1998 Dodge Dakota complaints

1998 DODGE/DAKOTA HAS SAME PROBLEM AS 2000-2003. UPPER BALL JOINTS PROBLEMS. CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW WHY ARE YOU EXCLUDING 1998 WHEN THE PROBLEM EXISTED IN THE 1998. *BF

HAD TO REPLACE UPPER AND LOWER BALLJOINTS AND OUTER TIE ROD ENDS.*AK

1. EXCESSIVE DRIFTING BACK AND FORTH IN THE LANE I WAS DRIVING IN . UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. 2. SERVICE TECH SAID THAT I WAS LUCKY A WHEEL DIDN'T COME OF WHILE DRIVING. 3. REPLACEMENT OF UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON MY 98 DODGE DOKOTA SPORT.*AK

I HAVE A 1998 DAKOTA 4X4, MAKING SUSPICIOUS NOISES IN FRONT END. TOOK TO ALIGNMENT SHOP WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT ALL BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS NEEDED REPLACEMENT BADLY, AS , ACCORDING TO SHOP OWNER, THE WEAR WAS SO EXTENSIVE THAT THE TRUCK WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. TRUCK WAS REPAIRED ON 12/01/ 2004. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN AN OFF-ROAD USED VEHICLE, HWY. MILES ONLY. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE SHOP OWNER THAT HE HAS RECENTLY BEEN RECEIVING SAME COMPLAINT AND NEED FOR REPAIR BY AN UNUSUALLY HIGH NUMBER OF DAKOTA AND DURANGO OWNERS. RECALL FOR 2000-2003 VEHICLES AS RELEASED BY THE MEDIA OCCURRED AFTER MY TRUCK WAS REPAIRED.*AK

I HAVE REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS TWICE NOW ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS. ON A RECENT VISIT TO MY MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE, I WAS ADVISED THAT I WILL AGAIN NEED TO REPLACE MY BALL JOINTS AND THAT ONE IN PARTICULAR WAS CLOSE TO FAILURE AND WAS UNSAFE. IN HIS WORDS: "YOU GOT LUCKY. THIS COULD HAVE FAILED AT ANY TIME." I HAVE SCHEDULED ANOTHER APPOINTMENT TO ONCE AGAIN REPLACE MY BALL JOINTS. *NM

I HAVE 61000 MILES ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. WHEN I GOT MY TIRES ROTATED I WAS SHOWN THAT MY UPPER CONTROL ARMS WERE WORN OUT. I HAD HEARD A "CHUNKING" NOISE WHEN I TURNED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ARE FAILING WITH SO LITTLE MILEAGE ON MY TRUCK. I CALLED THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION ON DECEMBER 28 & 29 TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING. I HAD TALKED TO THREE PEOPLE, 1)WHITNEY, 2)BILLY (12/28/04), AND I TALKED WITH 3)CAROL (12/29/04). CAROL HAD TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING CHRYSLER COULD DO AND THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK WITH. I HAVE READ THAT THERE ARE RECALLS TO THE 2000-2003 DAKOTA'S. WHY WEREN'T THE 1998-1999 INCLUDED? THEY HAVE THE IDENTICAL FRONT END. IS THERE ANY WAY YOU COULD GIVE ME SOME ANSWERS TO MY QUESTION. THANK YOU. *NM

MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA, VIN [XXX]. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, BEGINNING IN THE SECOND YEAR OF OUR LEASE. DURING THE PAST FOUR YEARS, WE HAVE SPENT APPROXIMATELY $9,000 ON VEHICLE REPAIRS INCLUDING A NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW ENGINE, NEW STARTER, NEW WHEEL BARING, NEW BRAKE CALIPER, NEW HEATER CORE AND NEW WATER PUMP. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND ALTERNATOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND TWO O2 SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS BEEN REPAIRED FOUR TIMES. WHILE THESE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN COSTLY AND INCONVENIENT, NONE OF THEM HAS POSED A SAFETY CONCERN PER SE. I AM WRITING NOW TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR MOST RECENT VEHICLE FAILURE WHICH MOST CERTAINLY IS A SAFETY ISSUE. ON NOVEMBER 18, 2004, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN HIS FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BROKE OFF FROM THE AXLE. THE TIRE FELL ON ITS SIDE AND THE TRUCK LANDED ON THE TIRE. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, AND THE TRUCK SKIDDED TO A STOP IN THE LEFT TURN LANE. MY HUSBAND HAD NO CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. WHEN WE TOOK THE TRUCK TO OUR MECHANIC, HE FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS NEAR THE BREAKING POINT AS WELL AND REPLACED THAT AXLE AS WELL. WE ARE STILL DRIVING ON THE TWO FRONT TIRES, BUT WE WERE INFORMED THAT WE SHOULD GET AN ALIGNMENT AND PROBABLY HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED AS WELL. WE UNDERSTAND THAT DODGE HAS RECALLED THE 2000-2003 DAKOTAS FOR THIS SAME DEFECT. WE BELIEVE THAT OUR VEHICLE SHOULD ALSO BE COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. *NM UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFO

MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 5.2L CLUB CAB TRUCK HAD THE FRONT BALL JOINTS FAIL ON ME. I KNOW THERE IS NOW A RECALL FOR 2000 TO CURRENT MODELS, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE 98? IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE 89000 MILES ON IT CURRENTLY. *JB

DURING INSPECTION CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT DRIVER/PASSENGER UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER STATED UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. THE PROTECTIVE COATING BROKE, WHICH ALLOWED DIRT ONTO THE BALL JOINTS. *AK......ALSO, DEALER REPLACED WHEEL BEARING, AND PERFORMED THROTTLE BODY SERVICE. *AK

WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. AS A RESULT, FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF, AND THE FRONT END COLLAPSED. *AK

1 - TOOK THE DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK IN TO HAVE THE SNOW TIRES PUT ON AND WAS TOLD THAT THE UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS WHERE READY TO FAIL. THE AUTOMOTIVE SHOP THEN REPLACED THE UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS. *AK

NOISES IN FRONT END, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA 4-WHEEL DRIVE DEFECTIVE. LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 34,853 MILES. REPLACED LOWER JOINTS AGAIN AND UPPER BALL JOINTS AT 59,629 AT A COST OF $1123.55. LUCKILY IT WAS CAUGHT BEFORE ANY SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURRED. YOUR RECALL INDICATES YEAR 2000-2003 BUT PROBLEM WAS THERE PRIOR TO THAT.*AK

MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT ALL 4 BALL JOINTS AND THE INNER & OUTER TIE ROD ENDS NEED REPLACING ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. SINCE THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL FOR 2000-2003 DAKOTAS & DURANGOS AND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT PENDING FOR 1998 DURANGOS, I WONDER IF THERE IS MERIT TO MY 1998 DAKOTA FAILURE AND THE RESULTING EXPENSE.*AK

SIR, I JUST READ ON THE INTERNET WHERE CHRYSLER IS RECALLING THE DODGE DAKOTA GOING ALONG WITH THE GOVERNMENTS RECOMMENDATION. I UNDERSTAND THEY ARE ONLY GOING BACK TO THE 2000 MODELS. WELL, I HAVE AN 1998 MODEL THAT'S GOING THROUGH THE SAME THINGS. THE BALL JOINTS HAVE GONE BAD THE STEERING HAS GONE BAD. THERE'S BEEN A BAD CRUNCHING COMING FROM THE FRONT-END FOR OVER A YEAR AND NO-ONE CAN FIND OUT WHAT'S MAKING IT. I'M GETTING SCARED TO DRIVE IT. I'VE ALREADY SPENT A LOAD OF MONEY ON THE FRONT-END OF THIS VEHICLE!!! I HAVE BEEN TO THE DODGE DEALERS NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY TELL ME THERE IS NO BULLETINS ON THESE PROBLEMS BUT YOU CAN GO ON THE INTERNET AND CHECK ON COMPLAINTS FOR THE DAKOTA AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS ON THE FRONT-END EVER SINCE THEY CHANGED TO THE NEW BODY STYLE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS CAN DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT I THINK YOU SHOULD, IN GOOD FAITH, MAKE THEM REIMBURSE OR RECALL ALL OF THESE VEHICLES HAVING THE PROBLEMS NOT JUST THE LAST 4 YEARS. THIS IS JUST A COP-OUT ON THEIR PART TO KEEP YOU GUYS OFF THEIR BACKS. IF YOU THINK THERE ARE NOT COMPLAINTS JUST GO ON THE INTERNET AND CHECK IT OUT. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN SEVERAL YEARS AGO, NOT JUST IN 2000. THANK YOU -------- AN ANSWER TO THIS E-MAIL WOULD BE APPRECIATED. JIM JERLES . *AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND SUDDENLY CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT, AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONTAL LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

