The 1996 Eagle Talon has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 611,483 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the suspension. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SUSPENSION00V4210022000-12-18393,796 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE. ALSO, MMC HAS ADDED THE POTENTIAL OF LEAKING MOISTURE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE BALL STUD TO CORRODE.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERCEDES MMC'S PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN, SEE 99V-066.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT FOR WEAR. BALL JOINTS THAT EXHIBIT WEAR BEYOND THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS. BALL JOINTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE CLEANED AND A SPECIAL SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED TO PREVENT…
SUSPENSION99V0660031999-04-05165,857 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RUBBER BOOTS, AND IF THE BOOT IS DAMAGED, THEY WILL REPLACE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM AND BALL JOINT ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.
POWER TRAIN98V0690021998-04-0742,214 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ADEQUACY OF THE TRANSFER CASE OIL VOLUME, TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AND OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE MECHANISM. IF OIL VOLUME IS INSUFFICIENT, THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF OIL WILL BE ADDED. IF THERE IS TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AFFECTED COMPONENTS WILL BE…
THE FUEL TANK GASKETS FOR THE FUEL PUMP AND/OR GAUGE UNIT GASKET COULD HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY INSTALLED ALLOWING FUEL OR FUMES TO ESCAPE.
Consequence
IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, THE FUEL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK AND IF THE GASKETS ARE FOUND TO BE LEAKING, REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, CAPS AND GASKETS.
Complaints by component
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
3
AIR BAGS
2
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
2
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
2
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2
Total complaints56
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl*the contact owns a 1996 eagle talon. While driving 60 mph the contact heard a noise and the tires locked u without warning. The vehicle was towed ,and a local mechanic diagnosed the failure as a leak in the transfer case. The dealer/manufacturer diagnosed the vehicle as needing a new transfer…”
“The transfer case went out of my talon tsi awd turbo in 06/05. I was driving down the road 75 mph & bang!-jerk!bang!jerk!bang!jerk! The steering wheel also felt funny, like it got loose and wasn't hooked to the tires anymore. I pulled over the and heard a loud clunk (metal on metal sort of sound)…”
“I went through emissions and failed because there was an obd error saying that my check engine light is on, however it was not. I called to the state emissions board and they said it was a recall. I took it to the dealership, at the end of may and it has been in and out ever since trying to fix…”
“Dt*: the contact stated while driving various speeds, a gasoline odor fumigated the vehicle on a consistent basis. The contact encountered many complaints on this matter # 509463 regarding fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly. The vehicle had not been examined by a mechanic or dealer.”
“Ball joint of front right wheel separated after hitting bump on highway causing limited control of vehicle. *la”
“Ball joint of front right wheel separated after hitting bump on highway causing limited control of vehicle. *la”
“We took a car that we recently purchased from a private party to our mechanic for an oil change and found that the head gasket is leaking and it will cost $1000.00 for repair. Also found out this is a problem that the eagle talon had and that there was never a recall on it. We feel that chrysler…”
“Power steering and alternator belts fell off. During re-installation and inspection of the crankshaft, it was noticed that the crankshaft was loose. *nlm”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA98002 Opened 1998-01-30 · closed 1998-04-30
TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP
InvestigationEA98002 Opened 1998-01-30 · closed 1998-04-30
TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP
InvestigationPE97040 Opened 1997-09-04 · closed 1998-01-30
TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP
ALLEGED DRIVETRAIN FAILURE THAT CAN LEAD TO LOCK-UP OF THE REAR OR ALL WHEELS.
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Eagle Talon as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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