2004 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

I HAVE A BRAND NEW 2004 DAKOTA THAT HAS A BALL JOINT SQUEAK STARTING ALREADY AT JUST OVER 4000 MILES. THE LOCAL GARAGE I TOOK IT TO TELLS ME THAT IT IS THE START OF THE BALL JOINT PROBLEMS THAT DAKOTA'S ARE NOTORIOUS FOR. MY SHORT INVESTIGATION ON THE INTERNET TURNED UP ALL KINDS OF DISCUSSION AND EXPENSIVE HORROR STORIES. MY SON HAS A 2002 DAKOTA WHICH HAS HAD THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED 3 TIMES ALSO. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW AND A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE ON CBS, IF THESE AREN'T TAKEN CARE OF, THEY WILL SEPARATE AND THE WHEEL COMES OFF. REPLACEMENT OF THESE PARTS BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER IS NOT ENOUGH. DAIMLERCHRYSLER NEEDS TO REDESIGN THESE AND THE NHTSA NEEDS TO INSIST THAT THEY RECALL THE EFFECTED VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS WITH THE REDESIGNED PARTS. AND SOON, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED THIS PROBLEM IS VERY MUCH THE SAME AS THE FORD TIRE PROBLEM. LET'S NOT WAIT UNTIL ALL THE LOSS OF LIFE THAT WAS EXPERIENCED WITH THAT PROBLEMS BEGINS WITH THE DODGE DAKOTA'S AND DURANGO'S. I DON'T THINK THE NHTSA WANTS THAT ON THEIR CONSCIENCE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOUR INVESTIGATION HAS FOUND AND WHAT RECOMMENDATION THE NHTSA WILL BE MAKING AND IN WHAT TIME FRAME. I WOULD LIKE TO GET MY BALL JOINTS FIXED WITH NON-DEFECTIVE, CORRECTLY DESIGNED PARTS. THANK YOU. GORDON LANKER RE: EA03 - 023. *AK

LOUD THUNKING NOISE COMES FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. REP FROM CHRYSLER STATED THIS WAS COMING FROM THE GAS TANK . THERE IS A VIBRATION BETWEEN 30-45 MPH COMING FROM THE DRIVE TRAIN. REP STATED THIS WAS "NORMAL".THERE IS ALSO A LOUD WHIRRING NOISE COMING FROM THE FUEL PUMP. REP ALSO STATES THIS IS NORMAL.BEARING NOSIE IS COMING FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP. MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA SXT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES AND THE DEALER STILL CANNOT FIX. THE REP FROM CHRYSLER STATED THIS IS THE "BEST" TRUCK DODGE HAS EVER BUILT. I'D HATE TO SEE THE WORST! SO FAR THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE AC CONDENSER, COMPLETE RACK & PINION STEERING SYSTEM, COMPLETE DRIVE SHAFT, REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING, REAR SWAYBAR LINKS, THE BRAKES SHUDDER WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP , LEFT FRONT BRAKE SQUEAL, FRONT END NEEDED ALIGNING AFTER RACK & PINION STEERING REPLACEMENT . TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING FROM TAIL SHAFT SEAL. *AK

STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT, HAD VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR *MANUAL TRANSMISSION*, AFTER LIGHT CHANGED, PUT INTO GEAR, TRUCK LURCHED THEN WAS THROWN OUT OF GEAR, MAKING A LOUD GRINDING SOUND. IT HAS HAPPEND 3 TIMES SINCE THEN. DEALER SAYS TRANSMISSION IS JUST NEW BUT IT HAS 1000 MILES ON IT.

CLICKING OR TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TRUCK RETURNED TO DEALER WITH NO SATISFACTION TO DATE. MECHANICS STATE IT MAY BE THE TIMING CHAIN AND SERVICE ADVISOR STATES THEY HAVE TO WAIT ON A REPRESENTATIVE TO COME CHECK THE VEHICLE BEFORE THEY CAN STATE WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THIS SYSTEM HOWEVER THEY STATE THE REPRESENTATIVE CANNOT ARRIVE BEFORE AFTER THE NEW YEAR. A MONTH IN A TRUCK THAT I CANNOT TAKE ON CHRISTMAS VACATION. DEALER HAS INFORMED ME TO KEEP OPERATING THE VEHICLE REGARDLESS OF THE CLICKING NOISE.*AK

WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIES TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE REVSUP BUT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT THE CONSUMER WOULD TRY TO PASS A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE, ONLY TO HAVE THE RPM'S TO INCREASE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST. THE DEALER TRIED TO FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT WAS UNABLE TO. THE MANUFACTURERS IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *PH