1998 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW WHY THE BALL JOINT RECALL WAS NOT EXPANDED TO INCLUDE 1998 DODGE DAKOTAS. *BF *NM

DODGE DAKOTA 1998 CONSUMER REPLACED BALL JOINTS. *BF THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS AT 31000 MILES AND BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AT 43000 MILES. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE LACK OF GREASE FITTINGS ON THE ORIGINAL DESIGN CREATED AND EXCESSIVE WEAR PROBLEM. *NM

OWNER OF A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA REPORTING DEFECTIVE UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS AND WHEEL BEARING HUB ASSEMBLIES. *BF THE FAULTY BALL JOINTS CAUSED UNEVEN AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. *NM

LOUD REAR AXLE NOISE....BROUGHT TO DEALER.........REPLACED PINION AND CARRIER BEARINGS IN AXLE.......CAUSE WAS BECAUSE MAUFACTURER CHANGED TOW CAPACITY ON RT'S AFTER OWNERS MANUAL WAS PUBLISHED....I BOUGHT USED TRUCK AT 40,000 MILES AND HAS NO IDEA IT COULD ONLY TOW 2,000 LBS VRS OWNERS MANUAL SAID 6,000...AN 8CYL TRUCK AND CAN'T TOE BOAT.....HOW WEEK FOR DODOGE!*AK

LOUD REAR AXLE NOISE....BROUGHT TO DEALER.........REPLACED PINION AND CARRIER BEARINGS IN AXLE.......CAUSE WAS BECAUSE MAUFACTURER CHANGED TOW CAPACITY ON RT'S AFTER OWNERS MANUAL WAS PUBLISHED....I BOUGHT USED TRUCK AT 40,000 MILES AND HAS NO IDEA IT COULD ONLY TOW 2,000 LBS VRS OWNERS MANUAL SAID 6,000...AN 8CYL TRUCK AND CAN'T TOE BOAT.....HOW WEEK FOR DODOGE!*AK

FAILURE OF EQUIPMENT......MANUFACTURER DEFECT...REPLACED 3 CATALYATIC CONVERTERS ON MY 1998 DAKOTA RT.....VIN# [XXX]........COST EACH SERVICE $600..........NOW REAR END NOISES (PINIONS AND BEARINGS OUT)...DUE TO OWNERS MANUAL STATES TOWING CAPACITY 3 TIMES HIGHER THAN WHAT TRUCK CAN TOW....WAS A CHANGE AFTER MARKET. *AK *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

WHEN TURNING OR DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THERE WAS A DRY SHUTTERING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PARTS WERE REPLACED. FAILURE RECURRED 3 YEARS LATER ON UPPER BALL JOINTS ONLY. *AK CONTROL ARM, BALL JOINT, AND TIE RODS WERE REPLACED AGAIN AT 136,807. *TT

WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM THE GAS PUMP CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THEN THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE FELL/DROPPED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO OBSERVE THAT THE FRONT RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS THE LOWER BALL JOINT. ALSO, THE LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK

(1) FRONT END MAKING A POPPING NOISE. WHEN I TURNED. TRUCK WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY DEALERSHIP KEPT SAYING IT WAS BRAKE NOISE. (2)UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE, BALL JOINTS WERE RUSTED OUT, (3)ALL 4 BALL JOINTS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE,WHEN TRUCK WAS BARELY OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB

I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END AND A LOW PITCHED GROWL FROMN THE REAR END. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT AT 35,428 MILES THEAT IT NEEDED TWO UPPER BALL JOINTS AND A NEW DIFFERENTIAL (REAR END) . VEHICLE IS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA 4WD.*AK