1997 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

POPPING, GRINDING NOISE WHILE TURNING AND OVER BUMPS. DODGE INSPECTED AND REPLACED ONE UPPER BALL JOINT AND BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS AND BOTH INNER TIE ROD ENDS.*AK

GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HIT A POTHOLE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE CAME RIGHT OFF , IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 2000 - 2003'S HAVE. WE HAVE PICTURES OF IT TO PROVE IT . THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS LET LOOSE THE CV SHAFT PULLED OUT AND THE SHOCK GOT BENT. THE TIRE TURNED ON ITS SIDE WHILE THE TRUCK WAS SLIDING DOWN THE ROAD SIDEWAYS AND I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL HOW THE TRUCK WAS GOING. THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE TIRE ON THE TRUCK WAS THE BRAKE LINE. THE TIRE RIM HAD CHUNKS TAKEN OUT OF IT AND THE TIRE HAD WEAR FROM BEING ON ITS SIDE UNDER THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK WHILE IT WAS SLIDING. WE HAD TO GET IT FLATBEDDED TO THE REPAIR SHOP . WE HAD A CERTIFIED REPAIR SHOP DO ALL THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO THE TRUCK TO WHICH INCLUDED NEW UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS,NEW CV SHAFT, NEW RIM ADN TIRE , NEW SHOCK , AXLE ASSEMBLY,BRAKE HOSE , STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE,INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS AND A FRONT END ALIGNMENT.THIS TRUCK HAD JUST BEEN THROUGH A NYS INSPECTION IN DECEMBER 2003 AND PASSED. THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 25, 2004 WHICH LEFT US WITHOUT THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ABLE TO BE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY WE GOT THE TRUCK BACK ON NOVEMBER 10 , 2004. WE FEEL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR BILL FOR THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY ARE ADMITTING THERE IS A PROBLEM THE SAME AS THIS TO THE NEWER MODELS. *AK

(1) POPPING NOISE AND DIFFICULTY STEERING; 2) UPPER-BALL JOINT FAILURE .... THE JOINTS WERE SO WORN THAT WHEN THE MECHANIC RAISED THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT-RIGHT WHEEL FELL OFF OF THE TRUCK. (3) MECHANIC REPLACED THE ALL 4 BALLJOINTS (UPPER AND LOWER) WITH NON-OEM PARTS AT MY REQUEST. COST: APPROX $600.00. *AK

GASOLINE ODOR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING. FOUND FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL LINE RUNNING UNDER THE BODY ON DRIVER'S SIDE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL.*AK *TC

WHILE DRIVING 4 MPH FRONT LEFT END BALL JOINT COLLAPSED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING A FUEL ODOR EMANATED FROM INSIDE OF THE VENTS. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WAS LEAKING GASOLINE FROM UNDERNEATH. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL LINE CONNECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE OTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT THE BRAKES AND ALSO HIT THE SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BROKE. *AK

NEED TO REPLACE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON DAKOTA WITH 173,000 MILES. THIS WILL BE THE 7TH SET OF BALL JOINTS ON THIS VEHICLE. DEALER STATES "NO OTHER CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS. *AK

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC NOTICED BOTH FRONT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

I OWN A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA, V8 AND FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WHEN I WAS TURNING, I EXPERIENCED THE TERRIBLE GRINDING SOUND FROM MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. I TOOK IT IN TO FIRESTONE TODAY WHERE THEY DIAGNOSIS UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FOR ALL FOUR WHEELS AT A COST OF OVER $1,000. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THIS WAS COMMON IN DODGE DAKOTA'S AND DURANGO'S AND THAT THEY ARE REALLY BAD. HE STATES I COULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT BUT WORST CASE SCENARIO IS I'LL BE DRIVING SOME DAY AND THE WHEEL COULD COME OFF OR LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING. I'VE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS AND DAIMLER CHRYSLER AS YET HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I ALSO NOTE THAT YOUR AGENCY IS SUPPOSED TO BE INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE. I AM WAITING ON YOUR REPORT BEFORE I PAY TO REPLACE THE JOINTS ALTHOUGH THIS MAY LEAD TO A SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES ON MY PART. WHEN WILL DAIMLER CHRYSLER ADDRESS THIS ISSUE? *NM