1997 Dodge Dakota complaints

THERE WAS A BALL JOINT PROBLEM. THEY MADE A CLANKING SOUND ALONG WITH A SQUEAL. THE PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR A CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEM. *AK *SC *JB

PAINT ON ROOF AND HOOD IS DISAPPEARING, MAKING THE TRUCK LOOK HORRIBLE. *NM

FUEL LINE LEAKS. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT VEHICLE WILL CATCH ON FIRE. A RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONSUMER HEARD A SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO EXAMINED THE FRONT END. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE VIBRATED FROM THE FRONT END. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE FRONT BALL JOINTS BEING WORN OUT. *AK THE FAULTY BALL JOINTS RESULTED IN BAD ALIGNMENT AND CAUSED THE TIRES TO WEAR IMPROPERLY. *SC *JB

CONSUMER'S SON SEVERELY INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL COMPLETELY BROKE OFF AND LANDED IN THE FIELD. *PH SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL IN THE MAIL POSSIBLY RELATED TO THE BRAKES. *JB

NEW TIRES COULDN'T BE ALIGNED BECAUSE THE BALL JOINT WERE SO BAD. *PH *JB

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED AND THE FRONT END ALIGNED. UPON PERFORMING THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED IN A YEAR. *SC *JB

I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY, RAN IN THE HOUSE TO PICK UP SOME PAPERWORK, GOT BACK IN THE TRUCK AND BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE AWAY FROM THE FRAME. ONE WELD IS BROKEN AND THE OTHER IS RIPPED. NO COMPANY WILL FIX THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE LIABILITY ISSUES. I NEVER HIT ANYTHING THAT WOULD BREAK THIS ARM. I WAS TOLD BY THREE DIFFERENT COMPANIES THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN. THE BALL JOINT WAS IN TACT AND HAD NOT BROKEN. NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR A TRUCK WHICH IS JUST A PIECE OF JUNK.

I HAVE REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO AND MY LEFT FRONT ALREADY STARTED SQUEAKING AGAIN. I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THEM ONCE MORE. I BELIEVE DODGE SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES FOR THIS PURPOSE. IT HAS CAUSED MY TIRES TO WEAR UNEVENLY AND I HAVE TO REPLACE THEM PREMATURELY.*AK

MECHANIC NOTICED THAT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHILE PERFORMING A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. *AK *JB

FRONT END FAILED. CONSUMER STATED FRONT END WAS ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSING. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT BALL JOINTS, INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS FAILED. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A CLANKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

AT 54K MILES, THE BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *PH *SC *JB

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A STEERING BOX PROBLEM. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS AND IDLER ARM. *AK CONSUMER IS KEEPING AN EYE ON THE FUEL FILLER TUBE BECAUSE IT SEEMED TO BE RUSTED. ALSO, BRAKE LINE IS ALSO RUSTED. *LA

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE FOR AND INSPECTION AND IT FAILED. FAILURE WAS DUE TO EXCESSIVE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT WEAR.*AK*MR

THERE IS A LOUD NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TURNING OR GOING OVER A SMALL BUMP. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *LA

FRONT BALL JOINTS FAILED AT 48,000 MILES. *PH

MY 97 DODGE DAKOTA BRAKES FAILED AND I HAD TO SPEND OVER 1,000 TO REPAIR THEM. CAUSE I WAS TOLD WAS THE PISTONS SIEZED BECAUSE OF BAD PISTONS THAT CHRYSLER KNEW ABOUT.ALSO CLEAR COAT ON PAINT IS PEELING OFF LIKE A FL. ORANGE. *AK

THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINT AND FRONT WHEEL BEARING. THE CONSUMER QUESTIONED WHETHER OR NOR DAIMLER CHRYSLER WOULD BE TAKING THE FAULT. *PH THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED. *SC

NOTICED IMPROPER TIRE WEAR ON THE FRONT END. TOOK FOR AN INSPECTION AND ALL BALL JOINTS WERE FOUND TO BE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE THEY COULD HAVE FAILED AT ANY TIME. *JB

BALL JOINTS DEFECTIVE-TAKEN TO DEALER PARTS NOT AVAILABLE-VEHICLE UNSAFE ACCORDING TO DEALER-NO RE-CALL ISSUED YET - MAY RE-CALL LATER-VARIOUS ACCIDENTS WERE REPORTED NATION WIDE-OF FRONT WHEELS FALLING OFF!!!!!!! *JB

PREMATURE FAILURE OF BALL JOINTS & LOWER STEERING COLUMN U-JOINTS. UPPER BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *AK

WHILE HAVING VEHICLE SERVICED TECHNICIAN DETERMINED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION DEALERSHIPS INFORMED CONSUMER THAT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. *AK

FAILURE OF UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. *JB

1997 DODGE DAKOTA - BALL JOINT PROBLEMS - PREMATURE WEAR. ALSO CAUSING TIRES TO PREMATURELY WEAR AND SCALP. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END, AND VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE REAR SEAT. STATE INSPECTOR NOTICED THAT FRONT TIRES HAD PLAY IN THEM WHILE INSPECTING THE TRUCK, AND TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

I HAVE A DODGE DAKOTA THAT IS A 1997 MODEL. I HAVE REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS AT UNDER 30,000 MILES AND I NOW HAVE ONES MY MACHANIC SAYS ARE BAD AND NEED REPLACED. I WAS A WARE OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. MY MACHANIC THOUGHT IT WAS VERY UNUSUAL FOR THEM TO WEAR OUT SO FAST

THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PERFORM A FRONT END ALIGNMENT BECAUSE THE TRUCK'S UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN.

BALL JOINTS FAILED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING THROUGH THE FRONT END. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT FRONT LOWER ARM BALL JOINT WORE OUT. *AK

FOR A PERIOD OF A YEAR FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SET BACK COLLAPSED. THIS HAPPENED OVER FIFTY TIMES AND WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER TRIED CLEANING THE RECLINER HANDLE AND SURROUNDING AREA, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO PERMATURE WEAR. *AK *MR

UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURLY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS DUE TO DETERIORATION. *JB THE BALL JOINTS WERE WORN. *SC

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH ON A DIRT ROAD CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. CONSUMER STOPPED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE FRAME HAD A LARGE CRACK ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT FRAME MUST BE REPLACED. ON THAT SAME DAY CONSUMER HEARD A RADIO REPORT ABOUT DODGE DAKOTAS 1995-1996 HAVING A PROBLEM WITH CRACKED FRAMES. DURING THAT REPORT IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A REPAIR KIT THAT COULD BE OBTAINED AT DODGE DEALERSHIPS TO FIX THE FRAME. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, THE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS REPAIR KIT. *AK

DRIVING AT 30 MPH, VEHICLE FISH TAILED, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WHICH RESULTED TO ROLL OVER TWICE. *LA *MR

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *PH (NAR) THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SERVICE FACILITY FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT DUE TO NOTICEABLE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WEAR. ONCE THE TECHNICIAN LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE HE DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLES UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WA TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE WITHIN SPECS. THE CONSUMER HAD THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED DESPITE THE DEALER FINDINGS. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *NM

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED AT 77,000 MILES. *AK THE VEHICLE STARTED SQUEAKING OVER SLIGHT BUMPS AND WORSENED TO SQUEAKING ALL OF THE TIME, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO MAKE UNUSUAL NOISES WHEN TURNING, AND COOLANT LEAKED FROM THE ENGINE. *SC *JB

PAINT DELAMINATION

AIR CONDITIONING--STILL WORKS BUT AT TIMES IT SHUTS OF THE UPPER AIR DUCTS AND I HAVE TO SHUT IT OFF ON RESTART IT TO MAKE IT WORK RIGHT. ENGINE--- MAKES A NOISE ( STARTED AT 20,000 MILES) TOOK IT TO A DEALER THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS. AFTER WARRANTY WAS UP TOLD ITS THE TIMING CHAIN.AT 92,000 STILL MAKES THE SAME NOISE POWER WINDOW-- PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT WORK OTHER--1. RADIO (TAPE DECK) TAPE DECK TURNS THE WIND AND REWIND ON BY ITSELF. HAVE TO TURN THE MOTOR OFF AND RESTART TO GET IT TO QUITE. 2.HAVE ALL KINDS OF WIRE PROBLEMS, ALL THE PLASTIC COATING COMES OFF AND WIRES BREAK 3.TAIL LIGHT PLUGS WON'T STAY PLUGGED IN PAINT-- CHIPS EASILY

HAVE A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA 4 WHEEL DRIVE, 5.2L V8. HEARD KNOCKING SPORADIC NOISES IN FRONT SUSPENSION. TOOK IT TO DODGE DEALERSHIP WHO INFORMED ME THAT BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. IN DOING SOME RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH DAKOTAS. IF I WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN MINE IN TO BE LOOKED AT, IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE ASK DODGE FOR MY OLD BALL JOINTS SO THAT I CAN HAVE THEM AS EVIDENCE. DODGE IS CHARGING ABOUT $600 FOR THE REPAIR. IT DOESN'T SEEM FAIR THAT DODGE IS MAKING MONEY OF THE REPAIR OF A BALL JOINT THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE NEEDED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. DODGE SHOULD ISSUE A SERVICE ADVISORY AND THIS TYPE OF REPAIR SHOULD BE HANDLED FREE OF CHARGE. *LA

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE. WHEN RIDING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD THERE IS A RATTLING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. MECHANIC SAYS THERE IS EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE BALL JOINTS. *AK THE RUBBER BOOT ON TOP OF THE BALL JOINTS WERE BUSTED. *SC

1997 DODGE DAKOTA UPPER AND LOWER BALLJOINTS HAVE FAILED PRE-MATURELY. I CURRENTLY AM EXPERIENCING LOUD NOISES FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN RIDING OVER SMALL BUMPS. MY MECHANIC STATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALLJOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. I AM THE ORGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN USED OFF PAVED ROADS.*AK

I OWN A 1997' DODGE DAKOTA V8 LONG BED STANDARD CAB PICK-UP WITH ONLY 32000 ORIGIONAL MILES. THE BALL JOINTS ARE BAD AND I HAVE TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. I WENT TO LOOK UP HOW TO REPLACE THEM AND DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM IS WIDE SPREAD. SEARS MECHANICS WERE SUPRISED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE SO WORN WITH SO FEW MILES ON THE VEHICLE.*AK

THE FRONT TIRES EXPERIENCED UNEVEN TREAD WEAR. DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM A FRONT END ALIGNMENT BECAUSE ALL 4 BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK

I HAD TO REPLACE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS IN MY 1997 DODGE DAKOTA @ 72,000 MILES. I BELIEVE THIS FAILURE WAS PREMATURE. *AK

AUTO MATIC TRANSMISSION LACK OF FLUID CAUSED BY CHECK VALVE AND TRANS COOLANT LINE. *AK