2001 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA EXTENDED CAB 4X4 PICKUP HAVE HAD MASSIVE DETERIORATION WITH ONLY 17,500 MILES ON THEM. THEY CAUSE TREMENDOUS STEERING AND TRACKING PROBLEMS, AND HAVE CAUSED ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF SAFETY CONCERNS. BECAUSE THESE CANNOT BE LUBRICATED OR ADJUSTED, THEY MUST BE REPLACED. I WILL EITHER DO THESE REPAIRS MYSELF IN THE NEAR FUTURE OR HAVE THEN DONE AT A QUALIFIED GARAGE, BUT I WILL SAVE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING EXCESSIVE WITH THE VEHICLE SUCH AS OFF-ROADING, TRAILERING, HEAVY LOADS, OR ANY "NON-STANDARD" USE. ALL EQUIPMENT (TIRES INCLUDED) ON THE TRUCK IS FACTORY, I.E. NO AFTERMARKET MODIFICATIONS THAT WOULD CAUSE NON-STANDARD LOADS OR STRESSES. THIS TYPE OF PREMATURE FAILING AT ONLY 17,500 MILES IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, AND FROM MY RESEARCH I UNDERSTAND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE YEAR AND MODEL OF VEHICLE.*JB

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4 X 4. THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS BEEN MAKING A LOUD POPPING NOISE WHEN I GO OVER BUMPS OR MAKE TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A DODGE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY CONTINUE TO SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. WELL NOW MY TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST AT 50000 MILES. I HAVE REPLACED ALL FOUR SHOCKS AND THERE STILL IS A PROBLEM WITH POPPING AND CLUNKING. NOW I HAVE RESORTED TO TAKING IT TO FIRESTONE/MASTER CARE AND WITHIN MINUTES OF BEING ON THE HOIST THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE BALL JOINTS WERE SHOT. HE SAID THIS IS THE FIRST THING HE LOOKED AT BECAUSE HE HAS HAD MORE THAN HIS FAIR SHARE OF DAKOTAS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. DODGE HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM ON THERE HANDS AND NEEDS TO ADDRESS IT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. PLEASE HELP! THANK YOU, RYAN ARCHEY

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH UPPER BALL JOINT FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. *AK

BALL JOINTS MAKE LOUD METALLIC NOISE, WEAR TIRES QUICKLY, REQUIRING EXCESSIVE ALIGNMENT/BALANCING. *JB

BALL JOINTS ON 2001 DAKOTA NEED REPLACEMENT AT 60,000 MILES. CAUSED UNEVEN TIRE WEAR, SOME DIFFICULTY WITH VEHICLE TRACKING. WILL REPLACE OLD PARTS, AND KEEP PARTS AVAILABLE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AND UPON HITTING ANYTHING IN THE ROAD VEHICLE WILL MAKE A CLANKING NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE LOOKED AT. CONSUMER HAD THE SHOCKS CHANGED. HOWEVER, IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. CONTACTED THE DODGE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THEY NEEDED THE UPPER CONTROL ARM. *AK

2001 DODGE DAKOTA HAD A CLUNK IN THE FRONT END WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE BALL JOINTS HAD FAILED AT LOW MILEAGE. *BF *NM

2001 DODGE DAKOTA HAD SEVERAL BALL JOINT REPLACEMENTS AT LOW MILES. *BF ALL THE BALL JOINTS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *NM

I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW IN 2001. I COMPLAINED ABOUT CLUNKING NOISES COMING FROM THE WHEEL AREA WHEN I MADE TURNS. SLOW AND USUALLY AT INTERSECTIONS. NOW IT IS MORE ADVANCED AND NOISY ON BUMPS.*AK

UPPER BALL JOINT FAILED ON THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE; ENTIRE WHEEL ASSEMBLY FELL OFF THE DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK. FORTUNATELY MY WIFE WAS ONLY DRIVING AT ABOUT 5 TO 10 MPH WHEN IT HAPPENED. NO ONE WAS INJURED. MY WIFE HAD JUST BEEN ON THE PA TURNPIKE 30 MINUTES EARLIER  SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THE UPPER BALL JOINT HAD FAILED WHEN SHE WAS ON THE TURNPIKE. 2 001 DODGE DAKOTA 4-WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK, V8 ENGINE. DEALER CAN FIX THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY, WE HAVE YET TO GET THE BILL, THE TRUCK IS STILL IN THE SHOP.*AK