak X4 M suspension arm (2018-2019 recall)According to the fiches-auto.fr fiche, there was a recall of the X4 M built between August 2018 and August 2019 because of a weakness in a suspension arm component, with a risk of losing control of the vehicle.
  42. 42High severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW X6 F16Unsuitable wishbone ball joint and front axle pivot (2018 recall)According to the fiches-auto.fr data sheet, X6s produced on 9-11 June 2018 had an unsuitable ball joint in the front left wishbone and an unsuitable pivot on the left arm, with a risk of breakage that would affect the steering.
  43. 43High severityFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C3 IIFront subframe mounting bolts insufficiently tightened (2014 production)Citroën found that, in a batch of C3 II cars built in 2014, the bolts that secure the front subframe might not have been tightened sufficiently at the factory, with a risk of the assembly losing rigidity; the campaign, according to fiches-auto.fr, also affected the DS3.
  44. 44High severityFrequency: OccasionalFiat StiloBreakage of the front suspension wishbones and springsThe Stilo's front suspension wishbones are described as a fragile part that breaks fairly often, and broken front springs are also reported.
  45. 45High severityFrequency: OccasionalFord S-Max IICorroded rear suspension arm bolts (recall 20S75)Ford recalled S-Max models built between January 2015 and February 2020 because the original bolts on the rear suspension control arms corrode and can break, with a risk of accident if control of the car is affected. The remedy is to replace them with bolts from another supplier.
  46. 46High severityFrequency: OccasionalJaguar XF IRear toe-link arm may come loose from the subframe because of the wrong nut and washerYes, in a short series: Jaguar recalled XFs built between November 2012 and January 2014 because, under prolonged aggressive driving, the rear toe-link arm could come loose from the subframe and compromise stability. It is corrected by replacing the nut and washer with revised-design parts.
  47. 47High severityFrequency: OccasionalJeep Cherokee KJCorrosion of the rear lower suspension control armsJeep recalled Cherokee KJ models built between April 2003 and June 2007 in 2018 because the rear lower control arms can corrode excessively and eventually break, causing loss of stability.
  48. 48High severityFrequency: OccasionalLand Rover Freelander IRear suspension arm weld fracture (1998 recall)In 1998 Land Rover recalled Freelanders built between June 1997 and June 1998 because of a fault in the welds of the rear suspension arms. If a weld fractured, the rear axle lost stability and the car could drift from a straight line.
  49. 49High severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel Combo EDamaged steering linkage (track rods), with loss of stabilityIn 2019-2020 units, the steering linkage (track rods) can become damaged, with loss of driving stability and a greater risk of an accident; the Peugeot Rifter and the Citroën Berlingo III had an official campaign for a defect in the same component over a similar period.
  50. 50High severityFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 5008 IIIRecall for lower front wishbone ball joint boltscar-recalls.eu lists (December 2025) a European campaign because the bolts securing the front lower wishbone ball joint could be faulty and break.
  51. 51High severityFrequency: OccasionalPorsche Cayenne IIIRear axle arm nuts out of specification and resulting rear geometry misalignment (recalls AMA9 and ANA1)In 2021 Porsche launched recall AMA9 for Cayenne cars built between 16 September and 31 October 2020, due to rear axle arm nuts that were out of specification. In 2022 recall ANA1 was needed because the rear axle geometry had been thrown out of alignment on some cars, causing uneven wear on the rear tyres.
  52. 52High severityFrequency: OccasionalPorsche Macan IFront axle control arm bolts and other parts out of standard specification (recall AH11)A Safety Gate alert from February 2019 (recall AH11) covers Macans built in 2014-2015 that might not meet the standard specifications in safety assemblies; the alert cites as examples the seats, the front axle control arm bolts and brake components. It does not detail the remedy or the number of cars.
  53. 53High severityFrequency: OccasionalRenault Twingo IIIRisk of a crack in the shock absorber and bearing noise from the front axleYes: Renault recalled Twingo III cars built up to 24 March 2015 over the risk of a crack in the tube of a shock absorber; a French reliability guide adds complaints of bearing noise from the front axle between 2015 and 2016 in the same area.
  54. 54High severityFrequency: OccasionalToyota RAV4 VPossible crack in the front lower control arms on RAV4s built between September and October 2019A 2020 recall requires replacement of the front lower control arms on RAV4s built between 25/09/2019 and 26/10/2019 due to the risk of cracking. Fiches-auto.fr, the European alert and the German press (524 cars in Germany) confirm it.
  55. 55High severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Caddy VDefective wheel control arm on the CaddyA defective wheel control arm can fail and bend the wheel to one side, making steering very difficult; campaign 40S5 covers 6,112 Caddys built between April 2021 and July 2022.
  56. 56High severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen ID. BuzzIncorrectly tightened steering track rod ball joint and front axle wishbone connectionYes, in a very small batch: the DVSA records a campaign (reference 4OA1) for ID. Buzz models built in August 2024 in which, on one side of the front axle, the bolted connection of the track rod ball joint and the wishbone may have been done incorrectly. 4 vehicles were counted in the UK.
  57. 57Medium severityFrequency: CommonAlfa Romeo 156Alfa Romeo 156 suspension bush and arm wearThis is the most frequently cited non-engine fault on the 156: 75 cases out of about 244 reports on fiches-auto.fr. The upper and lower arms and the anti-roll bar bushes wear out and cause knocking, squeaking and uneven tyre wear.
  58. 58Medium severityFrequency: CommonAlfa Romeo 166Worn steering and hub ball joints on the Alfa Romeo 166On the 166, the steering and hub ball joints wear out frequently: this is the most repeated reason for failure in Dutch roadworthiness tests of 166s from 1999 to 2007, and the Hungarian press points to the suspension as a weak spot.
  59. 59Medium severityFrequency: CommonAudi A6 C5Premature wear of the suspension arms and ball jointsAccording to owner reports on fiches-auto.fr, the A6 C5's suspension arms are usually replaced at around 100,000-110,000 km, with 11 cases of ball joints and reports of bushes (silentblocks) beyond 180,000 km.Appears at around 100,000 km
  60. 60Medium severityFrequency: CommonBMW Serie 1 E87Broken suspension springs and worn front-end bushesThe German TÜV Report, cited by gebrauchtwagenberater.de, notes that suspension springs on the E87 break fairly often; fiches-auto.fr adds front-end vibrations and worn bushes among owners' reports.Repair (garage): €400–€750
  61. 61Medium severityFrequency: CommonBMW Serie 3 E46Wear of the suspension bushes, ball joints and bushingsWith mileage, the suspension arm bushes, ball joints and bushings wear and cause vibrations, noises and less precise steering; fiches-auto.fr describes it as very recurrent between 60,000 and 180,000 km.Repair (garage): €300–€600Appears at around 60,000 km
  62. 62Medium severityFrequency: CommonCitroën Berlingo IIWear of shock absorbers, top mounts and drop links in the front suspensionIt is the most cited problem in a reliability survey on the Berlingo II: the front shock absorbers, top mounts, springs and anti-roll bar drop links produce recurring creaks, especially on poor roads or over speed bumps, with cases documented from 15,000 km.Appears at around 15,000 km
  63. 63Medium severityFrequency: CommonCitroën C4 IWear of shock absorbers, ball joints and wheel bearings on the front axleIn a reliability survey with 573 responses on the Citroën C4 (2004-2010), the front shock absorbers, ball joints and wheel bearings add up to 89 cases, with knocking, vibration and uneven tyre wear as the most cited symptoms.
  64. 64Medium severityFrequency: CommonDacia Duster IIWear in steering ball joints and track rod ends on the Duster IIThe steering ball joints and track rod ends on the Duster II fail the German TÜV inspection more often than average; three German sources identify them as its main weak point in the front end.
  65. 65Medium severityFrequency: CommonFiat Ducato IIIWear of the upper shock absorber mounts and front axle ball jointsIt is a known weak point: the 2025 TÜV report on commercial vehicles highlights frequent complaints about the Ducato's front axle, and promobil places it, with the Boxer and Jumper, above average for springs, shock absorbers and axle suspension. CAT cites the upper mounts and the ball joints.
  66. 66Medium severityFrequency: CommonFord Fiesta VWear of wheel bearings, shock absorbers, springs and ball joints in the running gearThe Fiesta V's wheel bearings, shock absorbers, springs and ball joints wear with use across the range, with noise that grows with speed and knocking from the ball joints, according to both sources consulted.
  67. 67Medium severityFrequency: CommonFord Focus IIPremature wear of shock absorbers, suspension bushes and wheel bearingsThe Focus II's shock absorbers, suspension bushes and wheel bearings wear out sooner than expected: a 2021 German technical inspection report points to wheel bearings as a frequent finding on units from the final years of production.
  68. 68Medium severityFrequency: CommonHonda Civic VIIIWear of the front suspension arm mountsThe mounts (bushes) of the front suspension arms on this generation of Civic wear relatively often and can cause an inspection fail; several French owners also document shock absorber problems and noises on the same axle.
  69. 69Medium severityFrequency: CommonJeep Grand Cherokee WKWear of the front axle ball joints and jointsYes: AUTO BILD names front axle and steering joints with play as the most striking TÜV (German inspection) defect on the 2005-2010 Grand Cherokee, and another article in the same magazine says its joints and bushes wear too quickly even with normal use.
  70. 70Medium severityFrequency: CommonKia Ceed IIWear of the steering ball joints and linkagesGerman periodic inspection reports point to the steering joints and suspension ball joints as systematic weak points of this generation, a pattern that matches owner reports of power steering faults and clicking noises when turning.
  71. 71Medium severityFrequency: CommonKia Sportage IVPremature wear of the steering ball jointsA German analysis of periodic inspections identifies wear of the steering ball joints as a weak point specific to the fourth-generation Sportage, unlike other generations of the model.
  72. 72Medium severityFrequency: CommonOpel Omega BPlay in the steering centre link and track rod ends on the Opel Omega BYes: AUTO BILD and a TÜV Rheinland inspector agree that the Omega B's steering frequently has play. According to AUTO BILD, the centre link bearing and the track rod ends wear out early (before 100,000 km in some cases), and the German press considers the steering joints not adequately sized for the car's weight.
  73. 73Medium severityFrequency: CommonPeugeot 206Wear of the rear axle and suspension ball jointsOn the Peugeot 206 it is common for the rear axle mounts and the front suspension ball joints to wear out earlier than expected, with noises, vague steering and uneven tyre wear.
  74. 74Medium severityFrequency: CommonPeugeot 407Wear of suspension and steering ball jointsOn the Peugeot 407 it is common for the suspension and steering ball joints to wear out sooner than expected, causing noises, vague steering and uneven tyre wear.
  75. 75Medium severityFrequency: CommonPeugeot Partner IIWear of shock absorbers, top mounts and drop links in the front suspensionIn a reliability survey with 219 responses on the Partner Tepee (2008-2018), the front shock absorbers, top mounts, springs and anti-roll bar drop links account for 44 cases, the most cited system in the whole sample.
  76. 76Medium severityFrequency: CommonRenault Kangoo IIPremature wear of suspension drop links and steering ball jointsThe Kangoo II's front axle suffers premature wear of the suspension drop links and steering ball joints, a defect that fiches-auto.fr describes as recurring and shared with the Scenic and the Megane of the same era.Appears at around 75,000 km
  77. 77Medium severityFrequency: CommonRenault Laguna IWear of the rear bearings, ball joints and suspension bushesAccording to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the rear bearings wear early (rubbing) and the rear ball joints, drop links and bushes deteriorate, causing noises and imprecise handling. No official recall is on record.
  78. 78Medium severityFrequency: CommonRenault Laguna IIPremature wear of front and rear axle bushes and ball jointsThe Laguna II's rear bushes, ball joints and steering drop links wear out sooner than normal and are responsible for much of the suspension noise and uneven front tyre wear that workshops describe.Appears at around 80,000 km
  79. 79Medium severityFrequency: CommonSeat Ibiza IIIEarly wear of the front axle bushes, ball joints and shock absorbersYes: it is the most-cited non-engine fault among Ibiza III owners. The front axle bushes, ball joints and shock absorbers wear out sooner than expected, with noises and knocks that get worse over potholes and on roundabouts.
  80. 80Medium severityFrequency: CommonŠkoda Fabia IFront suspension wear (shock absorbers and bushes)The front suspension and bushes are the second most-cited non-engine fault on the Fabia I: 38 of the 140 responses in the fiches-auto.fr reliability survey, though the source does not say which part fails first in each case.
  81. 81Medium severityFrequency: CommonVolkswagen Passat B7Premature wear of the front suspension bushesYes: several sources document faster-than-normal wear in the front suspension bushes of the Passat B7, with cases reported at around 56,000 km, and associated uneven wear on the rear tyres that sometimes means the geometry has to be checked.Repair (garage): €400Appears at around 56,000 km
  82. 82Medium severityFrequency: CommonVolkswagen Sharan IIPremature wear of the suspension arm bushesYes: Auto Bild names the suspension arm bushes as the Sharan II's weakest point in the German roadworthiness inspection, with a defect rate ten times that of comparable cars at 4-5 years old. Auto Zeitung also lists them among the usual faults.
  83. 83Medium severityFrequency: CommonVolkswagen Tiguan IPremature wear of the suspension mounts (bushes) and multi-link rear axleYes: according to German inspection statistics (TÜV), the Tiguan I's suspension mounts are among the components with the most defects, and a French reliability site backs up the pattern with 16 complaints about suspension/shock absorbers and 8 about bearings out of 439 reviews; broken springs are more occasional and are usually down to overloading.
  84. 84Medium severityFrequency: CommonVolkswagen Touareg IPremature wear of the front bushes and tyresAccording to owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, there are 16 cases of front suspension wear with deformed bushes and 39 of rapid tyre wear, sometimes within a few thousand kilometres, due to links and tracking that cannot be adjusted.
  85. 85Medium severityFrequency: CommonVolkswagen Touran IWear of suspension bushes and shock absorbers with uneven tyre wearYes: fiches-auto.fr documents premature tyre wear (34 reports, with a first replacement cited at 47,000 km on the original Touran I and from 6,500 km on the facelift) and of suspension bushes and shock absorbers, and gebrauchtwagenberater.de independently confirms noisy front suspension arms and defective shock absorbers.Appears at around 6,500 km
  86. 86Critical severityFrequency: RareAudi A5 IIRear axle arm nuts with stress corrosion on the A5Audi recalled cars built between 7-11-2019 and 16-4-2021 because the nuts on the rear axle arm's eccentric bolt can break from stress corrosion and the axle may move uncontrollably at high speed.
  87. 87Critical severityFrequency: RareAudi A6 C8Rear axle arm bolt nuts with stress corrosion in the A6Audi recalled cars built between 7-11-2019 and 16-4-2021 because the nuts on the eccentric bolt of the rear axle control arm can break through stress corrosion, and the axle can move uncontrollably at high speed.
  88. 88Critical severityFrequency: RareDS DS 3 CrossbackFront subframe bolt not tightened properly, with a risk of loss of control (built February 2021)DS recalled DS3 Crossbacks built in February 2021 because a bolt on the front subframe may not be tightened properly, which can cause a loss of stability and of control of the vehicle.
  89. 89Critical severityFrequency: RareFord Tourneo ConnectLower suspension arms out of specificationFord recalled 117 Tourneo Connect vehicles built between 3 March and 7 July 2022 because the lower suspension arms might not meet specifications and could break, with a risk of affecting the steering and losing control (Safety Gate A12/00090/23, code 22S70).
  90. 90Critical severityFrequency: RareHyundai Tucson IVRecall for incorrect thread on the steering ball joints (2025)In August 2025 Hyundai recalled 4,324 Tucsons built between 9 May and 2 June 2025 at the Nošovice plant in the Czech Republic: a non-conforming thread in the steering ball joints could, in extreme circumstances, reduce the car's ability to turn.
  91. 91Critical severityFrequency: RareKia Sportage VRecall for steering ball joint thread out of specification (2025)In May 2025, a recall (code 250S54) covered Sportage cars built between 12 and 27 May with a thread diameter larger than specified on the steering ball joint stem: the same type of defect that, over the same dates, led Hyundai to recall 4,324 Tucsons for an equivalent problem.
  92. 92Critical severityFrequency: RareMazda CX-3The bolt between the steering knuckle and the shock absorber can work loose and leave the car without steeringOn cars built up to December 2015, the bolted joint between the suspension steering knuckle and the shock absorber can work loose, which can leave the car unable to steer. Mazda corrects it by checking and retightening or replacing the joint at an official dealer.
  93. 93Critical severityFrequency: RareMercedes-Benz Clase A W177Rear axle manufacturing defects: bolts and hub carriers on 2019 unitsYes: two European recalls from 2019 and 2020 affected 2019 A-Class cars, one for rear axle bolts that were not tightened properly and another for a right-hand rear hub carrier with inclusions or cracks, with a risk of losing control of the wheel.
  94. 94Critical severityFrequency: RareMINI Cooper F56Missing spherical washer in the steering ball joint (2019 batch)Yes: in cars assembled between 15 March and 8 April 2019, the ball joint at the end of the steering rack may be missing a spherical washer, which wears it until it breaks and can lead to loss of control. MINI recalled vehicles in that batch in October 2019.
  95. 95Critical severityFrequency: RareMINI Countryman F60Missing spherical washer in the steering ball joint (2019 batch) and outer ball joints wearing excessively (2016-2019)On the JCW Countryman assembled between 15 March and 8 April 2019, a spherical washer may be missing from the steering ball joint, which then wears until it breaks (October 2019 campaign). A German source also points to defective production of the outer ball joints on Countrymans from 2016 to 2019, with excessive wear until the link breaks.
  96. 96Critical severityFrequency: RareOpel Zafira Tourer CFaulty thread on the steering track rod ball joint (April 2016 production)A 2016 recall covers Zafiras built between 7 and 20 April 2016: the thread on the steering ball joint could be machined incorrectly, with a risk of cracking the steering knuckle and losing control.
  97. 97Critical severityFrequency: RarePeugeot 3008 IIIBreakage of the bolt securing the ball joint to the front suspension armStellantis recalled more than 32,000 third-generation Peugeot 3008 and 5008 (and Opel Grandland) built between July 2023 and February 2025: the bolt securing the ball joint bracket to the lower front suspension arm can break, with a risk of noise, vibration when braking and, in the worst case, loss of directional control.
  98. 98Critical severityFrequency: RarePeugeot 308 IISteering campaigns: reduced power steering assistance and steering ball joint (production 2015)Safety Gate records two steering alerts for the 2015 308 II: electric power assistance that could reduce while driving or manoeuvring (cars from April and May 2015) and a steering rod that could break while driving (cars built 14 to 20 October 2015).
  99. 99Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalAlfa Romeo 147Wear of the front suspension bushes, arms and ball jointsThe front suspension bushes, arms and ball joints on the Alfa Romeo 147 wear fairly often, mostly between 100,000 and 200,000 km, and tend to cause noises and uneven wear of the front tyres.Appears at around 100,000 km
  100. 100Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalAlfa Romeo 159Wear of the front suspension bushes, wishbones and ball jointsThe front suspension of the Alfa Romeo 159 has built up reports of worn bushes, wishbones and ball joints, with noises and uneven wear of the front tyres as the main symptoms.
  101. 101Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalAlfa Romeo BreraKnocking from the worn front upper wishbone bushes on the BreraA British specialist workshop describes a hard-to-locate knocking on the Brera caused by wear of the inner bushes of the front upper wishbones, at around 80,000-100,000 miles (about 130,000-160,000 km).Appears at around 128,748 km
  102. 102Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalAlfa Romeo BreraWorn rear lower bush and tyres that wear quickly on the BreraThe British workshop warns that the lower bush of the rear hub wears and can speed up tyre wear; it also says that poorly set geometry wears the front axle more quickly and that careful adjustment reduces this.
  103. 103Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalAlfa Romeo GTWorn steering and suspension ball joints on the Alfa Romeo GTIn the Dutch roadworthiness inspection, a steering or suspension ball joint worn to the limit is one of the most repeated defects in GTs that fail (it tops the list in six of the seven model years): between 10% and 13% of defects each year, from 2004 to 2010. This is data from cars that fail, not from all GTs.
  104. 104Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalAlfa Romeo Spider 939Knocking from the Spider's front upper wishbone bushesA British specialist workshop describes a hard-to-locate knocking on the Spider, caused by wear of the inner bushes of the front upper wishbones, at around 80,000-100,000 miles (roughly 130,000-160,000 km).Appears at around 128,748 km
  105. 105Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalAlfa Romeo Spider 939Worn rear lower bush and tyres wearing quickly on the SpiderThe British workshop warns that the lower bush of the rear hub wears and can accelerate tyre wear; it also says that poorly adjusted geometry wears the front axle more and that careful setting up reduces it.
  106. 106Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalAudi A1 ISuspension noises and wear: bushes, control arms, ball joints and springsfiches-auto.fr lists 11 cases of suspension noise on the A1: bushes, shock absorbers, ball joints and even a broken front spring at 89,000 km; one case needed a control arm kit at around 93,000 km.
  107. 107Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalAudi A3 IWear of suspension and steering bushes and ball jointsAccording to the fiches-auto.fr owner reports, there are 9 cases of worn bushes, 5 of wheel bearings and 8 of steering parts, with ball joints that deteriorate and reduce precision.
  108. 108Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalAudi A7 C8Rear axle arm nuts and realignment of toe and camberAudi recalled A7s built between 7 November 2019 and 16 April 2021 because the nuts on the eccentric bolt of a rear axle arm could break through stress corrosion. A second campaign corrected geometry misalignments that arose after the first.
  109. 109Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalAudi A8 D3Air spring failure and worn suspension bushesOwners mention noises from the front suspension, failing air springs and worn bushes. According to fiches-auto.fr, the suspension accounts for 8 mentions out of 62 reports. This is a pattern drawn from owner reports, not a manufacturer recall.
  110. 110Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalAudi A8 D5Rear axle arm nuts and wheel alignment and camber readjustmentAudi recalled A8s built between 7 November 2019 and 16 April 2021 because the eccentric bolt nuts on a rear axle arm could crack through stress corrosion. A second campaign corrected alignment and camber problems that appeared after the first.
  111. 111Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalAudi Q7 4LWear on ball joints, shock absorbers and brake discs due to the car's weightIn the TÜV inspection (Germany's MOT), the Q7 4L often fails for play in ball joints and bushes, defective shock absorbers, worn brake discs and an uneven handbrake, mainly because of its great weight.
  112. 112Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW Serie 2 Active Tourer F45Worn front bushes and tyres/brake pads that wear out sooner than expectedfiches-auto.fr gathers several testimonies of worn front bushes and engine mounts with vibrations, along with front tyres and brake pads that wear out sooner than expected, in some cases from as early as 17,000-20,000 km.
  113. 113Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW Serie 3 E36Wear of the front suspension arm bushes and ball jointsWith age the lower arm bushes and ball joints wear out: a British guide links worn bushes to vibration when braking from high speed, and fiches-auto.fr records 6 mentions of bushes and 5 of ball joints out of 160 accounts. It is normal wear, with no dedicated campaign.
  114. 114Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW Serie 3 E90Wear of shock absorbers, bushes and suspension bearingsWith mileage it is common for the E90 to need shock absorbers, bushes or suspension bearings: fiches-auto.fr places several cases between 150,000 and 170,000 km, and gebrauchtwagenberater.de cites German TÜV inspection data that flags springs and shock absorbers as a frequent point of attention.
  115. 115Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW Serie 5 E39Premature wear of the front arm bushes on the BMW 5 Series E39According to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr (317 for the 1995-2003 5 Series), there are 16 cases of front arm bushes with play, vibrations and vague steering, and 8 of ball joints.
  116. 116Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW Serie 5 E60Wear of suspension arms and steering ball joints on the 5 Series E60AUTO BILD says the E60's Achilles heel is the running gear: the front and rear wishbones wear out and often do not last beyond 120,000 km; steering ball joints also wear, with play that the German TÜV detects.
  117. 117Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW Serie 7 E65Wear of the front suspension arms and bushesAccording to testimonies collected by fiches-auto.fr, the 7 Series E65's front suspension arms, bushes, bearings and ball joints appear in 8 of 64 testimonies. No mileage or cost is given.
  118. 118Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW X1 E84Noises and wear in the suspension, bushes and bearings of the X1 E84According to fiches-auto.fr, the suspension, bushes and bearings account for 23 mentions out of 315 reports on the X1 E84: creaks, premature tyre wear and bearing noise from around 170,000 km.
  119. 119Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW X5 E53Wear of the bushes, ball joints and suspension arms on the X5 E53According to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr (206 for the 2000-2007 X5), there are 12 cases of bushes, 3 of ball joints and play in a suspension arm at around 100,000 km, with vibrations.
  120. 120Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalChrysler 300CPlay in the suspension control arms, ball joints and track rod endsYes: AUTO BILD says the TÜV (the German inspection body) often criticises the 300C's axle and steering joints for play, specifically the control arms (Querlenker), load-bearing ball joints (Traggelenke) and track rod ends (Spurstangenköpfe). The magazine points out that the floorpan and axles are shared with the old Mercedes E-Class (W 210).
  121. 121Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalChrysler Voyager RGSuspension bushes and shock absorbersSuspension bushes are among the first parts to fail on the Voyager, and leaking shock absorbers are a known fault.
  122. 122Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalCitroën Berlingo IWear of the rear axle arm bearingsThe Citroën Berlingo I page and that of its twin cite wear of the rear axle arm bearings: knocking, the rear of the car sitting low and unevenly worn tyres. The Berlingo page has 21 reports.
  123. 123Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalDacia Logan IPlay in the steering track rods and suspension of the Logan IAccording to CarWiki.de, the axle suspension and the steering track rods are a weak point on the Logan I at the TÜV: the joints loosen early and often cause a failure at inspection. It is a single source, with no figures per model.
  124. 124Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalDacia Sandero ISuspension play, steering ball joints and driveshafts on the Sandero IAccording to the TÜV report cited by gebrauchtwagenberater.de, wheel suspension, steering, ball joints and driveshafts are a frequent reason for the Sandero I to fail inspection. It is a single source, with no figures per part.
  125. 125Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalFiat CromaWorn steering and suspension ball joints on the Fiat CromaIn the Dutch MOT scheme, a steering or suspension ball joint worn to the limit is among the most common defects on Croma models in every model year (2005-2010), accounting for 4-5% of defects each year. These figures come from cars that failed.
  126. 126Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalFiat Panda IIWeakness in the arms and suspension of the Fiat Panda IIThe 2025 TÜV report cited by Autoblog.it points to a structural weakness in the Panda 169's arms and suspension, and Italian mechanics include front suspension among the most frequent repairs on the Panda.
  127. 127Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalFiat Punto IIIWear of the shock absorbers, bushes and ball joints in the front suspensionThe Fiat Punto (Grande Punto/Punto Evo/Punto) has accumulated testimonials of dried-out shock absorber top mounts and worn bushes and ball joints in the front suspension, with noises over bumps and in corners as the main symptom.
