1998 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

WHILE DRIVING AT 40-50 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT RACK AND PINION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES. THEY WERE MAKING A THUMPING NOISE WHEN SIMULTANEOUSLY TURNING A CORNER AND GOING OVER A BUMP. THE PROBLEM REAPPEARED AND THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AGAIN APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES LATER WITH AFTERMARKET UNITS. UPON CLOSE EXAMINATION OF THE OE UNITS THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY AND THE GREASE WAS HARD. *LA

WHILE DRIVING ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED. BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD TO DEPRESS, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. I PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW. 2 MONTHS AFTER 8/98 PURCHASE DATE, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THE BRAKES HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, THE MAP SENSOR WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS. THE SEAT BELTS COME OFF ENTIRELY TOO EASY. ALL OF THIS AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 39,000 MILES ON IT. I SENT ARBITRATION PAPERS TO CHRYSLER TWICE WITH NO RESPONSE. *LA

THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES BROKE, CAUSING THE GREASING FIT TO LEAK. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FRONT END WILL COLLAPSE. *AK

DURING INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WARPED AND MUST BE REPLACED. *AK

1998 DODGE DAKOTA, UPPER ARM BALL JOINT DEFECT. A STORY ON CBS NEWS LAST NIGHT HAS PROMPTED ME TO SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT. SEPTEMBER 2000, NOISE ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF TRUCK PROMPTED ME TO STOP AT A DODGE DEALER TO CHECK IT OUT, FOUND THE RIGHT UPPER ARM BALL JOINT WAS SO BAD THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID I COULD HAVE LOST THE WHEEL ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE SPEED LIMIT CAUSING POTENTIALLY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE ARM WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY (34853 MILES). I RECENTLY PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES FOR THE TRUCK AND ASKED THE DEALER TO DO A FRONT END ALIGNMENT (59423), HE TRIED AND SAID HE COULD NOT BECAUSE THE BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. I HAD NO INDICATION AT THIS TIME THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BALL JOINTS UNTIL I TRIED TO GET AN ALIGNMENT TO PROTECT THE NEW TIRES, I GOT A SECOND OPINION WITH THE SAME RESPONSE. I WENT TO THE DODGE DEALER AND CONFIRMS THAT ALL 4 BALL JOINTS IN THE FRONT END WERE BAD, LOWER AND UPPER. DEALER SAID IT HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY, BUT I HAVE LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK AND IT IS MY THIRD BALL JOINT ON THE UPPER FRONT. THIS TIME THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM AND IT COST ME OVER $1100 TO FIX AS IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY WAS LUCKY SINCE THE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENTS, THE PROBLEM WAS CAUGHT IN TIME. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THE BALL JOINTS USED ON THE DODGE DAKOTA ARE DEFECTIVE AND DO NOT LAST, IN MY CASE THE REPLACED BALL JOINT IN SEPTEMBER 2000 LASTED LESS THAN 24,000 MILES UNDERSTAND THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT IN PROGRESS, CAN YOU PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS, CHRYSLER/DAIMLER NEEDS TO STAND UP AND FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE THERE IS A TRAGEDY.*AK

I HAVE A 1998 2WD DODGE DAKOTA THAT HAS SUFFERED FROM EXCESSIVE FRONT TIRE WEAR SINCE NEW. THE DEALER COULD NEVER SEEM TO FIND A CAUSE FOR THIS AND THE VEHICLE HAS COST ME A FORTUNE IN REPLACEMENT TIRES AND FRONT END ALIGNMENTS. WITH THE VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY, AN INDEPENDENT FRONT END SHOP RECENTLY REPLACED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, INNER TIE ROD ENDS AND RIGHT-SIDE UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. IT IS TOO EARLY TO TELL IF THESE REPAIRS HAVE CORRECTED THIS LONG-STANDING (67,000 MILES) PROBLEM, BUT BECAUSE THIS TRUCK HAS THE SAME FRONT SUSPENSION AS THE DODGE DURANGO CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION, I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT.*AK

FAILURE OF UPPER BALL JOINTS ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK AT 49052 MILES.OULD GET NO SATISFACTION FROM DEALER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE WAS MAKING A LOUD PINGING NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER SAID ENGINE WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL. *AK