1999 Dodge Dakota complaints

THE DODGE DAKOTA, 1999 MODEL, HAS A RECALL GIVEN TO THE BALL JOINTS THAT WERE INSTALLED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. I OWN THE DODGE DAKOTA, 1999 MODEL. ALSO MY BALL JOINTS HAVE GONE BAD LEADING TO UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. THESE ORIGINAL BALL JOINTS ALSO HAVE NO GREASE FITTINGS FOR REGULAR GREASING. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS REPLACING FAULTY PARTS GOING BAD ON MY DODGE DAKOTA. I WILL NOT CONTINUE. I EXPECT TO GET SOME KIND OF REPLY BACK ON HOW WE CAN WORK SOMETHING OUT TO REPLACE THE FAULTY BALL JOINTS ON MY DODGE DAKOTA. ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS A RECALL ON THEM. THANK YOU CHRISTOPHER PERRONE *TR

I CURRENTLY OWN A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA 5.2L 4WD EXT. CAB. I HAVE HAD UPPER BALL JOINTS REPLACED AT ABOUT 65,000 MILE RANGE BY THE DEALER AND PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. NOW I AM AT 94,000 AND NOW THE LOWER BALL JOINTS ARE BAD. ALSO MY INNER TIE ROD. I AM SEEING ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BALLS JOINTS ON THIS YEAR CAUSING MAJOR ISSUES. I HAVE SEEN THERE WAS A RECALL OF 2000-2003 BUT WHAT ABOUT 1999 YEAR? ISN'T IT THE SAME FRONT END AS THE OTHER YEARS? ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ABS SPEED SENSOR. NOW I HAVE READ MANY PLACES REGARDING THE FRONT SUSPENSION ISSUE ALONG WITH THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT SHOWING ON DASHBOARD AND IS BECAUSE OF A BAD SENSOR IN REAR DIFFERENTIAL. WHAT IS THE POSSIBILITY OF DODGE REIMBURSING ME MONEY TOWARDS UPPER BALL JOINTS AND FIXING MY LOWER BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD FOR FREE? *TR

BALL JOINTS FAILED ON ALL FOUR WHEELS. LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT BROKE AND BURNED OUT THE BRAKES. BRAKES FAILED. *TR

BALL JOINTS FAILED ON VEHICLE. ONE BALL JOINT BROKE AND TOOK OUT THE BRAKES. WAS ON FREEWAY WHEN HEARD CLUNKING NOISE. GOT OFF FREEWAY AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALER SAID THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF I WOULD HAVE CONTINUED DRIVING. *TR

I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN. AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE NEW, WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR AND SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A CLUNKING NOISE WHICH GOT LOUDER AND FASTER AS I ACCELERATED THE DEALER COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS. AFTER PICKING IT UP THE UMTEENTH TIME, THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE, I DROVE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP DEMANDING THEY FIGURE IT OUT. THEY PUT THERE QA TECH ON IT AND DISCOVERED IT WAS THE DRIVE SHAFT. THAT WAS REPLACED AND I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, THE TIRES PREMATURELY WEARING, BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THEY WERE REPLACED IN DECEMBER 07 THE LAST TIME, LESS THAN A YEAR BEFORE THE LAST TIME, ALONG WITH NEW TIRES. IT IS NOW APRIL 11, 2008 AND I WAS JUST TOLD AFTER SERVICING THE VEHICLE THEY NEED REPLACED AGAIN AND THE TIRES ARE WEARING. THE AIR CONDITIONING FAILED SEVERAL TIMES, THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WEAR BI-ANNUALLY AND DON'T STOP PROPERLY, AFTER ABOUT 60,000 MILES, THE COMPUTER WENT ON THIS VEHICLE, LEAVING ME STRANDED MANY, MANY TIMES. IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS AND THEY COULDN'T DETECT THE PROBLEM, EVEN AFTER MY PERSONAL MECHANIC TOLD THEM WHAT IT WAS. I HAD TO HAVE THIS FIXED ON MY OWN BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT STICKS AND IS DIFFICULT TO UNFASTENED, THE PAINT ON THIS VEHICLE IS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE FROM EVERYWHERE BUT THE SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE AR