  128. 128Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalHyundai i20 IRear shock absorbers, bushes and ball joints with premature wearfiches-auto.fr documents rear shock absorbers weakened from 40,000 km, with leaks and noises from bushes and ball joints, among first-generation i20 owners.
  129. 129Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalHyundai Tucson IWear of steering ball joints, axle mounts and driveshafts picked up at TÜV inspectionsAccording to the used-car listing on gebrauchtwagenberater.de, backed by TÜV reports, worn axle mounts, driveshafts and steering ball joints are among the defects that most often make first-generation Tucsons fail the inspection. There are no figures or official campaign.
  130. 130Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalKia Ceed IPlay in suspension ball joints, steering track rod ends and drop linksIn the German TÜV inspection the Ceed I stands out above average for defects in suspension ball joints and steering track rod ends, more pronounced the older the car, and Gebrauchtwagenberater cites defective anti-roll bar drop links as typical. These are wear items, not a campaign.
  131. 131Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalKia Picanto IAxle mounts and steering ball joints with play, and noisy shock absorbersOn the Picanto I, the German technical inspection criticises the axle mounts and steering ball joints, and fiches-auto records 7 mentions of suspension and shock absorbers out of 86 testimonies, with noisy shock absorbers on poor roads. These are wear items, with no manufacturer campaign.
  132. 132Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalKia Picanto IIWorn steering ball joints in TÜV inspectionsTÜV reports collected by Gebrauchtwagenberater repeatedly point to the Picanto II's steering ball joints among the defects found in inspections, along with dipped headlights, the braking system and the exhaust.
  133. 133Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalLancia Delta IIIWorn steering and suspension ball joints on the Lancia Delta IIIIn the Dutch technical inspection, a worn steering or suspension ball joint, worn beyond the limit, appears among the most common defects of Delta IIIs from every build year from 2008 to 2013, at between 3% and 9% of the defects each year. These are figures for cars that fail.
  134. 134Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalLand Rover Range Rover Evoque IKnocks and creaks from the rear suspension caused by worn bushes and mountsCarbuyer cites dull knocking from the rear as a common and expensive fault of the Evoque I. A workshop source attributes it to worn rear anti-roll bar bushes, and one owner replaced the rear shock absorber mounts after very few kilometres.
  135. 135Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda 2 DEPlay in the steering ball jointsThe 2015 DEKRA report, as reported by Autofácil, cites play in the steering ball joints as the most notable fault on the Mazda 2 (2006-2012), which nonetheless achieves 8.1% serious faults against an average of 18.2% for urban cars.
  136. 136Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda 2 IIMazda 2 (DJ) front suspension knocking and suspension arm recallAccording to owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, there are cases of front suspension knocking on the Mazda 2 (2 or 3) and the page mentions a July 2016 recall over the joint of a suspension arm on cars built up to December 2015.
  137. 137Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda 3 IIWear of bushes and shock absorbers in the rear suspensionThe suspension axle of the Mazda3 BL is one of the points most often flagged in German TÜV inspections; French owners document worn bushes and shock absorbers, and one case of an anti-roll bar that had to be retightened at 30,000 km.
  138. 138Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda CX-7Play in the steering ball jointsThe 2015 DEKRA report, covered by Autofácil, cites play in the steering ball joints among the problems of the Mazda CX-7 (2007-2011) after 100,000 km. It is not the same fault as the lower front suspension ball joint campaign, although both are worth checking on a car of that era.
  139. 139Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase A W168Broken suspension springs, worn shock absorbers and rear axle bushes with playDEKRA cites broken suspension springs and rear axle bushes with play as typical defects of older A-Class W168s: 5.8% of cars under 50,000 km had running gear or steering defects, compared with a class average of 2.0%.
  140. 140Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase C W204Wear of shock absorbers, arms and suspension mountsGerman and Polish sources agree that the W204's suspension develops play and noises: front shock absorbers that wear out early, arms and axle mounts flagged at the German ITV, and rear wear from around 100,000-150,000 km.Appears at around 100,000 km
  141. 141Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase E W213Wear of the suspension arms with play from around 150,000 kmSeveral owner reports describe a known wear of the suspension arm bushes on the E-Class W213, with noticeable play from around 150,000 km in some cases.
  142. 142Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase G W463Grease leaks from the steering knuckle seals and wheel bearings damaged by water ingressA German workshop explains that, with wear, the seals of the front axle steering knuckles let grease escape, which dirties the inside of the wheel and lets water in; the water ruins the bearing and the constant-velocity joint. The bearing play is set with a dial gauge, not simply tightened.
  143. 143Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMINI Cooper F55Wear of wheel bearings and suspension bushes on the Mini F55According to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, some owners of this Mini have wheel bearings that grind in proportion to speed and wishbone bushes or shock absorber top mounts that need replacing. This is a source of owner reports, not a campaign or manufacturer data.
  144. 144Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMINI Cooper R50Wear of the suspension bushes, ball joints and armsAccording to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the Mini R50's suspension has 9 mentions of ball joints, 7 of arms and 5 of bearings, with wishbone bushes wearing out early (one case at 220,000 km).
  145. 145Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMitsubishi ASX IWorn steering ball joints on the Mitsubishi ASXGerman TÜV reports single out the steering joints as the only weak point in the ASX's undercarriage: they fail fairly often from the third inspection onwards, at seven years old or more. The ADAC describes it as an isolated problem.
  146. 146Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMitsubishi Colt VIWorn steering ball joints and gaitersWorn steering ball joints and damaged rack gaiters appear fairly often on the Colt VI, which is why they show up among the defects in German and Dutch technical inspections.
  147. 147Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalNissan Almera IIWear of the driveshaft gaiters and bushes on the Nissan Almera N16According to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the front axle and suspension account for about 16 mentions out of 90: eight of driveshafts or gaiters (one at around 40,000 km), worn bushes causing vibrations, and shock absorbers.
  148. 148Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalNissan Micra VEarly suspension wear and steering noise from worn bushesInspection reports in Germany point to the suspension as a recurring weak point of the Micra V, and owner testimonies describe shock absorbers that feel tired at around 100,000 km, with associated steering noises from worn bushes.
  149. 149Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalNissan Primera IIIWear of the suspension arms and shock absorbers on the Nissan PrimeraAccording to the fiches-auto.fr reports, there are 5 cases of shock absorbers and several of suspension arms replaced between about 60,000 and 210,000 km on the Primera.
  150. 150Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalNissan Qashqai IWorn steering track rod ball joints and torn driveshaft gaitersGebrauchtwagenberater.de reports that the track rod ball joints on the first-generation Qashqai fail fairly often and that the driveshaft gaiters tear.
  151. 151Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalNissan Qashqai IIPremature wear of the front suspension and rear bushesAutopista points out that the Qashqai's front suspension and rear bushes can fail sooner than expected, especially with frequent urban use; a compilation of owner accounts records a similar number of suspension cases.
  152. 152Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalNissan X-Trail IIIFront suspension wear: bushes, shock absorbers and wishbonesYes: several owners describe noises and wear in the X-Trail's front suspension - top mounts, shock absorbers, bearings and bushes - and caradisiac also records a case of replacing the front wishbones.
  153. 153Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel Corsa CEarly wear of wheel bearings, driveshaft boots and rear shock absorbersA German used-car guide points to wheel bearings, driveshaft boots (gaiters) and rear shock absorbers as common failure points on the Opel Corsa C at the technical inspection (TÜV/MOT).
  154. 154Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel Mokka AWear of shock absorber mounts and front suspension bushesThe fiches-auto.fr entry cites worn shock absorber mounts between 30,000 and 60,000 km, bushes that force the front axle to be redone and metallic clunks over bumps; the Mokka X entry mentions worn shock absorbers and ball joints.
  155. 155Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel Vectra BWear of the ball joints and bushes on the multi-link rear axle armsAccording to the Russian magazine Kolesa.ru, the outer ball joints of the rear arms and the bushes of the original trailing arms last about 80,000-100,000 km if properly fitted, and cheap replacement parts much less. Replacing them is laborious and requires a wheel alignment of the rear wheels afterwards.Appears at around 80,000 km
  156. 156Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 207Ball joint play and spring fatigue flagged by TÜVAccording to Gebrauchtwagenberater.de's summary of the German TÜV report, the 207 is frequently flagged for steering ball joints and suspension springs and, in addition, for the service brake and discs.
  157. 157Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 5008 IPremature wear of the suspension bushes and steering wheel vibration at 120-130 km/hSeveral owners describe vibrations at motorway speed (120-130 km/h) that went away after replacing worn suspension bushes. This is a pattern in owner reports, not a manufacturer campaign.
  158. 158Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot Partner IWear of the rear axle arm bearingsThe Peugeot Partner I page and that of its twin cite wear of the rear axle arm bearings: knocking, the rear of the car sitting low and unevenly worn tyres. The Berlingo page has 21 reports.
  159. 159Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalPorsche Panamera IIRear anti-roll bar links (PDCC)In September 2018 a warning was issued that the limited durability of the rear PDCC anti-roll bar links on some Panameras (2015-2018) could affect the operation of this system. It is a preventive campaign.Repair: €0
  160. 160Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalRenault Espace IVPremature wear of suspension ball joints and bushesBall joints are the most cited suspension part: 34 of 537 testimonials, with cases of deteriorated bushes between 50,000 and 165,000 km and broken shock absorber springs from 100,000 km. It shows up as noises and play.
  161. 161Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalRenault Espace VNoises and play in the front suspension ball joints and bushesOwners describe knocking over small bumps and play in the front axle joints (23 cases out of 275), with wishbones replaced at 58,000 and 85,000 km. The page also cites a 2016 campaign for incorrect wheel alignment.
  162. 162Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalRenault Twingo IIWorn strut mounts, springs and ball jointsIn TÜV inspections the Twingo II fails above average for its suspension: worn strut mounts (upper bearing), broken springs and steering track rod ends with play.
  163. 163Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalRenault Vel SatisPremature wear of the suspension ball joints, drop links and shock absorbersAccording to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the Vel Satis's suspension accounts for 29 cases: ball joints (8), shock absorbers (8), bearings (8), drop links and bushes (3). The fiche attributes part of the wear to the car's high weight; it is a sample of owners.
  164. 164Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalSeat AlteaThe shock absorbers and their joints can wear out before 50,000 kmAltea owners describe worn shock absorbers, top mounting bearings and suspension ball joints in under 50,000 km; a German technical inspection report confirms that shock absorbers, springs and driveshafts are a common reason for failure in inspections of this model.
  165. 165Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalSeat ExeoPremature wear of the shock absorbers and suspension armsAccording to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, some owners report shock absorbers replaced at 20,000 km, an upper arm that cost more than €800 and knocking from the anti-roll bar and its links. There is no public recall or bulletin.
  166. 166Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalSeat León IIIFront suspension noises from drop links and shock absorbersMotorMundial already flagged suspension noises and vibrations in the cabin as a weak point of the Leon III, and owners describe creaking over bumps, humming between 90 and 100 km/h and clunks on uneven surfaces, almost always from worn drop links or shock absorbers.
  167. 167Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalSeat MiiWorn suspension arm bushes and steering ball joints on the Seat MiiSeveral German used-car guides, based on the TÜV Report, say that suspension arm bushes and steering ball joints wear with age and eventually cause play. It is a recurring wear problem, with no manufacturer recall.
  168. 168Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalŠkoda CitigoWorn suspension arm bushes and steering ball joints on the Skoda CitigoSeveral German used-car guides, based on the TÜV Report, say that suspension arm bushes and steering ball joints wear with age and eventually cause play. It is a recurring wear problem, with no manufacturer recall.
  169. 169Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalŠkoda Octavia IFront suspension wear (shock absorbers and bushes)The front suspension (shock absorbers and bushes) accounts for 7 of the 87 Octavia I owner responses in the fiches-auto.fr reliability survey, though the source does not pinpoint which part fails first in each case.
  170. 170Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalŠkoda Octavia IIFront suspension wear (shock absorbers, bushes and ball joints)Adding together shock absorbers, bushes and ball joints, the front suspension accounts for 14 of the 248 Octavia II owner responses in the fiches-auto.fr reliability survey.
  171. 171Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalŠkoda RoomsterWear of the front suspension bushes and wishbone mounts9 reports on fiches-auto.fr cite worn bushes causing creaks, vibrations and noises: front axle pivot bushes at 60,000 km and front wishbone brackets at 285,000 km.
  172. 172Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalSubaru Forester IIIWear of suspension arms and bushesOn Foresters presented for the British inspection, the suspension fails far more often than the average for cars of the same age (49% against 36%), and the most common individual suspension fault is a very worn arm bolt or bush. The data does not distinguish the generation.
  173. 173Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalSubaru Forester IVWorn suspension arm bushes and ball jointsIn Forester models presented for the British MOT, the suspension fails far more often than the average for cars of the same age (49% compared with 36%), and the most common individual suspension failure is a heavily worn arm bolt or bush. The data does not distinguish between generations.
  174. 174Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalSuzuki Ignis IWear of steering ball joints and shock absorbersOn 2003-2008 Ignis cars with high mileage, steering ball joints wear and shock absorbers lose damping, so the steering must be constantly corrected at motorway speeds.
  175. 175Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalSuzuki S-Cross ISteering ball joint wear at the third inspection at seven yearsIn the German TÜV, seven-year-old S-Cross vehicles going through their third inspection show loose steering ball joints too often, according to the TÜV-Report 2024 cited by dpa. It is the chassis weakness that report highlights, alongside the front lighting and oil leaks.
  176. 176Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalSuzuki Swift IIIFront axle with play (ball joints and joints)The ADAC names the front axle of the 2005-2010 Swift as its weak point, and the TÜV often rejects suspension axles; Gebrauchtwagenberater.de also cites running gear components that are often criticised.
  177. 177Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalTesla Model SPremature wear of the front suspension and bushes on the Model SThe fiches-auto.fr entry records 3 suspension mentions in 21 testimonies: premature wear of front parts, collapsed air suspension and faulty bushes, with one case that required replacing the whole wishbone at 40,000 km.
  178. 178Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalTesla Model XPremature wear of the suspension wishbones and ball joints on the Model XThe fiches-auto.fr profile cites 3 suspension mentions among 10 Model X reports, including a taxi 90D with 255,000 km that needed running gear work and had premature wear of wishbones and ball joints.
  179. 179Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalToyota Land Cruiser J150Wear of the lower suspension arm bushesThis is a known wear issue on the Land Cruiser 150: the rubber bushes of the lower arms give way with use, especially when driven on tracks or towing, causing knocking and erratic suspension movement. A Russian source places it at around 140,000 km on the front axle. It is not a manufacturer's recall.Appears at around 140,000 km
  180. 180Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalToyota RAV4 IIPlay in the front suspension wishbones and anti-roll bar linksAccording to the fiches-auto.fr page, some RAV4 II owners report front wishbones with play (one case at 140,000 km) and fragile anti-roll bar links. Around 4 cases are documented.
  181. 181Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo S60 IIPremature wear of the Volvo S60's bushes and shock absorbersAccording to fiches-auto.fr, owners cite premature wear of bushes (silentblocks) and shock absorbers, along with bearing and alignment problems that cause uneven tyre wear.
  182. 182Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo V60 IPlay in the steering ball joints and axle suspension flagged by the TÜVAccording to the TÜV Report cited in a German buying guide, the V60 I is flagged fairly often for axle suspension and steering joints, as well as excessive brake disc wear. The guide gives no percentages or specific years.
  183. 183Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo V70 IIWear of the suspension wishbones and shock absorber top mounts on the front axleGebrauchtwagenberater identifies the front axle as the big weak point of the 2000-2007 V70: faulty wishbones (Querlenker) and shock absorber top mounts (Domlager) are «not a rarity». It also points to frequent wear of the wheel bearings.
  184. 184Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo XC70 IIWear of the suspension arms and front shock absorber top mounts on the Volvo XC70Gebrauchtwagenberater describes the front axle as the big weak point of the second-generation V70, of which the XC70 is the crossover version: according to the article, finding defective suspension arms and shock absorber top mounts is common. It gives no mileages or costs.
  185. 185Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo XC90 IDeterioration of suspension ball joints and arms, and front axle noisesThe 2015 DEKRA report cited by Autofácil points to the deterioration of ball joints and suspension arms as one of the two causes of the previous XC90's poor result. A German guide adds that the early cars, up to the May 2006 facelift, have front axles that knock.
  186. 186High severityFrequency: RareAlfa Romeo GiuliettaBadly installed rear suspension arms or shock absorbers (2010 campaign)Yes: between February and May 2010 Alfa Romeo recalled Giulietta cars over possibly badly installed suspension arms; fiches-auto.fr places a campaign on the rear shock absorbers on the same dates, which affected fewer than 100 cars.
  187. 187High severityFrequency: RareAudi A8 D5Suspension arms with a manufacturing defect (2018, 2019 and 2024 campaigns)There are three campaigns for the A8 D5's suspension parts: a component that could break (produced November-December 2018), faulty rear wishbones (17 to 25 October 2019) and a front arm with cracks (2024-2025 model years).
  188. 188High severityFrequency: RareFord Focus IVFront suspension recall campaigns (tightening torque and a defective steering knuckle)Ford recalled Focus IV units twice over the front suspension: in 2019 because the mounting bolts might not have been tightened to the correct torque, and in 2022 because of an incorrectly manufactured steering knuckle (stub axle carrier). Both campaigns cover very specific manufacturing batches, not the model's whole production run.
  189. 189High severityFrequency: RareIveco Daily VIFront suspension ball joint out of specification (2022)In May 2022 a batch of 179 Dailies was built with a front suspension ball joint out of specification. Iveco asked for the ball joint play to be checked and the joint replaced if necessary.
  190. 190High severityFrequency: RareJaguar XJ X351Rear toe link nut and washer can loosen from the subframeA batch of Jaguar XJs built between May 2013 and January 2014 was fitted with a rear toe link nut and washer which, under demanding driving, can let the link come away from the subframe. Jaguar replaced them with parts of revised design.
  191. 191High severityFrequency: RareLotus Elise S1Failure of original rear toe linksevo warns that the original rear toe links can fail on track and cause a sudden loss of control; improved parts exist. The source refers to track use and does not quantify cases.
  192. 192High severityFrequency: RareMercedes-Benz CLK C208Corrosion of the front suspension arms and subframe, with risk of ball joint failureA Russian portal (2017) notes that the pressed-steel front arms can corrode and that the ball joint lug can break, and that the front subframe corrodes while the rear one weakens over the years. Auto Bild (2007) describes the axles as stable and durable.
  193. 193High severityFrequency: RareOpel Mokka BFaulty bolting of the suspension arm (built February 2021)A 2021 recall affected 24 Mokkas built between 11 and 24 February 2021: the bolting of a control arm may have been faulty and could compromise stability.
  194. 194High severityFrequency: RareOpel Vivaro BInsufficiently tightened bolt and nut on the lower suspension armIn April 2015 Opel recalled the 2015 model year Vivaro B because the bolt and nut of the lower suspension arm could be insufficiently tightened, which could compromise steering control while driving.
  195. 195High severityFrequency: RarePeugeot 308 IIRecalls for suspension component and wishbone bolt failure (production 2013-2015)Safety Gate records two alerts for the 308 II's front suspension: one from 2015 (A12/0768/15) for components that could break on cars built between March 2013 and December 2014, and another from 2017 (A12/0744/17) for wishbone bolts that could break on cars built from December 2014 to January 2015.
  196. 196Low severityFrequency: CommonVolkswagen Golf IVBushes, ball joints and front shock absorbers can wear out earlier than expectedSeveral owners report knocking noises from the front axle due to wear of the bushes, ball joints and shock absorbers, especially beyond 200,000 km. It is not a manufacturer campaign, but a recurring pattern in the fiches-auto.fr testimonials, with no single mileage threshold.
  197. 197Low severityFrequency: CommonVolkswagen Golf VSuspension arm bushes and front bearings wear earlier than expectedYes: the front suspension arm bushes ("Querlenkerbuchsen") and the wheel bearings have to be replaced more often than usual, according to gebrauchtwagenberater.de; the fiches-auto.fr testimonies confirm the same pattern with noises and wear on the front axle.
  198. 198Low severityFrequency: CommonVolkswagen Polo IVFront suspension arms, bushes and ball joints wear out earlier than expectedYes: the front suspension arms ("Querlenker") are, according to gebrauchtwagenberater.de, one of the most repeated weak points of the Polo IV, with wear of the bushes and ball joints; in 2008 (9N3 facelift) Volkswagen introduced the front geometry of the Polo V, which reduced the problem on the last cars.
  199. 199Medium severityFrequency: RareAudi A6 C7Ball joints, steering track rod ends and brake lines flagged in TÜV inspectionsGebrauchtwagenberater.de notes that, although the A6 C7 scores well in the TÜV report, inspectors sometimes flag the brake lines and, on high-mileage cars, the suspension ball joints and the steering track rod ends.
  200. 200Medium severityFrequency: RareBMW Serie 2 Gran Tourer F46Premature wear of the front suspension arms and bushesAccording to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the lower arms, bushes and front strut top mounts of the 2 Series Active/Gran Tourer can cause knocking, creaking and vibrations; one report cites wear of a front wheel bearing at around 93,000 km.
  201. 201Medium severityFrequency: RareBMW Serie 4 F32Worn shock absorbers and bushesAccording to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, there are 2 cases of faulty shock absorbers and 1 of faulty bushes among 103 reports on the 4 Series. No official recall is recorded.
  202. 202Medium severityFrequency: RareBMW Serie 7 F01Wear of the control arm bushes and air suspension bellowsAccording to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, on the 7 Series F01 the suspension arm bushes and the air bellows "don't last long" because of the car's weight; one owner replaced the front bushes at 130,000 km. There are few cases and no official data.Appears at around 130,000 km
  203. 203Medium severityFrequency: RareFiat 500LPremature wear of ball joints and shock absorbers on the Fiat 500LAccording to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, some owners had worn shock absorbers at 55,000 km (covered by warranty) and worn ball joints at 85,000 km with no cover from Fiat. There are few cases and no official recall.
  204. 204Medium severityFrequency: RareMazda 3 IWear of shock absorbers, bushes and wheel bearings on the Mazda 3 (BK)According to the reports gathered by fiches-auto.fr, worn bearings, shock absorbers and bushes with noises and vibrations are cited on the Mazda 3 BK (5 cases), as well as anti-roll bar problems (4 cases).
  205. 205Medium severityFrequency: RareMercedes-Benz GLK X204Premature wear of suspension arms and ball jointsAccording to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, some GLKs suffer from fragile suspension arms and abnormal tyre wear; the page cites arms, bearings and ball joints, and the car pulling to one side. The category adds up to 4 reports out of 92.
  206. 206Medium severityFrequency: RareRenault Espace V2016 recall: front lower arm and alignmentA 2016 recall warned that on the first Espace V cars the front suspension lower arm could be poorly fixed and the alignment incorrect, causing uneven wear on the front tyres and, in extreme cases, a sudden loss of pressure.
  207. 207Medium severityFrequency: RareRenault Koleos IIWorn bushes and bearings causing vibrationsAccording to testimonials collected by fiches-auto.fr, 6 Koleos II owners cite vibrations from worn bearings or bushes, and one case of play in a steering ball joint at only 16,800 km. There is no official campaign.
  208. 208Medium severityFrequency: RareRenault Trafic IISuspension ball joint problemsAlongside gearbox and electrical problems, Auto Express reports complaints from Trafic II owners about the suspension ball joints. The review does not specify the axle, mileage or cost, and other owners say they have had no problems.
  209. 209Medium severityFrequency: RareVolkswagen Beetle IIRear suspension arm inspectionFiches-auto records a recall from December 2014 to check the Beetle's rear suspension arms, which reportedly were too sensitive to impacts.
  210. 210Low severityFrequency: OccasionalCitroën Berlingo IWear of links, bushes and shock absorbers in the suspensionThe pages cite early knocking from wear of anti-roll bar links, ball joints, bushes, springs and shock absorbers, made worse by use under load (24 reports on the Berlingo page, more than 37 on the Partner page).
  211. 211Low severityFrequency: OccasionalHyundai Elantra IWear of the anti-roll bar links, lower arm bushes and front shock absorber mountsAccording to a press review of the used Elantra XD, the first suspension parts to give up are usually the anti-roll bar links, the rear bush of the front lower arm and the shock absorber mounts; most of the original components lasted between 60,000 and 100,000 km, and the warning sign is noise, which appears with very little wear.Appears at around 60,000 km
  212. 212Low severityFrequency: OccasionalHyundai i30 IWorn rear shock absorbers and rattling front anti-roll bar linksThe TÜV Report, cited by Gebrauchtwagenberater.de, points to rear shock absorbers prone to failure on the i30 FD and knocks from the front axle that are usually due to loose anti-roll bar links.
  213. 213Low severityFrequency: OccasionalHyundai Santa Fe IIWear of the anti-roll bar links and ball jointsThe anti-roll bar links are frequently replaced from around 80,000 km according to the Santa Fe II reports, along with cases of shock absorbers (12) and ball joints (5).
  214. 214Low severityFrequency: OccasionalLancia Delta IIIRear axle noise from the suspension arm bushes on the Lancia Delta IIIAl Volante warns of a noise from the Delta III's rear axle and recommends checking that it has been fixed; garages usually resolved it by modifying the bushes between the suspension arms and the body. The source gives no years, engines or cost.
  215. 215Low severityFrequency: OccasionalLancia Delta IIIFront anti-roll bar bushes that make a noise on the Lancia Delta IIIAl Volante describes an annoying noise from the Delta III's front anti-roll bar that does not go away by tightening the bolts: the rubber bushes have to be replaced or, in extreme cases, the whole bar. The source gives no years, engines or cost.
  216. 216Low severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda 3 IIINoises and knocking from the front suspension due to shock absorbers and bushesSome Mazda3 BM cars develop creaking or knocking in the front suspension with use, attributed to the top mounts, shock absorbers, bushes or front bearings; a German used-car guide confirms that springs and shock absorbers are among the usual reasons for failing the German inspection (TÜV).
  217. 217Low severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda 5 IPlay in the rear suspension bushesThe 2015 DEKRA report, as reported by Autofácil, cites play in the rear suspension bushes among the notable faults of the Mazda5 (2005-2015) after 100,000 km. The source does not separate generations or give a cost.
  218. 218Low severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda 5 IIPlay in the rear suspension bushesThe DEKRA 2015 report, covered by Autofácil, cites play in the rear suspension bushes among the notable faults of the Mazda 5 (2005-2015) after 100,000 km. The source does not separate generations and gives no cost.
  219. 219Low severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda CX-5 INoises and wear in the front suspension ball joints, bearings and shock absorbersWith use, some first-generation CX-5s develop knocking or humming noises from the front end, attributed to wear in bearings, shock absorbers and ball joints; a German used-car guide confirms that the suspension and front axle joints are among the usual reasons for failure in the German inspection (TÜV).
  220. 220Low severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda MX-5 IIILeaking rear shock absorbers, worn drop links and anti-roll barsAutofácil asks for the anti-roll bars, bearings and shock absorbers to be checked on the MX-5 (2005-2015). On the MX-5 Owners Club forum, Bilstein rear shock absorbers that sweat oil and broken drop links are cited, and the British breaker's yard mentions noises from worn drop links.
  221. 221Low severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase B W246Wear of the front suspension bushes and ball jointsThe front arm bushes, the drop links and the upper shock absorber mounts are known wear parts on the B-Class W246, according to a German magazine; a French reliability site reports testimonies of imprecise geometry and uneven tyre wear on high-mileage cars.
  222. 222Low severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase C W202Wear of the anti-roll bar bushes and front axle ball jointsA knocking noise from the front axle of the W202 usually indicates wear of the rubber anti-roll bar bushes, the steering ball joints or the suspension ball joints, according to German Wikipedia.
  223. 223Low severityFrequency: OccasionalMG TFSuspension knocks from shock absorbers and bushesParkers warns that, although better than the MGF with Hydragas, the MG TF can have worn shock absorbers and bushes that cause knocks and creaks on uneven roads.
  224. 224Low severityFrequency: OccasionalMG ZS 2001Front suspension knocking from loose bushesAuto Express warns of knocking in the front suspension of the Rover 45 and MG ZS, where the bushes can loosen and allow parts to knock together.
  225. 225Low severityFrequency: OccasionalMINI Cooper R56Noise and wear of the front bushes, drop links and shock absorbersKnocking and creaking from the front end of the Cooper R56 are caused, according to the testimonies collected, by wear of the bushes, the anti-roll bar drop links, the ball joints or the shock absorbers themselves.
  226. 226Low severityFrequency: OccasionalMitsubishi Colt VIFront-end knocking and worn anti-roll bar links on the Colt VIMetallic knocking from the front end is reported on the Colt VI, especially on 2005-2008 units, and anti-roll bar links wear out; the German press mentions noisy front axles and Polish owners mention the links.
  227. 227Low severityFrequency: OccasionalNissan Juke IWorn suspension mounts and steering ball joints in inspectionsAccording to Gebrauchtwagenberater.de's summary of the TÜV report, suspension mounts and steering ball joints are among the points most often flagged on the Juke, along with lights, brakes and oil leaks.
  228. 228Low severityFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot Partner IWear of links, bushes and shock absorbers in the suspensionThe pages cite early knocking from wear of anti-roll bar links, ball joints, bushes, springs and shock absorbers, made worse by use under load (24 reports on the Berlingo page, more than 37 on the Partner page).
  229. 229Low severityFrequency: OccasionalRenault Captur IINoises and vibrations from the front endA group of Captur II owners report vibrations and extraneous noises from the front end, along with faster-than-expected wear on the front tyres; we have not found a press analysis confirming a design defect, so we document it as a recurring owner complaint and not as a confirmed fault.
  230. 230Low severityFrequency: OccasionalSeat Toledo IIWear of the suspension bushes and ball jointsThe fiche records 9 mentions of suspension and steering: 4 of bushes and 3 of ball joints. The cases range from 50,000 km (warped brake discs, covered under another heading) to over 195,000 km. This is a pattern drawn from owner reports, not a manufacturer recall.
  231. 231Low severityFrequency: OccasionalToyota RAV4 VFront axle knocks and rattles in the RAV4 cabinAccording to the fiches-auto.fr entry, knocks from the front axle over speed bumps and creaks are the most cited issue on the RAV4 V: around 6 cases of rattles among 35 accounts.
  232. 232Low severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Golf PlusWear on bearings, suspension bushes and dampersFiches-auto says the bearings, dampers and suspension bushes on the Golf Plus can cause noise, vibration and uneven tyre wear, because the car is heavier than a standard Golf.
  233. 233Low severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen ID.3Noise or creaking from the front axle due to the suspension drop linksThis is a recurring complaint mentioned by workshops and used-car buying guides: the Volkswagen ID.3 can develop knocking or creaking noises from the front axle, attributed mainly to the anti-roll bar drop links and other front suspension bushes, made worse by the car's weight.
  234. 234Low severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen ID.4Noise or creaking from the front axle caused by the suspension drop linksIt is a recurring complaint mentioned by workshops and used-car buying guides: the Volkswagen ID.4 can develop knocking or creaking noises from the front axle, attributed mainly to the anti-roll bar drop links and other front suspension bushes, made worse by the weight of the car.
  235. 235Low severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Passat B8Underbody noises: loose undertray or dry bushesSome Passat B8s produce a rattle from underneath that Auto Express attributes to a loose undertray or to suspension bushes that need lubricating.
  236. 236Low severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Polo VFront bushes and shock absorbers can wear sooner than expectedSeveral owners describe noises and play in the front axle - shock absorbers that start to leak oil or bushes that wear out - between 36,000 and 110,000 km, with warning signs ranging from vibration when braking to a softer feel in the suspension. It is not a manufacturer campaign, just a recurring pattern in owner testimonies.
  237. 237Low severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen up!Play in the steering ball joints of older up!sThe TÜV-Report, cited by Gebrauchtwagenberater.de, notes that older up!s often have problems with the steering ball joints, as well as lighting and brake defects at all ages.
  238. 238Low severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo C30Wear of the wishbones, ball joints and shock absorbers in the Volvo C30 suspensionAccording to the fiches-auto.fr reports, the C30's suspension accounts for 10 cases of wishbones, ball joints, drop links and shock absorbers, with examples such as two wishbones at 200,000 km. It is an owner pattern, not an official campaign.
  239. 239Low severityFrequency: RareAudi A1 IICreaking rear bushes and an occasional click in the steering (40 TFSI)A single owner of a 207 hp A1 40 TFSI, recorded by fiches-auto.fr, describes creaking in the rear suspension bushes and an occasional click in the steering when turning sharply at very low speed; we have found no further cases to confirm a widespread pattern.
  240. 240Low severityFrequency: RareMitsubishi Eclipse Cross IKnocking from the front suspensionSome owners of the Eclipse Cross describe knocks from the front end when driving over potholes, more pronounced on one side.
  241. 241Low severityFrequency: RareNissan Note IICreaking suspension arms and anti-roll bar bushesAccording to testimonials on fiches-auto.fr, some Note II models with the 1.2 engine notice creaking in the suspension arms from around 5,000 km and noises from the anti-roll bar bushes.
  242. 242Low severityFrequency: RareŠkoda Fabia IIIWear of the suspension and anti-roll bar bushesThe testimonies record worn suspension bushes from around 70,000 km and anti-roll bar bushes at around 86,000 km, as well as shock absorber noises when manoeuvring in reverse. These are minority cases out of 117 testimonies.
  243. 243Low severityFrequency: RareToyota Previa XR30Rear control arms out of alignment and knockingA CompleteCar specialist (Ireland) warns that the rear control arms of the Previa's suspension can fall out of alignment and that the symptom is knocking. It is a single-source warning, with no figures or mileage.
  244. 244Low severityFrequency: RareVolvo V70 IIIWear of the rear axle wishbone bushes on the Volvo V70gebrauchtwagenberater.de states that on the V70 the rear axle wishbone bushes (Querlenkerlager) cause problems. It is the only source we have found: there is no campaign and no mileage or cost figures.

Control arms, ball joints, bushes and drop links: compare prices in shops

Search for the part using the make, model and engine of your car: in the shop, the registration plate or VIN filters the parts that fit.

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Problems with control arms, ball joints and bushes by make

Problems with control arms, ball joints and bushes in your car

17 cars have several documented faults with control arms, ball joints and bushes. Choose yours to see only the ones that affect them, by engine and by year.

Alfa Romeo 2
Audi 1
Citroën 1
Fiat 1
Hyundai 1
Lancia 1
Land Rover 1
Mazda 1
Mitsubishi 1
Peugeot 2
Porsche 1
Renault 1
Toyota 1
Volvo 2

How much it costs to repair a fault with control arms, ball joints and bushes

Sorted from the most expensive repair to the cheapest. Prices in Spain including VAT (parts and labour); what each figure includes is on its page.

How we calculate costs · The most expensive repairs across all engines

Frequently asked questions

Which cars have problems with control arms, ball joints and bushes?

Among those we have analysed: Fiat Ducato III (non-conforming steering knuckle: the wheel axle can break (2019 and 2020 units)), Hyundai Elantra I (corrosion of the front suspension arms (2012 recall)), Land Rover Range Rover Evoque I (front lower arm to knuckle bolt incorrectly tightened (2016 recall)), Mazda CX-7 (lower front suspension ball joint that can seize or break through corrosion), Porsche Cayenne III (front left axle upper arm breakage due to cracked material (recall ARB2)), Volvo V70 II (recall: the lower front shock absorber ball joint nut may lose tension), Volvo XC90 I (outer ball joint pin breakage that can cause loss of steering control) and Audi A4 B9 (corrosion of the rear multi-link axle eccentric bolts). In total, 226 cars with documented faults with control arms, ball joints and bushes.

How much does it cost to repair a fault with control arms, ball joints and bushes?

It depends a lot on the engine or car. At an independent garage, from €300 to €750; at a dealer, from €0 to €0, including VAT, based on the 6 faults with a documented cost. The most expensive is broken suspension springs and worn front-end bushes (BMW Serie 1 E87).

What symptoms does a fault with control arms, ball joints and bushes cause?

The most frequently cited in the documented faults: knocks or creaks from the suspension over bumps, abnormal play in the steering or noises from the front axle, uneven tyre wear, car pulls to one side or steering wheel is not straight, abnormal vibrations or unstable idle and creaking or clicking when turning the steering wheel.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. Fiabilité BMW Série 3 (1998-2005)fiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  2. BMW 1er E81, E87, E88: Schwachstellen und ProblemeGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  3. Fiabilité Volkswagen Passat (2010-2014): pannes et témoignages de propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  4. Fiabilité Audi A4 : pannes, rappels et témoignagesfiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  5. Fiabilité Audi Q5 II : pannes, rappels et témoignagesfiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  6. Porsche Panamera Recalls in EU (page 2)Car-Recalls.eu (Safety Gate) · Official body · consulted 29 October 2026