1999 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

I OWN A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA WITH 55,000 MILES. I RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE NEARLY THE ENTIRE FRONT END FIXED DUE TO INFERIOR PARTS. AT TWO DIFFERENT AUTO SHOPS I WAS TOLD THAT I AM EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT MY WHEELS DID NOT FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING. I NEEDED 4 NEW SHOCKS, TWO NEW TIE ROD ENDS, AND MY BALL JOINTS WERE TOTALLY SHOT.*AK

WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT ACCORDING TO ABC NEWS AND MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT DODGE DAKOTA OWNERS ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING PREMATURE BALL JOINT FAILURES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, AND THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THE NEED TO BE REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE LOWER BALL JOINT. *AK

DURING A VEHICLE INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SCC *JB

WHILE TRAVELING CONSUMER HEARD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE IT SERVICED. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA CLUB CAB 4X4 THAT HAD 32,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE LOWER FRONT TIE ROD WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAD TO GET THE INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS AND LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY BY TIME BUT NOT THE MILEAGE. WITH THIS INCIDENT, IT'S THE MILEAGE THAT PUTS THE WEAR ON THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM NOT TIME. I HAVE NOTIFIED CHRYSLER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THAT I WANTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR. I WAS TOLD NO. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE RATE. I WANT CHRYSLER TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, NOT LINE THEIR POCKETS WITH UNNECESSARY REPAIR COSTS. *NLM

I WAS DRIVING MY 1999 2WD DODGE DAKOTA ABOUT 5MPH WHEN THE DRIVE PINION GEAR SHAFT THAT GOES INTO THE REAR END SNAPPED CLEAN INTO TWO PIECES. IT CAUSED THE DRIVELINE TO FALL AND SPIN HITTING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK INCLUDING THE GAS TANK AND CAUSED THE REAR WHEELS TO LOCKUP AND STOP TURNING. (GOOD THING I WAS ONLY GOING 5MPH)*AK

ON 11/21/01 I TOOK MY DAKOTA IN TO CUMBERLAND AVE. GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. I USUALLY GO TO LEE AUTO MALL. I WAS IN A HURRY TO GET THE TRUCK INSPECTED SO I WENT TO CUMBERLAND GARAGE. I CAME UPON A REPAIR ORDER FROM CUMBERLAND AVE. GARAGE. ASIDE FROM SOME MINOR REPAIRS THEY HAD LISTED BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS AS NEEDING REPAIR. AT $298.74. I ENDED UP TAKING MY TRUCK TO LEE AUTO MALL IN WESTBROOK (ME.) THEY NEVER MENTIONED THE BALL JOINTS HAD A PROBLEM. NOTE THE DATE OF THE REPAIR ORDER FROM CUMBERLAND GARAGE AS BEING 2001. THIS MEANS LEE DODGE LET ME DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT WASN'T SAFE SINCE 2001! I BROUGHT MY TRUCK IN TO LEE DODGE THIS PAST SUMMER. I WAS TOLD BOTH MY BALL JOINTS AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED!THE COST WAS $900.00. I MENTIONED I KNEW AT JUST46K MLS. IT WAS UNUSUAL FOR A VEHICLE TO HAVE BALL JOINTS THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I SAID THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM USUALLY DIDN'T OCCUR UNTIL ABOUT 100K MILES. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS UNTRUE. ALSO NOTE WHEN CUMBERLAND GARAGE NOTICED MY TRUCK NEEDED BALL JOINTS REPAIRED MY TRUCK HAD ONLY ABOUT 37K MILES. 11/04/03 I HAD A MINOR ACCIDENT.THE SHORT OF IT : I LOST CONTROL OF MY TIRES. MY WHEEL WOULD TURN BUT MY FRONT TIRES WOULD NOT RESPOND AND MY REAR TIRES WERE STUCK/SPINNING ON PILES OF WET LEAVES. I STEPPED ON THE GAS WHILE TRYING TO TURN MY VEHICLE AND THE GAS DID NOT RESPOND. MY BREAK WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TRUCK THRUST FORWARD AND HIT MY BROTHERS CAR. I HAVE HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE SLEEPING JUST THINKING ABOUT WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ME, SOMEONE I LOVE OR SOMEONE ELSE JUST BECAUSE LEE DODGE WANTED TO SQUEEZE MONEY OUT OF ME. OR BECAUSE CHRYSLER DID NOT WANT TO TELL THEIR CUSTOMERS THEY HAD PUT FAULTY PARTS IN THEIR TRUCKS. I SUPPOSE I SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER WITH REGARDS TO THIS MATTER. I AM VERY UPSET I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AT ANY TIME! DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR ME? *AK

THE WATER PUMP STOPPED OPERATING, FOR THE THIRD TIME, WHILE DRIVING. THE THERMOSTAT HAD BROKE AND CAUSED THE SEAL TO THE PUMP TO BREAK. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER. MECHANIC WILL CHECK ON CAUSE OF BROKEN WATER PUMP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB