1998 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

II HAD NOTED A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND AT OTHER TIMES INVOLVING TURNING OR DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR TURNING UP AN INCLINE, ALSO THE STEERING FEEL HAD BECOME VAGUE. DURING MY ANNUAL STATE INSP. THE MECH STATED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES WERE COMPLELY WORN OUT, AND AS SUCH COULD NOT PASS IT WITHOUT REPAIR.

ALL 4 BALL JOINTS IN FRONT OF VEHICLE HAVE FAILED. ADVISED TO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE

1998 DODGE DAKOTA HAS UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILING.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SERVICE CENTER TO HAVE FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE. THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED SEVER FRONT TIRE WEAR AND CONCLUDED THAT THE FRONT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. I BOUGHT IT WITH 11,000 MILES ON IT. DURING MY WARRANTY AT ABOUT 20,000, THE TRUCK WOULD BACKFIRE WHEN SHIFTING UP A GEAR.TOWSON DODGE HAD MY TRUCK FOR A DAY AND SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND IT COST ME $75 ANYWAY. AROUND 45,000 MILES MY TRUCK WAS RUNNING REAL POOR WITH NO POWER. THE CATYLITIC CONVERTER CLOGGED UP SO BAD THE TRUCK STOPPED RUNNING. THE GOODYEAR PLACE WHERE I TOOK IT, CARNEY TIRE, DIDN'T TELL ME OF THE FEDERAL WARRENTY ON CONVERTERS AND REPLACED IT AND THE MUFFLER FOR A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS. AFTER MY LEARNING OF THE WARRENTY, CARNEY TIRE REFUSED TO REFUND 50% AS SUGGESTED BY THE CHRYSLER REP. ON THE PHONE. NOW AT 80,000 MILES THE MUFFLER RUSTED ENOUGHT TO LOOSE THE TAILPIPE, WHICH NOW RESIDES IN MY DRIVEWAY. THIS IS TOTALLY UNEXCEPTABLE FOR THIS TRUCK. I HAD AN '87 DAKOTA WITH 145,000 MILES ON IT AND NEVER HAD AN EXHAUST PROBLEM . I WAS GOING TO TRADE IT IN FOR A 2500 RAM BUT THIS AND OTHER COMPLAINTS WILL KEEP ME FROM EVER BUYING ANOTHER CHRYSLER. I WILL BAD MOUTH DODGE,ESPECIALLY TOWSON DODGE (SCHAEFER & STROMENGER), TO ANYONE WHO ASKES ME.THE SERVICE MANAGERS OVER THERE DIDN'T HELP A BIT. I WAS GIVEN A SERVICE BULLITEN BY THE MECHANICS ABOUT A BROKEN BOLT ON THE MANIFOLD AFTER MY THIRD VISIT,WHEN THE 2 MANAGERS WEREN'T AROUND. I'LL NEVER BUY ANOUTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT AND I'LL BADMOUTH DODGE TO EVERYONE I CAN. I'M GOING TO BUY A GMC PRODUCT WHERE I KNOW THEY TAKE CARE OF ANY COMPLAINTS A CUSTOMER MIGHT HAVE, BEINGS THEY KNOW THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA AT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARING FAILED, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE BEARING MAKING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. THE RESULTING DAMAGE REQUIRED THE AXLE, BEARING, WHEEL, CV JOINT, CV BOOT, ROTORS AND PADS TO BE REPACED FOR A COST OF $2036. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 38,500 MILES ON IT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL FELK OFF. DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS BROKE, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE AND MAKE A CLANKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINT ON THE RIGHT SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL. *AK *BF *NM

ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA I EXPERIENCED A "KLUNKING" SOUND IN THE FRONT END. FOUND OUT AT 84,000 MILES THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE BAD AND CONTRIBUTED TO WHEEL BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY PROBLEMS. REPAIR BILL WAS $738.95. I HAD THE REPAIR PERFORMED AT MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER "MORGAN DODGE" IN DURHAM, NC. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE REPAIR WAS NECESSARY AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT THE REPAIRS. THE OEM REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE ON NATIONAL BACKORDER AND THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO USE AFTERMARKET PARTS FOR THE BALL JOINTS. I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE AND THEY SAID THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND "IS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY RECALL" SO THEY CAN NOT ASSIST ME.*AK

NOISE FROM FRONT END, HAD CHECKED OUT AND MECHANIC FOUND LEFT SIDE BALL JOINTS (UPPER AND LOWER) WERE PREMATURELY WORN. I HAD THEM REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. I SAVED THE OLD PARTS. NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE NEDDS TO BE REPLACED. AGAIN THE DEALER TELLS ME THE RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO MY CAR.

I OWN A 1998 DODGE DOKOTA TRUCK AND HAD TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED IN NOVEMBER, 2003. I HAVE HEARD THEY ARE RECALLING THE DOKOTA'S STARTING IN YEAR 2000. WHAT ABOUT THE ONES BEFORE THAT YEAR. I HAVE RECEIPTS WHERE IT COST ME $753.71 TO HAVE THIS WORK DONE.*AK