2000 Dodge Dakota complaints

THE FRONT END OF MY 2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4WD KNOCKS DURING TURNS. FRONT TIRES BADLY WORN. BROUGHT TO INDEPENDENT SHOP AND WAS TOLD FRONT BALL JOINTS, SHOCKS, AND TIE ROD ENDS BADLY WORN AND NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. WILL COST OVER $900 TO REPAIR. FIRST NOTICED FRONT END NOISE AROUND 60000 MILES.*AK

BEGINING SYMPTOMS OF BALL JOINT WEAR AND POSSIBLE FAILURE ON MY 2000 DODGE DAKOTA. HAVE ALSO REPLACED MY FRONT ROTORS FOUR TIMES WITH ONLY 61,000 MILES ON VEHICLE.

EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS SNAPPING OFF. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 3.9 LITER ENGINES IN THE DODGE TRUCKS. EXHAUST FUMES THEN ESCAPE AND GET SUCKED INTO THE CABIN AREA AND THERE IS ALSO A FIRE HAZARD AS MORE BOLTS SNAP AND THE MANIFOLD SEPARATES FROM THE HEAD.

UPPER BALL JOINTS PREMATURELY WORE OUT. FELL APART DURING CHANGING OF BALL JOINTS. *AK

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT APROX 40 MPH WITH THE WINDOWS UP AND AIR CONDITIONING FAN ON HIGH SPEED, I DIDN'T HEAR AN APPROACHING FIRE TRUCK AS I NEARED AN INTERSECTION. UPON ENTERING THE INTERSECTION, I WAS STARTELED BY THE LOUD BLOW OF THE FIRE TRUCK'S AIR HORN AND IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES SYSTEM ENGAGE IN A VERY PERCULIAR MANNER! IMMEDIATELY UPON FEELING THE BRAKES ENGAGE, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM RELEASED THE BRAKES AND ALLOWED MY VEHICLE TO COAST FORWARD NEARLY 20 YARDS BEFORE THE BRAKES RE-ENGAGED BRINGING MY VEHICLE TO A HALT. IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE SKILLFUL DRIVING OF THE FIRE TRUCK'S OPERATORS (BOTH FRONT AND REAR DRIVERS) WHO SWIRVED AND STEERED AROUND ME, THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS (EVEN FATAL).*AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT WERE BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB THE CONSUMER SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING A DEER. AFTER SWERVING THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE FELL TO THE GROUND AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLID INTO A GUARD RAIL. *JB

I OWN A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB VIN [XXX]. THIS VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 58000 MILES. DURING AN INSPECTION OF MY BRAKES, I DISCOVERED SEVERAL FRONT END PARTS WITH UNACCEPTABLE WEAR. AT MY OWN EXPENSE, I AM REPLACING UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES AS WELL AS BOTH OUTER TIE-ROD ENDS. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE DISCOVERED THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE ANY ACTUAL FAILURE OCCURRED. THE TRUCK IS NOT NEW BUT THESE PARTS SHOULD HAVE NO WHERE NEAR THIS AMOUNT OF WEAR AT ONLY 58000 MILES. I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT I AM ONLY ONE OF MANY THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THESE PROBLEMS WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. I PLAN TO SAVE ALL THE OLD PARTS AS WELL AS MY RECEIPTS IN HOPES THAT EVENTUALLY I MIGHT BE REIMBURSED. *NM UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

VEHICLE VIBRATED SEVERELY WHEN BRAKING FROM 5-65 MPH. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND DEALER DETERMINED THAT FRONT PADS BROKE, AND BOTH FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED.*AK

THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS LEADING UP TO THE UPPER BALL JOINT FAILING, AND THE FRONT LEFT TIRE FOLDING OVER, CAUSING THE TRUCK SLOW QUICKLY AND PULL TO THE RIGHT. SO FAR THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT CALLED WITH ANY REPAIR PRICES. *AK

2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 52000 MILES DEALER MAINTAINED REGULARLY TURNED INTO PARKING LOT WHERE ENTRANCE CROSSED OVER CITY SIDEWALK, MILD TO MODERATE BUMP, HEARD A LOUD THUMP, THEN GRINDING, AND LOST STEERING CONTROL. STOPPED CAR AND FOUND RIGHT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATED WITH WHEEL ALMOST COMPLETE FLAT ON GROUND. ALLIED DEALER REFUSED TO COVER REPAIR. VEHICLE TOWED, REPLACED BALL JOINT. ~$160 CONCERNED ABOUT THE REST OF BALL JOINTS ON VEHICLE!!!!!!!*AK

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SNAPPED OFF. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT STEERING DID NOT FEEL RIGHT IN THE FRONT END. *TC

I OWN A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB TRUCK, AND WANTED IT TO BE NOTED THAT BOTH FRONT TIRES CAME OFF THE TRUCK DUE TO INNER TIE ROD SOCKET DISCONNECTED FROM MAIN RACK AND VARIOUS BALL JOINT REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THUS FAR, I HAVE NOT CRASHED OR INJURED ANYONE, BUT THAT MAY BE BECAUSE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE TRUCK. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH OUT OF A DRIVEWAY RIGHT FRONT WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND ROLLED DOWN THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED ON THE BUMPER AND THE UNDER CARRIAGE. *AK *TC

AT 72,000 MILES HAD THE UPPER BALL JOINTS REPLACED THREE TIMES. *AK *TC

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER TIRE FELL OFF. AFTER TOWING THE VEHICLE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. *AK THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE UPPER BALL JOINT. *SC

THE UPPER CONTROL ARM BROKE AT 5 MPH. THIS CAUSED THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TO CAVE IN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE UPPER CONTROL ARE ON BOTH SIDES. *AK ON RIGHT HAND TURNS, THERE WAS A CLUNK NOISE AND THE STEERING HAD BECOME DIFFICULT. THE TIRE COLLAPSED IN THE WHEEL WELL. THE CONTROL ARM BROKE. *SC

8/18/04: MY SON WAS DRIVING WEST BOUND ON 2ND AVE (TX HWY 22). JUST PRIOR TO TURNING LEFT FROM 15TH ST (ALSO HWY 22), HE HEARD A POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK. AFTER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 2 BLOCKS, HIS FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF, CAUSING HIM TO LOSE CONTROL AND PULL TO THE LEFT ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY, HE DID NOT HIT A CAR AND CAME TO REST IN A PARKING LOT FOR AN A/C COMPANY. ALTHOUGH THE DAMAGE IS BEING FIXED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, CHRYSLER AND THE DEALERSHIP (BERRY CHRYSLER/JEEP/DODGE, CORSICANA, TX) ARE REFUSING TO REPLACE THE TIRE THAT WAS DRAGGED ON ITS SIDEWALL APPROXIMATELY 200FT; THE TIRE WAS PINNED UNDER THE TRUCK. THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS TWO BROKEN BALL JOINTS ON THAT WHEEL. I ORIGNALLY BELIEVED THIS PROBLEM TO BE FAULTY CRAFTSMANSHIP ON THE DEALERSHIP WHICH HAD REPAIRED ANOTHER PROBLEM ON THAT WHEEL A YEAR AGO; THE BRAKE CALIPER FELL OFF. I NOW BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE MANUFACTURER AS MANY DAKOTAS AND DURANGOS HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND OFTEN SIMILAR CONSEQUENCES.L. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, HEARD A RUBBING NOISE FROM FRONT WHEEL AREA. BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD ON FRONT DRIVER SIDE HAD WENT BAD. DID NOT HEAR ANY PRE-WARNING SIGNS. ONLY NOTICED WHEN THE NOISE OF RUBBING STARTED. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BANG COME FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER SAW THE WHEEL FROM THE VEHICLE ROLL ACROSS THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE SKIDDED ACROSS THE ROAD AND ENDED UP IN A DITCH. THE CONSUMER NOR THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. A TOW TRUCK MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE BALL JOINTS COLLAPSE ON THE VEHICLE. *NM *NM

FRONT BALL JOINTS FAIL ON A REGULAR AND FAR TOO OFTEN BASIS. *JB

WHILE AN INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED BEING PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. AFTER SEARCHING THE WEB A RECALL WAS FOUND. *JB

PROBLEMS REGARDING 2000 DODGE DAKOTA. *MR THE CONSUMER THOUGHT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THIS WAS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. THE #5 CYLINDER MISFIRED DUE TO A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. THE LEFT HEAD AND GASKET WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH A BLOWN BELLY PAN GASKET. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED HIS MONEY BACK. *SC *JB

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED AND FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH. NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE WERE SUSTAINED BECAUSE OF THE LOW SPEED BEING DRIVEN AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT AND TIE ROD SEPARATED AND FELL OFF. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND TECHNICIAN DETERMINED VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AS RESULT, THE HEAD GASKET CRACKED. ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

I OWN A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA WITH JUST OVER 75,000 MILES ON IT. ON A RECENT SERVICE VISIT I WAS INFORMED THAT MY UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE NEED TO BE REPLACED. WHILE LOOKING ONLINE I SAW THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE DAKOTA AND DURANGO SO I WANTED TO REPORT IT.*AK

"CLUNKING NOISE" COMING FROM FRONT OF AUTO WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES/BUMPS. FRONT RIGHT WHEEL ASSEMBLY DETACHED FROM VEHICLE AT UPPER BALL JOINT. LOWER BALL JOINT REMAINED ATTACHED. ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS REPLACES. RIGHT BRAKE LINE REPLACED. WARNED OF DAMAGE TO CV SHAFT, HOWEVER DEALER ONLY REPLACE OUTER CV BOOT

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH BALL JOINTS ON DRIVER'S SIDE EXPLODED UNDERNEATH THE PICKUP, BREAKING INTO BITS AND PIECES. THE TIRE COMPLETELY DISENGAGED. THE AXLE WAS BENT, AND THE INNER TIE ROD HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *TS *TC

THE BRAKE DISC STEEL IS FAULTY, AND PITS. THIS CAUSES VERY JERKY, DIFFICULT, AND UNRELIABLE BRAKING. AS IF ONE WAS BRAKING ON TOP OF LOGS. TWO YEARS AGO WE HAD THE DISC(S) MACHINED, AND THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY. BUT IT RETURNED. TODAY WE ARE HAVING THE DISCS REPLACED. I THINK DODGE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND RECALL IT.*AK

FAX FM SARAH M. PENDLETON(FL) RE HER SON, DR. WIZARD PENDLETON'S 2000 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK,DEFECTIVE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *MR IT'S THE OPINION OF THE TECHNICIAN WHO LOOKED AT THE CAR THAT THE ENGINE SUFFERED A MECHANICAL DEFECT IN THE #4 PISTON WRIST PIN. THAT WRIST PIN CRACK AND CAUSED THE PISTON TO BUCKLE, RUIN THE CYLINDER BORE AND BROKE THE OTHER PISTONS. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED ONCE PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE AT 3500 MILES BECAUSE IT BURNED A QUART OF OIL EVERY 300 MILES. *NM

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. *AK

BOLTS BROKE ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD SHIELD AND SHIELD FELL BETWEEN STEERING SHAFT AND MOTOR, CAUSING STEERING TO JAM IN STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION ON HIGHWAY. COULD NOT PULL OVER TO BREAKDOWN LANE TO AVOID OTHER TRAFFIC. BOLTS BROKE FROM HEAT STRESS I IMAGINE, NOT TOO GOOD A THING TO HAPPEN ON A HIGHWAY BUT WOULD HAVE BEEN WORST IN CITY IF I COULD NOT STEER AWAY FROM PEDISTRIANS. JUST CHEAP UNDERSIZED BOLTS THAT BREAK. CHECKED THE OTHER SIDE AND FOUND ONE BROKE THERE TOO. BOLTS ARE TOO SMALL TO HOLD THE MANIFOLDS IN PLACE AFTER THEY WEAR WITH AGE. *AK

ONLY 70000 ON THE 2000 DODGE DAKOTA. TIE RODS BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. HAD TO REPLACE 2 OUTER AND 1 INNER TIE ROD. AT THE SAME TIME THE BALL BEARINGS WERE FOUND TO BE IN HORRIBLE SHAPE. THOSE HAD TO BE REPLACED TOO. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH THE CONSUMER TURNED A CORNER AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SNAPPED OFF. THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE UPPER RIGHT BALL JOINT</A> HAS MALFUNCTIONED. THIS CAUSED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE UNDER BODY OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO THE RIGHT CONTROL ARM BROKE AFTER THE RIGHT BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED. *TC

2000 DODGE DAKOTA STEERING PROBLEMS.*MR THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE MADE STRANGE NOISES, SHOOK EXCESSIVELY AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE CONSUMER SUSPECTS THAT THE BALL JOINTS ARE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE STATUS OF THE INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS ON THE DODGE DAKOTA'S. *NM

VEHICLES TRANSMISSION WOULD HEAT UP AND WE COULD ONLY USE FIRST GEAR. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE 25 MILES AT 55 MPH TRANSMISSION WOULD ONLY USE FIRST, REVERSE AND PARK. IT HAS BEEN TO TWO TRANSMISSION SHOPS AND TWO DEALERSHIPS AND STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG. *JB

BALL JOINTS ON 2000 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4, I HAVE JUST REPLACED ALL BALL JOINT,S ON MY VEHICLE, AN WAS JUST TOLD BY A COLISION BUSINES THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR IT, DUE TO THE FACT THAT DODGE IS HIDING THE FACT OF BAD BALL JOINTS ON THEIR VEHICLES, HE ALSO SAID THAT AT 59000 MILES I SHOULD NOT HAVE NEEDED THEM REPLACED. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BALL JOINT PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS NOISY AROUND 35,000 MILES . CURRENTLY, AT 50,000 MILES THE BALL JOINTS CORRODED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR GENERAL MAINTENANCE WHEN IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. *AK

THE CONSUMER HAD THE BALL JOINTS CHECKED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED BY THE DODGE DEALER THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THERE WERE PROBLEMS WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS. *SC *JB BALL JOINTS FAILED TIRES FELL OFF. WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE BALL JOINTS CAME APART AND THE MANY PARTS WERE DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF IT. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD TO BUY A LEFT INTER TIE ROD END. SHE HAS TO BUY THE WHOLE RACK PINON . THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND SKIDDED 215 FEET. THE STEERING BOX BROKE OFF THE FRAME. *TC

I HAVE A 2000 DDGE DAKOTA & WENT TO GET A TIRE FIXED & LEARNED THAT MY FRONT TIRES ARE ABOUT TO FALL OFF!!! I HAD NO IDEA THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD! THEN I FOUND OUT THAT A RECALL MAY BE ISSUED FOR THESE CONCIDERING HOW MANY HAVE WENT BAD!!! I AM JUST VERY LUCKY THAT MY 2 INFANT CHILDREN WERE NOT INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT DO TO A FALTY PART THAT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED YET! IS THERE GOING TO BE A RECALL???*AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THEN, THE MOTOR BLEW OUT. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION JUST ACT LIKED IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL, BUT NOW I KNOW THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY WENT OUT SUDDENLY. *JB

2000 DODGE DAKOTA 78200 MILES FRONT RIGHT TIRE SHIMMIED/SHOOK AT SPEEDS FROM 40 MPH ON UP. NO NOISE OR POPPING SOUNDS HEARD. FRONT END WOULD JUMP AROUND IF A POT HOLE WAS HIT GOING AROUND A TURN. TOOK TRUCK IN FOR ALIGNMENT & TIRE BALANCING. SERVICE TECH FOUND UPPER RIGHT BALL JOINT WAS WORN OUT. HAD BALL JOINTS REPLACED. TECH REMOVED BOOT FROM BALL JOINT AND FOUND THAT NO LUBRICANT WAS PRESENT IN THE SEALED BOOT, AND THAT JOINT WAS LOOSE. *LA

FRONT DRIVE AXEL, LEFT MOUNT BROKE. DODGE HAS A TSB # 889 ISSUED ON AUG 2000, REGARDING THIS. THIS TSB COVERS THE FRONT AXEL PINNION NOSE BRACKET BOLTS WHICH MAY LOSEN. THESE LOOSE PINNION BRACKET BOLTS CANCAN CAUSE THE BRACKET TO BREAK OFF. IN ADDITION A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION NOTIFICATION WAS ISSUED TO REPLACE BRACKET BOLTS. AT THIS TIME DODGE IS TALKING ABOUT $3,400 FOR REPAIR AT MY COST. OTHERWISE I'M STILL WORK ON RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. VEHICAL HAS 52,000 MILES ON ODOMETER WITH LESS THAN 50 MILES ON FRONT DRIVE AXEL

I WAS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, DOING ABOUT 60 MPH WHEN THE RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINT ON MY 2000 DODGE DAKOTA FAILED CAUSING THE WHOLE TIRE ASSEMBLY TO FALL OFF. THE TRUCK STARTED TO SPIN ACROSS THREE LANES OFF TRAFFIC, THE TRUCK STARTED TO TURN ON ITS SIDE UNTIL IT HIT THE GUARD RAIL CAUSING IT TO LAND ON THE THREE TIRES THAT WERE LEFT ON THE TRUCK. AFTER TAKING THE TRUCK TO THE BODY SHOP THERE WAS A TOTAL OF $11,000.00 DAMAGE DONE TO THE TRUCK, AS OF RIGHT NOW IT IS STILL IN THE SHOP GETTING FIXED. *NM

WHILE DRIVING ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED A SENSOR INSIDE OF THE ABS UNIT. *AK

NORMAL, REGULAR DUTY USE OF A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB V8 REQUIRING REGULAR MAINTENANCE, NEEDED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AT 57,000 MILES. THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER (MIKE BROWN @ GRANBURY) PERFORMED THE ALIGNMENT, CONDUCTED TWO (2) TEST DRIVES WHILE I WAS THERE AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO ME WITH A COMMENT THAT IT WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK WITH THE 'PULLING TO THE RIGHT' PROBLEM AND THE DERVICE MANAGER SAID TO BRING IT BACK THE NEXT AM AND THEY WOULD MAKE IT RIGHT. THEY CALLED TO NOTIFY ME THAT THE RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING WAS DETERIORATED AND THAT THEY COULDN'T ALIGN IT TO SPECIFICATIONS. THEY HAD A REPLACEMENT LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BUSHING (COMES AS ONE PART) FOR $280.00 AND 4 HOURS LABOR ($65/HR) WOULD FIX IT. MY RESPONSE WAS 'PULL IT OUT FRONT AND PARK IT'. MY DISCUSSION WITH THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE DEALER WAS ABOUT HOW IN 31 YEARS OF NEW AND USED VEHICLE OWNERSHIP I HAVE NEVER HAD A FRONT END GO BAD IN 57,000 MILES.HE BROUGHT OUT THAT THE V8 LEFT EXHAUST MANIFIOLD HEATS UP THE BUSHING AND DETERIORATED IT FASTER THAT ONE WOULD EXPECT. WE AGREED THAT IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND THEREFORE A MANUFACTURER ENGINEERING ISSUE. I WILL GO BACK TO COLLECT MY INITIAL ALIGNMENT FEE CHARGED ON A JOB THAT COULD NOT BE PERFORMED TO FACTOORY SPECS DUE TO FAILING FRONT END PARTS.*AK

WHILE BRAKING, THE BRAKES WERE WARPED, AND VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD. THIS PROBLEM WAS CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC TRIED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM 4 TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

2000 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4. WHILE CRESTING A HILL ON A MAINTAINED GRAVEL ROAD TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH BRAKES WERE APPLIED. CONTROL OF VEHICLE WAS LOST. VEHICLE STRUCK BERM ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD AND RETURNED TO CENTER OF ROAD. VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER SLIDING ABOUT 50 YARDS TO THE BOTTOM OF A DOWNGRADE. UPON EXITING VEHICLE IT WAS FOUND THAT BOTH FRONT/ LEFT BALL JOINTS HAD FAILED, CAUSING TIRE/WHEEL ASSY. TO BUCKLE UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. DAMAGE TO STEARING COMPONENTS AND AXLE ALSO OCCURED. CHRYSLER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND A REP IS BEING SENT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. *AK

BOTH ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. THEY DON'T UNLOCK PROPERLY BUT, INSTEAD, STICK IN A HALFWAY. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD.*AK