1997 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAD THE SAME BALL JOINT PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE BALL JOINT RECALL FOR THE 2000-2003 MODEL YEARS. THE CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW WHY THE 1997 MODEL WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE BALL JOINT RECALL. *BF *NM *SC *TC *JB

1997-99 DODGE DAKOTA HAS SAME PROBLEM AS 2000-2003. UPPER BALL JOINT PROBLEMS. CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW WHY ARE YOU EXCLUDING 1997-99 WHEN THE PROBLEM EXISTED IN THE 1997-99. *BF

I HAVE A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA 2 WHEEL DRIVE. ALL FOUR BALLJOINTS ON THE FRONT END ARE VERY PRONE TO FAILURE. THEY WEAR PREMATURELY AS THERE IS NO WAY TO LUBRICATE THE PARTS. MY WHEEL HAS NOT YET FELL OFF, ALTHOUGH THE BALLJOINTS RATTLE AND CLUNK BECAUSE THEY ARE WORN OUT PREMATURELY.*AK

THE VEHICLE IS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE AND TENDS TO SHAKE WHILE MAKING TURNS AND IS AT LOW SPEEDS. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR CHECK UP, AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

CONSUMER WAS REPLACING UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS EVERY 35,000 MILES. ALSO, CONSUMER REPLACED THE IDLER ARM. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY THE SUSPENSION PARTS. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANIFOLD PLENUM GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL INTO THE INTAKE. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE GASKET HIMSELF. *JB

60,000 MILES TO AND FROM WORK NO ABUSE BALL JOINTS FAILED AND AC HAS LEAK IN DASH,TIMING CHAIN AND IDLER PULLEY MAKES NOISE. RADIATOR LEAKS TRANSMISSION FLUID PLASTIC TANKS ON RADIATOR. *JB

THE WIRE HARNESS THAT PLUGS THE HEADLIGHTS INTO THE DASHBOARD MELTED. *AK ALSO THE PARKING LIGHT AND THE HIGH BEAMS DIDN'T WORK. *SC *JB

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK......CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT HE HAD A VALID REQUEST AFTER SEEING NOTIFICATION OF A RECALL ON 2000-2003 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCKS TO REPLACE BALL JOINTS. ASKED FOR A REIMBURSEMENT OF $663.60 FOR REPLACING UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS.CEDAR RAPIDS DODGE TOLD CONSUMER HE HAD REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS. THEY SAID IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND QUOTED $1,126.50 TO MAKE THE REPAIR. HOWEVERBARTOSH AUTOMOTIVE CHARDED $663.60 TO PERFORM SAME WORK.*AK

MY TRUCK STARTED TO SQUEAK UP FRONT OVER ANY BUMPS. MY TIRES WERE ALSO STARTING TO GO BAD, EVEN AS I ROTATED THEM EVERY 3000 MILES. SOON THE SQUEAK WAS REALLY BAD SO I TOOK IT TO TUFFY AUTO. THEY GAVE ME AN ALIGNMENT FOR THE TIRE WEAR AND SAID THAT MY BALL JOINTS WERE CAUSING THE SQUEAK. I REPLACED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. THEN ABOUT 1000 MILES LATER I HEARD A HORRIBLE GRINDING IN THE FRONT, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. IT WAS A BAD WHEEL BEARING, CAUSED BY BAD BALL JOINTS AS DESCRIBED BY THE DEALER. REPLACED LOWER BALL JOINTS, WHEEL BEARING, AND NOW ALL 4 TIRES AS THEY WORE BADLY DUE TO THE BALL JOINT PROBLEM. TOTAL COST OF 800 PLUS 4 TIRES AT 130 EACH. I AM IN COLLEGE WITH A BABY AS WELL. THESE COSTS KILLED MY BUDGET, AND NOW I FIND OUT THERE IS A RECALL ON 2000 AND UP MODELS. WHAT A DEAL, SEEMS TO ME THE PARTS WERE THE SAME ON THE 97, BUT NO RECALL ON THEM? WHY, AND WHAT IS THE REASON FOR NOT INCLUDING THE 97? I ALSO WORK AT A BODY SHOP AND WE HAD A 99 DAKOTA IN A FEW MONTHS AGO WHICH HAD THE BRAKE PEDAL SNAP OFF, CAUSING A TOTAL WRECKAGE TO THE DAKOTA, BUT HE ENDED UP FIXING IT AS DODGE STOOD BEHIND THE PEDAL. WHY CAN THEY NOT STAND BEHIND MY TRUCK? I AM CONCERNED WITH MY PARTS ON MY TRUCK NOW, ARE THEY THE SAME ONES BEING RECALLED ON THE 2000 AND UP, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT BEING RECALLED ON THE 97? WHAT GIVES? *JB

I WAS PULLING IN A DRIVEWAY WITH A SLIGHT INCLINE AT A SLOW SPEED WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM LANDED ON THE WHEEL KEEPING THE TRUCK FROM HITTING THE GROUND. IT WAS THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WHICH FAILED. NEW UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED ALL AROUND AS ALL OF THEM BAD.*AK