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 | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
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 | |||
| 08/22/2012 | 139836 | 1 | |
| Pulling out of driveway and the bottom of the control arm broke free letting the wheel come free from the vehicle..... *tr | |||
| 10/14/2009 | 66000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact stated while driving 35 mph he heard a clicking sound near the front suspension on the drivers side. the contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic who was unable to identify the problem. the contact noticed nhtsa campaign id number 04v596000 (suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint) and called the manufacturer. the manufacturer stated due to the vin the vehicle was not a part of the recall. the contact stated the vehicle was unsafe to drive. the failure mileage was 66,000. | |||
| 10/14/2009 | 66000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact stated while driving 35 mph he heard a clicking sound near the front suspension on the drivers side. the contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic who was unable to identify the problem. the contact noticed nhtsa campaign id number 04v596000 (suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint) and called the manufacturer. the manufacturer stated due to the vin the vehicle was not a part of the recall. the contact stated the vehicle was unsafe to drive. the failure mileage was 66,000. rvk | |||
| 10/14/2009 | 66000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact stated while driving 35 mph a click sound is coming from the front suspension on the driver side. the contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic but the mechanic could not identify the problem. the contact notice a nhtsa campaign i.d. number 04v596000 (suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint) and called the manufacturer. the manufacturer stated due to the vin number the vehicle did not fall into the recall. the contact stated the vehicle was unsafe to drive. the failure mileage was 66,000. jo | |||
| 08/02/2010 | 90000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota sport. while driving 25mph there was a loud noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. the rear end shackles rotted and busted which was the leaf springs got caught in the bed of the truck. the vehicle was driven home and parked. he went to the dealer informed them of the failure and was told to take a hike they will not repair his vehicle. the manufacturer was call and a claim was file#19831058. the contact stated he has to repair the vehicle himself. the failure mileage was 90,000....mw | |||
| 02/15/2003 | 1500 | ||
| The truck has had sever problems with acceleration and stalling. it also makes a clunking noise when turning the vehicle. there have been numerous amounts of problems with at leat 15 days total in the shop. | |||
| 10000 | 1 | ||
| There was a loud knocking noise coming from the front of vehicle when turning left or right. *nlm. *ak | |||
| 07/27/2003 | 10000 | 9 | 02/01/2002 |
| The vehicle stalled while driving. *nlm *ak the vehicle experienced the following: knocking in the suspension(4 attempts to fix), the vehicle pulled to the right, the driver door had a wind noise and water leaked, the tailgate handle was loose on the right side, the lower steering column coupled, and the upper control arm bolts were found loose. *scc | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||
| 06/16/2010 | 39500 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. while having the tires changed at an independent mechanic the front suspension collapsed at the upper ball bearing joints as the vehicle was lowered with the new tires on it. the vehicle was not taken to an authorized dealer to be examined for the cause of failure. the vehicle was having the front suspension replaced by the independent mechanic. the failure and current mileages were 39,500. the vin was unavailable. sm. | |||
| 06/03/2010 | 30000 | ||
| We have a 2002 dodge dakota and a 2007 dodge caliber that both have severe front end problems. the vehicles both shake uncontrollably, especially when hitting a bump or applying the brakes. we've tried to get this fixed but chrysler says there is nothing wrong. a mechanic told us its our rotors but we've had them turned and have had the rotors on the truck replaced twice. it affects the braking speed and it is difficult to keep control of the steering wheel while braking and while driving in the rain. i know others have had this problem, is it going to take someone getting injured or killed to fix it? | |||
| 04/04/2010 | 82885 | ||
| While driving my 2002 dodge dakota 55 miles per hour i was thrown to the left pushed on brake pedel and the truck shot rigt when i got out the front rotors were red hot and smoking truck would not move had it towed home where it still sits i thank god i was not killed or hurt or killed some one else come to find out this is a common problem with this truck and to try and repair it that it will only return | |||
| 01/26/2006 | 1 | ||
| I owe a 2002 dodge dakota and had a recall for upper ball joint that was repaired by merrick dodge in merrick ny. the dealer advised me that the way they do the recall an alignmentwas not necessary. i was informed by chrysler that a toe alignment was required. this recal was done in january 2005. the new tires that were installed in november of 2004 have excessive wear on the inner edges of both front tires evenly. the alignment was never done or done improperly and the dealership refuses to correct or even address said issue. all i ask is a front end alignment so that the tires will wear in a safe and correct manner.*ak | |||
| 10/21/2003 | 500 | 5 | |
| Ever since this truck was new it feels as though some component in the front end suspension is loose, i can feel it through the steering column. five trips to the dealer to find and correct the problem have resulted in: nothing out of specs on the first visit; replaced the front shocks on the second visit; replaced the rack and pinion assembly on the third visit; replaced the upper ball joints on the fourth visit; and aligned the steering column on the fifth visit. looking though the consumer complaint section i found many other consumers with the same exact complaint with their dakota trucks. *jb | |||
| 08/02/2005 | 27000 | 1 | 07/15/2002 |
| Dt: the consumer was upset that after the recall work was done the dealer recommended a full alignment, but chrysler will only pay for one third. specially, chrysler will only pay for the tow in adjustment, after ball joint replacement. the recall was 04v596000. the tow in adjustment was not affected as much as the other camber and caster. the recall work was done on the truck. the owner was looking at a charge of about $60.00 that should be covered by the recall. the vehicle would have control issues without the alignment, which would be the owner's expense. *ak | |||
| 10/13/2004 | 39582 | 1 | 09/23/2004 |
| Upper and lower ball joint failure, both sides. replacement estimated at $1100.00.*ak | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 5 | ||
| 2002 dodge dakota has front end noise problems.*mr the vehicle was taken to the dealer but they couldn't find anything wrong with it. the dealer indicated that the noise was a characteristic of the vehicle. the dealer eventually replaced the front end but the noise was still present. *nm | |||
| 05/21/2004 | 15000 | 1 | |
| While driving 50 mph the front passenger side tire and rotor separated from the vehicle. as a result, the vehicle rolled over four times. the driver sustained broken ribs. *ak sc | |||
| 21000 | 1 | ||
| While driving there's a vibration in the front end. vehicle is currently at the dealership for inspection. *ak | |||
| 02/10/2004 | 21000 | 30 | |
| Front end and wheel vibrated while driving. upon inspection by the dealership they indicated that the bushings deteriorated, and only bolt remained. also, front end was loose. *ak | |||
| 03/03/2004 | 38300 | 1 | |
| When turning in either direction front end produces a knocking noise. *ak | |||
| 10/21/2003 | 3000 | 1 | |
| While driving at slow speeds and turning corners there was a clicking sound coming from the front end. *ak *sc *jb | |||
| 06/30/2003 | 35000 | 1 | 04/16/2002 |
| I have a 2002 dodge dokota sxt 2wd that has a clunking sound similar to that which i have heard described in regard to a front ball joint problem. i have spoking with other persons who also have 2wd dakotas and have hed to replace the ball joints well before they should be. i currently have 43,00 miles on the vehicle but the clunk has been present for several thousand miles and i was hoping there might be a recall before i have it fixed. i have no ride or handleing problems but just the clunk when i go over an object or onto a sidewalk to park. *ak | |||
| 07/01/2003 | 17000 | 1 | 12/18/2001 |
| Front brake rotors had to be turned/replaced at approx. 17000 miles. dealership said they would not replace as brakes only have 1yr/12000 mile warranty. repair facility only replaces with oem parts, so they will probably have to be replaced again in another 15-20000 miles. this is unacceptable.*ak also appears i will now have to replace ball joints at approx. 18500 miles. these parts should last much longer than this. vehicle is 2002 dodge dakota cc 4x4 4.7l engine. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM | |||
| 03/24/2004 | 1 | ||
| While driving 65 mph, a rattling noise was heard coming from the front of the vehicle. the driver was able to drive the vehicle to the dealer for inspection. the mechanic replaced both upper and lower ball joints due to corrosion. *nm control arms were replaced as well. consumer also stated that problem is similar to dodge durango sport utility vehicle. *la | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT | |||
| 05/28/2008 | 125000 | 1 | 12/27/2002 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. while driving at an unknown speed, the contact would sporadically hear a loud squeaking noise. he took the vehicle to the dealer for a routine alignment and tire rotation. upon inspection, a technician stated that the lower ball joints had severe wear and movement, and needed to be replaced. he also stated that the rubber grommets supporting the tie rods failed and created a metal to metal condition, which created a squeaking noise. the components have not been replaced. the failure mileage was 125,000 and current mileage was 128,000. updated 09/10/08 *bf the upper ball joints were replaced as well. updated 09/16/08. *jb | |||
| 02/26/2006 | 69876 | 1 | 04/20/2002 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while backing up at 10 mph the driver side front wheel detached. the dealership and manufacturer was alerted. they determined it was a lower ball joint failure, however no repairs were made. | |||
| 01/10/2006 | 73000 | 1 | 12/05/2001 |
| 2002 dodge dakota starting making clunking sound when turning. had received recall letter for upper ball joints. upon bringing to dealer, was told both lower and upper ball joints needed replacement. seems like this is common based on what i have read online. we have also had transmission replaced and goodyear tires split. all of these complaints are posted on this website. 99.9% will never buy another dodge. we now have 2. previous service department interactions stopped me from buying a dodge in june of 2005 so i purchased a nissan. *jb | |||
| 03/25/2005 | 39000 | 1 | |
| Recall campaig 04v596000 was received for the upper ball joint wear. consumer took the vehicle to dealer for the repairs, and discovered that the lower ball joints were also defective. *ak | |||
| 08/01/2004 | 1 | ||
| Recall campaign#04v596000: the vehicle's ball joints failed prior to recall notification. *nm the ball joints had worn out. the consumer reqested reimbursement. *sc *jb | |||
| 01/04/2005 | 56000 | 1 | 05/01/2002 |
| No parts were available for recall d47 concerning ball joints. *ak as of 2/20/05 the dealer still had no parts and was unable to tell the consumer when the parts would become available. *nm | |||
| 02/07/2005 | 1 | ||
| Nhtsa campaign 04v596000; daimler chrysler issued an front upper ball joint recall. this vehicle was included in the recall, but when taken in for service, owner was informed that the lower ball joints need to be replaced as well. owner was informed that the wheels can fall off if not replaced. | |||
| 12/01/2004 | 1 | ||
| Recall campaign: 2002 dodge dakota have upper ball joints problems. *bf recall campaign: the consumer received a recall on his vehicle dealing with the upper ball joints. the dealer told the consumer that the lower ball joints were bad but not included in the recall. the consumer requested information on why only to replace the upper ball joints if the lower ball joints were still bad and what recourse he has other than contacting chrysler. *tc | |||
| 01/07/2005 | 33000 | 1 | 02/01/2002 |
| Recall 04v596000 concerning ball joint wear. consumer received notification from the manufacturer regarding the recall on ball joint wear. consumer notified the dealership and scheduled an appointment. when the consumer took the vehicle to the dealership for the scheduled appointment consumer was informed that the parts needed to repair the vehicle were not available and there is no date of expectation either. *ak......*ak | |||
| 04/15/2004 | 42000 | 1 | 08/15/2003 |
| Consumer could hear a clicking noise while driving at any speed. vehicle was taken to a repair shop, and mechanic determined that both front upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. *ak *jb | |||
| 01/03/2005 | 43500 | 2 | |
| Vehicle was taken to dealer for the upper ball joint recall. dealer told consumer that the lower ball joints wore out as well, and needed to be replaced. manufacturer stated no recall.*ak recall campaign; nhtsa campaign id number : 04v596000 dealing with upper ball joints. the recall did not include the lower ball joints with the same defect. nhtsa campaign id number : 04v216000; dealing with the windshield wiper motor. the consumer stated that the windshield wiper motor was serviced and had at least one failure since the repair. nhtsa campaign id number : 03v389000 dealing with the dash wiring harness repaired by the dealer. *tc | |||
| 10/18/2004 | 37000 | 2 | 09/24/2004 |
| Upper and lower ball joints required replacement after 2,000 miles of ownership. this was brought to the dealers attention. the dealer would not fix the problem, stating it was a wear item. it should have been caught and fixed before offering the vehicle for sale, but they claim otherwise. i was forced to replace both sets of ball joints on my own. since then, dc has recalled the upper joints. the upper joints created a situation causing the lower joints to fail also and should be covered in their recall. they also do not specify covering the alignment needed after joints are replaced. the recall should be reissued covering upper and lower ball joints along with alignment to remedy the situation in this recall failure. *jb | |||
| 12/27/2004 | 1 | ||
| Consumer received nhtsa recall 04v596000 concerning ball joint wear. dealer refused to honor the recall because the vehicle was not purchased at that particular dealership. *ak | |||
| 12/09/2004 | 1 | 11/07/2001 | |
| There has been no failure of my front end yet, however i have noticed a rattle in the front. i have not notified my dealer yet. i dont believe the ball joints are under warranty. just wanted to express my concern.*ak | |||
| 10/01/2004 | 24000 | 2 | 06/01/2002 |
| Dodge dakota had several problems at low miles, notice scrunch sound in front suspension whenever consumer pulled into the driveway. *bf *tc | |||
| 10/28/2004 | 48800 | 2 | 06/22/2002 |
| Bought 2002 dodge dakota club cab slt+ in june of 2002. within 6,000 miles, began to hear an occasional 'scrunch' sound when turning sharp (like into parking spaces) - more pronounced when hitting a bump while turning sharp (on my street, there's a slight - less than 2 inch - dropoff from the road to my driveway). gradually got more and more noticeable, and took less and less to cause the sound, until i took it in at about 24,000 miles. both sides, both ball joints were replaced. truck drove great for a while, then at about 30,000 or so, started all over again. same thing. truck now has 48,000 miles, and is in the shop again for the same service.*ak | |||
| 10/26/2004 | 54000 | 1 | |
| The tire retail store was unable to perform a front end alignment after replacing the front tires because 3 of the ball joints were defective, and the fourth wore out. *ak the consumer stated that his vehicle has no lift and no oversized tires. the defective tires have 20 to 25% of the tread still on them showing indication of faulty ball joints. *tc | |||
| 10/14/2004 | 43800 | 2 | |
| The upper and lower ball joints continued to wear prematurely. please provide additional informtion. *jb | |||
| 05/02/2004 | 18000 | 3 | 09/28/2002 |
| While driving at approximately 40 mph heard noises coming from the front. had no difficulty with the driving. took vehicle to dealership, and mechanic determined that the right side lower ball joints needed to be replaced. did not need to replace ball joints on the left. had previously filed complaint #12187283. *ak *nm | |||
| 08/01/2003 | 17000 | 2 | 09/01/2002 |
| Problems with vehicle's upper ball joint, lower control arm, and steering.*mr *cb | |||
| 12/01/2003 | 2 | ||
| Saw on a message board that there is an ongoing investigation re: dodge dakota ball joints. i have a 2002 dakota. at around 10,000 miles, i started hearing a noise in the front suspension. it was very intermittent, so i didn't pay any attention. but it got more and more frequent until around 20,000 miles, when i finally had it fixed. the dealer (anderson dodge in rockford, il) replaced both of the front ball joints. now, at 45,000 miles, it's starting to make some of the same sounds - possibly failing again. *ak | |||
| 07/05/2004 | 1 | ||
| Vehicle was taken to the dealer for a routine inspection, and mechanic determined that both upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to worn out parts. *ak | |||
| 07/27/2004 | 25680 | 2 | 05/13/2003 |
| I had loss of control of my vehicle this morning which i believe is a direct result of my steering/ball joint / rack and pinion failure. it's at the dealer now being looked over thoroughly. the dealer just replaced the intermittent steering shaft last week.*ak | |||
| 06/22/2004 | 34000 | 1 | |
| While driving at any speed and when brake were depressed pedal pulsated. vehicle was serviced, and technician turned the rotors at 34, 000 miles. *ak vehicle has a problem with the ball joint in the past, which concerned the consumer. *la | |||
| 06/01/2004 | 35305 | 3 | |
| While driving, noticed that the check engine light was on and the oil pressure gauge was incorrect. notified dealer of this issue and also an issue with grinding noise when turning left or right. the dealer has replaced the upper and lower ball joints on the front and even admitted that they have seen a high failure rate for this. also they replaced the vacuum tube harness under the gas tank. the oil pressure gauge sensor was loose and was corrected. *jb | |||
| 04/15/2004 | 70000 | 1 | |
| While braking the consumer heard a popping noise coming from the front ball joints. the dealership was notified but did not resolve the problem. please provide any additional information. *nm | |||
| 05/04/2004 | 1 | ||
| While driving at 45 mph consumer heard a loud noise coming from the front end. vehicle was taken to dealer and mechanic determined there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. then, an independent repair shop indicated that ball joints needed to be replaced. *ak | |||
| 04/06/2004 | 1 | ||
| While driving at 55 mph the driver could hear a loud noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. the mechanic informed the driver both upper and lower ball joints needed replacing due to worn parts. *mr | |||
| 03/02/2004 | 18000 | 1 | 09/28/2002 |
| While driving at any speed and when turning corners, hit bumps, or simply turning the steering wheel, there was a distinct crunching sound in front of vehicle. dealer examined the vehicle, and determined that the upper and lower ball joints needed replacement.*ak dealer replaced upper and lower ball joints. *la | |||
| 03/24/2004 | 1 | ||
| While driving 65 mph, a rattling noise was heard coming from the front of the vehicle. the driver was able to drive the vehicle to the dealer for inspection. the mechanic replaced both upper and lower ball joints due to corrosion. *nm control arms were replaced as well. consumer also stated that problem is similar to dodge durango sport utility vehicle. *la | |||
| 03/15/2004 | 1 | 03/25/2002 | |
| 2002 dodge dakota quad cab, had noise in front end starting at about 25000 miles. complained to dealer at the following 2 oil changes about front end pulling to the right and noises in front end, diagnosed as normal. finally, i told dealer that i would pay for a front end alignment, and both upper ball joints diagnosed as bad and needed to be replaced before the alignment could happen. ball joints were replaced after a 4 week wait for the ball joints that were on back order, 32,000 miles at replacement time.*ak | |||
| 03/10/2004 | 41678 | 1 | |
| While driving consumer heard a clanking noise coming from the front ball joints. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak | |||
| 03/11/2004 | 40000 | 1 | |
| Four months ago while driving at 45 mph consumer heard noise coming through the front end. vehicle was taken to the dealership, and technician determined nothing was wrong with the vehicle. four months later and without warranty dealership indicated to the consumer the need to replace upper and lower ball joints. *ak | |||
| 03/10/2004 | 2 | ||
| While driving 30 mph consumer heard a noise coming from the front driver side wheel. consumer took vehicle to dealer more than once, but problem still exists. mechanic was unable to duplicate the problem. *ak | |||
| 12/15/2003 | 39000 | 1 | |
| While driving at any speed a noise was heard from the front end. the dealer determined, that the upper and lower ball joints had to be replaced.*ak *jb | |||
| 03/01/2004 | 54000 | 1 | 01/01/2002 |
| While driving consumer heard a rough sound coming from the front. vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the mechanic replaced the upper and lower ball joints on the right side. *ak *la | |||
| 500 | 4 | ||
| Vehicle was taken to dealer 4 times for popping and cracking sound heard in the front of vehicle when making turns. also, consumer heard a popping and cracking noise when driving on bumpy roads. ball joints were changed. however, after 500 miles the problem recurred. *ak | |||
| 35000 | 3 | ||
| When making a left turn there was a popping noise in the steering. dealership replaced the steering shaft sector, rack and pinion, and upper and lower ball joints. *ak | |||
| 02/04/2004 | 48000 | 02/08/2004 | |
| Vehicle has definitive clunk when crossing over small bumps or turning tightly. worn ball joints are to blame. vehicle has 50,000 miles. | |||
| 01/19/2004 | 15200 | 1 | 08/29/2002 |
| My 2002 dodge dakota sport 4x2 has approximately 15,200 miles on it. at approximately 13,000 miles i began to notice that the front end started to rattle and seem loose when going over bumps. after doing some research and having someone look at it, i found that the ball joints are failing prematurely. | |||
| 10/29/2003 | 44000 | 1 | 10/14/2003 |
| Consumer complained about a ball joint problem. consumer took vehicle to dealer to have tires replaced when it was noticed that the ball joints were defective. *ak the consumer stated that the grease was able to wash out and there was no place to grease the ball joints. the dealer failed to correct the problem. *sc | |||
| 01/05/2003 | 38400 | 2 | |
| While having vehicle serviced for a brake issue dealership noticed that all four ball joints wore out prematurely, and the tie rods were defective. dealership could only replace the upper ball joint, but was unable to replace the lower once due to part being on back order. *ak | |||
| 12/16/2003 | 15000 | 1 | |
| While driving the vehicle at 30 mph or more the right side of the vehicle vibrated. an independent mechanic stated there was a problem with the ball joints. please provide further information. *jb | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER ARM | |||
| 10/11/2004 | 16134 | 2 | 09/14/2001 |
| Reported a popping sound on the right front of vehicle to dealership appro. one year ago, informed nothing was wrong. upon a personal inspection during a routine oil change i noted that the right upper control arm ball joint had prematurely failed. *ak(current vechicle mileage 16,000) purchased replacement control arm and installed per manufactuers instructions. i have saved the old part. my concern in this matter is, if these same parts are used on both dodge dakotas and dodge durangos and this part is prone to premature failure, what will be the end result? | |||
| 08/01/2003 | 17000 | 2 | 09/01/2002 |
| Problems with vehicle's upper ball joint, lower control arm, and steering.*mr *cb | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT | |||
| 05/28/2008 | 125000 | 1 | 12/27/2002 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. while driving at an unknown speed, the contact would sporadically hear a loud squeaking noise. he took the vehicle to the dealer for a routine alignment and tire rotation. upon inspection, a technician stated that the lower ball joints had severe wear and movement, and needed to be replaced. he also stated that the rubber grommets supporting the tie rods failed and created a metal to metal condition, which created a squeaking noise. the components have not been replaced. the failure mileage was 125,000 and current mileage was 128,000. updated 09/10/08 *bf the upper ball joints were replaced as well. updated 09/16/08. *jb | |||
| 01/10/2006 | 73000 | 1 | 12/05/2001 |
| 2002 dodge dakota starting making clunking sound when turning. had received recall letter for upper ball joints. upon bringing to dealer, was told both lower and upper ball joints needed replacement. seems like this is common based on what i have read online. we have also had transmission replaced and goodyear tires split. all of these complaints are posted on this website. 99.9% will never buy another dodge. we now have 2. previous service department interactions stopped me from buying a dodge in june of 2005 so i purchased a nissan. *jb | |||
| 04/18/2005 | 1 | ||
| Consumer received a manufacturer's recall notice d47 for upper ball joints .*ak the dealer had the parts but refused to do the work stating they could only do 1 or 2 repairs a day and were booked until end of june. *bf *nm | |||
| 04/03/2005 | 57000 | 1 | |
| While driving 30 mph the front driver's side upper ball joints failed. as a result, the front end collapsed, owner had the vehicle towed to his home. a recall was issued, and consumer stated he has been waiting for two months for repair. please provide additional information. | |||
| 03/16/2005 | 51000 | 1 | |
| Consumer received recall 04v596000 concerning upper ball joints. while driving 10 mph suddenly the right front wheel came off, causing the vehicle to strike the ground. vehicle sustained front end damage. the police arrived, and the vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the consumer made contact with his insurance company. it was discovered later there was a recall for the upper ball joints. currently, the insurance company was not filing the consumer's claim. consumer contacted the manufacturer, who sent an independent contractor to examine the vehicle, and consumer heard nothing from the manufacturer since then. *ak | |||
| 03/25/2005 | 39000 | 1 | |
| Recall campaig 04v596000 was received for the upper ball joint wear. consumer took the vehicle to dealer for the repairs, and discovered that the lower ball joints were also defective. *ak | |||
| 02/01/2005 | 1 | 12/01/2002 | |
| The consumer believes the vehicle's front ball joints are loose. *nm *jb | |||
| 12/10/2004 | 40000 | 1 | |
| The recall for the upper ball joints have been issued, however the dealer states the parts were unavailable. the consumer has been waiting since december. please provide additional information. *jb | |||
| 08/01/2004 | 1 | ||
| Recall campaign#04v596000: the vehicle's ball joints failed prior to recall notification. *nm the ball joints had worn out. the consumer reqested reimbursement. *sc *jb | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 1 | ||
| Re 2002 dodge dakota truck that makes a noise in the front because of defective ball joints. consumer inquiring why she have not rec'd a recall letter. *bf *nm | |||
| 12/07/2004 | 1 | ||
| The consumer believes that the scope of the ball joint recall should be expanded. the ball joints on the consumer's vehicle failed yet the vehicle was not covered under the consumers 100k miles limited warranty. the vehicle's transmission also failed. *bf *nm *sc the consumer stated that the vehicle transmission stalls and gets stuck in low gear when the engine is cold. *tc | |||
| 12/08/2003 | 1 | ||
| Nhtsa recall campaign 04v596000; daimler chrysler issued an upper ball joint recall. this vehicle was included in the recall, but there were no available parts in order to do recall repairs. this was dangerous because the wheels could fall off.*ak | |||
| 01/04/2005 | 56000 | 1 | 05/01/2002 |
| No parts were available for recall d47 concerning ball joints. *ak as of 2/20/05 the dealer still had no parts and was unable to tell the consumer when the parts would become available. *nm | |||
| 12/01/2004 | 1 | ||
| Recall campaign: 2002 dodge dakota have upper ball joints problems. *bf recall campaign: the consumer received a recall on his vehicle dealing with the upper ball joints. the dealer told the consumer that the lower ball joints were bad but not included in the recall. the consumer requested information on why only to replace the upper ball joints if the lower ball joints were still bad and what recourse he has other than contacting chrysler. *tc | |||
| 01/01/2005 | 1 | ||
| Recall campaign: 2002 dodge dakota have upper ball joints'; return true; onmouseout=window.status=''; return true;>ball joints'; return true; onmouseout=window.status=''; return true;>ball joints problems. replaced upper ball joints. *bf recall campaign; the consumer received a safety recall notice to have the upper ball joints replaced. the consumer was told that the tie rod replacement and front end alignment would not be covered. *tc the consumer had the ball joints replaced prior to receiving the recall notice. *jb | |||
| 01/03/2005 | 1 | ||
| Nhtsa recall campaign 04v596000 concerning front ball joints. this vehicle was included in the recall, but there were no appointments available until may, which could be dangerous because the wheels could fall off.*ak | |||
| 01/27/2005 | 17000 | 1 | |
| Recall campaign 04v596000 concerning ball joint wear. owner received notification from the manufacturer in january 4, 2005. owner contacted the dealer, and was told that parts were not available, and there was no indication as to when the parts will be made available. also, contacted the manufacturer, and they too were unable to give a dare as to when parts will be made available. *ak the consumer stated that the vehicle sways from side to side. *tc | |||
| 01/25/2005 | 1 | ||
| Nhtsa campaign 04v596000; daimler chrylser issued an upper ball joint recall. this vehicle was included in the recall, but there were no available appointments until may, which could be dangerous because the wheels can fall off. *jb. consumer stated no available appointments until may was ridiculous since this was a safety issue. *ak | |||
| 01/18/2005 | 1 | ||
| Nhtsa recall 04v596000 on the ball joint wear. consumer contacted the dealer and was informed that the next available appointment is on may 26, 2005. please provide further details. *jb | |||
| 01/07/2005 | 33000 | 1 | 02/01/2002 |
| Recall 04v596000 concerning ball joint wear. consumer received notification from the manufacturer regarding the recall on ball joint wear. consumer notified the dealership and scheduled an appointment. when the consumer took the vehicle to the dealership for the scheduled appointment consumer was informed that the parts needed to repair the vehicle were not available and there is no date of expectation either. *ak......*ak | |||
| 04/15/2004 | 42000 | 1 | 08/15/2003 |
| Consumer could hear a clicking noise while driving at any speed. vehicle was taken to a repair shop, and mechanic determined that both front upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. *ak *jb | |||
| 12/28/2004 | 62000 | 4 | |
| Consumer complained about upper ball joints problem. consumer took the vehicle to the dealer several times. dealer inspected it, gave it a wheel alignment, and then said there was nothing wrong. currently, manufacturer is recalling the 4 wheel drive. however, this vehicle is a two wheel drive. *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 late march 2005. *ak | |||
| 01/03/2005 | 43500 | 2 | |
| Vehicle was taken to dealer for the upper ball joint recall. dealer told consumer that the lower ball joints wore out as well, and needed to be replaced. manufacturer stated no recall.*ak recall campaign; nhtsa campaign id number : 04v596000 dealing with upper ball joints. the recall did not include the lower ball joints with the same defect. nhtsa campaign id number : 04v216000; dealing with the windshield wiper motor. the consumer stated that the windshield wiper motor was serviced and had at least one failure since the repair. nhtsa campaign id number : 03v389000 dealing with the dash wiring harness repaired by the dealer. *tc | |||
| 10/18/2004 | 37000 | 2 | 09/24/2004 |
| Upper and lower ball joints required replacement after 2,000 miles of ownership. this was brought to the dealers attention. the dealer would not fix the problem, stating it was a wear item. it should have been caught and fixed before offering the vehicle for sale, but they claim otherwise. i was forced to replace both sets of ball joints on my own. since then, dc has recalled the upper joints. the upper joints created a situation causing the lower joints to fail also and should be covered in their recall. they also do not specify covering the alignment needed after joints are replaced. the recall should be reissued covering upper and lower ball joints along with alignment to remedy the situation in this recall failure. *jb | |||
| 12/27/2004 | 1 | ||
| Consumer received nhtsa recall 04v596000 concerning ball joint wear. dealer refused to honor the recall because the vehicle was not purchased at that particular dealership. *ak | |||
| 12/10/2004 | 40500 | 1 | 04/13/2002 |
| I have a 2002 dodge dakota 2wd truck. i have just been rejected a virginia inspection because the upper ball joints in my truck are about to come out. the local dodge dealer told me that the 2wds are not included in the recall. if the dakotas are made with the same parts for the same place. isn't it likely that all the parts are faulty. now i have a truck that will not pass inspection and a $400.00 problem to fix on a truck that only has 40k miles.*ak | |||
| 11/19/2004 | 1 | ||
| Told by four people at work that they had problem with there ball joint and had to replace them on dodge dakotas truck, ask dodge dealer they said they go bad because of michigan roads, i ask him what about the other 49 states. *jb | |||
| 01/30/2003 | 6470 | 1 | 12/28/2001 |
