Daimlerchrysler Corporation: Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Upper Ball Joint
Daimlerchrysler Corporation reported this defect to federal regulators on Dec 21, 2004 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 592,707. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4X4), IF MOISTURE LEAKS INTO THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINT, EVACUATION OF THE LUBRICANT AND CORROSION OF THE JOINT MAY CAUSE THE JOINT TO WEAR OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THIS COULD CAUSE A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION, WHICH MAY NOT ALWAYS BE HEARD BY THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
The risk
EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE UPPER BALL JOINT MAY ALLOW IT TO SEPARATE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINTS. THIS SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BEGAN ON DECEMBER 21, 2004. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
8 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Dodge Dakota | 296 | 11 | 5 | 16 |
| 2003 Dodge Durango | 339 | 6 | 18 | 29 |
| 2002 Dodge Dakota | 678 | 12 | 18 | 55 |
| 2002 Dodge Durango | 423 | 6 | 13 | 35 |
| 2001 Dodge Dakota | 678 | 14 | 11 | 44 |
| 2001 Dodge Durango | 665 | 7 | 20 | 60 |
| 2000 Dodge Dakota | 806 | 12 | 14 | 60 |
| 2000 Dodge Durango | 1,075 | 4 | 26 | 118 |
What this page is, and what to do next
A recall is not an opinion. It is a Part 573 report a manufacturer is required by federal law to file once it decides a defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety, and it commits them to repairing the vehicle at no cost to the owner. The three passages above are the manufacturer’s own wording as published by NHTSA.
This page describes the campaign. It cannot tell you whether one particular car has already been through the shop — that is tracked by VIN, and only the manufacturer knows it. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a franchised dealer, quoting campaign number 04V596000.
Full record for the 2003 Dodge Dakota → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →