2000 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH OUT OF A DRIVEWAY RIGHT FRONT WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND ROLLED DOWN THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED ON THE BUMPER AND THE UNDER CARRIAGE. *AK *TC

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER TIRE FELL OFF. AFTER TOWING THE VEHICLE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. *AK THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE UPPER BALL JOINT. *SC

THE UPPER CONTROL ARM BROKE AT 5 MPH. THIS CAUSED THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TO CAVE IN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE UPPER CONTROL ARE ON BOTH SIDES. *AK ON RIGHT HAND TURNS, THERE WAS A CLUNK NOISE AND THE STEERING HAD BECOME DIFFICULT. THE TIRE COLLAPSED IN THE WHEEL WELL. THE CONTROL ARM BROKE. *SC

8/18/04: MY SON WAS DRIVING WEST BOUND ON 2ND AVE (TX HWY 22). JUST PRIOR TO TURNING LEFT FROM 15TH ST (ALSO HWY 22), HE HEARD A POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK. AFTER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 2 BLOCKS, HIS FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF, CAUSING HIM TO LOSE CONTROL AND PULL TO THE LEFT ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY, HE DID NOT HIT A CAR AND CAME TO REST IN A PARKING LOT FOR AN A/C COMPANY. ALTHOUGH THE DAMAGE IS BEING FIXED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, CHRYSLER AND THE DEALERSHIP (BERRY CHRYSLER/JEEP/DODGE, CORSICANA, TX) ARE REFUSING TO REPLACE THE TIRE THAT WAS DRAGGED ON ITS SIDEWALL APPROXIMATELY 200FT; THE TIRE WAS PINNED UNDER THE TRUCK. THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS TWO BROKEN BALL JOINTS ON THAT WHEEL. I ORIGNALLY BELIEVED THIS PROBLEM TO BE FAULTY CRAFTSMANSHIP ON THE DEALERSHIP WHICH HAD REPAIRED ANOTHER PROBLEM ON THAT WHEEL A YEAR AGO; THE BRAKE CALIPER FELL OFF. I NOW BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE MANUFACTURER AS MANY DAKOTAS AND DURANGOS HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND OFTEN SIMILAR CONSEQUENCES.L. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, HEARD A RUBBING NOISE FROM FRONT WHEEL AREA. BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD ON FRONT DRIVER SIDE HAD WENT BAD. DID NOT HEAR ANY PRE-WARNING SIGNS. ONLY NOTICED WHEN THE NOISE OF RUBBING STARTED. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BANG COME FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER SAW THE WHEEL FROM THE VEHICLE ROLL ACROSS THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE SKIDDED ACROSS THE ROAD AND ENDED UP IN A DITCH. THE CONSUMER NOR THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. A TOW TRUCK MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE BALL JOINTS COLLAPSE ON THE VEHICLE. *NM *NM

PROBLEMS REGARDING 2000 DODGE DAKOTA. *MR THE CONSUMER THOUGHT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THIS WAS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. THE #5 CYLINDER MISFIRED DUE TO A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. THE LEFT HEAD AND GASKET WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH A BLOWN BELLY PAN GASKET. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED HIS MONEY BACK. *SC *JB

WHILE AN INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED BEING PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. AFTER SEARCHING THE WEB A RECALL WAS FOUND. *JB

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED AND FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH. NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE WERE SUSTAINED BECAUSE OF THE LOW SPEED BEING DRIVEN AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT AND TIE ROD SEPARATED AND FELL OFF. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND TECHNICIAN DETERMINED VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AS RESULT, THE HEAD GASKET CRACKED. ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK