Dodge Dakota 2000 - Suspension - car safety information, failing parts, recalls, bulletins, complaints

Dodge Dakota 2000

Recalls
Technical Service Bulletins
Defect investigations
Consumer Complaints

Recalls

Campaign	Manufacturer	Manufacturing date	Type	# of units affected	Date Owner notified Mfg	Recall Initiated by	Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products	Report Recieved Date	Record Creation Date
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT
04V596000	DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION	from 01/07/1999 to 12/31/2002	V (Vehicle)	592707	12/21/2004	ODI	CHRYSLER GROUP LLC	12/21/2004	12/21/2004
Defect Summary	On certain sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks equipped with four-wheel drive (4x4), if moisture leaks into the front suspension upper ball joint, evacuation of the lubricant and corrosion of the joint may cause the joint to wear over an extended period of time. this could cause a clunking noise in the front suspension, which may not always be heard by the vehicle occupants.
Consequence Summary	Excessive wear in the upper ball joint may allow it to separate, which could result in loss of control of the vehicle.
Corrective Summary	Dealers will replace the front suspension upper ball joints. this safety improvement campaign began on december 21, 2004. owners can contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Notes	This action is deemed a safety improvement campaign and is not being conducted under the safety act.
SUSPENSION - FRONT - HUB
08E064000	SKF USA, INC.		E (Equipment)	2805	11/05/2008	MFR	CHRYSLER GROUP LLC	10/20/2008	10/20/2008
Defect Summary	Skf 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 Summary	Improper 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 Summary	Skf 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.
Notes	Skf'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

Bulletin	Bulletin date	Replacement Bulletin	Item no.	Summary	Added
SUSPENSION
0201004	12/16/2004		10011940	Upper ball joint extended warranty. *tt	02/07/2005
1300100B	10/27/2000	130100A	618863	Experiencing a snapping, popping or clunking sound while driving and braking over washboard roads, during a moderately hard stop at low speeds, and / or while slowly driving over moderate bumps such as a driveway approach. *tt	05/03/2001
130100	01/21/2000		610019	Some vehicles may exhibit a condition where a snapping, popping or clunking noise may be heard while driving over bumps. *tt	04/14/2000
021599	11/05/1999		6089809	Experiencing a squeak noise coming from rear leaf spring. *tt	02/25/2000
021499	11/05/1999		6089816	Experiencing vibration or grinding noise from front wheel area. *tt	02/25/2000
020699A	12/17/1999	020699	6089735	This bulletin mentions that the front wheel bearing grease is evident on the bearing seal area. *tt	02/24/2000
021499A	12/22/1999		6089709	Exhibiting vibration or grinding noise from front wheel area. *tt	02/24/2000
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER ARM
0200600	10/27/2000		618857	Subject regarding upper control arm bushing service. *tt	05/03/2001
SUSPENSION - REAR
030200	03/03/2000		610618	Subject pertains to 9.25 axle gear marking compound causing a milky-life appearance to the axle fluid. *tt	05/08/2000
SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
020500	05/17/2000		610617	Some customers may comment about a squeaking / clicking noise from rear leaf springs. *tt	05/08/2000

Investigations

NHTSA ID	Manufacturer	Date open	Date close	Subject	Recall campaign
SUSPENSION
EA03023	CHRYSLER GROUP LLC	11/19/2003	02/11/2005	UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION	04V596000
	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
EA03023	CHRYSLER GROUP LLC	11/19/2003	02/11/2005	UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION	04V596000
	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
EA03023	CHRYSLER GROUP LLC	11/19/2003	02/11/2005	UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION	04V596000
	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
EA03023	CHRYSLER GROUP LLC	11/19/2003	02/11/2005	UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION	04V596000
	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
EA03023	CHRYSLER GROUP LLC	11/19/2003	02/11/2005	UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION	04V596000
	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 date	miles	occurences	Purchase date
SUSPENSION
10/06/2006	43000	1	05/10/2004
	I bought a 00 dakota r/t used not from a dealer in 2004. i had some alignment problems and took it to the dealer where the truck was originally purchased from. they said they needed to change some parts to align it which cost over $1000. about 1 1/2 years later it needed alignment again and now the alignment is still off. the wheels are fighting each other and there is a creaking sound when going over bumps and it also feels like there is no suspension at all. i have changed the shocks recently and it made no difference whatsoever. *jb
02/23/2005		1
	A loud clanking noise started coming from the rear of the vehicle. the driver also noticed that the vehicle would sway from left to right on its own. the consumer was able to drive to the dealer for inspection. the mechanic informed the driver that the suspension needed replacement due to wear and tear. please provide additional information. *jb
01/12/2005	48666	4	01/12/2005
	The vehicle would make a whining noise while driving 30 mph or more. the vehicle was taken to a repair shop. the mechanic informed the consumer that the differential unit needed to be replaced. the consumer stated this would be the forth replacement within a year. the dealer and the manufacturer were notified. jb dealer however. there is vibration at 40 mph. tires and suspension inspected, no problem found. engine hard to start following overheating. dealer found no condition that merits a repair. tt
11/23/2004		1
	While pulling inside of the parking lot, the vehicle started to vibrate. the noticed that the driver and passenger wheel failed to move on its own. the vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection. the mechanic informed the consumer that the upper and lower ball joints and tie rod needed to be replaced. please fill in additional information. *jb
01/01/1901		1
	Heard a clunking noise from front end. vehicle also shakes when apply brakes. bf while driving over 65 mph the front end of the vehicle shook as though it was misaligned or unbalanced. it also shook when the brakes were applied at speeds of 50 mph or higher. the vehicle's wheels have been balanced, the steering aligned, the brakes and rotors have been replaced yet the problem recurs. nm
08/10/2004		1
	While driving, heard a rubbing noise from front wheel area. ball joints and tie rod on front driver side had went bad. did not hear any pre-warning signs. only noticed when the noise of rubbing started. had to replace both ball joints and tie rod. *jb
03/19/2004		1
	Ball bearings had to be replaced because they were dry, loose, and worn out according to the independent mechanic. wheel would have come off the truck while driving if not replaced in time. *jb
09/08/2004	67022	2	02/14/2000
	The upper control arm broke at 5 mph. this caused the left front tire to cave in. vehicle was towed to dealer, who replaced the upper control are on both sides. ak on right hand turns, there was a clunk noise and the steering had become difficult. the tire collapsed in the wheel well. the control arm broke. sc
10/01/2003		5
	When driving it feels like vehicle has a mind of its own. driver will attempt to drive straight, yet it feels like vehicle is alternately pulling towards left and right. dealer replaced front brake pads and rotors three times. this did not remedy the problem. vehicle had been examined by dealer five times, and stated no problem could be found with the way vehicle performed.*ak
		1	04/29/2000
	While traveling and when depressing the brakes vehicle vibrated until it came to a stop. ak about every 20k miles the rotors would warp and would need to be replaced. when the brakes were applied at 55 mph, the vehicle would shimmy in the front end, and the steering wheel would also shake when the brakes were applied as well. sc *jb
	66000	3
	Vehicle is experiencing slack in the steering column. also, there is a problem with the rack and pinion steering. right side of the vehicle is causing the tires to wear unevenly. there is a rattling and squeaking noise in the front right side. ak jb

	While driving vehicle makes a thumping noise and shimmies when get up to speed. took to dealer ,and had repaired vehicle, but problem still exists. *aski
06/21/2000		2
	While driving, vehicle sways back and forth, the front end is wearing tires and is too stiff. took vehicle to dealer, replaced tires and had an alignment, but problem still exists. ak tt
11/24/2000		4	02/01/2000
	Speedometer does not operate smoothly. on acceleration or deceleration movement is erratic (jerky); it moves as if it is getting stuck. dealer has replaced the instrument cluster 3 times with no improvement. they now say this operation is 'normal' beacuse it is electronic and computer controlled. they now appear to be unwilling to do anything else to the truck. the suspension pops/clunks when making sharp right turns. it occasionally will also pop when stopping and immediately again upon startup (going straight). the intensity of the noise varies. dealer says they can't find the problem until it gets worse. *ak
		8
	When driving vehicle rattles and makes excessive noises. dealer has seen vehicle 8 times, and can't find a solution. *ak
			12/27/1999
	When the rear window is opened and while driving at a high speed, vehicle vibrates excessively. dealer has seen vehicle, and cannot fix it. *ak
SUSPENSION - FRONT
04/20/2009	99100	1
	The ball joints in 2000 dakotas were recalled on only the 4x4 models. i have a 2000 with 2 wheels drive. the manufacturer sent out a letter saying it was recalled, inspected it and said they were fine. that was at 50,000 miles. now at 99,000 the ball joint disconnected from its unit, causing me to almost crash into a telephone pole. manufacturer will not pay for towing to get seen, and will only replace the ball joint. most of the suspension parts on the side of the defective ball joint were damaged. *tr
07/03/2008	8000
	Tl*the contact owns a 2000 dodge dakota. whenever the contact turns the steering wheel while driving at any speed, the front end of the vehicle pops. she also hears a clanking noise in the front suspension. the contact took the vehicle to a repair shop and was informed of nhtsa campaign id number 04v596000 (suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint). the failure mileage was 8,000.
07/05/2005		1	08/15/2000
	Dt: the contact owns a 2000 dodge dakota. the consumer stated that he had the recall work done for the upper ball joints and that after the recall work was done the vehicle pulled to the right. the vehicle was taken back to the dealer who indicated the vehicle needed a front end alignment which would cost $60. the consumer indicated that he did not have a problem with the vehicle's alignment before the recall work was done. nm jb
01/01/1901		1
	Dodge dakota 2000 consumer states vehicle shakes when brakes are applied. bf the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer because he heard about a recall on the dodge dakota. the dealer explained that the recall was for 4x4 vehicle's only. nm
03/04/2004	40960	2	01/01/2000
	Clunking noise coming from front of auto when driving over uneven surfaces/bumps. front right wheel assembly detached from vehicle at upper ball joint. lower ball joint remained attached. all four ball joints replaces. right brake line replaced. warned of damage to cv shaft, however dealer only replace outer cv boot
12/22/2003	61000		10/10/2000
	Upper and lower balljoint failure in my 2000 dodge dakota,nec to replace balljoint due to excessive wear
04/05/2004	15000	3	03/30/2000
	At approx. 8k miles, pulsing and shimmy started in front end. had to resurface rotors. had to do again later at about 35k. not normal. at 15k reported front end creaks/groans dealer found no problem. at 35k more of the same, dealer replaced front stabilizer/sway bushing. at 38k miles, replaced lower steering column. helped some but still creaking when steering at low speed. at 53k asked again about steering groan. dealer says he could fix for about $1000 (of course out of warranty now! and i've been asking about this since 15k miles). also at 53k, replaced lower ball joints left side and fuel pump. at 59k back in the shop today to replace right ball joints which cause vehicle steering to wander and have badly worn inside right tire. quality of vehicle is lousy and they won't admit it or stand behind it. the rotor and front end problems could be very dangerous because they impair the drivers control of the vehicle. *jb
12/19/2003		1	11/15/1999
	Denial of problem and refusal to resolve front suspension problem. *ak
11/25/2003	49000	1
	My 2000 dodge dakota r/t has just under 50,000 miles and was diagnosed with faulty upper ball joints. along with a slew of front suspension components including tie rods, sway bars, and lower control arms. *la
11/18/2003	75000	1	03/01/2000
	Frequent popping feeling in the steering wheel coming from front suspension. always relates to front suspension up/down movement. several garages have inspected, but cannot locate problem. suspect problem has to do with early sign of ball joint failure. dealer admits history front suspension and ball joint problems in this model. *la
		1	05/13/2000
	When making a stop or turning a corner vehicle made noise in the front end. *ak
09/05/2002			01/01/2000
	I don't have access to vehicle at this time for additional info, accident was vs tree, front end. *ak
01/01/2001		1	08/01/2000
	Front suspension makes a popping noise when the steering wheel is turned and the vehicle's front suspension is compressing and decompressing. the dealer has been notified twice and they state that there is nothing wrong with it (unable to reproduce the problem).*ak
02/03/2001		3
	There was a loud noise in rear axle. manfacturer's representative was sent out and acknowleged the problem,but could not fix it. ak the rear axle was replaced after keeping the vehicle for a period of nine days, come to find out the axle was not replace the axle was just repainted that just justifies that rear axle is noisy the front suspension is the same.jb
12/01/1999		9	12/09/1999
	Consumer noticed a popping sensation coming from front end. ak left front ball joint replaced, steering shaft freplaced, however popping noise still exists. consumer states vehicle pulls to the right and there is tire wear. slc
10/01/2000		10
	Vehicle dies in middle of traffic and backing up intermittently, causing a safety hazard. also, there is a clicking noise coming from left front suspension.ak slc
06/22/2000		1	06/01/2000
	When making a turn under braking, either at turn-in or just before the truck stops, a thump/clunk can be heard from the front end, possibly on the left. 3 visits to the dealer has failed to correct this, although the noise has been acknowleged by technicians.
12/22/1999
	When driving at lower speeds heard a loud noise ,and vehicle jerked or pulled. also, defroster puts a film on the inside of windshield. dealership suggested to clean inside the windshield with wiper fluid. contacted dealer. *ak
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM
12/18/2001	25000	2	04/01/2000
	While driving at 15 mph the consumer turned a corner and the right front wheel snapped off. the dealer found that the upper right ball joint has malfunctioned. this caused considerable damage to the under body of the vehicle. also the right control arm broke after the right ball joint was replaced. *tc
10/01/2003	50000	1	07/01/2003
	I have a safety concern with my front suspension on my 2000 dakota quad cab 4x4. i hear a popping noise coming from the front shock and control arm area. i also notice excessive abnormal wear on recently new tires. i also hear a lot of tire noise when driving and some front end shake.*ak
05/22/2002		1	03/01/2000
	While driving 35 mph vehicle started to shake and could not turn. after stopping and looking at vehicle saw front tie rod had come apart.towed vehicle to dealer who determined tir rod came apart and the upper and lower ball joints are bad.*ak
12/01/1999		9	12/09/1999
	Consumer noticed a popping sensation coming from front end. ak left front ball joint replaced, steering shaft freplaced, however popping noise still exists. consumer states vehicle pulls to the right and there is tire wear. slc
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER ARM
02/15/2001	74800	2	12/01/1999
	Upper and lower control arms failed. the parts were replaced twice. however, the problem still exists. ak mr
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT
02/13/2006	110000	3	03/03/2002
	2000 dodge dakota constant mechanical failure due to the type of rotors, brake pads, and ball joints they use. they use inferior products that do not last on a vehicle based on normal wear and tear. have to constantly replace brake pads and rotors about every 20,000 miles. that is not acceptable. dodge products from the earlier years really suck. i am not sure about the newest models such as 2004 and 2005. *nm
12/01/2004		1
	Consumer received recall 04v596000 concerning ball joint wear in december 2004. consumer contacted 3 dealerships, and was told that they could not get the parts.*ak
02/02/2005		1
	No parts were available for recall campaign 04v596000. concerning ball joints. lithi dodge, 425-255-7220. ak sc *jb
11/01/2004		1
	Consumer was a part of a recall for the ball joint. he contacted the dealer, and was told there were no parts. was told he would be placed on a list. please provide any further information. *ak
01/01/2005		1	11/09/1999
	I own a 1999 dodge dakota 4x4 which has the same problem as the 2000-2003 ball joints problems. consumer wants the vehicle to be included in the recall. bf the front end felt loose with shaking and clunking noises. the consumer was informed that the ball joints were bad and needed to be replaced. this problem caused damage to the front end. the consumer requested reimbursement. recall campaign 04v596000 sc *jb
01/24/2005		1
	The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the upper ball joint recall. the mechanic replaced the upper ball joint and informed the driver that both lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to the parts being dective please provide further details. *jb
11/04/2004	89375	1	09/02/2000
	On the evening of november 4, 2004, the right front tire assembly of my 2000 dodge dakota pickup truck fell off. my 17 year old son was making a right turn into the driveway of a friend's home when he heard a loud bang. when he got out of the truck he found the right front-end of the truck resting on the wheel assembly. the following morning, the truck was towed to a local repair shop that i use for car maintenance and repair. upon arrival at the repair shop, the shop owner told me that the upper ball joint had failed. as a result of the failure, the lower ball joint and outer tie rod were also damaged and had to be replaced. based upon the mileage on the truck, the shop owner told me that the ball joint should not have failed. total cost to repair the upper and lower ball joint and the outer tie rod was $595.67. *nm
12/06/2004		2
	Consumer stated she had to have the lower ball joint, and tie rod replaced. *ak
08/11/2002	48000	1
	Vehicle was taken to the dealer for a routine inspection, and mechanic determined that both frontal lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to worn out parts. *ak
12/28/2004		1
	Nhtsa campaign 04v596000; daimler chrysler issued an upper ball joint recall. this vehicle was included in the recall, but results showed that the lower ball joints needed to be replaced as well. vehicle will not pass inspection if lower ball joints were not repaired. dealer will repair for recall only.*ak
12/23/2004		2	02/23/2000
	Popping and clunking noise coming from front wheels (ball joints) when turning at low speeds. reported to dealer several times, and was told that's common, don't worry about it. i've been reporting it to then each time i bring the vehicle in for service over the last year and they never bothered once to inspect it. now there is a potential recall, and i'm afraid my ball joints won't last till chrysler gets the recall campaign going and will cover the repair/replacemnt costs.*ak
10/20/2003	42000	1
	I bought a 2000 dakota 4x4 used, with 42,000 mi. in oct. 03. went to get a missouri state inspection certificate, i was told upper & lower balljoints were going bad. july 04, truck started to pull to the right.its an expensive repair that i cannot afford right now. i saw a news story on this issue and realized i am not alone. i belive dodge makes a great truck. they should stand behind there name, as well as product.*ak
11/01/2004		2
	Dodge dakota ball joint'; return true; onmouseout=window.status=''; return true;>ball joint'; return true; onmouseout=window.status=''; return true;>ball joint failure twice. replaced ball joint and tie rods'; return true; onmouseout=window.status=''; return true;>tie rods'; return true; onmouseout=window.status=''; return true;>tie rods. tie rod actually broke. bf the consumer sent in a complaint to the nhtsa on line but had trouble. tc
11/18/2004		2	08/15/2003
	Tie rod broke. replaced toe rod and all ball joints. *ak
11/02/2004	78800		11/11/2000
	I have a 2000 dodge dakota. on november 2,2004 while driving on city side streets the front passenger wheel fell off the vehicle. while waiting for a tow truck to arrive, i called the dodge dealership where i purchased my vehicle and was told this would not be covered under warranty. i had my vechile towed to my mechanic who did most of the repairs (totaling about $1,300). he handed me a box with the ball joints from my vehicle and told me to hang onto them. the upper and lower ball joint on both sides needed to be replaced. the cause of the accident was the upper ball joint losing all it's grease (this is supposed to be a sealed unit!), causing undo stress on the joint until it eventually sheared away from the vehicle. i still have to take my vehicle in for some repairs that need to be completed (cv boot replacement and a tie rod that is twisted) - which is estimated to be an additional $400. i do have the ball joints - all in varying degrees of defective damage along with photos of the vehicle at the place of the accident. photos include close up shots of the wheel and ball joint. i have written a letter to dodge corporation as i feel they should pay for the repairs since the parts were obviously defective. this is also a serious safety concern as if this wheel had fallen off my vehicle just 2 miles sooner, i would have been traveling at 65 mph coming down the highway from the rocky mountains! the wreck would have almost certainly killed me!! the wreck would have also taken out any vehicles traveling near me! this is a very serious safety risk.
11/06/2004		2	10/16/2004
	I noticed that my dodge dakota 2000 4 x4 with 39,000 miles was pulling to the right. i took it in to have the alignment adjusted and was told that it could not be performed because the lower ball joint on the front driver side was failing. seems to me that no part of the ball joint should be failing at 39,000 miles. from what little research i've done, there seems to be a widespread problem with dodge dakota/durango ball joint failures. *jb
07/28/2004	43000	1
	Front driver's side upper and lower ball joints failed. *ak
10/20/2004	51085	2	06/04/2000
	I own a 2000 dodge dakota that i bought new. it is a club cab 4x4 with the 4.7l v8 an automatic. the vehicle has never been off road and has just turned 51,000 miles. without warning the pass. side upper and lower ball joints both wore out and needed to be replaced. this of course was not covered under the warranty . luckily i caught the problem before the wheel fell off. i drive approx. 90 miles a day on a major highway and if the wheel would have come off it could have caused a major accident. *jb
10/28/2004	30000	1	04/28/2000
	Upper and lower ball joints are worn to the point of making alignment impossible. alignment shop says condition is dangerous and could result in wheel separation. condition has existed and has worsened since about 30,000 miles. this condition was repeatedly mis-diagnosed by several dodge dealerships until warranty expired. *jb
10/15/2003	55000	2	03/09/2003
	Upper and lower ball joints
08/25/2004		1	06/19/2004
	While driving 30 mph, the vehicle jerked and vibrated uncontrollably. the driver was able to maintain control of the vehicle and pulled over. the vehicle was towed to a body shop. the mechanic informed the driver that the upper and lower ball joint were broken and needed to be replaced. please provide further details. jb the consumer swerved to avoid hitting a deer. after swerving the left front of the vehicle fell to the ground and caused the vehicle to slid into a guard rail. jb
08/18/2004	84000	4	10/10/2003
	Front ball joints fail on a regular and far too often basis. *jb
04/14/2004	63000	1
	While an inspection was performed being performed on the vehicle, it was discovered the ball joints were defective. after searching the web a recall was found. *jb
08/05/2004		1	08/01/2000
	I own a 2000 dodge dakota with just over 75,000 miles on it. on a recent service visit i was informed that my upper and lower ball joints, on both the driver and passenger side need to be replaced. while looking online i saw that this is a recurring problem with the dakota and durango so i wanted to report it.*ak
07/07/2004		3
	While driving at 45 mph ball joints on driver's side exploded underneath the pickup, breaking into bits and pieces. the tire completely disengaged. the axle was bent, and the inner tie rod had to be replaced. ak ts *tc
07/07/2004	50002	1
	While driving at 45 mph the consumer heard a loud bang come from under the vehicle. the consumer saw the wheel from the vehicle roll across the road. the vehicle skidded across the road and ended up in a ditch. the consumer nor the passenger was injured in the accident. a tow truck mechanic informed the consumer that the ball joints collapse on the vehicle. nm nm
05/24/2004		4
	While driving consumer heard a loud noise coming from the front of the vehicle. consumer took the vehicle to the dealership, and mechanic determined that the upper ball joints failed. *ak
05/18/2004	59300	2	11/19/1999
	Ball joints on 2000 dodge dakota 4x4, i have just replaced all ball joint,s on my vehicle, an was just told by a colision busines that i should not have had to pay for it, due to the fact that dodge is hiding the fact of bad ball joints on their vehicles, he also said that at 59000 miles i should not have needed them replaced. *ak
06/10/2004	35000	2
	Consumer complained about a ball joint problem. vehicle was noisy around 35,000 miles . currently, at 50,000 miles the ball joints corroded. consumer took the vehicle to dealer for general maintenance when it was determined that the ball joints were defective. *ak
05/13/2004	115000	1	05/17/2002
	2000 dodge dakota 4x4. while cresting a hill on a maintained gravel road traveling approximately 30 mph brakes were applied. control of vehicle was lost. vehicle struck berm on right side of road and returned to center of road. vehicle stopped after sliding about 50 yards to the bottom of a downgrade. upon exiting vehicle it was found that both front/ left ball joints had failed, causing tire/wheel assy. to buckle underneath vehicle. damage to stearing components and axle also occured. chrysler has been contacted and a rep is being sent to inspect the vehicle. *ak
08/06/2003	19000		07/22/2000
	When replacing tires on my 2000 dakota, i was advised that my ball joints were worn to the point of being unsafe. my vehicle was less than 30 days beyond the expiration of the manufacturer's warranty, and had approximately 19,000 miles on it. i believe both the ball joints and the tires should wear more mileage than that. i also believe the deterioration of the ball joints accelerated the wear of the tires. ball joints have been replaced at my own expense. did not want to wait for a recall at the expense of my family's safety.
03/28/2004	67000	1
	During inspection, the mechanic informwd the consumer that their front lower/upper ball joint were wearing. *jb
06/01/2004	56000	2	09/01/2002
	The consumer had the ball joints''; return true;>ball joints ball joints ' ball joints ball jointsball joints checked and it was confirmed by the dodge dealer that they needed to be replaced. ak there were problems when making sharp turns. sc jb ball joints failed tires fell off. while the consumer was driving the vehicle the ball joints came apart and the many parts were damaged as a result of it. the consumer was told to buy a left inter ' tie rod end'; tie rod end' tie rod end tie rod end tie rod end. she has to buy the whole rack pinon . the vehicle dropped to the ground and skidded 215 feet. the steering box broke off the frame. tc
04/15/2004		1
	While driving 55 mph a loud noise was heard coming from the rear. consumer drove the vehicle to the to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the both frontal upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to worn out parts. *ak
03/16/2004		1	11/01/2002
	At very low mileage, an independent shop replaced the lower and upper ball joints at the consumer's expense. ak jb
		1
	Consumer serviced the vehicle, and a technician determined that ball joints became loose. *ak
		1
	The front of vehicle experienced vibration. after having vehicle serviced consumer was told that the ball joints needed replacement. *ak
11/27/2002	31450	1	05/01/2000
	At 31450 miles dealership replaced lower ball joint and left upper ball joint. ak la
		1	03/21/2000
	Consumer indicates there is a lot of play in the front wheels, and can hear a popping noise while driving. consumer feels this may be related to ball joint problem, and the wheel may come off. *ak
03/08/2004	60000	1
	Consumer stated that ball joints were popping so badly that he was afraid to drive the vehicle. when he made a turn either right of left it sounded as if the wheel was coming off. this problem started at 60,000 miles.*ak
07/15/2003		1
	Noise felt in front suspension when turning - especially with left turns. took to dealer and they were unable to reproduce problem. took to a different dealer a few months later and they told me i needed new upper ball joints. i took it to a different dealer and was told that i needed new lower ball joints. i have replaced the lower ball joints for a little over $600! i still can't afford to replace the upper ball joints and i am still feeling a slight thump when turning. this problem is so common with this vehicle and i am mad at dodge for not recalling. i read a report on 60 minutes about ball joint problems causing tires to fall off vehicles during driving. what a dangerous thing to happen. i think of this everyday as i drive on the highway. what would happen if my tires fell of on the highway while driving over 60 mph? i hope dodge gets some sense and does a recall on this! here is the link to the article: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/03/03/eveningnews/main603833.shtml *jb
02/26/2004	75000	2	08/26/2000
	While driving consumer heard a loud popping noise coming from the upper ball joints. consumer had the problem repaired. ak mr
03/04/2004		1
	While driving 15 mph, a squeaking noise was heard coming from the front. the driver drove the vehicle to the dealer for inspection. the mechanic informed the driver that the upper ball joints needed replacing due to worn parts. please fill in additional information
01/12/2002	27492	2
	While driving there was a popping metal noise in the front end. dealership replaced the upper then the lower ball joints because they were worn out. ak the ball joints were replaced at 27k miles and again at 65k miles. sc
03/04/2004		1
	Dealer replaced lower ball joints at 60,000 miles. *ak
02/26/2004	55000	1	11/03/1999
	Had to replace lower ball joint at 55,000 miles. *ak
		1
	While driving the front of vehicle vibrated severely. consumer replaced the tires, but mechanic told her they could not do an alignment due to ball joint failure. *ak
06/20/2003	51236	1	09/25/1999
	Premature failure of right front upper control arm balljoint and lower balljoint (50,000 miles). *ak
09/04/2003	60000	2	12/04/1999
	Replacement of both lower ball joints at my expense because they were loose.*ak
		1
	Consumer saw on news about vehicle manufacturer's ball joint problems where joints are prematurely braking allowing the assembly and the wheel to come loose on dodge dakota pickup trucks. la mr
	70000	1
	Consumer complained about a ball joint problem. *ak
01/28/2004		1
	Bad ball joints failed. *ak
	38000	1
	The vehicle was taken to a repair shop for front alignment. during the repairs mechanic determined that the upper and lower ball joints were worn out and had to be replaced. *ak
	72000	1
	The left front wheel separated and came off while driving. this was due to premature wear of the ball joints because of poor lubrication. the part was replaced, but currently they were loose.*ak
01/09/2004	63505	1	01/01/2003
	Upon servicing the vehicle technician inspected ball joints and noticed all four ball joints were worn out, and needed to be replaced. ak mr
01/09/2004		1
	Consumer took vehicle to the dealer for routine maintenance, and mechanic noticed that both upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to worn out parts.*ak
12/16/2003	4800	1
	While driving at any speed consumer heard a clanking sound when turning corners. vehicle was taken to a dealer, who found that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. ak mr
	10000	2	04/12/2000
	Tie rods and ball joints failed prematurely, causing the left front tire to blow out at 10,000 miles. also, the rim was destroyed. *ak
	35000	1
	While driving the vehicle hit a bump and jumped off the road. the dealer determined that the upper/lower ball joints and the left outer tie rod end was worn out and must be replaced. please provide any additional information. *nm
04/01/2000	5000	2	10/20/1999
	I have a poping noise in the front end of the vehicle (2000 dakota) this has happened since about 5000 miles , i have 50,000 on it now. i still have the problem with more frequency, it definitely sounds like the ball joint issue. we have to do something about this before some is killed, what if is was your son or daughter riding in these vehicles what would you want done. also i have had the brake rotors turned once and replaced and now they are warped again.*ak
10/03/2002	38000	1	07/27/2000
	Complaint regarding the failure of the ball joints on my 2000 dodge dakota pick up.*ak
12/23/2003	65000	1
	Vehicle was taken to the dealer for routine maintenance. the mechanic at the dealer indicated that all four ball joints failed prematurely and need to be replaced soon. please provide any additional information. *nlm
12/19/2003		1	04/15/2000
	My dodge dakota 2000, is shaking the front wheels and i discovered that my upper and lower ball joints are cracked. the dealer main street dodge told me they will not repair this problem free because dodge do not recall this vehicles. i offered to buy the parts and do the work myself if they tell me what is the name of these and they said they will charge me for this service of identifying the parts, too.*ak
11/20/2003	36900	1	06/25/2002
	Premature failure of upper and lower ball joints on right front side.*ak
12/18/2003	27196	2	06/01/2000
	Upper lower balljoint corrosion: i took my dakota r/t in for a popping sound that was coming from the front end. i was told by your service rep at the dealer that there was nothing wrong with my front end. i took my dakota to a local mechanic, he told me that both my upper and lower ball joints were close to failure. i returned to henderson dodge with my dakota and the service dept still told me there was nothing wrong with my front end. i cannot drive my dakota anymore due to the front end. i am very dissatisfied with dodges product. when will you'll stand up and back your products???? *ak
	37000	1
	Vehicle was taken to repair shop to get a wheel alignment. consumer was told that the alignment could not be done because the ball joints were worn out. *ak
12/18/2003	32000	1	05/28/2003
	Upper left ball joints were detached and the upper right ball joints were loose. consumer had both sides replaced. ak mr
12/01/2003		1
	Consumer heard a noise coming from the left front tire. consumer took the vehicle to gas station, and mechanic noticed that both upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to corrosion. *ak
11/30/2003	56000	1	01/01/2000
	While rotating tires right front tire fell off with the lug nuts still in place. this occurred after consumer jacked the vehicle up. ball joints split down the middle. prior to this incident, front end would bounce upon coming to a complete stop. ak 2000 dodge dakota passenger front tire fell off of vehicle during wheel rotation. the result of this occurence was due to the ball joints being spilt down the middle. the regular method of checking the ball joints did not reveal a defect.mr
11/19/2003	42000	1	10/22/1999
	2000 dodge dakota sport 42,000 miles, ball joints need replacement. *la
10/11/2003	47000	1	06/04/2000
	When having new tires put on my 2000 dodge dakota, they advised me that the eft front tie rod was loose. i contacted the dealer and got an appointment to have it looked at. they looked at it and said the tie rod was loose as well as the upper and lower ball joints. they said the ball joints were on national back order due to problems with other dodge models (durango). they would contact me when the parts came in. they called yesterday (11-18-03). i have an appointment for next tuesday, 11-25-03, to have it fixed. i have the extended warranty on my truck, and i only have 47,000+ miles on it. the warranty will pay for all but the $100 deductible and the $49.95 for the subsequent alignment that will be necessary. with all of the similar problems you have had with the dakotas, durangos, jeeps, etc. i feel like this should be a recall issue and that i should not have to pay for any of it. my husband says suspension problems like this shouldn't occur in vehicles with this low mileage. i do not use this vehicle hard. it does not pull anything, and it does not carry heavy loads. i am the only owner.*ak
08/15/2001	27500	1	08/01/2001
	2000 dodge dakota, bought with 27,200 miles, ball joints progressively gotten worse in two years time and unable to replace parts vehicle now has 74,000 miles a vehicle this young should not have this type of problems. *la
08/10/2003		3	07/16/2000
	I am having my ball joints replaced for the third time. i have a friend who has the exact same vehicle, and they have had theirs done four times. i also know at least three other people with same truck (year,make,model) that have had this same problem multiple times. this is not mere coinicidence- something is wrong with the suspension of these trucks.*ak
08/11/2003	60000	1
	Consumer states both upper ball and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. vehicle was running without warranty. dealer notified. ak ts
11/20/2002	34900	2	06/07/2002
	I have a 2000 dodge dakota, i have been to the dealer a countless amount of times complaining about my from, every from noise to instability, excessive bounce. i am given every excuse in the world about this problem , i have even told them what it is , the ball joints, the tell me that it wheell and they replaced them, but have same trbl over and over again , i believe something jsut need to be done, it you need professional advise or complaint go to dodgedakotas.com. *ak
03/15/2001	1100	3	11/07/1999
	2000 dodge dakota,4.7l aout transmission/upper control arm ball joint assembly defective.replaced at 1.100 miles,lower control arm assembly ball joint came apart at 9,200 wheel came off. *ak
03/25/2003		1
	The lower ball joint snapped in half. *jb
11/16/2002	38000	1	08/30/2000
	Ball joints failed. *nlm
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER ARM
02/15/2001	74800	2	12/01/1999
	Upper and lower control arms failed. the parts were replaced twice. however, the problem still exists. ak mr
06/20/2002	49476	1	12/21/1999
	Kept feeling a vibration in the steering and an occasional clung. took it into the dealer who diagnosed it to be a loose upper ball joint. the dealer replaced the upper left control arm and problem was resolved, but at my expense. i have been hearing about balljoint problems on these vehicles so i thought i would file a complaint to add my problem to the list.*ak
10/31/2003	28832	1	04/17/2002
	Upper control arms loose, defective, plus steering linkage needs to be replaced. *la
08/12/2003		1
	Consumer states that upper control arm has failed.*ak
08/25/2001		2
	During normal operation there was a noise coming from front of vehicle. dealership examined vehicle, and determined upper left ball joint and upper left control arm were beginning to separate. dealership performed repairs, but problem occurred again as consumer was driving away from dealership. second incident resulted when mechanic failed to tighten bolts, allowing problem to reappear. please provide any additional information/ attachments*ak.
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT
01/01/2006	95000	100	11/01/1999
	Tl*the contact owns a 2000 dodge dakota. the contact heard a clunking noise when he drove over a bump in the road. he noticed that the steering wheel was loose when he attempted to turn the vehicle. the dealer replaced the upper ball joint. the failure occurred immediately after the upper ball joint was replaced. the dealer performed a wheel alignment and stated that the front end was out of symmetry. the dealer stated that the lower ball joints needed to be replaced. the dealer replaced the lower ball joints, rotors, calipers, and tires. however, the failure persists. the current mileage is 101,000 and failure mileage was 95,000.
02/28/2007	71528	1	04/30/2000
	Noise from engine compartment and vibration from steering wheel. sounds as if power steering pump was low on fluid. makes a load noise when steering became difficult to steer. drove short distance to repair facility and was shocked that the high pressure hoses had split. also the rack and pinion steering will have to be rebuilt if possible if not replaced. also a boot was torn and has to be replaced. work has not been started as i find it is necessary to get more than one estimate. the local garage wants in excess of $1200 for the repairs while the dealer wants over $2000. approximately 12 months ago i had the upper ball joints replaced under warranty and had to get a front end alignment at an extra charge. no visual signs of wear was noticed. *jb
07/06/2000	4000	2	07/06/2000
	I own a 2000 dodge dakota 2wd. there are defective ball joints on the front end. there was a recall on 4wd dakotas, however, there has been no recall for the ball joints on the 2wd models. there was an extended warranty that was silently (as in i never knew there was an issue) on the ball joints on the 2wd models. i have had 6 years of continuous trouble with the front end of the vehicle (i bought it brand new 07/2000). as in i have replaced the rotors on the front end at least every 3 months for the first 18 months of owning it. i have had it aligned (front and rear alignments) over a half dozen times. all work done in the first 18 months was done at the dealer, who should have been, and probably was made aware of the issue. after 18 months of paying to fix the problem (out of my own pocket because dodge's warranty isn't worth the paper it's written on) i conceded defeat (and took the word of the dealer) that nothing was wrong, and there was nothing to worry about but maintaining the rotors and purchasing new tires ever 12-16 months. when made aware of the problem, dodge is unwilling to correct the defect. if no one has died, there is no problem. let all buyers beware, safety is not always the most important issue. *jb
10/01/2004		1
	Consumer complaint regarding upper ball joint recall (04v-596000)that caused possible collision and death of passenger. ts nm
02/13/2006	110000	3	03/03/2002
	2000 dodge dakota constant mechanical failure due to the type of rotors, brake pads, and ball joints they use. they use inferior products that do not last on a vehicle based on normal wear and tear. have to constantly replace brake pads and rotors about every 20,000 miles. that is not acceptable. dodge products from the earlier years really suck. i am not sure about the newest models such as 2004 and 2005. *nm
07/05/2005		1	08/15/2000
	Dt: the contact owns a 2000 dodge dakota. the consumer stated that he had the recall work done for the upper ball joints and that after the recall work was done the vehicle pulled to the right. the vehicle was taken back to the dealer who indicated the vehicle needed a front end alignment which would cost $60. the consumer indicated that he did not have a problem with the vehicle's alignment before the recall work was done. nm jb
03/18/2003	85000	1	07/15/2001
	2000 dodoge dakota - immediate, catastophic failue of upper ball joint. vehicle operated fine just days before then suddenly loud clunkomg and steering pull to the right. tandard auto parts houses do not carry the proper parts - citing dodge says you must replace the entire lower control arm.*ak
11/29/2004	42050	1
	'recall campaign' dodge dakota 2000, consumer replaced ball joints . bf the consumer was notified by phone that he would be reimbursed for the ball joints which failed. the tie rods also had to be replaced and consumer feels he should be reimbursed for that as well. nm
01/31/2005		2
	While servicing vehicle for nhtsa recall campaign 04v596000 concerning upper ball joints it was determined that inner tie rods were bad due to wear.*ak
03/01/2005		1
	' recall campaign' issued for 2000 dodge dakota 4x4 for upper ball joints, parts not available. bf recall# 04v596000. sc *jb
02/02/2005		1
	No parts were available for recall campaign 04v596000. concerning ball joints. lithi dodge, 425-255-7220. ak sc *jb
10/08/2003		1
	Nhtsa recall campaign 04v596000; daimler chrysler issued an upper ball joint recall. this vehicle was not included in the recall due to vin, but the front right tire fell off at 55 mph. *ak
08/11/2004		1	12/10/2003
	Recall campaign 04v596000 concerning ball joint wear. unable to get the dealer to honor the recall. consumer stated, it has been over three months. *ak
12/22/2004	52000	2
	While driving 30 mph the upper ball joints failed. as a result, the steering also failed, causing the vehicle to crash into a guard rail. no injuries reported. *ak
01/01/2005		1	11/09/1999
	I own a 1999 dodge dakota 4x4 which has the same problem as the 2000-2003 ball joints problems. consumer wants the vehicle to be included in the recall. bf the front end felt loose with shaking and clunking noises. the consumer was informed that the ball joints were bad and needed to be replaced. this problem caused damage to the front end. the consumer requested reimbursement. recall campaign 04v596000 sc *jb
01/01/2005		1
	Dealer has not had parts for three weeks. this is for nhtsa's recall # 04v596000 regarding ball joints. *nm
11/04/2004	89375	1	09/02/2000
	On the evening of november 4, 2004, the right front tire assembly of my 2000 dodge dakota pickup truck fell off. my 17 year old son was making a right turn into the driveway of a friend's home when he heard a loud bang. when he got out of the truck he found the right front-end of the truck resting on the wheel assembly. the following morning, the truck was towed to a local repair shop that i use for car maintenance and repair. upon arrival at the repair shop, the shop owner told me that the upper ball joint had failed. as a result of the failure, the lower ball joint and outer tie rod were also damaged and had to be replaced. based upon the mileage on the truck, the shop owner told me that the ball joint should not have failed. total cost to repair the upper and lower ball joint and the outer tie rod was $595.67. *nm
04/15/2003	38000		01/17/2002
	I have had wobbling on the freeway and had to replace both upper ball joints and one lower one to get the problem corrected. my 2000 4x2 dakota only has 45,000 miles on it and i replaced the first joint at 38,000. i have sent a letter to chrysler requesting reimbursement for parts and labor and am awaiting a response. *nm
09/03/2004	105000	1	09/18/2000
	The state vehicle inspection station was inspecting the vehicle. the inspector informed the consumer that the vehicle failed the inspection because both upper ball joints needed to be replaced. the dealer was notified, and informed the consumer that this vehicle was not covered under that recall.*ak
01/08/2005	115000	1
	The upper ball joints wore out prematurely on the passenger's side. *ak
01/07/2004		1
	Nhtsa recall 04v596000 concerning ball joint wear. consumer contacted the dealer, and was informed that the next available appointment would be may 07, 2005. ak nm
10/05/2003	55000	1
	While driving 20 mph front passenger side wheel separated. dealer stated the upper ball joints failed. *ak
01/05/2005	104000	1
	Consumer took the vehicle to dealer for nhtsa recall 04v596000 concerning ball joint replacement. after retrieving the vehicle and arriving home the driver's side front rim cracked, and the tire was ruined. consumer was told that lugs: nuts were placed on too tightly. the dealer denied that any ting was wrong. *ak
01/03/2005		1
	Nhtsa campaign 04v596000; daimler chrysler issued an upper ball joint recall. this vehicle was included in the recall, but there were no appointments available until april, which could be dangerous for the vehicle to be driven.*ak
12/30/2004	60000	1
	Vehicle experienced upper ball joints problems. in the process the lower ball joints were being effected by the defect of the upper ball joints. consumer made an appointment with the dealers for thursday january 6, 2005. *ak
12/28/2004		1
	Nhtsa campaign 04v596000; daimler chrysler issued an upper ball joint recall. this vehicle was included in the recall, but results showed that the lower ball joints needed to be replaced as well. vehicle will not pass inspection if lower ball joints were not repaired. dealer will repair for recall only.*ak
12/01/2004
	My 2000 dodge dakota r/t 5.9 is making a loud chunk noise in the front suspension. the current recall only involves 4x4 models and my vehicle is a 4x2 so it is not included. my truck has the same exact problem and i feel unsafe. i believe that this problem will result in an accident of some type. *nm
12/23/2004		2	02/23/2000
	Popping and clunking noise coming from front wheels (ball joints) when turning at low speeds. reported to dealer several times, and was told that's common, don't worry about it. i've been reporting it to then each time i bring the vehicle in for service over the last year and they never bothered once to inspect it. now there is a potential recall, and i'm afraid my ball joints won't last till chrysler gets the recall campaign going and will cover the repair/replacemnt costs.*ak
12/14/2004	92000	1
	Upper ball joints on my vehicle have failed and daimler chrysler refuses to repair and also refuses to agree to a re-embursment when a recall does come out affecting my vehicle. i own a 2000 dodge dakota r/t two wheel drive regular cab pickup truck. *ak
07/11/2004	50000	2	02/12/2002
	My wife drives a 2000 dodge dakota club cab 2 wheel drive i drive a 1999 dakota 2 wheel drive. for months my wife's truck had a popping noise from the left front end it was examined and nothing was found wrong we kept driving it,the popping got much worse and the steering wheel would jerk to the left. on one occasion we heard a much louder pop we pulled back in the driveway i jacked up the front left of the truck to look under, once the weight came off the front end side, the whole wheel fell to the ground. after examination i found that the upper arm ball joint assembly had separated. the socket was rusted very worn,and did not conform to the ball. the ball was very worn rusted and miss shaped the rubber boot was worn and pieces missing. the ball joint assembly was replaced (we kept the old part)my 1999 dakota exhibits the same problem as my wife's and continues to get worse. we are still hearing a popping noise from my wife's truck the same as before. we had heard of this problem a year ago on cbs news and contacted daimler chrysler many times and have not heard back. on 12-9-04 the federal gov.ordered a recall,on 2000-2003 durangos 4x4 and dakotas with 4 wheel drive.our trucks are 2 wheel drive and prove that the problem exists on other non 4 wheel drive trucks. *jb
11/12/2004	5	1	10/15/2002
	My 2000 dodge dakota would not pass for inspection due to upper ball joints so i had them repaired. when i got my dodge dakota back about a week later the lower ball joint on the driver side broke and caused a crash. when the ball joint broke it caused the front of my truck to drop down onto the frame and breaking my axle, bursting my tire and bending a spindle and breaking my shock. i was lucky that i was in the parking lot of where i worked at the time of the accident. *jb
12/03/2004	60000	1	04/12/2003
	I have a 2000 dodge dakota 2wd club cab pickup. the ball joint on the upper right side went bad at 60000 miles. i know there is an investigation involving the 4 wheel drive version of this truck and i was wanting to show that there is also a problem with the 2wd version also. on first inspection by the dealer i was told the ball joint was not bad. this occurred because the mechanic working on the truck did not know you couldn't check ball joint wear while the truck was on a twin post lift with the wheel hanging free. after i showed them how to do it they agreed it was bad. after calling dodge they told me it would not be covered because it was out of warranty and i was not the original owner. i bought the part from them and did the repair myself. i called dodge myself and they have offered to reimburse the part cost if i send in the invoice. *jb
12/11/2004		1
	Recall 2000-2004 4x4 dakotas/durangos hey, what's up with only 4x4s???? two wheel drive dakotas and durangos have the same ball joints as the 4x4s. why do i have to wait to see if my wheels fall off before the 100,000 mile guarantee being offered on mine is up? what's this nonsense it only happens at lower speeds, not high speeds. this is totally unacceptable and is dc way of saving money. perhaps the government only investigated the 4x4s since they are the most popular vehicles (i.e., 600,000 4x4 versus 200,000 two wheel drive) never giving a thought to those of us who do not own the 4x4 versions. *jb
10/20/2003	42000	1
	I bought a 2000 dakota 4x4 used, with 42,000 mi. in oct. 03. went to get a missouri state inspection certificate, i was told upper & lower balljoints were going bad. july 04, truck started to pull to the right.its an expensive repair that i cannot afford right now. i saw a news story on this issue and realized i am not alone. i belive dodge makes a great truck. they should stand behind there name, as well as product.*ak
12/09/2004		1	06/10/2000
	Per mechanic upper ball joints worn out.*ak
11/12/2004	36703	1	11/03/1999
	On 11/12/04 i brought my 2000 dodge dakota, extended cab, 4x4 , with 36,703 miles, in for a routine front end allignment. the mechanic showed me that the right upper ball joint was bad. i had it replaced. the cost was parts: 92.39, labor: 96.00. today, i heard on the news that you are currently conducting an investigation into this problem.*ak
12/10/2004		1
	I have a 2000 dodge dakota 2wd with bad ball joints. the 2 wheel drive and 4 wheel drive have the same defective ball joints.*ak
12/06/2004		1
	The front ball joints are making a popping noise, causing the wheel to shkae and rust to fall off. dealer was informed by consumer for repairs.*ak
06/15/2002	40000	1
	Premature wear of factory ball joints on my 2000 dodge dakota and water leak that fills up my passenger side floorboard. dealer has never been able to find water leak problem.*ak
12/04/2004	35000	2	05/11/2000
	Subject vehicle: 2000 dodge dakota r/t, iles: 49000; usage: daily driver-city/hwy only; complaint: excessive upper ball joint play early failure. *ak at approximately 35,000 miles i noticed a slight clicking sound coming from the front right suspension. i lubed the front end using the appropriate tool and grease nipples but found that there was no fitting on the upper ball joint. the clicking sound progressed to clunking over the next 10000 miles and on inspection i found excessive play in the upper front suspension on both sides of the vehicle. the left side being the most egregious. in addition i started to notice wandering in the steering track of the vehicle at higher speeds. i focused my attention on the upper ball joint assembly's and have since replaced both. the symptom has cleared. i have had an assortment of problems with this vehicle this having the most potential for catastrophic failure. your attention to this problem would be appreciated james daly
11/18/2004		2	08/15/2003
	Tie rod broke. replaced toe rod and all ball joints. *ak
06/01/2004	40000	1	01/08/2000
	Both upper ball joints are loose requiring replacement. *jb
11/02/2004	78800		11/11/2000
	I have a 2000 dodge dakota. on november 2,2004 while driving on city side streets the front passenger wheel fell off the vehicle. while waiting for a tow truck to arrive, i called the dodge dealership where i purchased my vehicle and was told this would not be covered under warranty. i had my vechile towed to my mechanic who did most of the repairs (totaling about $1,300). he handed me a box with the ball joints from my vehicle and told me to hang onto them. the upper and lower ball joint on both sides needed to be replaced. the cause of the accident was the upper ball joint losing all it's grease (this is supposed to be a sealed unit!), causing undo stress on the joint until it eventually sheared away from the vehicle. i still have to take my vehicle in for some repairs that need to be completed (cv boot replacement and a tie rod that is twisted) - which is estimated to be an additional $400. i do have the ball joints - all in varying degrees of defective damage along with photos of the vehicle at the place of the accident. photos include close up shots of the wheel and ball joint. i have written a letter to dodge corporation as i feel they should pay for the repairs since the parts were obviously defective. this is also a serious safety concern as if this wheel had fallen off my vehicle just 2 miles sooner, i would have been traveling at 65 mph coming down the highway from the rocky mountains! the wreck would have almost certainly killed me!! the wreck would have also taken out any vehicles traveling near me! this is a very serious safety risk.
11/08/2004		2
	While driving steering wheel jumped on its on. consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and took it to the dealer for inspection. mechanic determined that the rack and pinion steering and upper ball joint needed to be replaced. *ak
07/28/2004	43000	1
	Front driver's side upper and lower ball joints failed. *ak
11/01/2004	57750	1	07/28/2000
	Failure of upper ball joint. 2000 dodge dakota. discovered during a tire purchase. having fixed at dealership. wear is premature.*ak
10/20/2004	51085	2	06/04/2000
	I own a 2000 dodge dakota that i bought new. it is a club cab 4x4 with the 4.7l v8 an automatic. the vehicle has never been off road and has just turned 51,000 miles. without warning the pass. side upper and lower ball joints both wore out and needed to be replaced. this of course was not covered under the warranty . luckily i caught the problem before the wheel fell off. i drive approx. 90 miles a day on a major highway and if the wheel would have come off it could have caused a major accident. *jb
10/28/2004	30000	1	04/28/2000
	Upper and lower ball joints are worn to the point of making alignment impossible. alignment shop says condition is dangerous and could result in wheel separation. condition has existed and has worsened since about 30,000 miles. this condition was repeatedly mis-diagnosed by several dodge dealerships until warranty expired. *jb
10/15/2003	55000	2	03/09/2003
	Upper and lower ball joints
07/10/2004		2
	Upper ball joints prematurely wore out. fell apart during changing of ball joints. *ak
10/03/2004	50000	1	11/06/1999
	There were no warning signs leading up to the upper ball joint failing, and the front left tire folding over, causing the truck slow quickly and pull to the right. so far the dealership has not called with any repair prices. *ak
08/25/2004		1	06/19/2004
	While driving 30 mph, the vehicle jerked and vibrated uncontrollably. the driver was able to maintain control of the vehicle and pulled over. the vehicle was towed to a body shop. the mechanic informed the driver that the upper and lower ball joint were broken and needed to be replaced. please provide further details. jb the consumer swerved to avoid hitting a deer. after swerving the left front of the vehicle fell to the ground and caused the vehicle to slid into a guard rail. jb
08/24/2004	35000	3	10/02/1999
	At 72,000 miles had the upper ball joints'; return true; onmouseout=window.status=''; return true;>ball joints replaced three times. ak tc
08/18/2004	30000	1	05/03/2002
	8/18/04: my son was driving west bound on 2nd ave (tx hwy 22). just prior to turning left from 15th st (also hwy 22), he heard a popping noise in the front end of the truck. after traveling approximately 2 blocks, his front driver side wheel fell off, causing him to lose control and pull to the left across three lanes of traffic. fortunately, he did not hit a car and came to rest in a parking lot for an a/c company. although the damage is being fixed under an extended warranty, chrysler and the dealership (berry chrysler/jeep/dodge, corsicana, tx) are refusing to replace the tire that was dragged on its sidewall approximately 200ft; the tire was pinned under the truck. the cause of the accident was two broken ball joints on that wheel. i orignally believed this problem to be faulty craftsmanship on the dealership which had repaired another problem on that wheel a year ago; the brake caliper fell off. i now believe this to be the manufacturer as many dakotas and durangos have been reported with the same problem and often similar consequences.l. *ak
08/18/2004	84000	4	10/10/2003
	Front ball joints fail on a regular and far too often basis. *jb
08/11/2004	62200	1	10/06/2000
	While making a left turn, the right front passenger tire fell off. after towing the vehicle it was discovered that ball joints were defective. ak the mechanic stated that the problem was the upper ball joint. sc
07/26/2004	97000	2
	Driver's side front wheel separated and fell off while driving at 10 mph. no injuries or damage were sustained because of the low speed being driven at the time of the incident. this occurred because front upper ball joint and tie rod separated and fell off. *ak
08/05/2004		1	08/01/2000
	I own a 2000 dodge dakota with just over 75,000 miles on it. on a recent service visit i was informed that my upper and lower ball joints, on both the driver and passenger side need to be replaced. while looking online i saw that this is a recurring problem with the dakota and durango so i wanted to report it.*ak
03/04/2004	40960	2	01/01/2000
	Clunking noise coming from front of auto when driving over uneven surfaces/bumps. front right wheel assembly detached from vehicle at upper ball joint. lower ball joint remained attached. all four ball joints replaces. right brake line replaced. warned of damage to cv shaft, however dealer only replace outer cv boot
07/01/2004		1
	Email consumer letter add to odi number 10051116 regarding upper ball joints on 2000 dodge dakota.mr the consumer stated his vehicle exhibited a popping noise. jb *sc
07/07/2004		3
	While driving at 45 mph ball joints on driver's side exploded underneath the pickup, breaking into bits and pieces. the tire completely disengaged. the axle was bent, and the inner tie rod had to be replaced. ak ts *tc
07/07/2004	50002	1
	While driving at 45 mph the consumer heard a loud bang come from under the vehicle. the consumer saw the wheel from the vehicle roll across the road. the vehicle skidded across the road and ended up in a ditch. the consumer nor the passenger was injured in the accident. a tow truck mechanic informed the consumer that the ball joints collapse on the vehicle. nm nm
05/24/2004		4
	While driving consumer heard a loud noise coming from the front of the vehicle. consumer took the vehicle to the dealership, and mechanic determined that the upper ball joints failed. *ak
05/18/2004	59300	2	11/19/1999
	Ball joints on 2000 dodge dakota 4x4, i have just replaced all ball joint,s on my vehicle, an was just told by a colision busines that i should not have had to pay for it, due to the fact that dodge is hiding the fact of bad ball joints on their vehicles, he also said that at 59000 miles i should not have needed them replaced. *ak
06/10/2004	35000	2
	Consumer complained about a ball joint problem. vehicle was noisy around 35,000 miles . currently, at 50,000 miles the ball joints corroded. consumer took the vehicle to dealer for general maintenance when it was determined that the ball joints were defective. *ak
06/03/2004	92000	1
	While driving at 20 mph out of a driveway right front wheel detached from the vehicle and rolled down the road. vehicle was damaged on the bumper and the under carriage. ak tc
05/28/2004	78200	1	10/01/2002
	2000 dodge dakota 78200 miles front right tire shimmied/shook at speeds from 40 mph on up. no noise or popping sounds heard. front end would jump around if a pot hole was hit going around a turn. took truck in for alignment & tire balancing. service tech found upper right ball joint was worn out. had ball joints replaced. tech removed boot from ball joint and found that no lubricant was present in the sealed boot, and that joint was loose. *la
05/09/2004	49000	1	10/07/2001
	I was going down the highway, doing about 60 mph when the right upper ball joint on my 2000 dodge dakota failed causing the whole tire assembly to fall off. the truck started to spin across three lanes off traffic, the truck started to turn on its side until it hit the guard rail causing it to land on the three tires that were left on the truck. after taking the truck to the body shop there was a total of $11,000.00 damage done to the truck, as of right now it is still in the shop getting fixed. *nm
05/13/2004	115000	1	05/17/2002
	2000 dodge dakota 4x4. while cresting a hill on a maintained gravel road traveling approximately 30 mph brakes were applied. control of vehicle was lost. vehicle struck berm on right side of road and returned to center of road. vehicle stopped after sliding about 50 yards to the bottom of a downgrade. upon exiting vehicle it was found that both front/ left ball joints had failed, causing tire/wheel assy. to buckle underneath vehicle. damage to stearing components and axle also occured. chrysler has been contacted and a rep is being sent to inspect the vehicle. *ak
08/06/2003	19000		07/22/2000
	When replacing tires on my 2000 dakota, i was advised that my ball joints were worn to the point of being unsafe. my vehicle was less than 30 days beyond the expiration of the manufacturer's warranty, and had approximately 19,000 miles on it. i believe both the ball joints and the tires should wear more mileage than that. i also believe the deterioration of the ball joints accelerated the wear of the tires. ball joints have been replaced at my own expense. did not want to wait for a recall at the expense of my family's safety.
03/28/2004	67000	1
	During inspection, the mechanic informwd the consumer that their front lower/upper ball joint were wearing. *jb
06/01/2004	56000	2	09/01/2002
	The consumer had the ball joints''; return true;>ball joints ball joints ' ball joints ball jointsball joints checked and it was confirmed by the dodge dealer that they needed to be replaced. ak there were problems when making sharp turns. sc jb ball joints failed tires fell off. while the consumer was driving the vehicle the ball joints came apart and the many parts were damaged as a result of it. the consumer was told to buy a left inter ' tie rod end'; tie rod end' tie rod end tie rod end tie rod end. she has to buy the whole rack pinon . the vehicle dropped to the ground and skidded 215 feet. the steering box broke off the frame. tc
05/02/2003	67450	1	10/27/2000
	Had seen a news story regarding 2000 dodge dakota upper ball joint failures where front wheel would come off. i suspected mine were making clunking noises so i asked the dealer to check them at about 62,000 miles. i told them i had had heard of complaints/possible issues related to this problem. they indicated they were ok. on may 2nd ( at ~67,000 miles), while jacking the front end up to check brakes and rotate tires, the upper ball joint completely dropped out of the socket on the front passenger side wheel. i consider myself very fortunate, this ball joint didn't pop out while driving. i am furious that chrysler hasn't recalled (that i am aware of), or at least sent out a service bulletin on this problem. *ak
04/12/2004	50000	2
	Upper ball joints wore out prematurely. *ak
04/15/2004		1
	While driving 55 mph a loud noise was heard coming from the rear. consumer drove the vehicle to the to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the both frontal upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to worn out parts. *ak
04/13/2004	49075		04/09/2000
	2000 dodge dakota sport 49,000 miles, need both upper ball joints replaced. upon hearing about this problem, i took it into the dealer to have it checked prior to going on a trip. after the dealer looked at the truck, they said the right wheel was about ready to fall off and the left was bad as well. they said they would not drive it across town. they provided me a car to drive until they fix it. dodge needs to perform a recall on these and fix the problem for good. i'm am concerned that it will just happen again later, just like some of the other reports of needing replacement multiple times. if they don't do a recall, it will not only effect my wallet, but also future buying decisions. i want a company to stand behind their product. i think the resale value would also be effected if a recall is not done.
04/06/2004	20000		04/08/2000
	I own a 2000 dodge dakota, and have noticed a popping noise on the dirvers side front end. i have since determined that it is in fact the upper ball joint that is badly worn, and has an extreme amount of play in it. i understand that this is becomming a growing problem and wanted to add to it in hopes of getting it replaced before my front wheel falls off. *ak
02/25/2004	55746	4	07/23/1999
	During routine brake maintenance, dealership warned that upper ball joints are loose and upper control bushings are cracked and both are in urgent need of replacing. vehicle mileage was at 55,746. ball joints are supposed to last to 100,000 miles. vehicle is secondary family vehicle and only driven freeway with no towing, heavy loads, or hauling. if vehicle was not maintained regularly this defect would have been missed and serious harm or death to pregnant wife, 7 year old, and myself would have occurred due to the nature and severity of defect. *jb
11/18/2003	48153	1	05/01/2003
	While driving over bumps at any speed, the consumer could hear a rattling sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. the consumer can also feel a thumping sensation coming through the steering wheel. the vehicle was taken to a mechanic who replaced the left upper ball joint. nm nm
03/18/2004		1
	While the tires were being rotated mechanic found that the upper ball joints wore out prematurely. mechanic informed the consumer about the upper ball joints, and recommended that vehicle should not be driven. *ak
03/16/2004		1	11/01/2002
	At very low mileage, an independent shop replaced the lower and upper ball joints at the consumer's expense. ak jb
		1
	Consumer serviced the vehicle, and a technician determined that ball joints became loose. *ak
		1
	The front of vehicle experienced vibration. after having vehicle serviced consumer was told that the ball joints needed replacement. *ak
01/27/2004	57000	1	11/20/2000
	Truck with 53,000 failed state inspection with a worn upper ball joint. it is possible to replace this part without the control arm, saving about $100 in repair costs. however, dodge has these parts on backorder due to the high demand(coincidence??), resulting in a $300 repair bill for my truck to pass inpection. recall anyone???*ak
02/20/2003	49000	1
	While driving front driver side tire wobbled. dealership informed the consumer that the problem pertained to a front ball joint failure. *ak
11/27/2002	31450	1	05/01/2000
	At 31450 miles dealership replaced lower ball joint and left upper ball joint. ak la
01/04/2004	56000	1
	Upper ball joints failed. as a result, when turning in either direction wheels wobble back and forth. *ak
		1	03/21/2000
	Consumer indicates there is a lot of play in the front wheels, and can hear a popping noise while driving. consumer feels this may be related to ball joint problem, and the wheel may come off. *ak
06/02/2003	48549		07/10/2000
	In a parking lot while travelling less than 5mph the passenger side upper ball joint seperated without warning. the entire wheel, brake, and control arm assembly rotated under the vehicle. the vehicle had to be towed. before pulling into this parking lot i had been travelling at 55mph on a highway.
03/08/2004	60000	1
	Consumer stated that ball joints were popping so badly that he was afraid to drive the vehicle. when he made a turn either right of left it sounded as if the wheel was coming off. this problem started at 60,000 miles.*ak
07/15/2003		1
	Noise felt in front suspension when turning - especially with left turns. took to dealer and they were unable to reproduce problem. took to a different dealer a few months later and they told me i needed new upper ball joints. i took it to a different dealer and was told that i needed new lower ball joints. i have replaced the lower ball joints for a little over $600! i still can't afford to replace the upper ball joints and i am still feeling a slight thump when turning. this problem is so common with this vehicle and i am mad at dodge for not recalling. i read a report on 60 minutes about ball joint problems causing tires to fall off vehicles during driving. what a dangerous thing to happen. i think of this everyday as i drive on the highway. what would happen if my tires fell of on the highway while driving over 60 mph? i hope dodge gets some sense and does a recall on this! here is the link to the article: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/03/03/eveningnews/main603833.shtml *jb
02/26/2004	75000	2	08/26/2000
	While driving consumer heard a loud popping noise coming from the upper ball joints. consumer had the problem repaired. ak mr
01/12/2002	27492	2
	While driving there was a popping metal noise in the front end. dealership replaced the upper then the lower ball joints because they were worn out. ak the ball joints were replaced at 27k miles and again at 65k miles. sc
09/10/2001	73000		08/15/2000
	My 2000 dodge dakota has worn out ball joints. there is no way these things should have worn out. i could not find anyplace to grease them. my dealership said that there is nothing they can do about it. my teen son is driving this truck as little as possible. i can't believe chrysler is sticking there heads in the sand!
03/19/2003	40000	2
	When vehicle hit a bump a clicking sound came from the front wheels. a mechanic examined the vehicle and determined that upper ball joints were severely worn out. also, rotors on both sides were warped to the point that they couldn't be turned safely.*ak
02/12/2004	41000	1	01/01/2000
	Dealership informed consumer that front upper ball joints were worn out. consumer was not having any problems at this time. dealership did not resolve the problem. ak la
02/11/2004	16000	1
	Dealership informed consumer that upper front ball joint were worn out. consumer was not having any problems at this time. dealership had not resolved the problem. ak consumer received a copy of a consumer report regarding the problem with ball joints on vehicle, but manufacturer said they don't know about the existing problem. la
		1
	While driving the front of vehicle vibrated severely. consumer replaced the tires, but mechanic told her they could not do an alignment due to ball joint failure. *ak
06/20/2003	51236	1	09/25/1999
	Premature failure of right front upper control arm balljoint and lower balljoint (50,000 miles). *ak
02/22/2004		1	08/15/2000
	I recently moved to misourri and took my truck in for the required safety inspection. i was told that my upper ball joint was wearing significantly. *ak
02/27/2004	40000	1	01/15/2000
	Most recent problem. ront end: 1) clunking noises followed by front wheel assembly break. front wheel assembly disengaged from vehicle while driving. *ak hostory of brake problems: 1) rear drums ineffective, and lock up under humid condition after sitting. 2) front rotors warped x2 occurences. dealer replaced pads and rotors. second incident nott covered under warranty. 3) front brake pads fall and wear diagonally resulting in ineffective braking. 4) generally poor and unresponsive braking.
02/27/2004	40000	1	01/15/2000
	Most recent problem. front end: ) clunking noises followed by front wheel assembly break. front wheel assembly disengaged from vehicle while driving.*ak hostory of brake problems: 1) rear drums ineffective, and lock up under humid condition after sitting. 2) front rotors warped x2 occurences. dealer replaced pads and rotors. second incident nott covered under warranty. 3) front brake pads fall and wear diagonally resulting in ineffective braking. 4) generally poor and unresponsive braking.
02/19/2004	40000	1
	While driving 60 mph the vehicle would vibrate and pull to the right when the brakes were applied an independent shop determined that the upper ball joints needed to be replaced. the problem still exist. *nm
	70000	1
	Consumer complained about a ball joint problem. *ak
01/15/2004	10000	1
	The consumer took the vehicle to the garage for inspection and the mechanic determined that the upper ball joints failed. ak the upper ball joints were replaced twice at 30k miles. the service dealer and chrysler told the consumer that there was no problems with the ball joints and there were no recalls. sc *jb
01/28/2004		1
	Bad ball joints failed. *ak
10/22/2003	43000	1
	Front upper ball joints failing at aprox 43,000 miles. i heard the squeeky / rattle noise coming from front of vehicle when going over bumps or turning. i eventually made an appointment with dodge dealer. vehicle was still under warranty. dodge repaired under warranty.
	38000	1
	The vehicle was taken to a repair shop for front alignment. during the repairs mechanic determined that the upper and lower ball joints were worn out and had to be replaced. *ak
12/21/2003	44000	4	10/01/2000
	Premature wear on front end components. upper ball joints and brakes.*ak
01/15/2004		1	05/01/2000
	I own a 2000 dodge dakota. i recently found out about the upper ball joint situation with these vehicles and decided to check mine. both the passenger and driver side upper ball joints are toast. i don't know how long it has been like this. they shall be replaced immediately, though. i visited dodgedakotas.com and read about all of the other people that are having this same problem. it is ridiculous that dodge knows that this is a problem but will let people drive around with bad suspension parts. *cb
03/15/2003	30000
	At about 30,000 miles premature failure of upper control arms, ball joints, tie rods and then tires and allignment costing over $1200 on 2000 dodge dakota 2wd . **ak
	72000	1
	The left front wheel separated and came off while driving. this was due to premature wear of the ball joints because of poor lubrication. the part was replaced, but currently they were loose.*ak
01/09/2004	63505	1	01/01/2003
	Upon servicing the vehicle technician inspected ball joints and noticed all four ball joints were worn out, and needed to be replaced. ak mr
01/09/2004		1
	Consumer took vehicle to the dealer for routine maintenance, and mechanic noticed that both upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to worn out parts.*ak
12/14/2003	57000	1
	The vehicle's ball joints were defective which made it unsafe to drive the vehicle. the manufacturer is aware of the defect. ak nm
12/16/2003	4800	1
	While driving at any speed consumer heard a clanking sound when turning corners. vehicle was taken to a dealer, who found that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. ak mr
	10000	2	04/12/2000
	Tie rods and ball joints failed prematurely, causing the left front tire to blow out at 10,000 miles. also, the rim was destroyed. *ak
	35000	1
	While driving the vehicle hit a bump and jumped off the road. the dealer determined that the upper/lower ball joints and the left outer tie rod end was worn out and must be replaced. please provide any additional information. *nm
12/03/2003	79000	1
	One of the front upper ball joints popped off, causing the tire to detach and roll under the vehicle while driving. driver was able to regain control of the vehicle and avoid a collision. ak the detachment occurred on the front right side of the vehicle. the consumer felt that the cause was due to the lack of grease. there was also excessive wear in the upper ball joint and the left side of the vehicle. sc
04/01/2000	5000	2	10/20/1999
	I have a poping noise in the front end of the vehicle (2000 dakota) this has happened since about 5000 miles , i have 50,000 on it now. i still have the problem with more frequency, it definitely sounds like the ball joint issue. we have to do something about this before some is killed, what if is was your son or daughter riding in these vehicles what would you want done. also i have had the brake rotors turned once and replaced and now they are warped again.*ak
10/03/2002	38000	1	07/27/2000
	Complaint regarding the failure of the ball joints on my 2000 dodge dakota pick up.*ak
12/15/2003	25000	1	04/06/2000
	The consumer took the vehicle to the dealership for an inspection. the mechanic informed the consumer that the upper ball joints failed. ak sc *jb
12/23/2003	65000	1
	Vehicle was taken to the dealer for routine maintenance. the mechanic at the dealer indicated that all four ball joints failed prematurely and need to be replaced soon. please provide any additional information. *nlm
	76000	1
	Consumer heard a noise coming from the front. vehicle was taken to a tire dealer ,who informed the consumer that upper ball joints were falling apart, and replaced the ball joints. *ak
04/26/2003	65000	1	01/19/2003
	Right upper ball joint went bad. *la
12/19/2003		1	04/15/2000
	My dodge dakota 2000, is shaking the front wheels and i discovered that my upper and lower ball joints are cracked. the dealer main street dodge told me they will not repair this problem free because dodge do not recall this vehicles. i offered to buy the parts and do the work myself if they tell me what is the name of these and they said they will charge me for this service of identifying the parts, too.*ak
12/18/2003	45000	1
	2000 dakota 4x2 club cab experiencing worn ball joints at 45000 miles. *ak
11/20/2003	36900	1	06/25/2002
	Premature failure of upper and lower ball joints on right front side.*ak
12/18/2003	27196	2	06/01/2000
	Upper lower balljoint corrosion: i took my dakota r/t in for a popping sound that was coming from the front end. i was told by your service rep at the dealer that there was nothing wrong with my front end. i took my dakota to a local mechanic, he told me that both my upper and lower ball joints were close to failure. i returned to henderson dodge with my dakota and the service dept still told me there was nothing wrong with my front end. i cannot drive my dakota anymore due to the front end. i am very dissatisfied with dodges product. when will you'll stand up and back your products???? *ak
09/19/2003	56458	1	12/23/1999
	2000 dodge dakota front left ball joint broke, causing the wheel to fall off.
