2000 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

FAX FM KERRIE M. STUDLEY (MA) RE THE DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS ON HER 2002 CHRYSLER DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 QUAD CAB PICKUP TRUCK, REPLY ATTN MARK STERNMAN/BOSTON OFC. *PH *MR

WHILE THE TIRES WERE BEING ROTATED MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER ABOUT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS, AND RECOMMENDED THAT VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. *AK

BALL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE DRY, LOOSE, AND WORN OUT ACCORDING TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. WHEEL WOULD HAVE COME OFF THE TRUCK WHILE DRIVING IF NOT REPLACED IN TIME. *JB

THE UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT BASED ON THE OBSERVATION OF A MECHANIC THAT WAS SERVICING THE VEHICLE. *AK *LA

2000 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP 27,700 MILES OF USE 4 YEARS OLD THE LOCAL DEALER REPLACED ALL FOUR FRONT END BALL JOINTS AND BOTH TIE RODS. THE DEALER PAID FOR ALL PARTS AND I PAID $365.00 IN LABOR COSTS. THE DEALER STATED THESE PARTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD HAVE LASTED MUCH LONGER THAN THE 27,700 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. MY CONCERN IS I WOULD HAVE BEEN UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR A CBS TV REPORT. THESE VEHICLES AND THE 2000 DODGE DURANGOS SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE OWNERS. DEFECTIVE PARTS WERE PLACED ON THESE MODELS AND SHOULD BE CHECKED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION.*AK

MY 2000 DAKOTA QUAD CAB WHICH HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT BECAUSE IT WAS MAKING CLUNKING NOISES AND ALSO MAKE SQUEAKING NOISES IN THE FRONT END (LIKE A WORN OUT 70S MODEL TRUCK). THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE THE TRUCK HAD ABOUT 30,000 MILES ON IT. THEIR DIAGNOSIS IS THAT BOTH FRONT UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS NEED TO BE REPLACED. (RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE). BOTH THE BUSHINGS AND THE BALL JOINTS ARE WORN OUT. THE SERVICE TECH THAT CALLED ME BACK TO TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG SAID I WOULD NOT CONTINUE TO DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE IN THE CONDITION IT IS IN, IT IS NOT SAFE DUE TO THE WORN BALL JOINTS.*AK

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS DEFECTIVE. REPLACED @ 75,000 MILES WHEN HANDLING DEGRADED AND "CLUNKING" NOISE STARTED TO AVOID CATASTROPHIC EVENT.*AK

WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AT LOW SPEEDS FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DISCONNECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER SERVICED THE VEHICLE, AND A TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT BALL JOINTS BECAME LOOSE. *AK

THE FRONT OF VEHICLE EXPERIENCED VIBRATION. AFTER HAVING VEHICLE SERVICED CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK