1997 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES OF THE VEHICLE WERE DEFECTIVE. WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE WHEN EVER MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD TO PARK THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. *AK

97 DAKOTA SERVICED EVERY 3000 MILES. BALL JOINTS WORN OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. TRUCK HAS 87000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENTIRE UPPER AND THE LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS. DEALER WAS CONTACTED.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT SHOP FOR A ROUTINE GENERAL MAINTENANCE, AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS FELLED WORN OUT PREMATURELY. INDEPENDENT SHOP CHARGE $1,200. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

MY TWO YEAR OLD SUCCESSFULLY PLACED KEYS INTO IGNITION AND TURNED TO ON. THEN WITHOUT THE REQUIREMENT OF DEPRESSING THE BRAKE HE WAS ABLE TO PLACE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL. MY TRUCK ROLLED BACKWARD APPROXIMATELY 150 YARDS AND CRASHED INTO TREE. TOTAL DAMAGE OF $3500, LUCKILY NO ONE SERIOUSLY INJURED.

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHILCE VIBRATED AND WANDERED ACROSS THE ROAD. VEHILCE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *NM

1997 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP WITH 18,000 MILES. NEVER DRIVEN OFF ROAD. BOTH FRONT BRACK LINES COMPLETELY RUSTED. ONE BURST WHILE DRIVING.*AK

DRIVING DOWN I-55 BY WILMINGTON TRUCK STARTED TO PULL REAL BAD TO THE LEFT GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY NEXT EXIT WENT STRAIGHT TO GARAGE THE MECHANIC PUT ON THE LIFT WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE BALLJOINT WITH HIS HAND. *AK

A WELD THAT SECURED THE LOWER RIGHT SUSPENSION FAILED ON MY 1997 DODGE DAKOTA DUE TO "HARD" BRAKING. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY DAMAGE. I BELIEVE THAT SUCH A FAILURE SHOULD NEVER OCCUR DUE TO NORMAL USE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS WELD SHOULD BE INSPECTED ON ALL VEHICLES WITH THIS PARTICULAR SUSPENSION SYSTEM. MY PHONE CALL TO CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE DID NOT INDICATE ANY INTEREST IN FOLLOW UP ON THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT.*AK

MY 1997 DODGE DAKOTA-WITH 48OOO MILES FAILED SAFETY INSPECTION, DUE TO BAD BALL JOINTS AND UNSAFE STEERNIG. DURING REPAIR PROCESS I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON AND EVEN EXPECTED EVENT WITH THESE VEHICLES (WITH LOW MILEAGE) AND ALSO DURANGOS. IT IS SO COMMONPLACE THAT DODGE REPAIR PEOPLE EXPECT IT. OBVIOUOSLY TIS IS A SFATEY DEFECT AND SHOULD BE REMEDIED AT NO COST TO CONSUMER. IT WILL ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THE PARTS FAIL; AND A CATASTROPHE HAPPENS TO SOME UN SUSPECTIG DRIVER,UNLESS THERE IS A RECALL AND PERMANENT QUALITY REPLACMENT OF THE PARTS. *AK