1998 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

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, 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

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

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