	37000	1
	Vehicle was taken to repair shop to get a wheel alignment. consumer was told that the alignment could not be done because the ball joints were worn out. *ak
12/18/2003	32000	1	05/28/2003
	Upper left ball joints were detached and the upper right ball joints were loose. consumer had both sides replaced. ak mr
06/01/2003	44610	1	07/01/2000
	There was a ball joint problem in which the wheel separated from the vehicle while turning into a service station . ak the suspension. the consumer was also told that there was no history of problems with this make/model. the right front tire had fallen off of the vehicle. the upper ball joint looked as if it were torched. the rubber and the ball joint were completely destroyed. scc
		1
	Problems with vehicle's left upper ball joint.mr while driving the consumer could hear a thumping noise coming from the left front of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that the left upper ball joint was bad. the manufacturer was contacted but denied any knowledge of the ball joint failures and refused reimbursement. nlm
12/01/2003		1
	Consumer heard a noise coming from the left front tire. consumer took the vehicle to gas station, and mechanic noticed that both upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to corrosion. *ak
11/30/2003	56000	1	01/01/2000
	While rotating tires right front tire fell off with the lug nuts still in place. this occurred after consumer jacked the vehicle up. ball joints split down the middle. prior to this incident, front end would bounce upon coming to a complete stop. ak 2000 dodge dakota passenger front tire fell off of vehicle during wheel rotation. the result of this occurence was due to the ball joints being spilt down the middle. the regular method of checking the ball joints did not reveal a defect.mr
11/25/2003	49000	1
	My 2000 dodge dakota r/t has just under 50,000 miles and was diagnosed with faulty upper ball joints. along with a slew of front suspension components including tie rods, sway bars, and lower control arms. *la
11/20/2003	36000	1	01/26/2000
	My wife's 2000 dodge dakota 4x4... failed pennsylvania state safety inspection at 37,000 because of worn upper ball joints. estimated repair cost $275. it's absurd that this important safety item wore out before the original equipment tires and dodge is demanding full price to correct an obvious manufacturing safety defect. *la
11/19/2003	42000	1	10/22/1999
	2000 dodge dakota sport 42,000 miles, ball joints need replacement. *la
10/11/2003	47000	1	06/04/2000
	When having new tires put on my 2000 dodge dakota, they advised me that the eft front tie rod was loose. i contacted the dealer and got an appointment to have it looked at. they looked at it and said the tie rod was loose as well as the upper and lower ball joints. they said the ball joints were on national back order due to problems with other dodge models (durango). they would contact me when the parts came in. they called yesterday (11-18-03). i have an appointment for next tuesday, 11-25-03, to have it fixed. i have the extended warranty on my truck, and i only have 47,000+ miles on it. the warranty will pay for all but the $100 deductible and the $49.95 for the subsequent alignment that will be necessary. with all of the similar problems you have had with the dakotas, durangos, jeeps, etc. i feel like this should be a recall issue and that i should not have to pay for any of it. my husband says suspension problems like this shouldn't occur in vehicles with this low mileage. i do not use this vehicle hard. it does not pull anything, and it does not carry heavy loads. i am the only owner.*ak
09/23/2003		1
	When driving over bumps steering wheel vibrated, making it difficult to control the vehicle. consumer took vehicle to dealer to be inspected, and mechanic informed consumer that the upper ball joints were wearing prematurely. *ak
09/05/2003		1	07/26/2000
	Upper balljoints on my 2000 dodge dakota were badly worn out and took it to kirkwood dodge several times and they did not fix it. then took it to newark dodge and they found the problem and fixed it but my warranty had expired so i had to pay full price. i was lucky that nothing bad happened while driving but still the danger was there. i want chrysler to reimburse me for the car rental and the cost of the work that got done to my truck.*ak
11/05/2003	39320	1
	When making a right hand turn the consumer could hear a rattling noise in the front end. the dealer indicated that the ball joints were loose.ak the dealer replaced the left and right ball joints to correct the problem. nm
11/01/2003	1351	1	03/15/2003
	2000 dodge dakota with only 13,531 miles has upper ball joint failure. *la
08/15/2001	27500	1	08/01/2001
	2000 dodge dakota, bought with 27,200 miles, ball joints progressively gotten worse in two years time and unable to replace parts vehicle now has 74,000 miles a vehicle this young should not have this type of problems. *la
10/25/2003	36000	1	06/01/2000
	While driving at low speeds there was a loud thumping noise coming from the front. mechanic informed the consumer that it was due to front ball joint failure. ak front alignment suddenly went out of whack. vehicle was 6 months out of warranty. the dealership denied there was anything wrong with the upper ball joints. after filing a complaint with the consumer protection agency, dodge recommended and refunded the repair cost. ph
10/27/2003	28021	1	04/22/2002
	The upper ball joints needed replacement based on the observation of a mechanic that was servicing the vehicle. ak la
	11850	2
	All four tires split at the bead. mr the tires had all broken at the bead. the left upper ball joint was defective. the consumer requested a refund. scc *jb
	60280
	While traveling at 20 mph driver began to hear clicking noise coming from steering wheel. steering wheel had a lot loose control, and the front right wheel was turning, but the left front wheel buckled under vehicle. tires were wearing prematurely due to upper ball joint failure. *ak
08/10/2003		3	07/16/2000
	I am having my ball joints replaced for the third time. i have a friend who has the exact same vehicle, and they have had theirs done four times. i also know at least three other people with same truck (year,make,model) that have had this same problem multiple times. this is not mere coinicidence- something is wrong with the suspension of these trucks.*ak
08/12/2003		1
	Consumer states that upper ball joint is wearing prematurely. dealer notified.*ak
08/11/2003	60000	1
	Consumer states both upper ball and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. vehicle was running without warranty. dealer notified. ak ts
11/20/2002	34900	2	06/07/2002
	I have a 2000 dodge dakota, i have been to the dealer a countless amount of times complaining about my from, every from noise to instability, excessive bounce. i am given every excuse in the world about this problem , i have even told them what it is , the ball joints, the tell me that it wheell and they replaced them, but have same trbl over and over again , i believe something jsut need to be done, it you need professional advise or complaint go to dodgedakotas.com. *ak
05/22/2003	89000	4	05/15/1999
	The upper driver side ball joint separated. the male end of the ball joint came apart from the female part. dodge, under my extended warranty replaced all 4 ball joints and the two upper control arms.*ak
11/16/2002	38000	1	08/30/2000
	Ball joints failed. *nlm
07/01/2001
	Upper ball joints were loose and have been making clunking noise when turning. contacted dealer. *ak
SUSPENSION - FRONT - SHOCK ABSORBER
10/15/2002		0	04/20/2000
	Front brake rotors continue to warp, causing truck to vibrate wildly under braking. front brake rotors were turned @ 9k, 15k, 31k. now at 45k unable to turn them again and have had to replace. front shocks also being replaced due to excessive wear.
SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
11/20/2003			07/28/2000
	Front end noises. clunking sound that continues to get louder. has been checked by dodge service center a few times. the last time they replaced front ball joint. still has a loud clunk. also, it will not hold an alignment for any lenght of time.
05/01/2000		3
	When steering to left or to right a noise will occur. dealer replaced steering shaft once, and steering column twice, but noise still occurs. ak rear brake drums and front brake rotors failed. yh
SUSPENSION - FRONT - WHEEL BEARING
02/25/2008		1
	Premature front wheel bearing failure: replaced left front wheel bearing at 72,026 miles; needs replacement again at 79,505 miles; 15 months later. (2000 dodge dakota: p/n: 52009528ae. *tr
06/25/2004	72000	2	02/01/2003
	Only 70000 on the 2000 dodge dakota. tie rods broke without warning. had to replace 2 outer and 1 inner tie rod. at the same time the ball bearings were found to be in horrible shape. those had to be replaced too. *ak
11/20/2003			07/28/2000
	Front end noises. clunking sound that continues to get louder. has been checked by dodge service center a few times. the last time they replaced front ball joint. still has a loud clunk. also, it will not hold an alignment for any lenght of time.
SUSPENSION - REAR
07/18/2002
	When making tight turns and backing up consumer can hear a loud noise coming from rear end. vehicle at dealership at this time. please add further details.*ak

	While in reverse rear end locked up. dealer has inspected and repaired vehicle. please provide additional information.*ak
		1
	Consumer states vehicle is off set 1.25-1.50 inches to the right, this is causing vehicle to whine and make noise over small bumps while traveling a light speed. *slc
12/02/2000		1
	While driving without any indication the vehicle started spinning around in circles and hit a concrete divider due to a broken axle, the rear tire and wheel rolled down the hill and hit another vehicle, the tire and wheel was still mounted to the outside part of the axle. the consumer was slightly injured. *mjs
SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
			01/01/2001
	4 way flashes failed repeatedly (crushed wiring harness was discovered while looking for source of different problem). front brake rotors warped again & again. rotors turned 2-3 times, replaced once, then turned again. smoke coming from center a/c vents in dash. rear leaf springs were replaced. 2 days after smoking dash repair radiator fan would not shut off, requiring operator to open hood and pull approiate fuse.
			03/01/2000
	There are several trucks with the same problem as mine on two separate auto lots in louisiana, in which the rt. rear wheel protrudes out further than the other three by 1 to 1/2 inches. daimler's service representative inspected mine and said it was safe to drive. i want to make absolutely sure that it is for me as well as anyone else that purchases this vehicle. they did find the rear springs on mine to be defective, and replaced them. my brakes failed after this incident. i was told that it was probably caused by the replacement of the springs in that something was overlooked at the service department. i am interested in making sure this is not caused do to the rt rear wheel not aligning correctly, and could this cause any safety problems in towing heavy loads in the bed. *ak