BALL JOINTS HAVE BEGUN TO FAIL..ONLY 64,000 MILES ON VEHICLE...57,000 AT THE TIME PROBLEM STARTED...KNOW THERE IS A RECALLL FOR 2000 AND HIGHER MODELS...BUT FEAR THIS IS A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN KNOWN IN EARLIER MODELS AS WELL....DEALER WILL FIX, BUT NOT PAY, AND HAVE NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THERE IS SUCH AN EARLY FAILURE.....ALSO HAVE NOTICED FROM YOUR SITE THAT THERE WERE OTHER RECALLS....DID NOT KNOW OF THESE...WILL TRY TO HAVE DEALER FIX THESE......AND CHECK ON MY 4 BALL JOINTS.

WHILE MAKING A TURN THE TIRE RUBBED THE WHEEL WELL. *NM THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *TC *JB

A RECENT RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR DODGE DAKOTAS AND DURANGO ONLY INCLUDED THE MODEL YEARS OF 2000-2004 FOR FAILED BALL JOINTS AND WHEELS FALLING OFF. THIS COMPLIANT IS TO NOTIFIY THE NHTSA THAT EARLY MODEL YEARS ALSO EXPERIENCE THE SAMPLE PROBLEM. IN 2001, MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA HAD THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL COLAPSE WHILE IN MOTION DUE TO A FAILED BALL JOINT. THE NHTSA SHOULD EXPAND THIS RECALL TO EARLIER MODELS.*AK

DODGE DAKOTA BALL JOINT FAILURE. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM AN ALIGNMENT BECAUSE THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE SEVERELY WORN. *TC *JB

MY UPPER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED IN MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA AT 56,000 MILES. WHY ARE THE 98 AND 99 DODGE DAKOTA'S NOT BEING COVERED UNDER THE SAME RECALL. THAT IS UN-ACCEPTABLE AS THEY HAVE THE EXACT SAME BALL JOINT IN THEM. *JB

MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA 4X2 PICKUP HAS 74000 MILES ON IT. THE TRUCK RECENTLY DEVELOPED A LOUD SQUEAK IN THE AREA AROUND THE FRONT DRIVER'S-SIDE WHEEL. THIS SQUEAK WAS TRACED TO THE SWAY BAR AND ANTI-SWAY ROD. THE BUSHINGS IN THIS AREA OF THE TRUCK ARE POORLY DESIGNED AND PRONE TO FAILURE. A CHECK OF A DAKOTA OWNERS' FORUM (WWW.DODGEDAKOTAS.COM) LISTS MANY DAKOTA OWNERS HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. WHAT CAN HAPPEN WITH A SWAY BAR THAT FAILS DUE TO THIS TYPE OF BEARING FAILURE? THE VEHICLE CAN BECOME UNSTABLE DURING TURNS. THIS CAN LEAD TO ROLLOVERS, INJURY AND DEATH. THIS IS AN UNSAFE AND COMMON FAILURE ON THIS VEHICLE. *JB

1998 DODGE DAKOTA, CURRENT MILEAGE:426,000. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL CONTROL ARMS TWICE. BALL JOINTS UNAVAILABLE, REQUIRING ENTIRE A-ARM REPLACEMENT. BUMMER. *JB

I'VE SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY PLIGHT PREVIOUSLY BUT I HAVE ANOTHER EPISODE TO REPORT. MY FIRST COMPLAINT (LAST YEAR) DETAILED PROBLEMS WITH MY 98' DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK. THE BALL JOINTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE SUBSTANDARD TO SAY THE LEAST AND ARE ACTUALLY DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS. MY TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 70000 HIGHWAY MILES ON IT AND I HAVE REPLACED TWO BALL JOINTS ALREADY (AS NOTED IN MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT) AND NOW A THIRD IS FAILING AND IN NEED OF REPAIR. YOU MAY ASK HOW I KNOW IT FAILING WHEN I HAVEN'T HAD IT REPAIRED YET?... BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENED SO MANY TIMES BEFORE AND I KNOW THE SYMPTOMS. THAT MAKES 3/4 OF THE BALL JOINTS ON THE FRONT OF THIS TRUCK THAT WILL HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. I WAS ELATED TO SEE WHERE THE NHTSA HAS REQUESTED CHRYSLER TO RECALL THE DAKOTA AND DURANGO AS A RESULT OF THESE BALL JOINT FAILURES. I WAS EQUALLY DISMAYED TO SEE THAT IT ONLY COVERED 2000-2003!!!! WHY?!!! AS YOU READ ABOVE, MY TRUCK HAS FAILED EQUALLY IF NOT WORSE THAN THE MODELS THE NHTSA RECOMMENDED BE RECALLED. NUMNEROUS WEB SITES ARE FILLED WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE SAME ISSUES ON VEHICLES THAT ARE OLDER THAN 2000. I SUSPECT IT HAS TO DO WITH MONEY = ANYTHING MORE THAN 4 MODEL YEARS AND CHRYSLER WILL START SCREAMING. IF THE FAILING BALL JOINTS ARE DANGEROUS ON THE 2000-2003 MODELS, THEN THE SAME FAILING BALL JOINTS ARE DANGEROUS ON THE OLDER MODELS TOO. PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY MY SAFETY IS LESS IMPORTANT THAN THOSE WITH TRUCKS TWO YEARS NEWER THAN MINE. THANK YOU.*AK

THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO, AND IN SUPPORT OF, THE RECCOMMENDED RECALL OF DODGE DAKOTAS. I HAVE A 1998 DAKOTA AND RECENTLY HAD WORK DONE (JULY '04) ON THE FRONT BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS. AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF POPPING NOISES FROM THE FRONT END WHEN BACKING OUT AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND A DEFINITE FEELING OF LOOSE SUSPENSION ON TURNS I TOOK IT TO THE DODGE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME THE TRUCK WAS NOT DRIVEABLE. THE BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS WERE BOTH FAILING AND I WAS WARNED HAD I CONTINUED DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION I WOULD HAVE HAD A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THIS, AFTER HAVING THE SAME SYMPTOMS, BUT DIFFERENT REPAIRS MADE BY A DIFFERENT DEALER, A YEAR PRIOR. THE VEHICLE HAD ONE PREVIOUS OWNER AND 61,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT IN LATE 2002. I PUT ON MAYBE 10,000 MILES BEFORE THE FIRST INCIDENT AND ONLY A FEW THOUSAND MORE BEFORE THE SECOND INCIDENT. I FEEL THIS VEHICLE IS NOT ONLY UNSAFE, BUT POORLY MANUFACTURED AND HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WITH MY CONCERNS. I FEEL THE SUGGESTED RECALL SHOULD INCLUDE THE YEARS PRIOR TO THOSE RECCOMMENDED (2000-2003). I HAVE HAD TWO AUTHORIZED DODGE DEALERS PERFORM TWO SETS OF REPAIR TO THE AMOUNT OF NEARLY $3000.00. THIS IS NEARLY THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE AND IT'S NOT EVEN PAID OFF YET.*AK

LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE IN 1998 DODGE DAKOTA 4WD. QUERY: WHY ISN'T THE RECALL RE. BALL JOINTS COVERING DAKOTAS MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO 2000? MINE EXPERIENCED LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE AT 30,000 MILES AND I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT WILL CAUSE REPEATING BALL JOINT FAILURE. NOW I AM INFORMED THERE IS A RECALL OF 2000-2004 MODELS WITH A SIMILAR DEFECT, BECAUSE WHEELS HAVE COME OFF. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COMPREHENSIVELY ADDRESSED TO INCLUDE PRIOR MODEL YEAR PROBLEMS. MOST OF THESE VEHICLES ARE STILL ON THE ROAD ! *AK

1998 DODGE DAKOTA. I PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES FROM A GOODYEAR DEALER. THEY TOLD ME AT THIS TIME THAT ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS WERE EXTREMELY BAD. ONE UPPER BALL JOINT HAD ABOUT AN INCH TO AN INCH AND A QUARTER. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AT MY EXPENSE TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED TO TRUCK AND AN EXTENDED WARRANTE. PERVIOUS TO THIS, I HAD BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT A LOUD THUMPIONG SOUND COMING FROM THE PASSENGER FRONT. (THIS TURNED OUT TO BE THE WORSE BALL HJOINT FOUND). THE DEALER KEPT TELLING ME THAT ALL MY SUSPENSION AND BALL JOINTS WERE FINE. THE SOUND CONTINUED AND I REPEATEDLY BOUGHT THE TRUCK BACK COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SOUND. THE LAST TIME, PRIOR TO MY GETTING NEW TIRES WHICH WERE ROTATED EVERY OTHER OIL CHANGE, I WAS CHARGED A ROAD TEST FEE AND TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. AFTER THE NEW TIRES WERE INSTALLED AND THE TRUCK BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT THEIR 'FRONT END EXPERT' FOUND ONE LOWER BALL JOINT (PASSENGER SIDE) THAT HAS A SMALL AMOUNT OF PLAY IN IT. IT WAS REPLACED. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK DIRECTLY BACK TO GOODYEAR FOR THE ALIGNMENT AND THEY CALLED ME INTO THE SERVICE AREA WHERE THEY SHOWED ME AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF PLAY IN THE RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINT AND AN MORE THAN NORMAL AMOUNT OF PLAY IN THE LEFT UPPER JOINT. THE LOWER JOINT HAD A GREASE FITTING AND DID NOT REVEAL THAT MUCH PLAY THIS TIME BECAUSE THE DEALER AND DONE A LUBE, OIL AND FILTER CHANGE WHILE THE TRUCK WAS THERE FOR THE BALL JOINT WORK. I NOW SEE THAT THE NHTSA AND ASKED FOR A RECALL ON THE DODGE VECHI

THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT COMPLETELY AT 27,000 MILES. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT A CONSISTENT RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT STEERING SUSPESION AREA. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PLAY INSIDE THE BALL JOINT WAS SEVERE. *TC

CONSUMER STATED UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK

1998 DODGE DAKOTA UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. REPORTED BY REPAIR SHOP WHEN ASKED TO PERFORM A FRONT ALLIGNMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT TEY HAVE NEVER SEEN A WORSE CASE OF WORN OUT BALL JOINTS. THEY TOLD ME THAT AN ALLIGNMENT CANNOT BE PERFORMED WITHOUT THE BALL JOINT REPALCEMENT. FRON END IS LOOSE AND MAKES A POPPING SOUND WHEN TURNING. TRUCK HAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000 MILES. NO REPAIR COMPLETED AS YET. I WAS INFORMED BY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT IS LIKELY TO BE INITIATED SOON AND THAT I SHOULD WAIT FOR THE RECALL AND AVOID DRIVING THE TRUCK UNTIL FIXED. *AK

I STARTED TO NOTICE A LOUD POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL WELL ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA SLT CLUB CAB. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO AN INDEPENDANT GARAGE AND WAS TOLD THAT MY BALL JOINTS WERE IN DESPARATE NEED OF REPLACEMENT. I WAS TOLD BY THE ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC THAT THE BALL JOINTS ARE SEALED AND COULD NOT GET THE PROPER LUBRICATION CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE BALL JOINTS COULD HAVE FAILED AT ANY TIME CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FAIL WHICH WOULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I ASKED THE MECHANIC IF THE REPLACEMENT BALL JOINTS WERE GREASABLE. HE TOLD ME YES. I FEEL THAT THE ORIGINAL BALL JOINTS WERE NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER, AND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT WARRANTS A RECALL.

LEFT AND RIGHT BALL JOINTS ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK FAILED WITH ONLY 46,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. I HAD TO REPLACE THEM IN ORDER FOR THE TRUCK TO PASS ITS STATE SAFETY INSPECTION.*AK

BALL JOINT PROBLEM WITH 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. I HAVE HAD SYMPTOMS OF THE PROBLEM, HEAVY CLUNKING IN FRONT RIGHT, FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. I WENT TO THE DEALER BELIEVING IT WAS AN UPPER BALL JOINT PROBLEM. I EVEN ASKED THEM TO REPLACE THE UPPERS. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS LOWER BALL JOINTS AND I PAID FOR THEM. I BELEIVE THEY WERE JUST OUT OF STOCK ON THE UPPERS. 7 MONTHS LATER, THE CLUNKING HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT WITH THE WHEEEL CUT HARD TO THE RIGHT THE FRONT END "HOPPED" TO THE SIDE. I HAD THIS HAPPEN TWICE IN THE SAME DAY, AND TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY. THEY NOW ADMIT IT NEEDS UPPER BALL JOINTS AND ARE CHARGING ME $500+. IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVING PROBLEMS AT RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE.*AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ONGOING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM FOR 3 YEARS WHICH BECAME WORSE WITHIN THE LAST 2 WEEKS. THE RPMS REVVED VERY HIGH WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT INTO SECOND GEAR AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP POSITION. WHEN THIS OCCURRED CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. DEALERSHIP NOR THE MECHANIC COULD IDENTIFY WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS TO OCCUR.*AK

AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE INTO A REPAIR SHOP, THE BALL JOINTS WERE COMPLETELY WORN OUT AFTER ONLY 40K MILES. *JB *SC

MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT 4WD 5.2 AUTO HAS A LOUD SQUEAK IN THE SUSPENSION AREA. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO GET AN OIL CHANGE AND ASKED THAT THEY MAKE SURE THEY LUBRICATE ALL AREAS. THE TECH TOLD ME MY BALL JOINT WAS THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT NEEDS REPLACED. HE TOLD ME THAT DODGE HAD A RECALL ON THEM. IS THIS TRUE? I WILL BE CALLING THE DEALER THIS WEEK TO SEE IF THEY CAN REPAIR SINCE THIS MAY BE OR ALREADY IS A RECALL. *JB

THERE IS A SQUEAKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT ALL 4 BALL JOINTS NEEDS TO REPLACED DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR.*AK

THE VEHICLE HAD TO HAVE BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 29,045MI ON IT. *JB (RIGHT AND LEFT LOWER BALL JOINTS) THERE WAS EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS TO BE WORN WITHIN EXCESS OF THE SPECIFICATIONS AND COULD NOT BE ALIGNED. *SC

DISCOVERED UPON VEHICLE INSPECTION; ABNORMAL WEAR TO FRONT TIRES, FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS, UPPER AND LOWER FRONT BALL JOINTS. *JB

LOW MILES ON DODGE DAKOTA, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *BF

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN RIGHT THE STEERLING LOCKED UP AND WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO OFF OF THE ROAD AND INTO A FIELD BEFORE STOPPING. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE IF THERE HAD BEEN OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED.*AK MECHANIC HAS RECOMENDED THAT ALL OF THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS BE REPLACED. (4) BALL JOINTS (2) CONTROL ARMS (2) TIE ROD ENDS HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT PREMATURE FAILURES OF THE COMPONENTS ON 97 - 04 DODGE DAKOTA AND DURANGO MODELS. MINE IS A 98 DAKOTA W/ 63665 MILES. CHRYSLER HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL, STATING THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN YOUR STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME. AFTER CONSIDERABLE EFFORT I WAS ABLE TO BREAK THE "LOCKED" CONDITION AND FREE UP THE STEERING. AFTER THIS, THE STEERING WAS STILL STICKING, BUT GOT BETTER AS TIME WENT ON. IT SEEMS TO STICK THE MOST WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 40 DEG. F. I HAVE NOT HAD THE REPAIRS DONE YET.

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, A SQUEAKING/POPPING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT BOTH FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

I WENT IN TO GET MY TRUCK ALIGNED BECAUSE THE OUTER END OF MY TIRES ARE WOREN. HOWEVER, I WAS INFORMED THAT ALL FOUR OF MY BALL JIONTS WERE WORN OUT AND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH DAKOTAS. I AM LOOKING INTO FIXING THEM BUT IF THEY ARE DEFECTIVE AND WILL BE RECALLED I WOULD LIKE THE MANUFACTURE TO PAY TO HAVE THEM FIXED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, A LOUD POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

OWNER SAYS THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE AFTER ONLY 53,000MI. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS BROKEN PIECES OF DISC. OWNER FEELS THAT WHAT HAPPENED WAS TO PREMATURE BASED ON THE MILAGE OF THE VEHICLE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

THE RUBBER BOOT ON ALL 4 BALL JOINTS SHREDDED AND ALL OF THE GREASE WAS LOST AND WASHED OUT. *AK *SC *JB

WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE BALL JOINTS ALONG WITH THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE LOOSE. *AK *TC

FRONT END NOISE. EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR AND FREQUENT FRONT END ALLIGNMENTS. 2 LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILURE REQUIRES REPLACEMENT REPLACEMENT OF FAULTY LOWER BALL JOINTS. *AK

WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND LURCHED FORWARD AFTER SHIFTING OUT OF PARK OR NEUTRAL. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK