2000 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

I RECENTLY MOVED TO MISOURRI AND TOOK MY TRUCK IN FOR THE REQUIRED SAFETY INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD THAT MY UPPER BALL JOINT WAS WEARING SIGNIFICANTLY. *AK

UNEVEN WEAR OF FRONT TIRES PROMPTED AN ALIGNMENT. DURING ALIGNMENT INSPECTION, UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE FOUND TO BE "SEVERELY WORN". OTHERWISE VEHICLE DROVE NORMAL. *AK

MY 2000 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK HAD TO HAVE THE UPPER RIGHT BALL JOINT REPLACED. THE TRUCK HAS UNDER 38,000 MILES OF LIGHT-DUTY USE. THIS SEEMS TOO EARLY FOR THIS TYPE OF PART FAILURE. WHEN WILL THE OTHER BALL JOINTS FAIL?*AK

MOST RECENT PROBLEM. RONT END: 1) "CLUNKING" NOISES FOLLOWED BY FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY BREAK. FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY DISENGAGED FROM VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. *AK HOSTORY OF BRAKE PROBLEMS: 1) REAR DRUMS INEFFECTIVE, AND LOCK UP UNDER HUMID CONDITION AFTER SITTING. 2) FRONT ROTORS WARPED X2 OCCURENCES. DEALER REPLACED PADS AND ROTORS. SECOND INCIDENT "NOTT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY." 3) FRONT BRAKE PADS FALL AND WEAR DIAGONALLY RESULTING IN INEFFECTIVE BRAKING. 4) GENERALLY POOR AND UNRESPONSIVE BRAKING.

MOST RECENT PROBLEM. FRONT END: ) "CLUNKING" NOISES FOLLOWED BY FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY BREAK. FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY DISENGAGED FROM VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING.*AK HOSTORY OF BRAKE PROBLEMS: 1) REAR DRUMS INEFFECTIVE, AND LOCK UP UNDER HUMID CONDITION AFTER SITTING. 2) FRONT ROTORS WARPED X2 OCCURENCES. DEALER REPLACED PADS AND ROTORS. SECOND INCIDENT "NOTT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY." 3) FRONT BRAKE PADS FALL AND WEAR DIAGONALLY RESULTING IN INEFFECTIVE BRAKING. 4) GENERALLY POOR AND UNRESPONSIVE BRAKING.

UPON SERVICING THE VEHICLE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED BALL JOINTS AND NOTICED ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *MR

FAILED VA STATE SAFETY INSPECTION BECAUSE OF LOOSE INNER TIE ROD, THE ENTIRE RACK WAS REPLACED INORDER FOR IT TO PASS.*AK

ONE OF THE FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS POPPED OFF, CAUSING THE TIRE TO DETACH AND ROLL UNDER THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND AVOID A COLLISION. *AK THE DETACHMENT OCCURRED ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO THE LACK OF GREASE. THERE WAS ALSO EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE UPPER BALL JOINT AND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *SC

I BOUGHT A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA EXTENDED CAB SLE MODEL. IT NOW HAS ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN REGULARLY WASHED AND WAXED BUT IS NOT GARAGED. IT IS BLACK WITH A GRAY LOWER BODY PANEL. SEVERAL LARGE WHITE DISCOLORATIONS HAVE APPEARED ON THE ROOF OF THE TRUCK. NO AMOUNT OF WASHING WAXING OR POLISHING COMPOUND HAS ANY EFFECT ON THESE WHITE SPOTS. THEY SEEM TO BE A DEFECT IN THE CLEAR COAT. I HAVE SEEN AT LEAST ONE OTHER BLACK DAKOTA OF THE SAME VINTAGE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THESE WERE FIRST NOTICED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. *JB

HEARD A LOT OF SQUEAKING AND CLUNKING, TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD UPPER BALL JOINTS HAVE GONE BAD ALONG WITH INNER TIE-RODS. THIS WOULD COST AROUND $1200 TO FIX, THAT COST COULD BE REDUCED ALOT IF A PERSON COULD FIND NON-OEM PARTS BUT INSTEAD YOU ARE FORCED TO BUY FROM DODGE AND THEN YOU CANT EVEN BUY THE INDIVIDUAL TIE-RODS YOU HAVE TO BUY THE ENTIRE STEERING ASSEMBLY. DODGE KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM AND DID HELP WITH THE COST OF THE PARTS BUT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD GO OUT ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 45000 MILES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IF EITHER PART HAD FAILED COMPLETELY I COULD HAVE LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*AK