| I brought my dodge truck (2002) reg. cab (no 4x4) to the dealer back in 01/30/2003 i had 6470 miles on it. i complained about a thumping noise in the right front tire when i go over a bump. pryer to this when i was getting an inspection a week earlier they told me my ball joint was bad. when the dealer took it in they said that the ball joint play was within specification and found nothing wrong. to this day i still have the same thumping noise in the right front tire/ball joint. i am very worried that this is has been a problem all along and has been covered up. what should i do now. *ak | |||
| 10/27/2004 | 4 | ||
| There is a clicking noise when the vehicle is making turns, causing the suspension to become loose and maintain proper control. vehicle was taken to dealer for front ball joint repairs for the fourth time.*ak | |||
| 12/10/2004 | 1 | 11/01/2002 | |
| Sir, i read about dodge dakota has upper joint plm. gates(chrysler) says, they can hear noise from joint but u forget about deaf people have own too. i am deaf and my truck is 2002 4x4 dodge dakota. they should concerns about deaf people too. please inform me soon before happens anytime!!! thanks. *ak | |||
| 12/09/2004 | 1 | 11/07/2001 | |
| There has been no failure of my front end yet, however i have noticed a rattle in the front. i have not notified my dealer yet. i dont believe the ball joints are under warranty. just wanted to express my concern.*ak | |||
| 10/26/2004 | 54000 | 1 | |
| The tire retail store was unable to perform a front end alignment after replacing the front tires because 3 of the ball joints were defective, and the fourth wore out. *ak the consumer stated that his vehicle has no lift and no oversized tires. the defective tires have 20 to 25% of the tread still on them showing indication of faulty ball joints. *tc | |||
| 09/13/2004 | 33824 | 1 | |
| Due to the worn front upper ball joints, the consumer would hear a clunking noise when driving. the dealership is aware of the problem, but did not resolve. please provide more information. *nm | |||
| 10/14/2004 | 43800 | 2 | |
| The upper and lower ball joints continued to wear prematurely. please provide additional informtion. *jb | |||
| 07/05/2004 | 1 | ||
| Vehicle was taken to the dealer for a routine inspection, and mechanic determined that both upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to worn out parts. *ak | |||
| 07/27/2004 | 25680 | 2 | 05/13/2003 |
| I had loss of control of my vehicle this morning which i believe is a direct result of my steering/ball joint / rack and pinion failure. it's at the dealer now being looked over thoroughly. the dealer just replaced the intermittent steering shaft last week.*ak | |||
| 06/28/2004 | 50500 | 2 | 09/18/2003 |
| Dodge dakota 02 with just 50000 miles has noise in front end, thud in front end on bumps and turns, camber seems to change at times when veiwed while parked, called dodge at 1-800-992-1997, got a runaround from customer service, if i take truck to dodge and pay for a diognostic on ball joints they may help with repairs. this has to be extremly poor quality parts for this many vehilcles to have proplems.*ak | |||
| 06/22/2004 | 34000 | 1 | |
| While driving at any speed and when brake were depressed pedal pulsated. vehicle was serviced, and technician turned the rotors at 34, 000 miles. *ak vehicle has a problem with the ball joint in the past, which concerned the consumer. *la | |||
| 05/07/2004 | 43000 | 1 | |
| While driving/turning or braking front upper ball joints made a popping noise. upon inspection of the vehicle by the dealership, they noticed that the upper ball joints were defective, and needed to be replaced. the ball joints were replaced.*ak additionally the steering shaft needed to be replaced and august 2003, the dealer replaced the steering gear box. *nm | |||
| 06/01/2004 | 35305 | 3 | |
| While driving, noticed that the check engine light was on and the oil pressure gauge was incorrect. notified dealer of this issue and also an issue with grinding noise when turning left or right. the dealer has replaced the upper and lower ball joints on the front and even admitted that they have seen a high failure rate for this. also they replaced the vacuum tube harness under the gas tank. the oil pressure gauge sensor was loose and was corrected. *jb | |||
| 05/26/2004 | 53000 | 2 | 08/24/2002 |
| Upper ball joints were loose, one to the point of coming apart. there was no noticeable failure of the part leading up to the point when i discovered the problem. when i went to rotate my tires i bumped the right front and heard an audible click while it was on the jackstand. i have since replaced both upper joints as the vehicle was unsafe to drive. *mr | |||
| 05/14/2004 | 40020 | 1 | 03/01/2002 |
| The dealer's technician noticed that the right upper ball joint had excessive play. *nm *nm | |||
| 05/04/2004 | 1 | ||
| While driving at 45 mph consumer heard a loud noise coming from the front end. vehicle was taken to dealer and mechanic determined there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. then, an independent repair shop indicated that ball joints needed to be replaced. *ak | |||
| 09/20/2002 | 10000 | 1 | 07/12/2002 |
| When driving and making a left hand turn there is a loud knocking noise on the passenger side of the vehicle. *ak | |||
| 04/26/2002 | 42000 | 1 | 07/11/2002 |
| At 42,000 miles noticed a clunking noise coming from the front end of the vehicle during sharp turns over bumps at low speeds. brought vehicle to the dealer and they indicated that both upper ball joints need replacement at a cost of ~$500. will be having both ball joints replaced and will request that the defective parts be saved.*ak | |||
| 02/23/2004 | 45000 | 1 | |
| Consumer heard a popping noise in the front end of the vehicle when turning, driving over any imperfection in the road ,or any front end movement. upon inspection of the vehicle by the dealership they noticed that the front upper ball joint wore out prematurely, and needed to be replaced.*ak | |||
| 03/26/2004 | 21000 | 3 | 12/08/2001 |
| Consumer heard a noise in the front end when the brake pedal was depressed, when making right turns and when down hill. upon inspection of the front end by a mechanic it was determined that front driver side tire and front upper ball joint were loose. vehicle was then taken to a dealership who indicated that the ball joints were not loose enough to be replaced.*ak *nm | |||
| 30000 | 1 | 10/01/2001 | |
| When turning left, the driver heard a loud noise coming from the front. the vehicle was due for an inspection at 30000 miles. the mechanic determined that the upper ball joints on the passenger side needed to be replaced. *ak *sc *jb | |||
| 5000 | 10 | ||
| Vehicle had excessive brake pad wear. the front pads has been replaced 4 times and the rear twice within a short period of time. also at 4,000 when turning there was clucking noise in the front end of the truck. the front tires had a quarter inch cup in them. the upper ball joints were bad. the dealership replaced the ball joint but the problem recurred. the upper ball joint had to be replace again. *jb | |||
| 02/20/2004 | 1 | ||
| The ball joints on my 2002 dodge dakato 4x4 have prematurely failed. the truck has approx. 27000 miles on it. the infamous knocking sound comes from the front suspension when i turn. the truck has been taken to 2 different dealerships a grand total of 5 times for this same problem. a service tech and a service manager have both ridden in the truck and agree that there is a problem initially. upon inspection, i have been repeatedly told that there is no problem under normal operating condition. i have contacted dodge and have been told that they always favor the service dealers over the customer's opinion. through research i found out that the ball joints on dakotas and durangos prematurely fail. i informed dodge that i knew this and that i would like them to rethink their original decision. they said that nothing in my research provided reason to change their conclusion. my truck has prematurely failed ball joints and neither dodge nor the dodge service dealer will do anything about it.*ak | |||
| 03/02/2004 | 18000 | 1 | 09/28/2002 |
| While driving at any speed and when turning corners, hit bumps, or simply turning the steering wheel, there was a distinct crunching sound in front of vehicle. dealer examined the vehicle, and determined that the upper and lower ball joints needed replacement.*ak dealer replaced upper and lower ball joints. *la | |||
| 03/24/2004 | 1 | ||
| While driving 65 mph, a rattling noise was heard coming from the front of the vehicle. the driver was able to drive the vehicle to the dealer for inspection. the mechanic replaced both upper and lower ball joints due to corrosion. *nm control arms were replaced as well. consumer also stated that problem is similar to dodge durango sport utility vehicle. *la | |||
| 03/15/2004 | 1 | 03/25/2002 | |
| 2002 dodge dakota quad cab, had noise in front end starting at about 25000 miles. complained to dealer at the following 2 oil changes about front end pulling to the right and noises in front end, diagnosed as normal. finally, i told dealer that i would pay for a front end alignment, and both upper ball joints diagnosed as bad and needed to be replaced before the alignment could happen. ball joints were replaced after a 4 week wait for the ball joints that were on back order, 32,000 miles at replacement time.*ak | |||
| 03/16/2004 | 28500 | 1 | 04/01/2002 |
| Both upper ball joints. *ak | |||
| 02/24/2004 | 38518 | 1 | |
| Upper ball joints failed without warning. *ak | |||
| 01/02/2004 | 18400 | 1 | 07/20/2002 |
| Consumer saw an advertisement concerning ball joints. vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the upper ball joints. *ak *la | |||
| 03/10/2004 | 41678 | 1 | |
| While driving consumer heard a clanking noise coming from the front ball joints. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak | |||
| 03/11/2004 | 40000 | 1 | |
| Four months ago while driving at 45 mph consumer heard noise coming through the front end. vehicle was taken to the dealership, and technician determined nothing was wrong with the vehicle. four months later and without warranty dealership indicated to the consumer the need to replace upper and lower ball joints. *ak | |||
| 12/15/2003 | 39000 | 1 | |
| While driving at any speed a noise was heard from the front end. the dealer determined, that the upper and lower ball joints had to be replaced.*ak *jb | |||
| 02/22/2004 | 24732 | 1 | |
| While making right hand turns consumer heard a loud noise coming from the front end. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak | |||
| 15000 | 2 | 03/14/2002 | |
| When driving and/or while turning in either direction, the driver heard a popping noise. the vehicle was taken to the dealer twice and was not able to determine the cause of the noise. after watching a tv report about the ball joints, the consumer suspected the problem may have been the ball joints. *ak the consumer stated when the vehicle was placed in reverse, it did not engage. the air condition was inoperative. *jb | |||
| 03/04/2004 | 1 | 10/23/2001 | |
| I own a 2002 dodge dakota pickup. after hearing and reading cbs news piece on the durango and dakota having faulty ball joints, i had my local dodge dealer check the upper ball joints on my truck. one upper joint was loose and they recommended it be replaced. the cost was $188. i feel since there have been over 700 complaints about this, that daimler chrysler should recall affected vehicles and fix the problem. the fact that dodge has had so many complaints and it took a cbs news report to educate the public is tragic. what's more tragic is that it put the life of myself and my son in danger. i feel that dodge should reimburse my $188. *jb | |||
| 03/01/2004 | 54000 | 1 | 01/01/2002 |
| While driving consumer heard a rough sound coming from the front. vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the mechanic replaced the upper and lower ball joints on the right side. *ak *la | |||
| 02/27/2004 | 64000 | 1 | |
| While driving consumer lost control. dealership informed consumer that the problem pertained to the front upper ball joints. *ak | |||
| 03/04/2004 | 0 | ||
| Popping noise in the front ball joints of my 2002 dodge dakota. i noticed this the day i bought this unit. and just today (3-4-04) i found out on cbs that it is a manufacturer defect. and would like very much to have the problem resolved before something bad does happen on the highway. *jb | |||
| 500 | 4 | ||
| Vehicle was taken to dealer 4 times for popping and cracking sound heard in the front of vehicle when making turns. also, consumer heard a popping and cracking noise when driving on bumpy roads. ball joints were changed. however, after 500 miles the problem recurred. *ak | |||
| 35000 | 3 | ||
| When making a left turn there was a popping noise in the steering. dealership replaced the steering shaft sector, rack and pinion, and upper and lower ball joints. *ak | |||
| 07/01/2002 | 2500 | 03/28/2002 | |
| I bought my 2002 dodge dakota new in march of 2002. ever since approximately july of that summer, i heard the now infamous clunking noise in my front end. it wasn't until last fall of 2003 and several visits to 3 different dealerships, that they finally somewhat fixed my vehicle. i have since seen the reports by cbs news in regards to the ball joints and that has put further concern in the reliability of my vehicle. even though several parts, including the ball joints have been replaced by the dealerships (none of whom said they could figure out what the problem was, or even claimed that i didn't know what i was talking about when i said i heard the noise), i still hear the clunking and feel that it will never be fixed. i have put in several complaints at chrysler, so my problems should be very well documented, but feel it is chryslers responsibilty if anything futher would happen to my vehicle, or any other for that matter. please continue to do your investigation into this matter before someone does get seriously hurt. | |||
| 02/04/2004 | 48000 | 02/08/2004 | |
| Vehicle has definitive clunk when crossing over small bumps or turning tightly. worn ball joints are to blame. vehicle has 50,000 miles. | |||
| 02/20/2004 | 53000 | 1 | |
| While driving 30 mph upper ball joints fell out. *ak | |||
| 02/19/2004 | 25000 | 1 | 02/06/2002 |
| During a routine inspection the consumer was informed that the upper ball joints were severely worn. the manufacturer and the dealer are aware of the problem. *nm *mr | |||
| 02/12/2004 | 36000 | 1 | |
| While parking consumer heard a loud noise coming from the front end. vehicle was taken to the dealership, where they replaced the upper ball joint. *ak | |||
| 02/11/2004 | 58000 | 1 | 11/14/2003 |
| Upper ball joints are failing prematurely. passenger side is worse.*ak | |||
| 01/19/2004 | 15200 | 1 | 08/29/2002 |
| My 2002 dodge dakota sport 4x2 has approximately 15,200 miles on it. at approximately 13,000 miles i began to notice that the front end started to rattle and seem loose when going over bumps. after doing some research and having someone look at it, i found that the ball joints are failing prematurely. | |||
| 10/29/2003 | 44000 | 1 | 10/14/2003 |
| Consumer complained about a ball joint problem. consumer took vehicle to dealer to have tires replaced when it was noticed that the ball joints were defective. *ak the consumer stated that the grease was able to wash out and there was no place to grease the ball joints. the dealer failed to correct the problem. *sc | |||
| 01/05/2003 | 38400 | 2 | |
| While having vehicle serviced for a brake issue dealership noticed that all four ball joints wore out prematurely, and the tie rods were defective. dealership could only replace the upper ball joint, but was unable to replace the lower once due to part being on back order. *ak | |||
| 1 | 04/10/2002 | ||
| Consumer took vehicle to dealer for tires to be serviced. mechanic noticed that upper ball joints were defective. also, consumer remembered hearing a noise when turning corners. *ak | |||
| 12/30/2003 | 30 | 06/01/2003 | |
| 2002 dakota pickup truck with 29,600 miles loosing front steering stability and front end rattling. check with local mechanic reveals both left and right upper balljoints failing and need to replaced asap to prevent wheel failure. also tires wearing out. dodge contacted, no recall yet??? | |||
| 06/09/2003 | 1 | 11/22/2001 | |
| 2002 dodge dakota club cab is making clanking, creaking noises while turning at low speeds. this is at 46k miles. has been making this noise since 40k miles. found many complaints of upper ball joint problems with other dakotas and durangos. very concerned and suspicous. | |||
| 12/19/2003 | 46605 | 1 | 03/01/2002 |
| The upper ball joints wore out prematurely. *ak *sc *jb | |||
| 12/19/2003 | 1 | 09/13/2003 | |
| At barely 39000 miles on my 2002 dodge dakota sxt, we have discovered that the right upper ball joint is nearly shot. the problem is that the noise and problems began way before the 36000 mile mark but we never considered that it would be something that needed major repair. now we are beyond the 36000 mile warranty and we have to pay for the repair ourselves. after research we have discovered that this problem is quickly becoming a common problem with these vehicles. so we would like to make our issue known in conjunction with any other owners with the same problem in hopes that maybe dodge will take some corrective action. *ak | |||
| 12/09/2003 | 18000 | 1 | 12/14/2002 |
| Denial of inspection in nh for bad upper ball joints. told to take it to dealer. dealer says it's ok and charged me $15.00! iinspector showed me how much movement when i brought it back again to complain they were wrong. i agree with the inspector, this is unsafe. any movement is a problem, they shouldn't be allowed to say .60 is ok. *ak | |||
| 10/09/2003 | 26465 | 1 | 12/28/2001 |
| Premature failure of the upper ball joints on my 2002 dodge dakota club cab pick-up with 26,465 miles. took the vehicle to dealer to diagnose a clanking noise in the front end when turning they did not find any problem on the first visit, i returned for a second visit and i identified the upper ball joints as the problem, they checked them and agreed. they were replaced under the warranty. after reading a large number of complaints on different web sites this seems to be a common problem with the dakotas and durangos. how about a recall! (premature front disc brake rotor failures is another common problem on both of these vehicles. mine had to be replaced at 26,120 miles and was not covered under the warranty.) *la | |||
| 11/03/2003 | 35000 | 2 | 12/23/2001 |
| 2002 dodge dakota dealer identified lt ball joint/control arm assembly in need of replacement @ 42,000 mi. problem existed some 6000 - 7000 prior based on drivability/noise. veh has had repeated evap leak since 14,000 mi.*ak | |||
| 10/22/2003 | 17152 | 1 | 08/06/2002 |
| I have problems with the front suspension in my dodge dakota. the front end vibrates at speeds over 60mph . i feel this is not right, correct, or safe. i got another opinion from daigle steer-o-master.they found that the right balljoint is the problem.the dealer claims the balljoint on all the wheels are within specs . after another opinion the right front wheel still has excess play,which i feel is not safe at any speed. it also would not pass the state inspection. my dodge dakota only has 17,152 miles. i think that the dealer will not correct this problem until the warranty has expired or there is a recall.*ak | |||
| 07/25/2003 | 1 | 11/15/2001 | |
| 2002 dodge dakota 4x2 pickup has premature failure of upper ball joints and severe tire wear. 32,000 miles having to replace upper ball joints, bad front end suspension and handling.*ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SHOCK ABSORBER | |||
| 2 | |||
| Consumer called complaining about having problems with the shock. also stated that almost every 100 miles if the vehicle hit a pot hole or a bump on the pavement the vehicle loses control and consumer also stated that the vehicle has spinned on him twice. dealer was contacted and stated that there is nothing they can do that is something wrong engine wise. mr | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - WHEEL BEARING | |||
| 11/01/2004 | 2 | ||
| The driver and passenger side wheel bearings failed. *nm drivers side heated up so much that it blew the tire and the rim off the hub while the vehicle was in motion. due to the damage the wheel bearing hub, rotor, brake and tire had to be replaced. one week later the passengers side failed. *tc *jb | |||
| 08/05/2002 | |||
| While driving 20mph front wheel bearing broke off, causing loss of control and injuries.*ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR | |||
| 07/02/2002 | |||
| While driving theirs a noise from the rear end of the vehicle. the dealership that the rear end went out. cause unknown. please provide more details. ts | |||
| 06/07/2002 | |||
| While traveling on highway rear back window vibrates . dealership is aware of problem.*ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY | |||
| 04/01/2004 | 12000 | 1 | |
| Rear leaf springs deteriorated. consumer was concerned that while driving the leaf spring could fall apart, and the rear end will lose control. dealer stated there was no solution at this time. *ak | |||