2000 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V596000; DAIMLER CHRYSLER ISSUED AN UPPER BALL JOINT RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THERE WERE NO APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE UNTIL APRIL, WHICH COULD BE DANGEROUS FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN.*AK

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONTAL LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS. *AK

I'VE HAD MY OIL CHANGED AT THE DEALER THE DAY I GOT IT..AND FOR THE NEXT FEW TIMES, I CHANGED MINE TWICE AND HAVE ONE OF THE RECIEPTS...BUT IT STILL COVERS THE DURATION OF THE TWO ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL. MY 4.7L EQUIPPED DAKOTA BLEW UP....I PURCHASED A WARRANTY FOR OVER $1K AT PURCHASE, BUT THEY WILL NOT HONOR IT NOW BECAUSE THEY SAY ITS LACK OF MAINTENANCE...HOW I DONT KNOW!!! NOW THEY EXPECT ME TO PAY FOR A NEW MOTOR....WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP!!*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UPPER BALL JOINTS PROBLEMS. IN THE PROCESS THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE BEING EFFECTED BY THE DEFECT OF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERS FOR THURSDAY JANUARY 6, 2005. *AK

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V596000; DAIMLER CHRYSLER ISSUED AN UPPER BALL JOINT RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION IF LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE NOT REPAIRED. DEALER WILL REPAIR FOR RECALL ONLY.*AK

MY 2000 DODGE DAKOTA R/T 5.9 IS MAKING A LOUD CHUNK NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE CURRENT RECALL ONLY INVOLVES 4X4 MODELS AND MY VEHICLE IS A 4X2 SO IT IS NOT INCLUDED. MY TRUCK HAS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND I FEEL UNSAFE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT OF SOME TYPE. *NM

POPPING AND CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT WHEELS (BALL JOINTS) WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. REPORTED TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, AND WAS TOLD "THAT'S COMMON, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT." I'VE BEEN REPORTING IT TO THEN EACH TIME I BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE OVER THE LAST YEAR AND THEY NEVER BOTHERED ONCE TO INSPECT IT. NOW THERE IS A POTENTIAL RECALL, AND I'M AFRAID MY BALL JOINTS WON'T LAST TILL CHRYSLER GETS THE RECALL CAMPAIGN GOING AND WILL COVER THE REPAIR/REPLACEMNT COSTS.*AK

DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY PART #55256713AB FAILED THUS OCCUPANT CAN NOT OPEN DOOR. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH STEERING SHAFT FAILED. AS A RESULT, STEERING FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A GUARD RAIL. *AK

I CALLED MOSS BROTHERS DODGE TO GET AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE RECALL #D47 TO REPLACE THE FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS. THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL FEBRUARY 1ST 2005 BEFORE THEY WOULD HAVE THE BALL JOINT IN STOCK.*AK I LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS AT 7,000 FEET AND HAVE TO DRIVE DOWN THE HILL ABOUT TWICE A WEEK AND NOW AM AFRAID TO DRIVE AT ALL. SEEMS TO ME THAT THE DODGE DEALER SHOULD HAVE THE BALL JOINT IN STOCK BECAUSE OF THE RECALL. WHAT CAN BE DONE?