1998 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

CONSUMER HEARD A CLICKING NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF CONSUMER STILL COULD HEAR THE CLANKING NOISE. THE BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN RERPAIRED TWICE. *AK

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS DETERIORATING 5-24-2004, 27,675 MILES STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT 6-22-2004. BALL JOINTS, LOWER CONTROL ARM, AND RIGHT WHEEL BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED BY DEALER.*AK STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT FREEHOLD DODGE NJ VERY LOOSE FRONT END, HARD TO CONTROL, BOUNCE. TYPICAL SYMPTOMS OF A FRONT END FALLING APART. DATES ABOVE ARE REPLACEMENT DATES. THIRD MAJOR PROBLEM IS ALL OF THE BOLTS ATTACHING THE CAB ARE DETERIORATED. TAKING TO MY NM DODGE DEALER. CAN NOT EVEN TAKE OFF THE BOTS THEY ARE SO BAD ON THE CAB OF MY TRUCK [XXX] I HAVE BEEN THE OWNER FROM DAY ONE. IN MY PARENTS NAME IN NEW JERSEY FOR INSURANCE RATE REDUCTION. UPDATED 07/24/2012* JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO PASS STATE (MO) SAFETY INSPECTION. VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS ONLY 35311 AND THE INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT WAS PERFORMED BY A DODGE DEALERSHIP.*AK

(1) NOISE FROM REAR END (2) BEARINGS FAILED, ALL PINION AND CARRIER (3) REPLACEMENT OF BEARINGS AND SEALS ONLY 75,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. *JB

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WEARING PREMATURELY. CONSUMER WILL HAVE THE MECHANIC REPLACE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. *AK THE VEHICLE MADE A SQUEALING NOISE. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED A BALL JOINT PROBLEM. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THE P/S WHEEL SQUEAKED WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. *SC *JB

AN INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED THE LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS LAT SEPTEMBER AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE CV DRIVE AND AXLE SHAFT WERE ALSO REPLACED. *JB

(1) EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE WERE SIMPLY NORMAL DRIVING. NOTHING SPECIAL OR OUT OF THE ORDINARY WAS DONE OR ATTEMPTED. (2) THE BALL JOINTS ON BOTH OF MY UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAVE FAILED. THE JOINTS WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND ARE PERMANENTLY SEALED SUPPOSEDLY REQUIRING NO MAINTENANCE. HOWEVER THE RUBBER BOOT SURROUNDING THE JOINT FAILED, THUS LEADING TO WATER AND OTHER ROAD GRIT TO ENTER THE JOINT. THUS THE JOINTS DID NOT REMAIN LUBRICATED, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO MECHANICAL FAILURE. (3) DUE TO DODGE NOT SELLING THE INDIVIDUAL BALL JOINTS, I OPTED REPLACED BOTH OF THE ENTIRE FRONT CONTROL ARMS. DUE TO THE COST OF THAT REPAIR I OPTED TO PURCHASE AND INSTALL AFTERMARKET BALL JOINTS FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS RATHER THAN REPLACE THE ENTIRE ARM AS HAD BEEN DONE WITH THE UPPER. THE REPAIR WAS VERY LABOR INTENSIVE; ESPECIALLY ON SOMETHING WHICH SHOULD REQUIRE MINIMAL IF ANY MAINTENANCE.*AK

I HAVE A DODGE DAKOTA 98. I WENT IN FOR AN ALIGNMENT TODAY. MY 69 DOLLAR ALIGNMENT WAS BUMPED UP TO 830 DOLLARS. THEY SAID THAT ALL OF THE BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WITH THE DODGE TRUCK OF THIS YEAR THRU 2003. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY WHEELS MIGHT JUST FALL OFF. I TOLD THEM NOT TO PERFORM THIS SINCE I DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY AND THEY TOLD ME TO WATCH OUT FOR BUMPS AND SHARP TURNS. MY TRUCK IS NOT MAKING ANY WIRED NOISES AND I CANT BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE WAS LEGITIMENT SINCE YOU WOULD THINK A RECALL WOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUES FOR SUCH A DANGEROUS THING. I WENT ONLINE OF COURSE TO LOOK INTO THIS AND FOUND THAT THIS IS CURRENTLY BEING LOOKED INTO BY THE FEDS. IF I HAD NOT GONE IN FOR THE ALLIGNMENT, AND MY WHEEL FELL OFF WITH MY 6 YEAR OLD CHILD IN THE CAR I OR HER / BOTH MIGHT NOT BE HERE. I WILL BE DRIVING MY OTHER VEHICLE FOR THE TIME BEING AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN THIS WILL BE RECALLED / ADDRESSED. FIRESTONE PUT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RECOMMENDED SERVICES: SYSTEM FAILURE - REQUIRED UPPER-BOTH BALL JOINTS/ LOWER BOTH BALL JOINTS THE MONEY IS ONE THING. ME AND MY KID IS ANOTHER. AND WITH NO INDICATION OF THIS PROBLEM, THAT REALLY CONCERNS ME!!!*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AT LOWER SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING THROUGH THE FRONT END. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WORE OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *NM

FRONT BALL JOINTS ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA FAILED. I NOTICED A POPPING NOISE IN MY FRONT END THAT TRANSITIONED UP THROUGH MY STEERING COLUMN. THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACED!*AK