AROUND 03/04/2008 I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A CREDIT UNION PARKING LOT AND HIT A SHEET OF ICE I ENGAGED MY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, BUT MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DID NOT WORK AND I SLID 25' INTO AN SUV CAUSING SOME COSTLY DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. BOTH VEHICLES WERE DISABLED AND HAD TO BE TOWED. ALSO,THE AIRBAGS ON MY VEHICLE DID NOT ENGAGE AND FORTUNATELY I ONLY SUSTAINED A MINOR HEAD INJURY. *TR

AUG. 24, 2007 ABS @ BRAKE WARNING LAMPS LIGHT, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. MADE APPOINTMENT AT A DEALERSHIP. AUG. 25, 2007 1) I FOUND MASTER CYCL. WAS EMPTY (NO BRAKE FLUID.) 2) FOUND HOLE IN RUSTED BRAKE LINE UNDER DRIVERS SIDE DOOR.3) FOUND ALL BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED UNDERNEATH SIDE OF TRUCK. AUG. 28, 2007 HAD TRUCK TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. AUG. 30, 2007 CALLED CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER TO CHECK ON RECALL FOR RUSTED BRAKE LINES. NO RECALLS. GIVEN CASE # 16686272. 1ST ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS $350.00 TO 400.00. 2ND ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS $500.00 TO 600.00. 3RD ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS $700.00 TO 800.00. SEPT. 11, 2007 REPAIRS COMPLETED. ALL BRAKE LINES UNDERNEATH TRUCK WERE REPLACED WITH ORIGINAL PARTS. TOTAL 8 LINES. TOTAL BILL WAS $865.24 MINUS A 10% COUPON I HAD TOTAL NOW $781.92. SERVICE MANAGER COMMENTS: HE HAS A SIMILAR TRUCK, AFTER SEEING MY RUSTED BRAKE LINES, HE IS GOING TO HAVE ALL HIS BRAKE LINES REPLACED ON HIS TRUCK. SEPT. 14, 2007 CALLED CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER FOR THE 2ND TIME. GAVE THEM UPDATED REPAIR INFORMATION & TOLD THEM THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE & ARE LUCKY THAT I WAS DRIVING NOT MY WIFE OR ONE OF MY CHILDREN WHEN THE BRAKES WENT OUT. ASKED FOR REFUND FOR REPAIRS, TURNED DOWN. *TR

BRAKE LINE FAILED ON A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA. THE MAIN BRAKE LINE LEADING TO THE REAR WHEELS FAILED. THE SERVICE TECH (MOORESVILLE TIRE IN MOORESVILLE, IN STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD NOT BEEN DAMAGED, IT JUST FAILED. I DON'T THINK THAT A BRAKE LINE SHOULD FAIL IN A VEHICLE THAT IS 8 YEARS OLD. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB

MY UPPER BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED ON MY 1999 DODGE DAKOTA EX CAB. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF MANY SIMILAR FAILURES FROM THIS YEAR/MAKE/MODEL. I HAVE READ THE RECALL ON CERTAIN MODELS OF DAKOTAS WITH THIS FAILURE. WILL MY VEHICLE BE COVERED BY THIS RECALL? I CAN SUPPLY ANY FURTHER VEHICLE INFORMATION THAT IS NEEDED IF NECESSARY. PLEASE ADVISE, MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY DISABLED DUE TO THIS. THANKFULLY THERE WAS NO CRASH, BODILY HARM, OR OTHER INJURIES. THANKS. *JB

AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE. SUBJECT ON AIR CONDITIONER COOLING PERFORMANCE DETERIORATING AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF OPERATION. *TR

FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION- ALL 4 BALL JOINTS WORN AND CAUSING THE SUSPENSION TO SHIFT WHEN DRIVING. WHEN THE SUSPENSION SHIFTED, IT WAS PULLING/PINCHING THE BRAKELINE CAUSING ERRACTIC BRAKE FUNCTION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE IS RUBBING ON THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. IF THIS CONTINUES TO OCCUR, IT COULD DAMAGE THE BRAKE LINE AND CAUSE THE BRAKES TO FAIL. SHE HAS NOT YET NOTIFIED THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 45,000.

BALL JOINTS FOR THE 1998-2004 DODGE TRUCKS WERE FAULTY, I COULD NOT BELIEVE AFTER ALL THE COMPLAINTS RECEIVED THAT NOTHING HAS EVER BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS FAULTY PARTS THAT COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. YOU COULD DO A SEARCH FOR FAULTY BALL JOINTS ON THE WEB AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE BALL JOINTS WEARING OUT AFTER SOMETIMES 20,000 MILES THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND DANGEROUS YOU GUYS SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR NOT HOLDING DODGE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THESE ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2000 MODEL YEAR. YET NO OTHER YEARS YET I AM SURE THAT THEY USED THAT SAME BALL JOINT FOR ALL OF THOSE MODEL YEARS.*AK

1999 DODGE DAKOTA APPLIED BRAKE AND VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT**CW** 2ND CAR FROM DOCUMENT NUMBER 10195900 THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE BRAKE PADS WEAR, AND PRESSURE WAS BEING PLACED ON THE LUGS/SLIDE BARS. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS ALSO QUITE POSSIBLE THE BRAKES COULD BE DELAYED FROM ENGAGING BECAUSE THE BACKING PLATES ARE NOT ABLE TO RIDE UP AND OVER THE WEAR SPOT. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES A DELAY IN BRAKING OCCURRED, FOLLOWED BY A SLIGHT SHUDDER, THEN THE WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP AND CONSEQUENTLY HE REAR ENED ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB

TRUCK DIED IN DOWNTOWN DENVER. NO BUS"ON DIGITAL ODOMETER. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP FOR WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR REPLACEMENT, BUT IT WAS STILL FAILING. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND PERFORMED THE REPAIR. APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS LATER, SHE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THERE IS RECALL # 04V596000 FOR THE UPPER BALL JOINTS FOR MODEL YEARS 2000-2003. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT HER VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 72,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN SAFETY RECALL # 04V59600 DUE TO THE VIN ,SPECIFICALLY FOR THE DODGE DURANGO. ON MARCH 16, 2007, WHILE DRIVING AT 0-5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND NEAR THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CLUNKING SOUND INCREASED, AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRONT CONTROL ARM UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE BECOMING DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER THE SAFETY RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 87,000.*AK

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEALING NOISE AND FELT A VIBRATION WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT SPINDLES ON HIS VEHICLE WERE DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC INSERTED A BOLT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE CALIPER ATTACHED TO THE SPINDLE. APPROXIMATELY A MONTH LATER HE HEARD A LOUD SQUEALING. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE BRAKE PADS AND NOTICE THAT THE PADS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WERE WORN. THE CONTACT REPLACED FRONT ROTORS, CALIPERS, BRAKE PADS AND BOLTS. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY OTHER OCCURRENCES SINCE THE REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 123,000 MILES.

THE FRONT END STARTED MAKING POPPING AND OTHER METALLIC SOUNDING NOISES AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHEN I RAISED IT UP AND LOOKED, THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE BALL JOINTS WERE IN TATTERS! I WENT TO REPLACE THEM AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY ARE A "DEALER ITEM" AND THAT DAIMLER-CHRYSLER ONLY PROVIDES A WHOLE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS WITH BALL JOINT FOR REPLACEMENT AS A WHOLE UNIT. WHILE I HAVE NEARLY 45 YEARS OF AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE BACKGROUND THIS IS A TRAVISTY OF THE N'TH DEGREE!. YOU PRODUCE A DEFECTIVE UNIT AND THEN SCREW THE POOR SLOB WHO BOUGHT ONE BY MAKING HIM PAY AN ARM AND A LEG TO REPLACE A WHOLE CONTROL ARM THAT ONLY HAS A BAD BALL JOINT ON THE END OF IT.

TL* - THE CONTACT STATES THAT ON 12/14/06, HE TOOK HIS 1999 JEEP DAKOTA SPORT IN FOR A TIRE ALIGNMENT BECAUSE HIS TIRES WERE WEARING UNEVENLY. THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT HE COULDN'T DO THE ALIGNMENT BECAUSE ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS UPPER AND LOWER HAD GONE BAD. THE CONTACT DID STATE THAT HE HAD HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL ON THE JEEP LIBERTY'S AND WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HIS VEHICLE BECAUSE HE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATES THAT HE DID CONTACT CHRYSLER CORPORATION ON 12/21/06 AND WAS TOLD HIS VEHICLE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND IT WAS HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE CHRYSLER REPRESENTATIVE THAT HE HAS ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 1 1/2 YEARS. THE REPRESENTATIVE TOOK HIS COMPLAINT AND GAVE HIM A REFERENCE # 15798865.

FAILED TRANSMISSION, FAILED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND CLEAR COAT DELAMANTING ON ALL PANELS OF TRUCK. *JB

THE 1999 DODGE DAKOTA 4 X 4 I BOUGHT NEW HAS 48500 MILES ON IT NOW. IT'S FRONT END BALL JOINTS ARE FAILING AND WILL NEED REPLACEMENT TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THIS TRUCK HAS HAS ONLY BEEN CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVEN. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, A SQUEAKING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.

1999 DODGE DAKOTA BALL JOINT FAILURE. *NM

PREMATURE BALL JOINT FAILURE ON 1999 DODGE DAKOTA. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST OF 2000-2003 DODGE DAKOTAS AND DURANGOS. *JB

DEALER NOTIFIED ME THAT BOTH BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS ARE DANGEROUSLY LOOSE AND NEED REPLACED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 04V596000 SPECIFIES MANUFACTURE DATE FROM 01/07/1999 - 12/31/2002. MY TRUCK WAS BUILD IN MARCH OF 1999. THEY ARE CLAIMING THAT I GOT LUCKY AND MY TRUCK DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL, YET I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. 1999 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT 4X4 VIN #[XXX]. *NM UPDATED 07/12/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

SAFETY RECALL NHTSA ID 04V-596 NOT HONORED DODGE OF BELLEVUE 316 116 AVE N.E BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON 98004 (425) 454-8411 LUKE BLACKWELL (425) 454 8411 GENERAL MANAGER FAILED TO HONOR RECALL EVEN THOUGH HIS MECHANIC STATED THERE IS A FRONT END BALL JOINT PROBLEM WITH MY 1999 DODGE DAKOTA VIN [XXX]. MECHANIC STATES- INNER TIE RODS HAVE EXCESSIVE PLAY. REC REPLACE LEFT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT HAS EXCESSIVE PLAY. REC REPLACE .DODGE OF BELLEVUE INVOICE [XXX]. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION CONVENIENTLY REPORTS TO THE DEALERS ADVANTAGE THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN SPECIFICATION INVOICE [XXX]- PLEASE CHECK AND MEASURE ALL 4 BALL JOINTS AND ADVISE NEED TO CONTACT CHRYSLER UPON INSPECTION WITH MEASUREMENTS. CHECK ALL 4 BALL JOINT ALL WITH SPECS -LEFT FRONT UPPER .010'' -LOWER .05'' RIGHT UPPER .020'' LOWER .010 ALL WITH IN SPC'S RIGHT FRONT UPPER HAS THE MOST MOVEMENT BUT IS WITH IN SPECS. FILE # WITH CHRYSLER IS [XXX]. I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER IS PLAYING A NUMBERS GAME WITH ME - I WANT CHRYSLER TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS. *JB UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I AM ON MY SECOND SET OF HAVING TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS ON MY 1999 DODGE DAKOTA AT 89,000 MILES. I KNOW THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL OF DODGE DAKOTA'S AND DURANGO'S, AND THEY WERE FORCED TO DEAL WITH THE 4WD MODELS OF 2000-2003. MINE, HOWEVER, IS A 1999 2WD MODEL, AND THE BALL JOINTS ARE NO BETTER ON MINE. FORTUNATELY, I HAVE MY TRUCK CHECKED ENOUGH THAT MY WHEELS HAVEN'T FALLEN OFF YET, BUT I WAS TOLD RECENTLY I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN. I'M SICK OF PAYING FOR THESE, AND DODGE NEEDS TO FINALLY ADMIT THEIR BIG SCREW UPS ON THESE. *JB

VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A MECHANIC FOR INTERMITTENT BRAKE NOISE. WHILE CHECKING VEHICLE BRAKES, MECHANIC NOTICED BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS NEARLY PULLED THROUGH SPINDLE. UPPER JOINTS WERE VISIBLY LOOSE WITH EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT (FACTORY SPEC IS .060"; MECHANIC FOUND .125"). VEHICLE HAD STEERED AND DRIVEN NORMALLY BUT COULD HAVE HAD MAJOR SUSPENSION FAILURE WITHOUT GIVING ANY SIGN TO OPERATOR THAT THERE IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ISSUE. VEHICLE HAS 'LOW' (65K) MILES FOR SEVEN YEAR OLD VEHICLE AND IS WELL MAINTAINED. FAILED JOINTS ARE NOT SERVICEABLE-SEALED FOR LIFE- A VERY SHORT LIFE, AND CANNOT BE LUBRICATED. DESIGN OF SUSPENSION COMPONENTS' IS POOR RESULTING IN WEAR THAT IS EXCESSIVE. NO WARNING THAT FAILURE IS IMMINENT CAUSING POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC RESULTS. ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. *NM

CLUNKING IN FRONT END. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V596000, REGARDING THE UPPER BALL JOINT; HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

I HAD BOUGHT MY 1999 DODGE DAKOTA IN 2001, LESS THAN 1 YEAR OF PURCHASING THIS TRUCK, I LOST OIL PRESSURE, RETURNED THE TRUCK TO DEALER WHERE THEY TRIED TO REPLACE MY MOTOR WITH A MOTOR THAT HAD MORE MILES, THIS DID NOT HAPPEN. THEN ANOTHER YEAR LATER, GEARS IN MY TRANSMISSION WERE SPENT WHERE I HAD TO PAY A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. TRUCK HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A YEAR, CAUSE OF ENGINE KNOCKING AGAIN, WITH NO OIL PRESSURE, ALSO REPLACED THE OIL PUMP, STILL NO PRESSURE. NEW CONVERTER WAS PUT IN, STILL GOOD!! BRAKES AND ROTORS ARE ANOTHER BIG COMPLAINT OF MINE, WHEN I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY REPLACE THESE PARTS, LIKE EVERY 6 MONTHS, CAN YOU TELL ME WHY? I USED TO LOVE DODGE, BUT THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN A 1 BIG HEADACHE, EVEN PARKED, CAUSE I KNOW IT IS GOING TO BE COSTLY TO REPAIR IT AGAIN. *JB

THIS WEB SITE UNDER VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE THE CORRECT CHOICES FOR A 98 DODGE DAKOTA 2 DOOR CLUB CAB TRUCK - MANUFACTURER CHRYSLER 2 ISSUE 1 - DESIGN FLAW IN THE BALL JOINTS OF THE DADGE DAKOTA TRUCKS A) WE REPLACED THEM APRIL 2003 COST TO US $1107.89 B) TV SPECIAL AIRED ABOUT DEFECTS DEC 2003 AND DEC 2004 C) LOOKING FOR REIMBERSMENT - OLD PART NOT AVAILABLE 2 - CATALYTIC CONVERTER A) HAVING OUR THIRD CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED - KNOWN DEFECT BUT CHRYSLER WILL NOT COVER THE COST. REPLACEMENT SCHEDULED FOR 3/28/06. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 55MPH, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE SIDEWALLS SHREDDED ON EACH SIDE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRE IS GOODYEAR. THE BRAND NAME IS WRANGLER. *AK

WHEN PUTTING HEATER ON THE VENT SETTING THE ELECTRIC LOCKS, THE DOME LIGHTS AND THE 4 WAY FLASHERS START BLINKING, HAD CENTRAL TIMER MODULE REPLACED, STILL IS DOING SAME THING. *NM

THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT IN MY 1999 DODGE DAKOTA STARTED STAYING ON AFTER STARTUP INTERMITTENTLY. THE LIGHTS STAYED ON MORE OFTEN AS TIME WENT BY. SHOP COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY BOTH LIGHTS WERE ON ALL THE TIME. VEHICLE STARTED STALLING AT STOP SIGNS AND WHEN GOING AROUND CORNERS. SPEEDOMETER WOULDN'T WORK AT LOW SPEEDS--CAME ON ABOUT THE TIME DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED (20-25 MPH). SHOP REPLACED SPEED SENSOR. VEHICLE RAN FINE FOR 30 DAYS OR LESS. SAME SYMPTOMS ARE BACK. *NM

I HAVE RECENTLY HAVE HAD SUSPENSION ISSUES WITH MY 1999 DODGE DAKOTA EXT. CAB PICKUP WITH 69,600 MILES. . I HAVE BEEN THE ORIGINAL OWNER SINCE NEW. I EXPERIENCED SHAKING, NOISES DURING CORNING, ETC. COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. I THEN TOOK IT TO AN ALIGNMENT SHOP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD AND COULD SEPARATE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I DID SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND FOUND NUMEROUS WEBSITES THAT INCLUDED NOTABLES OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH THE SAME ISSUES. I ALSO FOUND THAT OTHER DODGE DAKOTA MODELS HAVE HAD BALL JOINT RECALLS. THIS DIDN'T INCLUDE MY YEAR OF TRUCK. I WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT SO THAT I CAN BE INCLUDED IN THIS ONGOING INVESTIGATION REGARDING BALL JOINT ISSUES WITH THE 1999 DODGE DAKOTA 2 WHEEL DRIVE EXT. CAB VEHICLES. I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE FAULTY BALL JOINTS AS OF YET. THE VEHICLE IS NOT CURRENTLY IN USE. THANK YOU, BRENT OWENS. *NM

MY SON ESCAPED DANGER WHEN THE TRANSMISSION/TORQUE CONVERTER OF HIS 1999 DODGE DAKOTA WENT OUT ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. AFTER REPLACING THAT AND HEADING BACK HOME, HIS U JOINTS AND WHEEL BEARINGS WENT OUT ALMOST CAUSING ANOTHER WRECK. THESE WERE ALL REPAIRED. SO FAR $3000 IN REPAIRS IN A MONTH. THEN THE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO AS HE WAS DRIVING. NOW THE OIL PUMP NEEDS REPLACED. ALONG WITH THE TIE END RODS, THE TIMING CHAIN, AND THE SERPENTINE. HE'D ALREADY HAD THE TOTAL BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACED THIS SUMMER. HAVING ALL THE RECEIPTS SHOWING REGULAR OIL CHANGES, THE WARRANTY COMPANY REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE OIL PUMP BECAUSE OF SOME SLUDGE IN THE PUMP. NOW I FIND FROM RESEARCHING ON THE COMPUTER THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN DURANGOS AND DAKOTAS. WE'VE PUT $5000 IN THIS TRUCK IN LESS THAN ONE MONTH. THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO ADMIT THE FLAWS IN THIS VEHICLE. THEY HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY HERE. WE ARE JUST GLAD HE WAS NOT INJURED OR KILLED. BUT WE'VE PUT OVER $5000 IN A '99 VEHICLE - WHICH IS UNFAIR WHEN THE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED TO THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF THE VEHICLE. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE THAT EXHIBITED A FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEM. AFTER THE INITIAL VEHICLE PURCHASE HE NOTICED A PULLING SENSATION ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED BOTH FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE DUE TO EXCESSIVE EXPENSE. *AK

VIN NUMBER: 1B7GG22YX XS206501; VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 P/U CLUB CAB MODEL YEAR: 1999 A KNOCKING BEGAN IN THE FRONT END AND I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO FOUND BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS NEARLY READY TO FALL APART AND BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS WELL WORN. HE SAID DODGE HAD RECALLED NEWER MODEL YEARS BUT WAS REFUSING TO FIX THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE 1999 MODELS. THE MECHANIC SAID THE PROBLEM IN MY PICKUP WAS EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM IN SEVERAL 2000 - 2003 MODELS HE'D FIXED. I CALLED DODGE BUT THEY JUST SAID IT WASN'T THEIR PROBLEM. I ENTERED AN INCIDENT DATE BELOW BUT THERE REALLY WASN'T A SPECIFIC INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED. THE BALL JOINTS JUST DETERIORATED MUCH TOO QUICKLY. I'M NOW PAYING OVER $700 TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. *NM

AT 79,729 MILES AND ALL THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES AT THE DEALERSHIP (LAST ONE AT 70,000) THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, THE "CHECK GAUGES" LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND CHECKED FLUID LEVELS (OIL, TRANSMISSION, AND RADIATOR) WHICH WERE FINE. OIL PRESSURE WOULD DROP TO 0 AND JUMP BACK TO 40 WHEN ENGINE WAS RESTARTED. THINKING (INCORRECTLY) THAT IT MIGHT ONLY BE AN OIL PRESSURE SENSOR FAILURE, I TRIED TO DRIVE HOME TO GET IT SERVICED THE NEXT DAY, BUT IT BEGAN KNOCKING AND SMOKING AFTER A FEW MILES AND HAD TO BE TOWED. IT IS BEING EVALUATED NOW, BUT IT WILL PROBABLY INVOLVE A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT TO REPAIR. I NOTICED SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND THINK THAT DODGE SHOULD OWN UP TO THIS DEFECT. *NM

DT: WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT. THIS PROBLEM CONSTANTLY RECURRED WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE T AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE.*AK

DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE WOULD NOT STAY IN ALIGNMENT. IT MADE LOUD POPPING AND SNAPPING SOUNDS WHEN MAKING TURNS. UPON INSPECTION THE UPPER BALL JOINT GREASE SEAL COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED. THE LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD UP AND DOWN PLAY, WHICH CAUSED EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIRES. BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR MODEL YEARS 2000-2002 TWO WHEEL DRIVE ONLY. HOWEVER, THIS DID NOT COVER THIS MODEL YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL 04V596000 CONCERNING UPPER BALL JOINTS. THIS RECALL WAS FOR MODEL YEARS 2000-2002 FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MODELS ONLY. THE CONTACT FELT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OR RECALL SHOULD APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IT EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. *AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 - THE OUTER TIE ROADS AND UPPER/LOWER BUSHINGS WERE ALSO REPLACED. *NM

1999 DODGE DAKOTA, 87,000 MILES DODGE DEALERSHIP STATES UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS (FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT) NEED REPLACEMENT BEFORE FRONT END ALIGNMENT CAN BE DONE. ALSO RIGHT HUB BEARING RECENTLY REPLACED. NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING, NO ACCIDENTS. *JB

DODGE DAKOTA 99, 2WD. BUMPER PREMATURELY RUSTS. EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS PREMATURELY RUST CAUSING MANIFOLD TO SEPARATE FROM ENGINE BLOCK. POSSIBILITY OF CAUSING EXHAUST GASES TO ENTER DRIVERS CABIN. DODGE WILL NOT FIX FAILURE - WARRANTY EXPIRED. *NM

IN 2003, WHEN MY VEHICLE, A DODGE DAKOTA PICK-UP WAS DUE A SMOG CHECK. MILEAGE WAS ONLY APPROXIMATELY 39,900 MILES. IT FAILED. IT FAILED 3 TIMES. AFTER PAYING ABOUT $800.00 IT PASS THE SMOG TEST. THIS YEAR, MY PICK-UP WAS DUE A SMOG TEST. THE MILEAGE WAS 49,900 MILES, AGAIN IT FAILED THE SMOG TEST (TWICE NOW). TO THIS DATE, IT HAS NOT PASSED THE SMOG TEST AND COST HAS ALREADY GONE TO APPROXIMATED $300.00. *NM

99 DODGE DAKOTA STEERING FELT LOOSE AND WANDERED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I TOOK IT IN FOR A ALIGNMENT, TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND 1 TIE ROD WERE WORN PAST SPEC, HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 34000 MILES ON IT!, IS IN MINT SHAPE, AND NEVER DRIVEN OFFROAD. I UNDERSTAND CHRYSLER RECALLED 2000+ UP DAKOTA/DURANGO FOR BALL JOINT PROBLEMS, WHAT ABOUT 97-99 MODELS? SAME VEHICLE/ SAME PROBLEM. CAN YOU SAY RIP-OFF. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ALONG WITH THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY WORE OUT SO BADLY THAT IT ALMOST CAUSED AN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL FOR THE BALL JOINTS BECAUSE HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE NHTSA RECALL 04V596000 WAS ISSUED HE HAD THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED, AND WAS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT, BUT BECAUSE OF HIS VIN NOT BEING INCLUDED THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE. *AK UPDATED 12/27/2005 - *NM

1999 DODGE DAKOTA BALL JOINT AND TIE RODS. BALL JOINTS ARE SEPARATING AND TIE RODS ARE BAD JUST LIKE THE RECALL FOR THE 2000-2004 MODELS WHY WASN'T THIS EXTENDED TO THE 1999 MODEL. I HAVE 78000 MILES ON THIS TRUCK THAT I BOUGHT IN AUG 05. *JB

ON MY 3 BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT IN 4 YEARS. UPPERS AND LOWERS. RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED. THERE IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM HERE AND I'M OBVIOUSLY NOT ALONE. *NM