2002 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

I HAVE HAD CLUNKING AND SQUEAKING NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB SINCE ABOUT 18,000 MILES. I HAVE MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS. AFTER VIEWING THE INTERNET I HAVE REALIZED THAT THERE IS MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. I WILL SOON BE RETURING TO THE DEALER WITH THE INFO TO TRY TO GET IT FIXED. *AK

I HAVE A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB--WITH 49000 ON IT AND IT NEEDS LOWER BALL JOINTS! IS THERE ANY TYPE OF RECALL OR COURSE OF ACTION I CAN TAKE ? THESE BALL-JOINTS SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 49000. *JB

TRAVELING APPROX 25 MPH ON WET ROADS. APPLIED BRAKES NOTHING HAPPENED. TRUCK DIDN'T SLOW DOWN WITH BRAKE TO FLOOR. COLLISION OCCURRED (REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE) AND FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WEARING SEAT BELT. *JB

BROUGHT 2002 DAKOTA TO DEALER CAUSE OF POPPING NOISES COMING FROM FRONT END ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING. DEALER SAID NO PROBLEM FOUND. TRUCK STILL MAKES NOISES. HEARD THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH BALL JOINTS. *JB

THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN VEHICLE WENT OVER A PUMP IN THE ROAD THERE WAS A CLUCKING OR KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. *AK

SAW ON A MESSAGE BOARD THAT THERE IS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION RE: DODGE DAKOTA BALL JOINTS. I HAVE A 2002 DAKOTA. AT AROUND 10,000 MILES, I STARTED HEARING A NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. IT WAS VERY INTERMITTENT, SO I DIDN'T PAY ANY ATTENTION. BUT IT GOT MORE AND MORE FREQUENT UNTIL AROUND 20,000 MILES, WHEN I FINALLY HAD IT FIXED. THE DEALER (ANDERSON DODGE IN ROCKFORD, IL) REPLACED BOTH OF THE FRONT BALL JOINTS. NOW, AT 45,000 MILES, IT'S STARTING TO MAKE SOME OF THE SAME SOUNDS - POSSIBLY FAILING AGAIN. *AK

AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AND ABOUT 15,000 MILES I TOOK MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA SLT QUAD CAB 4.7L V8 4X2 IN TO THE DEALER FOR A "CLUNKING" NOISE IN THE STEERING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN AND REPLACED THE PARTS UNDER WARRANTY. ON 4 JULY 2004, AFTER HAVING THE TRUCK FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS AND 32,000 MILES, WHILE GOING OVER A SPEED BUMP AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES PER HOUR, A LOUND CRASH WAS HEARD FOLLOWED BY A GRIDING NOISE. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE JUST SNAPPED AND THE STEERING ARM SLAMMED IN TO THE RIM OF THE WHEEL SCRAPING THE EDGE OF IT BARELY MISSING THE TIRE BY 1-1.5 INCHES. THE VEHICLE IS NOW HAVING THAT SAME "CLUNKING" NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND IT CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING.*AK

BRAKE ROTORS WARP EARLY DUE TO NORMAL WEAR. ITH 19,000 MILES I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ROTORS BEFORE REPLACING MY FIRST SET OF PADS.THER PEOPLE REPORT THE ME:HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/REVIEW_30410.HTML HTTP://WWW.DODGEDAKOTAS.COM/BOARDS/V6/924.HTML. *AK

I HAD A BRAKE AND ROTOR JOB DONE AT 36000 MILES BY A LOCAL MECHANIC AND FOUND THAT MY RACK AND PINION IS LEAKING AT THE BOOT AND THERE IS TO MUCH PLAY FROM TIE RODS. DEALER SHIP WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP EXEPT CHARGE ME $3750 TO FIX IT. I DO NOT NO HOW LONG THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THERE. ANOUTHER DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS A MESSY OIL CHANGE YA RIGHT!*AK

VEHICLE STALLED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO REPEAT THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER REPLACED THE VEHICLE CHIP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, BUT IT CONTINUED TO STALL. *AK