1997 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

I HAVE A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT WITH FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, A V8 ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I NOTICED MY FRONT TIRES WEARING ON THE INSIDE. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER ON 12-20-01. I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED LOWER BALL JOINT AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS. ON 1-31-03 I RETURNED TO THE DEALER COMPLAINING OF A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END, AGAIN I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED LOWER BALL JOINTS AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS. NOW I AM NOTICING THE TIRES WEARING ON THE INSIDE AGAIN AND THE DEALER TELLS ME IT AGAIN NEEDS UPPER BALL JOINTS BUT THAT THE NEW REDESIGNED PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THESE FAILURES HAVE HAPPENED AT TEN THOUSAND MILE INTERVALS, THE FIRST REPAIR WAS AT 46,261 THE SECOND AT 56,125 AND NOW IT HAS 67,261 MILES ON IT. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD AND IS USED AS A DAILY COMMUTER VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM AT 46,261 MILES IS EARLY FOR THIS TYPE OF FAILURE BUT I GUESS IT COULD HAPPEN HOWEVER TWO MORE TIMES IN 21,000 MILES IS PREMATURE FAILURE. I'VE WORKED IN THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR BUSINESS FOR TWENTY FIVE YEARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM ON MY OWN VEHICLES WHICH ARE METICULUSLY MAINTAINED. THIS IS DEFINATELY A SAFTEY ISSUE AS THIS CAN CAUSE SEPARATION OF THE CONTROL ARM FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE.*AK

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE WORN PREMATURELY (36000 MILES) AND ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S NOT SAFE TO CONTINUE DRIVING WITHOUT REPLACING THEM. DODGE NEEDS TO GET A HANDLE ON THIS BEFORE ANY ACCIDENTS OCCUR. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW OR HIGH SPEEDS A NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS MUST BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW OR HIGH SPEEDS, A NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS MUST BE REPLACED. *AK

THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS EXPERIENCED PREMATURE WEAR. AS A RESULT, THE BALL JOINTS PRODUCED A GRINDING NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB *MR

THREADS ON SPINDLE WERE CORRODED AND STRIPPED.*MR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE ON HIS VEHICLE. *CB *JB

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVING TRANSMISSION FLUID PROBLEM. SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER HAD TO CHANGE TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERY YEAR. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR FAILED TO WORK AND VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE AIR CONDITIONING. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH TRANSFER CASE LOCKED UP AND BROKE INTO THREE PIECES. VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. *AK

UPPER BALL JOINT WORE OUT PREMATURELY AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT, PER DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE WAS KEPT IN THE GARAGE WITH ONLY 50K MILES AND THE CONSUMER DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE HAD EXPENSIVE FAILURES. *PH *JB

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH IN THE RAIN DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A UTILITY POLE HEAD ON. FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. THE DRIVERS NOSE WAS BRUISED. PASSENGER'S HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD. PASSENGER'S FACE WAS BRUISED AND WINDSHIELD CRACKED. *AK