2002 Dodge Dakota complaints

HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT ROTORS ON MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA REPLACED AFTER 25,000 MILES AND TURNED AFTER 30,000 MILES, MOST OF THE MILEAGE IS HUGHWAY MILES.*AK

BALL JOINTS AND U-JOINTS ARE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AFTER ONLY 26 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP AND 60,000 MILES PUT ON THE TRUCK. *AK

DEFROSTER WOULD NOT WORK ON A COLD MORNING.THE DEFROSTER WOULD NOT WORK DUE TO THE RESISTER BEING BURNT OUT, AND YOU HAD A HARD TIME SEEING OUT THE WINDSHIELD, AND NO HEAT WAS GETTING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AND ROTOR SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER FOUR TIMES. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BROKEN RIBS. *AK SC

WHILE DRIVING/TURNING OR BRAKING FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS MADE A POPPING NOISE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALERSHIP, THEY NOTICED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED.*AK ADDITIONALLY THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND AUGUST 2003, THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR BOX. *NM

UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE FAILING. *NM

DODGE DAKOTA 02 WITH JUST 50000 MILES HAS NOISE IN FRONT END, THUD IN FRONT END ON BUMPS AND TURNS, CAMBER SEEMS TO CHANGE AT TIMES WHEN VEIWED WHILE PARKED, CALLED DODGE AT 1-800-992-1997, GOT A RUNAROUND FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE, IF I TAKE TRUCK TO DODGE AND PAY FOR A DIOGNOSTIC ON BALL JOINTS THEY MAY HELP WITH REPAIRS. THIS HAS TO BE EXTREMLY POOR QUALITY PARTS FOR THIS MANY VEHILCLES TO HAVE PROPLEMS.*AK

PROBLEMS WITH FRONT SUSPENSION AND BRAKES ON 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. *MR THE FRONT SUSPENSION SQUEAKED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED, THE BRAKES WERE NOISY UPON APPLICATION AND WAS ALSO UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED, NOISE WOULD COME FROM THE SHOCK ABSORBER WHEN STOPPING AND WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS ON LEFT TURNS AND WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, THE LEFT CALIPER MADE A STICKING SOUND AND THE WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED, THE DRIVE BELT MADE SOUNDS, AND THE BRAKES PULSATED. *SC *JB

THE DEALER'S TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINT HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY. *NM *NM

UPON INSPECTION OF ROAD WANDER COMPLAINT, VEHICLE WAS FOUND TO HAVE A BAD UPPER BALL JOINT, AND EXCESSIVE WEAR ON ALL OTHER BALL JOINTS FOR MILEAGE NOTED.*AK

HAVE HAD MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB FOR LESS THAN THREE YEARS AND ALREADY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY ROTORS TWICE! AND IT ONLY HAS $44,000 MILES ON IT. I AM SURE THAT AFTER ANOTHER 10-15 THOUSAND MILES THAT THE VEHICLE WILL AGAIN BEGIN TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE WHEN I PUT ON THE BRAKE AND SURE ENOUGH I WILL HAVE TO GO AND HAVE THEM REPLACED YET AGAIN. FROM EVERYTHING THAT I READ HERE THERE ARE TONS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE ANYONE OUT THERE WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT SO I WILL DO MY PART AND POST MY PROBLEMS HERE HOPING SOMEONE GETS OFF THEIR BUTT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND FROM NOW ON, NO MORE CHRYSLER VEHICLES FOR ME. *JB

02 DAKOTA SXT/3.9L/AUTO PURCHASED 10-2003 FROM DEALER AT 23K MILES. VIBRATION FROM DRIVE TRAIN STARTED AT 24040 MILES BETWEEN 45-50 STEADY MPH. 1ST DEALER BALANCED THE TIRES STATING THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. 2ND DEALER REPLACED DRIVESHAFT STATING OUT OF BALANCE FROM FACTORY - NO CHANGE IN SYMPTOMS. BACK TO 2ND DEALER FOR TRANS FLASH PROGRAM - NO CHANGE. WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL. BACK TO 1ST DEALER - COULD NOT DUP. TOOK TO TRANS SHOP. VIBRATION GOES AWAY WHEN OUT OF OVERDRIVE - THRUST BEARING OR TORQUE CONVERTER BAD IN TRANS. NO HELP FROM DEALERS OR 800 CUSTOMER SERVICE. *JB

