Recalls


CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
SUSPENSION - FRONT - HUB
08E064000SKF USA, INC. E (Equipment)280511/05/2008MFRCHRYSLER GROUP LLC10/20/200810/20/2008
Defect SummarySkf is recalling 2,805 hub units, part no. br930361, sold as a service part for 1997-2004 dodge dakota vehicles and 1999-2003 dodge durango vehicles equipped with 2-wheel drive & rear axle abs. due to a specification error, the rotor pilot for the hub unit may be too long. this results in the wheel to not be seated fully against the hub flange face during mounting.
Consequence SummaryImproper seating of the wheel can result in excessive vibration, brake rotor noise, difficulty removing the wheel after installation and operation of the vehicle, and possibly wheel-end separation during vehicle operation. should wheel-end separation occur, the driver could loose control of the vehicle, possibly resulting in a crash.
Corrective SummarySkf will notify owners and replace the defective hub units free of charge. the recall began on november 5, 2008. owners may contact skf vsm north america customer service at 1-800-644-8999.
NotesSkf's recall no. skf pro 08-029us/ca.this recall only pertains to aftermarket skf hub units and has no relation to any original equipment installed on dodge dakota or durango vehicles manufactured by chrysler.customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
SUSPENSION
02159911/05/19996089809Experiencing a squeak noise coming from rear leaf spring. *tt02/25/2000
020699A12/17/19990206996089735This bulletin mentions that the front wheel bearing grease is evident on the bearing seal area. *tt02/24/2000
02059906/11/1999606526Experiencing squeaking or creaking from front wheel area at low speeds. *tt08/26/1999
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT
02049805/29/1998601680Lower ball joint service information. *ak08/19/1998
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER ARM
020060010/27/2000618857Subject regarding upper control arm bushing service. *tt05/03/2001
SUSPENSION - FRONT - WHEEL BEARING
02069906/11/1999608109On some vehicles the front wheel bearings may incorrectly be diagnosed as faulty due to the evidence of wheel bearing grease on the bearing seal areas. *tt11/03/1999
02069906/11/1999606527Subject on the front wheel bearing grease is evident on the bearing seal area. *tt08/26/1999
SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
02050005/17/2000610617Some customers may comment about a squeaking / clicking noise from rear leaf springs. *tt05/08/2000

Investigations


NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
SUSPENSION
EA03023CHRYSLER GROUP LLC11/19/200302/11/2005UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION04V596000
 Daimlerchrysler corporation (dcc) is recalling the target population of approximately 600,000 my 2000 through 2003 durango and dakota vehicles with four-wheel drive to replace the front suspension upper ball joints with redesigned parts that do not have the joint integrity concerns and have substantially improved joint retention capacity (nhtsa recall no. 04v-596).though dcc does not admit to a safety-defect in the subject components, odi believes that the facts in this investigation show otherwise.because of the low rates of separation incidents in the remaining subject vehicles, a safety-related defect has not been identified in those populations and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that no safety-related defect exists in those vehicles.the agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.for additional information, see the attached closing report.
SUSPENSION - FRONT
EA03023CHRYSLER GROUP LLC11/19/200302/11/2005UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION04V596000
 Daimlerchrysler corporation (dcc) is recalling the target population of approximately 600,000 my 2000 through 2003 durango and dakota vehicles with four-wheel drive to replace the front suspension upper ball joints with redesigned parts that do not have the joint integrity concerns and have substantially improved joint retention capacity (nhtsa recall no. 04v-596).though dcc does not admit to a safety-defect in the subject components, odi believes that the facts in this investigation show otherwise.because of the low rates of separation incidents in the remaining subject vehicles, a safety-related defect has not been identified in those populations and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that no safety-related defect exists in those vehicles.the agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.for additional information, see the attached closing report.
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM
EA03023CHRYSLER GROUP LLC11/19/200302/11/2005UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION04V596000
 Daimlerchrysler corporation (dcc) is recalling the target population of approximately 600,000 my 2000 through 2003 durango and dakota vehicles with four-wheel drive to replace the front suspension upper ball joints with redesigned parts that do not have the joint integrity concerns and have substantially improved joint retention capacity (nhtsa recall no. 04v-596).though dcc does not admit to a safety-defect in the subject components, odi believes that the facts in this investigation show otherwise.because of the low rates of separation incidents in the remaining subject vehicles, a safety-related defect has not been identified in those populations and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that no safety-related defect exists in those vehicles.the agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.for additional information, see the attached closing report.
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER ARM
EA03023CHRYSLER GROUP LLC11/19/200302/11/2005UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION04V596000
 Daimlerchrysler corporation (dcc) is recalling the target population of approximately 600,000 my 2000 through 2003 durango and dakota vehicles with four-wheel drive to replace the front suspension upper ball joints with redesigned parts that do not have the joint integrity concerns and have substantially improved joint retention capacity (nhtsa recall no. 04v-596).though dcc does not admit to a safety-defect in the subject components, odi believes that the facts in this investigation show otherwise.because of the low rates of separation incidents in the remaining subject vehicles, a safety-related defect has not been identified in those populations and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that no safety-related defect exists in those vehicles.the agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.for additional information, see the attached closing report.
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT
EA03023CHRYSLER GROUP LLC11/19/200302/11/2005UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION04V596000
 Daimlerchrysler corporation (dcc) is recalling the target population of approximately 600,000 my 2000 through 2003 durango and dakota vehicles with four-wheel drive to replace the front suspension upper ball joints with redesigned parts that do not have the joint integrity concerns and have substantially improved joint retention capacity (nhtsa recall no. 04v-596).though dcc does not admit to a safety-defect in the subject components, odi believes that the facts in this investigation show otherwise.because of the low rates of separation incidents in the remaining subject vehicles, a safety-related defect has not been identified in those populations and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that no safety-related defect exists in those vehicles.the agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.for additional information, see the attached closing report.

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
SUSPENSION
08/01/2006124219
 Premature wear and failure of upper and lower ball joints. truck was making popping noises when you turned the wheel or went over bumps. took to local mechanic; mechanic stated that the ball joints were scary bad. mechanic also stated that if i had not brought the vehicle in the front wheels could have broken off causing the vehicle to wreck.
02/14/200654000101/31/2004
 My ball joints and tie rods were going bad at 54,000 miles. dodge would not do anything about the problem. also, my transmission started to go bad at 74,000 miles. 2nd gear went out, then it went completely out at 91,000 miles. obviously dodge wasn't going to do anything about it. i wont buy another dodge again. *tr
12/18/200279795102/01/1998
 The vehicle's ball joints were bad. *nm the vehicle's front brakes also had to be replaced. the consumer learned of a recall for balljoints. the consumer was told by a servce rep that his vehicle was not included in the recall due to the model year. *nm
10/31/20031
 Upper and lower ball joints needed replacement. *ph (nar) the vehicle was taken to a tire service facility for a front end alignment due to noticeable right front tire wear. once the technician looked at the vehicle he determined that the vehicles upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. the vehicle wa taken to the dealer who indicated that the ball joints were within specs. the consumer had the ball joints replaced despite the dealer findings. the consumer request reimbursement from the manufacturer. *nm
1
 New tires couldn't be aligned because the ball joint were so bad. *ph *jb
1
 At 54k miles, the ball joints had to be replaced. *ph *sc *jb
1
 The consumer replaced the upper/lower ball joint and front wheel bearing. the consumer questioned whether or nor daimler chrysler would be taking the fault. *ph the consumer requested to be reimbursed. *sc
03/19/200499000405/15/1997
 Ball joints defective-taken to dealer parts not available-vehicle unsafe according to dealer-no re-call issued yet - may re-call later-various accidents were reported nation wide-of front wheels falling off!!!!!!! *jb
11/22/2003770003
 Upper and lower ball joints failed at 77,000 miles. *ak the vehicle started squeaking over slight bumps and worsened to squeaking all of the time, the steering wheel began to make unusual noises when turning, and coolant leaked from the engine. *sc *jb
07/01/200377000108/21/2001
 The upper and lower ball joints experienced premature wear. as a result, the ball joints produced a grinding noise. please provide additional information. *jb *mr
105/17/1997
 Suspension system problems, causing excessive tire wear.
02/28/1997
 Dealer unable to correct alignment problems after numerous attempts.
SUSPENSION - FRONT
04/30/20091800001
 Due to poor choice of materials (i assume) the front hub and spindle assembly wears. leaving front brake slider pins unattached to caliper mounting plate. when this happens, the front caliper wobbles in it's place, possibly ejecting the slidepins because they wobble in the knuckle holes designed to retain them. this causes excess wear on the front hub assembly, increased wear in brakes, and stress on the hub bearings. having read the alldata data base, there is a redesigned knuckle with improved slide pin supports. there also is a repair kit involving the usage of heli-coil inserts to secure brake pad carrier to spindle assembly. (slide pins) i feel totally unsafe with this arrangement. i prefer to have the re-designed spindle assemblies installed for free by dealer with up-dated part numbers. the dealer wants $1000 per side for the redesigned units. i think this is absurd. this is a safety hazard and could cause loss of life due to loss of control. the only thing holding the brake assemblies in place is the wheel, itself!! *tr
10/22/20081700001
 The ball joints on my 97 dodge dakota are worn out. apparently this is a very common problem and supposedly there is a recall in effect for newer dakotas as though the problem didn't start until after 1997. this is a faulty part from the manufacturing process and its repair (amongst the many other manufacturing fault repairs on this vehicle) is ruining me financially in this economy. i should not be held financially responsible for a car makers inept manufacturing. *tr
01/01/1999300003
 Consumer had to replace front end suspensions three times due to wear.*ak
07/01/20041
 Consumer is experiencing an array of front suspension problems. *la *sc *jb
11/12/2003127000104/27/2003
 Front end failed. consumer stated front end was on the verge of collapsing. *ak consumer also stated that ball joints, inner and outer tie rods failed. *la
102000102/12/2002
 There is a loud noise in the front of the vehicle when turning or going over a small bump. dealer contacted. *ak *la
07/01/2003850001
 Front end suspension failed, and caused the thread on the tie rod to become weak. the threads appeared corroded which almost caused an accident. dealer notified. *ak *cb *jb
08/25/1997309/01/1996
 52000 miles and i have replaced these items: belt tensioner, a/c compressor, 3 sets of front tires (the tires are wearing on the outside edge-the truck has been aligned each time the tires were replaced), 2 sets of rotors, 2 brake calipers, 4 sets of brake pads, the steering knuckle that broke into three (3) pieces while the truck was going 65 mph, and now i have to take it to a transmission shop because the truck jumps from drive to neutral while the truck is in motion. all of these repair cost have been paid by myself. dealer said there has been no other complaints about the dodge dakota i find that hard to believe. *ak( dot number: tire size: lt21575r15 )
12/30/1997102/01/1997
 Truck was purchased new/no off road to speak of and well maintained. no defect (s) listed in summary. *ak
 Loud noise is coming from front end. dealer cannot determine cause of defect. *ak
 Strange noise is coming from front end . dealer cannot determine cause. please provide further information. *ak
 Front end shakes intermittently and often times cause a loss of vehicle control. the dealer has alligned the vehicle several times. *ak
04/28/1999106/01/1997
 Third set of tires due to inner wear from front end problems.the truck is being sent back again for front end problem. these problems are all listed in your service bulletins database and also confirmed in the complaints database. as my vehicle is nearing the end of the extended warranty phase these front end problems are going to be very expensive since there dosen't seem to be a fix.
09/16/1997306/01/1997
 No summary
 Front suspension rattles when driving on rough road after hitting sharp objects. *ak
 Front and the rear brakes are prematurely wearing out or feathering which causes the vehicle to veer to the right. also, the vehicle constantly needs alignment. please give any further details, add all vehicle vin#. 8ak
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM
07/15/200750000108/10/2006
 Ball joint failures: truck failed state inspection due to defective upper and lower ball joints or ball joint and lower control arm. another ball joint had been replaced the previous year. all defects occurred at about 50,000 miles. this is common problem with dodge dakota and chrysler will not pay for repairs. problem is well documented on dozens of internet sites, blogs, etc and all mechanics and state inspectors all nod knowingly about the dodge pickup. this is safety issue and failure of ball joints is not a problem in almost any car except chrysler products. how do they get away with this safety issue which can cause loss of control and crashes and at under 50,000 miles. it is time nhtsa forces dodge to recall and reimburse all costs to those already having paid for such repairs. this should be applicable for any year vehicle up to at least 100,000. i have owned over a dozen vehicles and most driven over 100,000 and one at 145,000 and one 200,000 and have never replace but one ball joint on a 1970 cutlass. only one high mileage vehicle with cv joints but maybe no ball joints had to have a cv joint replaced. this does not speak well of chrysler/dodge. *tr
11/10/200224000106/16/1997
 1997 dodge dakota club cab 2 wd pickup had excessive tire wear at 25,000 miles so all tires replaced. tires had been rotated every 7,000 mi. after tire replaced took to dodge dealer for front end alignment. dealer refused because they said front ball joints needed replaced costing $900. when asked if this was unusual dealer said no and that ball joints could wear out in 10,000 miles. i called daimler chrysler to complain and they refused my request for assistance saying no problems of this type have been reported. the truck was never driven off road, never involved in an accident, only driven to work and home within 40 miles of my home. truck was never abused and i feel the ball joints (and tires) should not have worn out in this small amount of time. i am an engineer and believe there is a design or manufacturing problem that led to this premature failure. i have continued to drive the truck without replacing the ball joints yet since no one has told me there is any safety reason not to. the truck drives fine, straight, and easy. *nlm
11/01/1999908/01/1998
 While driving vehicle would be hard to control. vehicle would jump to left or right suddenly. dealer has replaced ball joints 9 times, and problem still exists. *ak *slc
 Upper and lower ball joints have failed at 50,000 miles which could cause other damages. tsb was sent out by manufacturer, but only covered 4 wheel drive vehicles. *ak
 Left hand upper ball joint is coming apart from steering tie rod which could cause complete loss of steering capability. consumer has contacted the dealer. please provide any further details. *ak
09/18/2000109/01/2000
 Excessive tire wear aligned at 12000 still had wear took to an alignment specialist and found a bad ball joint. *ak
 Front upper and lower control arms broke, causing premature wear of the tires. please give any further details.*ak
 Premature wear of the ball joints. please provide further detail.*ak
04/24/2000108/01/1999
 Prior to exp. of warranty, (36000 miles) vehicle was brought into an independent shop for a complete inspection. was informed ball joints and idler arm were completely worn out. previous owner, (a personal friend) and myself never '4 wheeled' the truck. normal city/highway use. viewed internet bulletin boards on dakota maint problems, and found others have had the same problem with early ball joint/idler arm failures. 36,000 miles under normal use is far to early for this type of problem. i fear there are many dakota's out there with the same problem. *ak
12/13/19991
 Defective driver's side tie rod end broke, causing a loss of vehicle control. also, ball joints looked worn out. please provide further information. *ak
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER ARM
07/16/2004109200112/20/1997
 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
1
 Consumer states that the lower control arms failed prematurely, this caused wear on the front tires. *slc
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT
07/15/200750000108/10/2006
 Ball joint failures: truck failed state inspection due to defective upper and lower ball joints or ball joint and lower control arm. another ball joint had been replaced the previous year. all defects occurred at about 50,000 miles. this is common problem with dodge dakota and chrysler will not pay for repairs. problem is well documented on dozens of internet sites, blogs, etc and all mechanics and state inspectors all nod knowingly about the dodge pickup. this is safety issue and failure of ball joints is not a problem in almost any car except chrysler products. how do they get away with this safety issue which can cause loss of control and crashes and at under 50,000 miles. it is time nhtsa forces dodge to recall and reimburse all costs to those already having paid for such repairs. this should be applicable for any year vehicle up to at least 100,000. i have owned over a dozen vehicles and most driven over 100,000 and one at 145,000 and one 200,000 and have never replace but one ball joint on a 1970 cutlass. only one high mileage vehicle with cv joints but maybe no ball joints had to have a cv joint replaced. this does not speak well of chrysler/dodge. *tr
10/15/200651000109/15/2003
 Transmission failure at 50,000 miles. transmission began to bog down while driving about 40 mph. after about 5 minutes it would only go about 5 mph while reving about 3500 rpm. paid for tow to dodge dealer in hampton va for analysis and repair. tow operator remarked almost all dodge dakotas towed for tranny work ended up costing $2300-$2900 for a replacement. i was lucky and only had to replace all pressure regulating valves for about $670 (funny how they all went bad at the same time but i would not argue the point since the parts were cheap compared to doing it over in a few months). dealer indicated this was a years old problem which was common to replace these transmissions and that my $600 repair was not guaranteed to prevent total failure. dodge has not agreed to any recall to fix but should do this. therefore, i will never own another dodge or chrysler of any sort. upper and lower ball joints also failed at under 50,000 miles and no repair recall on this long standing problem as well. subject on another complaint. *tr
12/04/2007100000204/01/1997
 Ball joint failure.........had to replace upper and lower ball joints in march 2005, and now in december 2007, i am having to replace upper ball joints again. ball joints in 1997 dodge dakota are a defective design, and wear out too quickly. *tr
05/05/200795000806/09/1997
 During 200, squeak in front end became louder and louder. had to have upper and lower ball joints replaced on the left and right. truck had 95,000 miles. 2 years late same problem with squeak in front end became louder and louder. needed to have the ball joints replaced again. only about 10,000 miles on truck this time. *ak
04/02/20071080003
 Tl*the contact owns a 1997 dodge dakota. the contact stated that the vehicle shifts out of gear when the 4 wheel drive feature is activated. the failure began since the time the vehicle was purchased. he called the dealer, but became ill and was unable to return the vehicle for repair before the thirty day warranty expired. the vehicle received a new state inspection in spite of the brake and ball joint issues. the contact stated that the 4 wheel drive feature disengages while driving and the upper and lower ball joints were completely worn, making the vehicle difficult to steer. the wheel hub was replaced and there was no brake lining on the rear axle. the brake cables were replaced as well. the vin, engine size, and purchase date were unknown. the current mileage is 116,000 and failure mileage was 108,000.
05/22/200653202410/12/2005
 I bought a 1997 dodge dakota pick/up that had 52,303 miles showing on the speedometer, the dealer said and showed me a safety check seal on the windshield and told me they safety check all their used cars and trucks, after finally putting 1,000 miles on the truck i noticed it was getting harder and harder to steer and control, i also started hearing a loud noise in the front end when turning. i finally took the truck to a garage and asked to check the front end, the dealer had supposedly aligned the front end at the time of purchase. to my surprise and the mechanics, when he jacked up the vehicle and went to check the ball joints, the left front wheel started to fall off, the ball joint was so worn out. this vehicle has 53,324 miles on it at present, these are actual miles, there is only 3 titles been issued for this vehicle, the original buyer (new), the dealer and my self. apparently the dealer knew the front end ball joints were worn out, a true safety check and the supposedly front end alignment they claim they did would have shown that. also the safety check they claim they do, should have shown the ball joints were worn out. if we had been driving on the interstate and the left front wheel fell off, i dread thinking how many cars would have been involved in the wreck. the cost of replacing all 4 ball joints cost me $237.00, i am positive a dealer would have paid less to repair the vehicle prior to guaranteeing that it was a safe vehicle. in having the vehicle repaired i have found out that the dodge trucks have a history of ball joint failure, especially older models. *jb
05/30/200271793101/30/1997
 Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 60 mph, the steering became hard to control. the vehicle was driven to the dealership where it was determined the lower and upper ball joints needed to be replaced. there is a nhtsa recall, # 04v596000, regarding the upper ball joints. the vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however, it is not included in the recall due to the vin.
11/09/200520111/28/2003
 Suspension, upper and lower ball joints replaced and shocks replaced - 60k miles. recall on 2000 and up but problem with 97 and up. *nm
12/01/2003212/06/1996
 Dt: the contact stated dealer replaced both the upper and lower front control arm ball joints in 2003. upon inspection this year it was discovered the ball joints needed to be replaced again. the vehicle had only accumulated 16,500 miles since they were last replaced. the first replacement was completed under warranty. the current replacement of the ball joint will be done at the contact's expense. he felt they were defective based on the limited mileage.*ak
09/25/200543000109/20/2005
 After reading about ball joint failure on dakotas and durango's i checked my 1997 dakota with 43000 miles and found all upper and lower ball joint seals torn open and no grease in the in the ball joint socket. there is no sign of any grease ever in or around the ball joints. the joints are starting to rattle. *jb
10/26/200476000112/02/1996
 Oct. '04 brought truck in for a wheel alignment and was told the control arm and upper and lower ball joints need replacing at a cost of $1,000. for safety i had the front end fixed. you have ordered recalls for similar failures in the 2000-03 dakotas. the 1997's have the same problem. *nm
05/24/200560000410/23/1997
 Badball joints on 1997 dodge dakota
02/21/200280000110/01/2000
 On feb. 21, 2005, was driving home from work with infant daughter. realized something was not right and slowed to 2 mph in 1st gear. came up on 9% grade with 4 s-type curves. entered 1st curve at 2 mph, truck ran off road, could not keep it on road. got it back on road only to completely lose control and ended up on other side of road in a parking area (stoped sideways). truck was put on rollback and sent to ramey dodge (princeton, wv) the next morning. they kept truck until that evening, could not find anything wrong. parked truck until friday 2/25/05, father took vehicle to another mechanic to have front end alignment. was informed the wheels were ready to fall off and truck needed to be taken back to dealership on wrecker. my father drove the truck to princeton where he was told it needed upper and lower ball joints replaced on both sides. they kept my truck for almost a week. total repair bill $811.00. dad did not get ball joints that were taken off. i called back to get them and was told they had disposed of them.
04/21/200568209101/01/1997
 The consumer took the vehicle for in for state inspection and the mechanic informed the driver that the left and right upper and lower ball joints needed replacement due to corrosion. *nm upper ball joints replaced by dealer at 34,000 mile. at state inspection in 2004 the upper and lower joints were replaced. manufacturer recalled this type of vehicle but only model year 2000. *bf *nm
01/01/19011
 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
12/15/2004280002
 At 28000 miles, both lower ball joints had to be replaced due to wear. recently at 48000 when taken to get aligned, the consumer had to replace both upper ball joints due to wearing on the left side and a broken right side ball joint. *jb
01/12/200589000203/11/2004
 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
12/22/200462000212/31/1996
 A knocking noise was coming from the front of the vehicle. the consumer drove to the dealer and the mechanic informed the consumer that the left and right upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to corrosion. *jb *sc
09/13/200446878104/17/1997
 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
07/29/200391888210/16/1999
 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
10/15/200435000305/15/1997
 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
11/07/20041
 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
11/01/2004173345708/07/1997
 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
10/14/20041
 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
09/15/20044
 Suspension ball joint failure. *ak
10/08/2004009/11/2001
 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
09/10/2004665791
 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
10/06/20048700010/28/1998
 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
05/27/200488000105/19/2003
 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
09/14/2004
 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.
08/06/200495750103/09/2004
 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
07/15/200448956407/15/2001
 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
06/01/200470000206/01/2002
 There was a ball joint problem. they made a clanking sound along with a squeal. the problem was discovered when the vehicle was taken to dealer for a catalytic converter problem. *ak *sc *jb
02/06/20041000001
 The upper and lower ball joints and tie rod ends wore out completely. consumer was concerned that the wheels will fall off while driving. *ak *nm
04/13/2004135000003/17/1999
 I pulled into my driveway, ran in the house to pick up some paperwork, got back in the truck and back out of the driveway. the lower control arm broke away from the frame. one weld is broken and the other is ripped. no company will fix this vehicle because of the liability issues. i never hit anything that would break this arm. i was told by three different companies that they have never seen this happen. the ball joint was in tact and had not broken. now i have to pay for a truck which is just a piece of junk.
04/19/2004105/19/1997
 I have replaced the upper and lower ball joints about six months ago and my left front already started squeaking again. i will have to replace them once more. i believe dodge should recall these vehicles for this purpose. it has caused my tires to wear unevenly and i have to replace them prematurely.*ak
48000104/01/1997
 Front ball joints failed at 48,000 miles. *ph
01/13/2004590001
 While driving at any speed consumer heard a clanking sound coming from the front end. dealer examined the vehicle, and found that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.*ak
03/10/20041000001
 Noticed improper tire wear on the front end. took for an inspection and all ball joints were found to be in need of replacement. mechanic stated that the they could have failed at any time. *jb
1
 While having vehicle serviced technician determined upper and lower ball joints needed replacement. *ak
11/12/2003127000104/27/2003
 Front end failed. consumer stated front end was on the verge of collapsing. *ak consumer also stated that ball joints, inner and outer tie rods failed. *la
03/17/200323750107/06/2001
 While driving at any speed, the consumer heard a squeaking sound coming from the front end. the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, who examined the front end. the dealer determined that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. *ak *sc *jb
09/02/200336039111/01/1996
 Mechanic noticed that upper and lower ball joints were bad, and needed to be replaced while performing a front end alignment. *ak *jb
03/06/200465000106/23/1997
 1997 dodge dakota - ball joint problems - premature wear. also causing tires to prematurely wear and scalp. *jb
03/05/200476201210/14/1997
 Failure of upper and lower ball joints. *jb
02/17/200436000102/10/1997
 Consumer took vehicle for and inspection and it failed. failure was due to excessive upper and lower ball joint wear.*ak*mr
01/04/20041060001
 The dealership refused to perform a front end alignment because the truck's upper and lower ball joints were worn.
03/03/200475000107/31/1997
 Ball joints failed. *ak
55000303/29/2003
 Consumer complained about a steering box problem. also, dealer replaced the ball joints and idler arm. *ak consumer is keeping an eye on the fuel filler tube because it seemed to be rusted. also, brake line is also rusted. *la
03/02/2004292001
 While driving consumer heard a loud noise coming through the front end. dealership informed consumer that front lower arm ball joint wore out. *ak
02/20/200460000202/07/1997
 Upper ball joints wore out prematurly.*ak
01/19/2004340001
 While driving 45 mph steering wheel vibrated. the mechanic determined that the problem was due to the front ball joints being worn out. *ak the faulty ball joints resulted in bad alignment and caused the tires to wear improperly. *sc *jb
01/09/200458000108/14/2000
 Lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to permature wear. *ak *mr
01/05/2004106/15/1997
 Have a 1997 dodge dakota 4 wheel drive, 5.2l v8. heard knocking sporadic noises in front suspension. took it to dodge dealership who informed me that ball joints need to be replaced. in doing some research this seems to be a serious and dangerous problem with dakotas. if i wouldn't have taken mine in to be looked at, it could have resulted in a serious accident. i have ask dodge for my old ball joints so that i can have them as evidence. dodge is charging about $600 for the repair. it doesn't seem fair that dodge is making money of the repair of a ball joint that shouldn't have needed it in the first place. dodge should issue a service advisory and this type of repair should be handled free of charge. *la
01/07/2004102/01/1998
 1997 dodge dakota upper and lower balljoints have failed pre-maturely. i currently am experiencing loud noises from the front of the vehicle when riding over small bumps. my mechanic stated that the upper and lower balljoints need to be replace on both sides of the vehicle. i am the orginal owner of this vehicle and it has never been used off paved roads.*ak
01/02/2004780001
 The front tires experienced uneven tread wear. dealership was unable to perform a front end alignment because all 4 ball joints wore out prematurely. *ak
06/10/2000202/10/1999
 My 1997 dodge dakota has had to have both upper and lower ball joints replaced on both sides, twice since i bought the truck in 1999. *ak
05/15/2002800001
 Failure of upper ball joints at approx. 80000 miles. failure identified because ofsevere front tire wear. had upper ball joints replaced, but this did not correct tire wear. took truck to another dealer, and they explained that i had to have the lower ball joints replaced also because you never just replace the upper, you have to replace the lower one's also this corrected the tire wear problems. the dates are estimates, i would have to search thru my records or the records of the dodge dealers for exact dates. i keep all the paper work, so a search is available if needed. vin is available, i just don't have it here at work.*ak
02/20/200260000101/01/1997
 Replace both sides of upper and lower ball joints at 60k and 120k despite using the best grease in them synthetic. i've complained about the seat back before since new it falls back. front bucket. *ak
11/05/200341439411/09/1997
 Lower ball joints had to be reply at 40000 miles also all rubber seals on top and on all steering arms are gone, truck had extended warranty but they would only reply the lower joints because they were ready to fail, warranty company would not replace upper ball joints or any of the steering assembly even though they are dry and will probably fail with-in the next 5000 miles/ truck had only 100 miles left on warranty... also have had to have the catalitic converter repl 3 times. *ak
08/03/200339000204/03/1997
 We had to replace the ball joints on our '97 dodge dakota after 49,000 miles because it became dangerous to drive our truck. this also affected the wear of our tires which we had to replace at the same time. also, the brakes have never worked right, they were replaced at just over 30,000 miles. we would like to be reimbursed for the defective ball joints we had replaced. ideally, we'd like to also be compensated for the premature wear on the tires, but realize that might be asking too much. how do we find out how to become part of the class action suit against daimler-chrysler? (it was still dodge when we bought the dakota) fortunately, my husband was aware of the danger the ball joints created and we had them replaced before an accident occurred. help! thanks for your time. *la
06/01/200230000110/27/2000
 1997 dodge dakota, vin#1b7gg23y0vs109352: defective ball joints for the second time in 8000 miles. the first replacement was needed @ 30,000mi, but not done until 55,668mi. 2nd set wore beyond .19 8000mi later. lithia dodge's remarks: not life threatening, just keep them greased.*ak
11/06/2003107/29/1998
 I have a 1997 dodge dakota sport with four wheel drive, a v8 engine and automatic transmission. i noticed my front tires wearing on the inside. i took the truck to the dealer on 12-20-01. i was told it needed lower ball joint and upper control arms. on 1-31-03 i returned to the dealer complaining of a vibration in the front end, again i was told it needed lower ball joints and upper control arms. now i am noticing the tires wearing on the inside again and the dealer tells me it again needs upper ball joints but that the new redesigned parts are on backorder from the manufacturer. these failures have happened at ten thousand mile intervals, the first repair was at 46,261 the second at 56,125 and now it has 67,261 miles on it. this truck has never been off road and is used as a daily commuter vehicle. the problem at 46,261 miles is early for this type of failure but i guess it could happen however two more times in 21,000 miles is premature failure. i've worked in the automotive repair business for twenty five years and this is the first time i've had this type of problem on my own vehicles which are meticulusly maintained. this is definately a saftey issue as this can cause separation of the control arm from the steering knuckle.*ak
01/28/200332000106/01/2002
 Upper and lower ball joints have worn prematurely (36000 miles) and are very expensive to fix. unfortunately, it's not safe to continue driving without replacing them. dodge needs to get a handle on this before any accidents occur. *la
55000108/01/2000
 While driving steering wheel is very loose. when riding over bumps in the road there is a rattling noise in the front end. mechanic says there is excessive wear in the ball joints. *ak the rubber boot on top of the ball joints were busted. *sc
07/28/20031
 Dealer replaced upper control arm and ball joints at 35000 miles, again was replaced at 80000. dealer knew about the problems of the ball joints, but claimed they were still good and consumer could still drive although the ball joints were worn out prematurely.
12/01/200249600206/01/1997
 Upper ball joint wore out prematurely and needed replacement, per dealership. vehicle was kept in the garage with only 50k miles and the consumer didn't understand why he had expensive failures. *ph *jb
07/18/200384200208/01/2001
 I own a 1997 dodge dakota sport pickup. it is a 4x4 with a 318cid engine and auto. trans. at about 35,000 miles, during a front end alignment, i had to replace the left upper ball joint. having 25 years auto experience myself, this part was definitely bad and i replaced the whole upper control arm, as the ball joint alone was not available. currently, at 84,000 miles, both lower ball joints are bad and have been replaced. this vehicle is not used much in off road conditions and then only on paved roads. this is premature part failure and a serious safety issue, as i drive at or above the poisted speed limits in my travels. total failure of these parts would result in loss of control and an accident. *jb
12/28/200253980102/06/1997
 Clanking noise in right front wheel. axle seal broke, replaced, 3 weeks later noise again ball joints needed to be replaced. ph
 Premature wear of lower ball joints. dealer has been notified.*ak
302/01/1997
 Three incidents of lower ball joint failure. 1st failure at 16-17k miles, 2nd at 36k mi. these were covered under warranty by dodge after some denial that there was a problem at all. 3rd failure at 60k mi. dealer denies there is a problem with lower ball joints. two independant repair shops have varified lower joints require replacement with one stating vehicle should not be driven because of very worn condition of one ball joint! upper ball joints are also worn and require replacement. *ak
12/20/1998310/01/1996
 I've had to have the front end aligned twice now & upon having it in for the 3rd time, i was told that the lower right ball joint was out. this is why i've gone throw 2 sets of tires already, needing the 3rd set. i've had problems trying to find the ball joint. this is just one of the many problems i have had with my truck. the transmission still does not shift right. i've been told by 2 different dealers that i am in the computer so if anything does happen, it will be taken care of. i ran across a web site that discusses the problems other dakota owners are experiencing & i know what they are going through. this is the 1st brand new vehicle i have ever owned & i've had more problems with it than i ever had any ot the others i have owned. *ak( dot number: tire size: p215/75r15 )
 At 27,000 miles the lower joints have been replaced five times cause unknown. please give any further details. *ak
111/30/1997
 Suspension lower ball joint failure.
