1998 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

I OWN A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT 4X4 5.2L V-8 W/125K MILES, IN THE LAST TWO YEARS THE ONCE SHINY BLACK PAINT IS FLAKING OFF IN LARGE AREAS ON THE ROOF, THE FLAKING/PEELING HAS NOW BEGUN TO START ON THE TOP OF THE DOORS AND THE BED RAILS. *AK I HAVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER HERE IN DUBLIN CALIFORNIA AND SPOKE DIRECTLY WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO TOLD ME THAT DODGE HAS NOT TAKEN A POSITION ON THIS ISSUE, THAT THEY REALIZE IT IS WIDE SPREAD AND REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MANY OTHER DODGE OWNERS INTHE MID WEST HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE SOME SORT OF GOOD FAITH EFFORT FORM THEIR LOCAL DEALER BY WAY OF A $300 CREDIT TOWARD PAINT. HERE IN CALIFORNIA WE ARE NOT SO LUCKY. THE LOCAL DEALERS DO NOT GIVE A [XXX] ABOUT THE DODGE OWNERS ONCE THE LEAVE THE LOT. I CHALLENGE ANY NORTHERN CALIF DEALER TO PROVE TO ME THIS IS AN ISOLATED ISSUE! DODGE WILL NEVER GET ANY OF MONEY AGAIN AND HAVE SOURED ME FROM ANY DODGE CHRYSLER PRODUCT! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DRIVER SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT COMPLETELY FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. MECHANIC INDICATED THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS "NOT IN GOOD SHAPE" BUT OPERATING.

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INSPECTION STATION AND VEHICLE DID NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO WORN OUT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. CONSUMER WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *AK

CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND INNER TIE RODS AT 42,000 MILES. *AK THE BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD ENDS HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEELS WHEN TURNING CORNERS. ALSO, CONSUMER NEEDED TO COMPENSATE FOR VEHICLE PULLING FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER SIDE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHO LIFTED THE VEHICLE AND ONE OF THE FRONT WHEELS FELL OFF. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. *AK MECHANIC REPLACED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, INNER TIE ROD ENDS AND PERFORMED FRONT END. *LA ALIGNMENT

HEADLIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONING - HEADLIGHTS ACT ERRATIC, SWITCH GETS HOT & SMELLS AS IF IT'S BURNING UP. *JB

FRONT SUSPENSION, BALL JOINTS, & STABILIZER BARS WERE ALL REPLACED DUE TO UNUSUAL WEAR & TEAR. THE STEERING WAS POPPING AND MY FRONT TIRES WERE LOOSE. MY VEHICLE WAS DEEMED UNSAFE BY THE DEALER & NEEDED IMMEDIATE REPAIR. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE DAKOTAS & DURANGOS & DAIMLER CHRYSLER IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE IN MY BENEFIT TO BRING MY PARTICULAR VEHICLES PROBLEM TO NHTSA'S ATTENTION AS WELL AS DAIMLER CHRYSLER.*AK

PURCHASED USED 1998 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK IN APRIL 2002 FROM TOYOTA DEALER WITH MILEAGE OF 42,000. I HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE IN MOTOR ON 11-11-2003 TOOK TO MY MECHANIC AND HE HAD TO REPLACE BOLTS IN THE MANIFOLD. AGAIN ON 3-2-2004 HEARD CLICKING NOISE IN WHEEL MY MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINT. I WROTE A LETTER TO DAIMLER CHRYSLER OF THE PROBLEMS AND THEY SAID THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO ASSIST ME WITH THE PROBLEMS BECAUSE I WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. SO I FEEL, THAT OTHER PURCHASERS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THE PROTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE.*AK

THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FRONT END WOULD COLLAPSE WHILE DRIVING. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *SC *JB

DEFECTIVE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON MY 98 DODGE DAKOTA. I JUST WENT TO LES SCHWAB TO GET NEW TIRES AND AN ALLIGNMENT WHEN THEY TOLD ME ALL OF MY BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS SEEMS WAY TO SOON FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. AND IT COST ME 800 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED.*AK