2002 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

WHEN DRIVING AND/OR WHILE TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION, THE DRIVER HEARD A POPPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE. AFTER WATCHING A TV REPORT ABOUT THE BALL JOINTS, THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN THE BALL JOINTS. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE, IT DID NOT ENGAGE. THE AIR CONDITION WAS INOPERATIVE. *JB

FAILED RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINT WITH 42,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. PROBLEM FOUND AFTER VEHICLE EXHIBITED WHEEL BINDING WHILE MAKING HARD RIGHT HAND TURNS, CLUNKING NOISES DURING LEFT HAND TURNS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE DRIVER COULD HEAR A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO WORN PARTS. *MR

VEHICLE HAD EXCESSIVE BRAKE PAD WEAR. THE FRONT PADS HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES AND THE REAR TWICE WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. ALSO AT 4,000 WHEN TURNING THERE WAS CLUCKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK. THE FRONT TIRES HAD A QUARTER INCH CUP IN THEM. THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BALL JOINT BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE UPPER BALL JOINT HAD TO BE REPLACE AGAIN. *JB

THE BALL JOINTS ON MY 2002 DODGE DAKATO 4X4 HAVE PREMATURELY FAILED. THE TRUCK HAS APPROX. 27000 MILES ON IT. THE INFAMOUS KNOCKING SOUND COMES FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN I TURN. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TAKEN TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS A GRAND TOTAL OF 5 TIMES FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. A SERVICE TECH AND A SERVICE MANAGER HAVE BOTH RIDDEN IN THE TRUCK AND AGREE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM INITIALLY. UPON INSPECTION, I HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM "UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION." I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY ALWAYS FAVOR THE SERVICE DEALERS OVER THE CUSTOMER'S OPINION. THROUGH RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THE BALL JOINTS ON DAKOTAS AND DURANGOS PREMATURELY FAIL. I INFORMED DODGE THAT I KNEW THIS AND THAT I WOULD LIKE THEM TO RETHINK THEIR ORIGINAL DECISION. THEY SAID THAT NOTHING IN MY RESEARCH PROVIDED REASON TO CHANGE THEIR CONCLUSION. MY TRUCK HAS PREMATURELY FAILED BALL JOINTS AND NEITHER DODGE NOR THE DODGE SERVICE DEALER WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED A NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END. THE DEALER DETERMINED, THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK *JB

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A ROUGH SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. *AK *LA

MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 AT 20,000 MILES BEGAN EXPERIENCING A PULSATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD ME THAT MY ROTORS WERE WARPED AND PITTED AND THAT MY CALIPERS WERE GROOVED. DODGE TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM AND THAT THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR. I SPOKE TO TWO SHOPS SPECIALIZING IN BRAKES AND THEY STATED THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR PROBLEM.*AK

UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE BAD, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HAND SIDE, WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THERE IS NO WAY THAT THEY SHOULD BE BAD IN A '02 TRUCK.*AK

MAJOR VIBRATION AND PULSATING WHILE BRAKING, VEHICLE ONLY HAS 22000 MILES. WARPED ROTORS. *JB