INTERMITTENT ACTIVATON OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. DIAGNOSIS BY DEALERSHIP IS FAILED CLOCKSPRING ASSY IN STEERING COLUMN. RESULT OF NOT FIXING IS INOPERABLE AIRBAG. DEALERSHIP REPLACED PART AT COST.*AK

2002 DODGE DAKOTA HAS FRONT END NOISE PROBLEMS.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE NOISE WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE FRONT END BUT THE NOISE WAS STILL PRESENT. *NM

WHEN DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THERE IS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 2002 /HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING FRONT END PROBLEMS WITH TRUCK SINCE PURCHASE. BROUGHT IN NUMEROUS TIMES TO DEALER FOR BRAKE ISSUES[FRONT ROTORS,PADS,REAR DRUMS AND DISCS].TOLD MULTIPLE TIMES THERE IS NO PROBLEM, ITS THE WAY YOU DRIVE. TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED,VERY WELL CARED FOR. AFTER THE 5TH TIME TO DEALER FINNALLY TOLD THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACMENT.THIS WAS AFTER ONE FULL YEAR OF DENIAL.NOTIFIED DEALER OF NOISE AT THE STEERING WHEEL,TOLD THEY COULD NOT VRIFY THE COMPLAINT WOULD PROBABLY GO AWAY AFTER REPLACING UPPER BALL JOINTS.ONE WEEK LATER AFTER REPLACMENT OF UPPER BALL JOINTS ,SAME NOISE REOCCURED [LOUD CLUNKING SOUND AT FRONT END]TOOK BACK TO DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE BOTTOM BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACMENT,NO MENTION ONE WEEK PRIOR ABOUT WEAR ON LOWER AREA.DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE NOISE NOTED COMING FROM STERING WHEEL FROM PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS WAS NOW THOUGHT TO BE AN INTERMIEDIATE SHAFT IN THE STEERING COLUMN,THIS SAME NOISE THAT ONE WEEK EARLIER COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED.AT 30,000 MILES MY ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL GEAR ASSEMBBLY NEEDED REPLACMENT.I HAVE BEEN CHARGED MULTIPLE WARRANTY DEDUCTIBLES ON WHAT SEEMS TO ME TO BE, THE SAME PROBLEM AND POSSIBLY A CANIDATE FOR LEMON STATUS.AT WHAT POINT WILL THE CONSUMERS RIGHT'S BE PROTECTED.I AM JOINING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN REGARDS TO CHRYSLER/DAIMLER AND SUGGEST TO EVERYONE WHO READS THIS TO DO THE SAME.CHECK OUT WWW.DODGETALK.COM FOR INFO AND LINKS.ALSO I RECCOMEND TO ANYONE WHO HAS HAD PROB

WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE WHEN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AT 20 - 25 MPH IT FAILED TO DO SO. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER APPLIED MORE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THEN, TABS LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE SKIDDED. VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN IT SMASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON A WET ROAD. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATED WHEN DEPRESSED. *AK

AT JUST 24000 MILES MY BRAKES WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THE FRONT END WOULD SHIMMY WHEN STOPPING. UPON INSPECTION, THE ROTORS WERE GOUGED BUT THERE WAS PLENTY OF WEAR LEFT ON THE PADS. BECAUSE OF THESE FAULTY/POORLY DESIGNED BRAKES I WAS INVOLVED IN A MVA WHEN MY BRAKES FAILED TO STOP ME WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN WHEN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. I APPLIED THE BRAKES WHILE ONLY GOING 20MPH (IN THE RAIN) BUT MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP. WHEN I FIRST PRESSED ON THEM THERE WAS NO EFFECT, WHEN I PUSHED A LITTLE HARDER THEY LOCKED. I RELEASED THEM AND TRIED TO STOP AGAIN BUT THEY LOCKED AGAIN AND I SLID INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AS THERE WAS NO WHERE TO TURN. MY DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED OF BRAKE PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THIS BUT TOLD ME THE BRAKES AND ROTORS ONLY LAST 25000MILES. THESE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK AND THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME. *AK

FRONT ROTORS ON MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA ARE HABITUALLY WARPING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. UPON REPLACEMENT OF THE ROTORS WITH RAYBESTOS SEVERE DUTY ROTORS, THEY WARPED AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP WON'T TOUCH THE ISSUE UPON REQUESTS. *AK

CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS AND WHEN DOWN HILL. UPON INSPECTION OF THE FRONT END BY A MECHANIC IT WAS DETERMINED THAT FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE AND FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT WERE LOOSE. VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP WHO INDICATED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE NOT LOOSE ENOUGH TO BE REPLACED.*AK *NM

WHILE DRIVING,THE VEHICLE WOULD STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART, BUT WAS UNABLE TO START. THE DRIVER NOTICED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION WHILE TURNING ON THE LIGHTS. THE INTERIOR, AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AND OFF ON ITS OWN. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DETERMINE. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WAS INCORRECT. NOTIFIED DEALER OF THIS ISSUE AND ALSO AN ISSUE WITH GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON THE FRONT AND EVEN ADMITTED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN A HIGH FAILURE RATE FOR THIS. ALSO THEY REPLACED THE VACUUM TUBE HARNESS UNDER THE GAS TANK. THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE SENSOR WAS LOOSE AND WAS CORRECTED. *JB

ON 12, 27, 2001 I PURCHASED FROM NEMER CHRYSLER/PLYMOUTH/DODGE IN QUEENSBURY, NEW YORK,12804 A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA, SLT PICK-UP TRUCK. THUS FAR THE VALVE BODY OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ON 12,19, 2002.*AK ON 5,25,2004 WITH 26THOUSAND + ,MILES, THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECASUE OF SUSPECTED POOR WORKMANSHIP AND MATERIALS IN THE METAL. (THE PADS WITH 26 THOUSAND MILES WERE IN LIKE NEW CONDITION)

MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WE PURCHASED IT IN MARCH 2002 AND MOVED TO PUERTO RICO IN SEPTEMBER 2002, WHERE WE TOOK OUR DAKOTA TO AN AUTHORIZED DODGE DEALERSHIP WHEN PROBLEMS AROSE. IN APRIL 2003, WE BEGAN TO HEAR UNUSUAL NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT TIRE AREA. THE SERVICE TECHS REPORTED PREMATURE WEARING OF THE BALL JOINT AND REPLACED IT, PLUS THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS, AS WELL AS THE SWAY ARM AND ALL RELATED BUSHINGS (THEY SHOWED PREMATURE WEAR, TOO). THE FOLLOWING JANUARY (1/23/04), LESS THAN 12 MONTHS LATER, WE BEGAN TO HEAR SIMILAR NOISES FROM THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE AREA. THE SERVICE TECHS AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP AS BEFORE REPLACED THE SAME ITEMS FOR THE SAME REASONS THAT AFFECTED THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE. ALL NEW PARTS, CORRECT? WE THOUGHT SO, BUT AS MY HUSBAND WAS MAKING A U-TURN ONE SUNDAY AFTERNOON IN EARLY APRIL 2004, THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE DISCONNECTED FROM THE VEHICLE (DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS--THE VERY ONES THAT THEY REPLACED IN JANUARY 2004. WE VIDEO-TAPED THE DAMAGES TO OUR VEHICLE (BALL JOINT, CV JOINT, CONTROL ARMS, TIRE, RIM, BRAKE LINES, FRONT BUMPER AND FOG LIGHT) AND HAD THE TRUCK TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH WHOM WE PREVIOUSLY DEALT. THE DEALER EVENTUALLY AGREED THAT THE PARTS WERE INDEED DEFECTIVE AND THE CAUSE OF OUR ACCIDENT. THEY REPLACED ALL DAMAGED PARTS. NOW THAT WE HAVE 37000 MILES ON THE TRUCK, RELATIVELY LOW FOR THAT YEAR MODEL, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL OCCUR AGAIN WHEN WE ARE NOT DRIVING AT SUCH A

WHILE BRAKING THE CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT BALL JOINTS. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE, ONE TO THE POINT OF COMING APART. THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE FAILURE OF THE PART LEADING UP TO THE POINT WHEN I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM. WHEN I WENT TO ROTATE MY TIRES I BUMPED THE RIGHT FRONT AND HEARD AN AUDIBLE "CLICK" WHILE IT WAS ON THE JACKSTAND. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED BOTH UPPER JOINTS AS THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *MR

WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS AND TURNING CORNERS THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END. *AK *SC *JB

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS GETTING THE TIRES ROTATED, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TIE RODS WERE LOOSE. MIDSTATE DODGE REPLACED THE TIE RODS WITH NEW ONES. *AK MIDSTATE DODGE WOULD NOT REPLACED THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THEN, AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

OH WHERE TO START? FIRST THE BRAKES AND ROTORS SEEM TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. MINE ARE ALSO BAD. 20,000 MILES SHREDDED AND HAD TO REPLACE ROTORS AT MY EXPENSE. THEY CANNOT SUPPORT THE WAIT OF A 5.9 L V8 QUAD CAB. DODGE NEEDS TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM SWIFTLY. CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS NOT BEEN EXACTLY FRIENDLY ON THIS MATTER. LIKE ALL THE TESTIMONIES I HAVE READ THEY SEEM TO GET THE SAME ATTITUDE " OH WELL, ITS YOUR PROBLEM." ALSO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING FROM 1ST T0 2ND IS ROUGH. DEALER HAS CHECKED THIS SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY SAME EVERYTHING IS NORMAL. ALSO WHEN SERVICING FRONT BRAKES I FOUND THE CALIPER PIN WAS STRIP. SO MUCH FOR HARDENED STEEL. ALSO I HAD SOME BAD TREAD WEAR ON THE GOODYEAR WRANGLER RTS TIRES. DEALER TOLD THE WERE OK. SAID IT WAS CALLED SECOND TREAD WEAR. SECOND TREAD FROM OUTBOARD OF TIRE WAS BALD ALL OTHER WERE OK. IT WOULD BE NICE FOR DODGE TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS WHEN I BRING MY CAR TO THEM, BUT I DO LIKE THE WAY THE DEALER CLEANS MY CAR EVERYTIME. *AK

WHEN TURNING LEFT, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. THE VEHICLE WAS DUE FOR AN INSPECTION AT 30000 MILES. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC *JB

FAILURE IS IN PROGRESS! MY UPPER LEFT BALL JOINT ON MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA IS LOOSE!! THE DEALER TELLS ME IT IS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM [40,000 MILES ON VEHICLE], THAT THE PART IS ON BACKORDER, AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL GET MOTE PARTS. EVERYWHERE I HAVE LOOK, BOTH AUTO PARTS STORES AND ONLINE, IT IS THE SAME STORY..THEY EITHER TELL ME IT IS A DEALER ITEM OR THAT THEY ARE OUT OF STOCK. I DRIVE A MINIMUM OF 60 MILES A DAY, AND I CAN'T BUY THE PART TO REPAIR THIS!! HOW CAN THIS BE? WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR THE WEAR ON MY TIRES? WHERE AND WHEN CAN I GET A NEW QUAILITY PART?..NOT THE PIECE OF CRAP DODGE PUTS ON !!!

AT 42,000 MILES NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE DURING SHARP TURNS OVER BUMPS AT LOW SPEEDS. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY INDICATED THAT BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF ~$500. WILL BE HAVING BOTH BALL JOINTS REPLACED AND WILL REQUEST THAT THE DEFECTIVE PARTS BE SAVED.*AK

CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TURNING, DRIVING OVER ANY IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD ,OR ANY FRONT END MOVEMENT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALERSHIP THEY NOTICED THAT THE FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT WORE OUT PREMATURELY, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD-CAB 4X4 THE UPPER AND LOWER BALLJOINTS IN THE FRONT END SEEM TO BE LOOSE AND CAUSING EXCESSIVE POPPING NOISES WHEN I HIT DIPS/BUMPS IN THE ROAD OR TURN SHARP. MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT.*AK

WHEN DRIVING AND/OR WHILE TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION, THE DRIVER HEARD A POPPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE. AFTER WATCHING A TV REPORT ABOUT THE BALL JOINTS, THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN THE BALL JOINTS. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE, IT DID NOT ENGAGE. THE AIR CONDITION WAS INOPERATIVE. *JB

CONSUMER SAW AN ADVERTISEMENT CONCERNING BALL JOINTS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. *AK *LA

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS DUE TO CORROSION. *NM CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED AS WELL. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT PROBLEM IS SIMILAR TO DODGE DURANGO SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN TURNING CORNERS, HIT BUMPS, OR SIMPLY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE WAS A DISTINCT CRUNCHING SOUND IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT.*AK DEALER REPLACED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. *LA

FAILED RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINT WITH 42,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. PROBLEM FOUND AFTER VEHICLE EXHIBITED WHEEL BINDING WHILE MAKING HARD RIGHT HAND TURNS, CLUNKING NOISES DURING LEFT HAND TURNS.*AK

FUEL PUMP FAILED AT 41,000 MILES. *AK

VEHICLE MISS MISFIRE DAND STALLLED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE DRIVER COULD HEAR A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO WORN PARTS. *MR

VEHICLE HAD EXCESSIVE BRAKE PAD WEAR. THE FRONT PADS HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES AND THE REAR TWICE WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. ALSO AT 4,000 WHEN TURNING THERE WAS CLUCKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK. THE FRONT TIRES HAD A QUARTER INCH CUP IN THEM. THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BALL JOINT BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE UPPER BALL JOINT HAD TO BE REPLACE AGAIN. *JB

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A ROUGH SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. *AK *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED A NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END. THE DEALER DETERMINED, THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK *JB

THE BALL JOINTS ON MY 2002 DODGE DAKATO 4X4 HAVE PREMATURELY FAILED. THE TRUCK HAS APPROX. 27000 MILES ON IT. THE INFAMOUS KNOCKING SOUND COMES FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN I TURN. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TAKEN TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS A GRAND TOTAL OF 5 TIMES FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. A SERVICE TECH AND A SERVICE MANAGER HAVE BOTH RIDDEN IN THE TRUCK AND AGREE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM INITIALLY. UPON INSPECTION, I HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM "UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION." I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY ALWAYS FAVOR THE SERVICE DEALERS OVER THE CUSTOMER'S OPINION. THROUGH RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THE BALL JOINTS ON DAKOTAS AND DURANGOS PREMATURELY FAIL. I INFORMED DODGE THAT I KNEW THIS AND THAT I WOULD LIKE THEM TO RETHINK THEIR ORIGINAL DECISION. THEY SAID THAT NOTHING IN MY RESEARCH PROVIDED REASON TO CHANGE THEIR CONCLUSION. MY TRUCK HAS PREMATURELY FAILED BALL JOINTS AND NEITHER DODGE NOR THE DODGE SERVICE DEALER WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.*AK

UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE BAD, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HAND SIDE, WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THERE IS NO WAY THAT THEY SHOULD BE BAD IN A '02 TRUCK.*AK

MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 AT 20,000 MILES BEGAN EXPERIENCING A PULSATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD ME THAT MY ROTORS WERE WARPED AND PITTED AND THAT MY CALIPERS WERE GROOVED. DODGE TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM AND THAT THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR. I SPOKE TO TWO SHOPS SPECIALIZING IN BRAKES AND THEY STATED THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR PROBLEM.*AK

MAJOR VIBRATION AND PULSATING WHILE BRAKING, VEHICLE ONLY HAS 22000 MILES. WARPED ROTORS. *JB