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER ARM
48000104/01/1997
 Front ball joints failed at 48,000 miles. *ph
11/06/2003107/29/1998
 I have a 1997 dodge dakota sport with four wheel drive, a v8 engine and automatic transmission. i noticed my front tires wearing on the inside. i took the truck to the dealer on 12-20-01. i was told it needed lower ball joint and upper control arms. on 1-31-03 i returned to the dealer complaining of a vibration in the front end, again i was told it needed lower ball joints and upper control arms. now i am noticing the tires wearing on the inside again and the dealer tells me it again needs upper ball joints but that the new redesigned parts are on backorder from the manufacturer. these failures have happened at ten thousand mile intervals, the first repair was at 46,261 the second at 56,125 and now it has 67,261 miles on it. this truck has never been off road and is used as a daily commuter vehicle. the problem at 46,261 miles is early for this type of failure but i guess it could happen however two more times in 21,000 miles is premature failure. i've worked in the automotive repair business for twenty five years and this is the first time i've had this type of problem on my own vehicles which are meticulusly maintained. this is definately a saftey issue as this can cause separation of the control arm from the steering knuckle.*ak
07/28/20031
 Dealer replaced upper control arm and ball joints at 35000 miles, again was replaced at 80000. dealer knew about the problems of the ball joints, but claimed they were still good and consumer could still drive although the ball joints were worn out prematurely.
01/01/1997105/01/1999
 There is a loud popping noise when backing up, found right upper control arm failed and was replaced. *yd
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT
07/15/200750000108/10/2006
 Ball joint failures: truck failed state inspection due to defective upper and lower ball joints or ball joint and lower control arm. another ball joint had been replaced the previous year. all defects occurred at about 50,000 miles. this is common problem with dodge dakota and chrysler will not pay for repairs. problem is well documented on dozens of internet sites, blogs, etc and all mechanics and state inspectors all nod knowingly about the dodge pickup. this is safety issue and failure of ball joints is not a problem in almost any car except chrysler products. how do they get away with this safety issue which can cause loss of control and crashes and at under 50,000 miles. it is time nhtsa forces dodge to recall and reimburse all costs to those already having paid for such repairs. this should be applicable for any year vehicle up to at least 100,000. i have owned over a dozen vehicles and most driven over 100,000 and one at 145,000 and one 200,000 and have never replace but one ball joint on a 1970 cutlass. only one high mileage vehicle with cv joints but maybe no ball joints had to have a cv joint replaced. this does not speak well of chrysler/dodge. *tr
10/15/200651000109/15/2003
 Transmission failure at 50,000 miles. transmission began to bog down while driving about 40 mph. after about 5 minutes it would only go about 5 mph while reving about 3500 rpm. paid for tow to dodge dealer in hampton va for analysis and repair. tow operator remarked almost all dodge dakotas towed for tranny work ended up costing $2300-$2900 for a replacement. i was lucky and only had to replace all pressure regulating valves for about $670 (funny how they all went bad at the same time but i would not argue the point since the parts were cheap compared to doing it over in a few months). dealer indicated this was a years old problem which was common to replace these transmissions and that my $600 repair was not guaranteed to prevent total failure. dodge has not agreed to any recall to fix but should do this. therefore, i will never own another dodge or chrysler of any sort. upper and lower ball joints also failed at under 50,000 miles and no repair recall on this long standing problem as well. subject on another complaint. *tr
12/04/2007100000204/01/1997
 Ball joint failure.........had to replace upper and lower ball joints in march 2005, and now in december 2007, i am having to replace upper ball joints again. ball joints in 1997 dodge dakota are a defective design, and wear out too quickly. *tr
05/05/200795000806/09/1997
 During 200, squeak in front end became louder and louder. had to have upper and lower ball joints replaced on the left and right. truck had 95,000 miles. 2 years late same problem with squeak in front end became louder and louder. needed to have the ball joints replaced again. only about 10,000 miles on truck this time. *ak
04/02/20071080003
 Tl*the contact owns a 1997 dodge dakota. the contact stated that the vehicle shifts out of gear when the 4 wheel drive feature is activated. the failure began since the time the vehicle was purchased. he called the dealer, but became ill and was unable to return the vehicle for repair before the thirty day warranty expired. the vehicle received a new state inspection in spite of the brake and ball joint issues. the contact stated that the 4 wheel drive feature disengages while driving and the upper and lower ball joints were completely worn, making the vehicle difficult to steer. the wheel hub was replaced and there was no brake lining on the rear axle. the brake cables were replaced as well. the vin, engine size, and purchase date were unknown. the current mileage is 116,000 and failure mileage was 108,000.
05/22/200653202410/12/2005
 I bought a 1997 dodge dakota pick/up that had 52,303 miles showing on the speedometer, the dealer said and showed me a safety check seal on the windshield and told me they safety check all their used cars and trucks, after finally putting 1,000 miles on the truck i noticed it was getting harder and harder to steer and control, i also started hearing a loud noise in the front end when turning. i finally took the truck to a garage and asked to check the front end, the dealer had supposedly aligned the front end at the time of purchase. to my surprise and the mechanics, when he jacked up the vehicle and went to check the ball joints, the left front wheel started to fall off, the ball joint was so worn out. this vehicle has 53,324 miles on it at present, these are actual miles, there is only 3 titles been issued for this vehicle, the original buyer (new), the dealer and my self. apparently the dealer knew the front end ball joints were worn out, a true safety check and the supposedly front end alignment they claim they did would have shown that. also the safety check they claim they do, should have shown the ball joints were worn out. if we had been driving on the interstate and the left front wheel fell off, i dread thinking how many cars would have been involved in the wreck. the cost of replacing all 4 ball joints cost me $237.00, i am positive a dealer would have paid less to repair the vehicle prior to guaranteeing that it was a safe vehicle. in having the vehicle repaired i have found out that the dodge trucks have a history of ball joint failure, especially older models. *jb
11/22/199948239112/18/1996
 Dt*: the contact stated while the vehicle was having an oil change performed by the dealer, the service department determined the upper ball joints needed to be replaced. the upper ball joints were replaced and lubricated. there is a nhtsa recall, # 04v596000, regarding the upper ball joints. the vin was not included in the recall. updated 6/1/2006 - *nm
05/30/200271793101/30/1997
 Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 60 mph, the steering became hard to control. the vehicle was driven to the dealership where it was determined the lower and upper ball joints needed to be replaced. there is a nhtsa recall, # 04v596000, regarding the upper ball joints. the vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however, it is not included in the recall due to the vin.
11/01/200339000105/21/1997
 Dt: the contact states there nhtsa recall campaign 04v596000 concerning upper ball joints. the consumer is experienced the same problems as indicated in the recall, but his vehicle was not included in the recall due to the model year of vehicle. the contact has not repaired the vehicle. *ak updated 12/27/05. *jb
11/09/200520111/28/2003
 Suspension, upper and lower ball joints replaced and shocks replaced - 60k miles. recall on 2000 and up but problem with 97 and up. *nm
12/01/2003212/06/1996
 Dt: the contact stated dealer replaced both the upper and lower front control arm ball joints in 2003. upon inspection this year it was discovered the ball joints needed to be replaced again. the vehicle had only accumulated 16,500 miles since they were last replaced. the first replacement was completed under warranty. the current replacement of the ball joint will be done at the contact's expense. he felt they were defective based on the limited mileage.*ak
09/25/200543000109/20/2005
 After reading about ball joint failure on dakotas and durango's i checked my 1997 dakota with 43000 miles and found all upper and lower ball joint seals torn open and no grease in the in the ball joint socket. there is no sign of any grease ever in or around the ball joints. the joints are starting to rattle. *jb
11/10/2004285832
 The upper ball joints on my 1997 dodge dakota failed with only 28,000 miles on them. i replaced them myself with moog greasable ball joints. i still have the old parts. *nm
05/24/200560000410/23/1997
 Badball joints on 1997 dodge dakota
02/21/200280000110/01/2000
 On feb. 21, 2005, was driving home from work with infant daughter. realized something was not right and slowed to 2 mph in 1st gear. came up on 9% grade with 4 s-type curves. entered 1st curve at 2 mph, truck ran off road, could not keep it on road. got it back on road only to completely lose control and ended up on other side of road in a parking area (stoped sideways). truck was put on rollback and sent to ramey dodge (princeton, wv) the next morning. they kept truck until that evening, could not find anything wrong. parked truck until friday 2/25/05, father took vehicle to another mechanic to have front end alignment. was informed the wheels were ready to fall off and truck needed to be taken back to dealership on wrecker. my father drove the truck to princeton where he was told it needed upper and lower ball joints replaced on both sides. they kept my truck for almost a week. total repair bill $811.00. dad did not get ball joints that were taken off. i called back to get them and was told they had disposed of them.
04/21/200568209101/01/1997
 The consumer took the vehicle for in for state inspection and the mechanic informed the driver that the left and right upper and lower ball joints needed replacement due to corrosion. *nm upper ball joints replaced by dealer at 34,000 mile. at state inspection in 2004 the upper and lower joints were replaced. manufacturer recalled this type of vehicle but only model year 2000. *bf *nm
01/01/19011
 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
01/03/2005500001
 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
12/15/2004280002
 At 28000 miles, both lower ball joints had to be replaced due to wear. recently at 48000 when taken to get aligned, the consumer had to replace both upper ball joints due to wearing on the left side and a broken right side ball joint. *jb
01/12/200589000203/11/2004
 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
12/10/20041
 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
12/20/2004411/03/2000
 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
09/13/200446878104/17/1997
 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
06/10/200492000104/21/2000
 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
11/12/2004112000104/26/1996
 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
07/29/200391888210/16/1999
 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
10/25/200494255212/30/2001
 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
10/15/200435000305/15/1997
 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
09/15/2000112/20/1997
 (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
11/01/2004173345708/07/1997
 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
10/14/20041
 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
09/15/20044
 Suspension ball joint failure. *ak
09/16/200454000104/30/1997
 Ball joints bad on 97 dodge dakota 4x4. *nm
10/08/2004009/11/2001
 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
09/10/2004665791
 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
05/27/200488000105/19/2003
 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
08/06/200495750103/09/2004
 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
12/31/200327835110/05/1997
 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
07/15/200448956407/15/2001
 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
06/01/200470000206/01/2002
 There was a ball joint problem. they made a clanking sound along with a squeal. the problem was discovered when the vehicle was taken to dealer for a catalytic converter problem. *ak *sc *jb
05/17/20041
 While driving at any speed vehicle vibrated from the front end. consumer took vehicle to the dealership, and mechanic determined that the upper ball joints failed. *ak
02/06/20041000001
 The upper and lower ball joints and tie rod ends wore out completely. consumer was concerned that the wheels will fall off while driving. *ak *nm
01/13/2004590001
 While driving at any speed consumer heard a clanking sound coming from the front end. dealer examined the vehicle, and found that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.*ak
03/10/20041000001
 Noticed improper tire wear on the front end. took for an inspection and all ball joints were found to be in need of replacement. mechanic stated that the they could have failed at any time. *jb
03/04/200468000105/20/1997
 Consumer took vehicle to an independent service dealer to have the brakes checked and the front end aligned. upon performing the front end alignment the service dealer determined that the upper ball joints were bad and needed to be replaced. *ak the consumer was informed that the lower ball joints would need to be replaced in a year. *sc *jb
03/08/2004550001
 During a routine inspection dealerships informed consumer that front upper ball joints were worn out. *ak
1
 While having vehicle serviced technician determined upper and lower ball joints needed replacement. *ak
09/10/200050000407/15/2002
 Premature failure of ball joints & lower steering column u-joints. upper ball joints need to be replaced again. *ak
11/12/2003127000104/27/2003
 Front end failed. consumer stated front end was on the verge of collapsing. *ak consumer also stated that ball joints, inner and outer tie rods failed. *la
03/17/200323750107/06/2001
 While driving at any speed, the consumer heard a squeaking sound coming from the front end. the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, who examined the front end. the dealer determined that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. *ak *sc *jb
09/02/200336039111/01/1996
 Mechanic noticed that upper and lower ball joints were bad, and needed to be replaced while performing a front end alignment. *ak *jb
03/06/200465000106/23/1997
 1997 dodge dakota - ball joint problems - premature wear. also causing tires to prematurely wear and scalp. *jb
03/05/200476201210/14/1997
 Failure of upper and lower ball joints. *jb
09/05/2003650005
 While driving there was a popping noise in the front end, and vibration in the steering wheel and the rear seat. state inspector noticed that front tires had play in them while inspecting the truck, and told the consumer that the upper ball joints needed to be replaced. *ak
02/17/200436000102/10/1997
 Consumer took vehicle for and inspection and it failed. failure was due to excessive upper and lower ball joint wear.*ak*mr
01/04/20041060001
 The dealership refused to perform a front end alignment because the truck's upper and lower ball joints were worn.
05/18/1999
 I have a dodge dakota that is a 1997 model. i have replaced the ball joints at under 30,000 miles and i now have ones my machanic says are bad and need replaced. i was a ware of this problem before. my machanic thought it was very unusual for them to wear out so fast
03/03/200475000107/31/1997
 Ball joints failed. *ak
55000303/29/2003
 Consumer complained about a steering box problem. also, dealer replaced the ball joints and idler arm. *ak consumer is keeping an eye on the fuel filler tube because it seemed to be rusted. also, brake line is also rusted. *la
02/20/200460000202/07/1997
 Upper ball joints wore out prematurly.*ak
11/01/2002650001
 While driving, the consumer heard a noise coming from the front end of the vehicle. the consumer took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who replaced the upper ball joints due to deterioration. *jb the ball joints were worn. *sc
01/05/2004106/15/1997
 Have a 1997 dodge dakota 4 wheel drive, 5.2l v8. heard knocking sporadic noises in front suspension. took it to dodge dealership who informed me that ball joints need to be replaced. in doing some research this seems to be a serious and dangerous problem with dakotas. if i wouldn't have taken mine in to be looked at, it could have resulted in a serious accident. i have ask dodge for my old ball joints so that i can have them as evidence. dodge is charging about $600 for the repair. it doesn't seem fair that dodge is making money of the repair of a ball joint that shouldn't have needed it in the first place. dodge should issue a service advisory and this type of repair should be handled free of charge. *la
01/07/2004102/01/1998
 1997 dodge dakota upper and lower balljoints have failed pre-maturely. i currently am experiencing loud noises from the front of the vehicle when riding over small bumps. my mechanic stated that the upper and lower balljoints need to be replace on both sides of the vehicle. i am the orginal owner of this vehicle and it has never been used off paved roads.*ak
01/05/200431000201/04/2004
 I own a 1997' dodge dakota v8 long bed standard cab pick-up with only 32000 origional miles. the ball joints are bad and i have to have them replaced. i went to look up how to replace them and discovered the problem is wide spread. sears mechanics were suprised that the ball joints were so worn with so few miles on the vehicle.*ak
01/02/2004780001
 The front tires experienced uneven tread wear. dealership was unable to perform a front end alignment because all 4 ball joints wore out prematurely. *ak
07/10/200372000111/09/1996
 I had to replace the lower ball joints in my 1997 dodge dakota @ 72,000 miles. i believe this failure was premature. *ak
06/10/2000202/10/1999
 My 1997 dodge dakota has had to have both upper and lower ball joints replaced on both sides, twice since i bought the truck in 1999. *ak
05/15/2002800001
 Failure of upper ball joints at approx. 80000 miles. failure identified because ofsevere front tire wear. had upper ball joints replaced, but this did not correct tire wear. took truck to another dealer, and they explained that i had to have the lower ball joints replaced also because you never just replace the upper, you have to replace the lower one's also this corrected the tire wear problems. the dates are estimates, i would have to search thru my records or the records of the dodge dealers for exact dates. i keep all the paper work, so a search is available if needed. vin is available, i just don't have it here at work.*ak
350002
 Vehicle vibrated while driving. dealer replaced the left upper ball joint twice. *ak
02/20/200260000101/01/1997
 Replace both sides of upper and lower ball joints at 60k and 120k despite using the best grease in them synthetic. i've complained about the seat back before since new it falls back. front bucket. *ak
11/05/200341439411/09/1997
 Lower ball joints had to be reply at 40000 miles also all rubber seals on top and on all steering arms are gone, truck had extended warranty but they would only reply the lower joints because they were ready to fail, warranty company would not replace upper ball joints or any of the steering assembly even though they are dry and will probably fail with-in the next 5000 miles/ truck had only 100 miles left on warranty... also have had to have the catalitic converter repl 3 times. *ak
08/03/200339000204/03/1997
 We had to replace the ball joints on our '97 dodge dakota after 49,000 miles because it became dangerous to drive our truck. this also affected the wear of our tires which we had to replace at the same time. also, the brakes have never worked right, they were replaced at just over 30,000 miles. we would like to be reimbursed for the defective ball joints we had replaced. ideally, we'd like to also be compensated for the premature wear on the tires, but realize that might be asking too much. how do we find out how to become part of the class action suit against daimler-chrysler? (it was still dodge when we bought the dakota) fortunately, my husband was aware of the danger the ball joints created and we had them replaced before an accident occurred. help! thanks for your time. *la
06/01/200230000110/27/2000
 1997 dodge dakota, vin#1b7gg23y0vs109352: defective ball joints for the second time in 8000 miles. the first replacement was needed @ 30,000mi, but not done until 55,668mi. 2nd set wore beyond .19 8000mi later. lithia dodge's remarks: not life threatening, just keep them greased.*ak
01/28/200332000106/01/2002
 Upper and lower ball joints have worn prematurely (36000 miles) and are very expensive to fix. unfortunately, it's not safe to continue driving without replacing them. dodge needs to get a handle on this before any accidents occur. *la
55000108/01/2000
 While driving steering wheel is very loose. when riding over bumps in the road there is a rattling noise in the front end. mechanic says there is excessive wear in the ball joints. *ak the rubber boot on top of the ball joints were busted. *sc
600001
 While driving at low or high speeds a noise could be heard coming from the front of the vehicle. dealer determined that the upper ball joints must be replaced. *ak
600001
 While driving at low or high speeds, a noise could be heard coming from the front of the vehicle. the dealer determined that the upper ball joints must be replaced. *ak
07/28/20031
 Dealer replaced upper control arm and ball joints at 35000 miles, again was replaced at 80000. dealer knew about the problems of the ball joints, but claimed they were still good and consumer could still drive although the ball joints were worn out prematurely.
12/01/200249600206/01/1997
 Upper ball joint wore out prematurely and needed replacement, per dealership. vehicle was kept in the garage with only 50k miles and the consumer didn't understand why he had expensive failures. *ph *jb
07/18/200384200208/01/2001
 I own a 1997 dodge dakota sport pickup. it is a 4x4 with a 318cid engine and auto. trans. at about 35,000 miles, during a front end alignment, i had to replace the left upper ball joint. having 25 years auto experience myself, this part was definitely bad and i replaced the whole upper control arm, as the ball joint alone was not available. currently, at 84,000 miles, both lower ball joints are bad and have been replaced. this vehicle is not used much in off road conditions and then only on paved roads. this is premature part failure and a serious safety issue, as i drive at or above the poisted speed limits in my travels. total failure of these parts would result in loss of control and an accident. *jb
11/01/1999908/01/1998
 While driving vehicle would be hard to control. vehicle would jump to left or right suddenly. dealer has replaced ball joints 9 times, and problem still exists. *ak *slc
SUSPENSION - FRONT - SHOCK ABSORBER
01/21/1997
 Truck needs heavier shocks.
SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - AIR SUSPENSION - SPRINGS/BAGS
01/19/2004340001
 While driving 45 mph steering wheel vibrated. the mechanic determined that the problem was due to the front ball joints being worn out. *ak the faulty ball joints resulted in bad alignment and caused the tires to wear improperly. *sc *jb
SUSPENSION - FRONT - WHEEL BEARING
03/03/200475000107/31/1997
 Ball joints failed. *ak
01/23/2002
 While driving at any speed there will be a vibration coming from front of vehicle. consumer diagnosed problem as a faulty left/front wheel bearing. dealership has not examined vehicle for this problem. please provide any additional information / documentation.*ak
01/16/2000
 Consumer noticed that front wheel bearing were separated. bearings were beinga held on by 1 nut & brake rotor. vehicle was making a thumping sound going 65mph. consumer found out thriugh the manufacturer that t 600,000 were on back order. consumer purchased 1 through the dealer in stock for $150. dealer seemed to know that it was a very common problem. *ak
SUSPENSION - REAR
103/30/1997
 Rear axle experiences noise when turning right, unable to rectify. mjs
SUSPENSION - REAR - AXLE - SPINDLE
01/01/19011
 Threads on spindle were corroded and stripped.*mr the consumer requested a reimbursement for repairs made on his vehicle. *cb *jb