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 | |||
| 12/06/2007 | 64000 | 2 | 11/14/2000 |
| I have a 2001 dakota quad cab 4x4 purchased new and the inside of the front rotors wear out extremely fast. they become damaged on the inside of the rotor appearing extremely rusted and as if maybe they overheated on the inside. 64,000 and this has happened 2 times. dealers deny this is common , my brother has a 2002 (purchased new) and has had the same problem. ball joints failed on both trucks , steering rack and rear differential leaks on both . *tr | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 1 | ||
| 2001 dodge dakota had many problems with the drive train and brakes.*mr the consumer heard a clunking noise when shifting from park to drive, reverse, etc. the rear tire on the right side stuck out from the vehicle. the driveshaft seemed to have alot o slack in it. there was a popping noise in the front end when making sharp slow turns. there was a whining noise in the steering and rear end when turning. the vehicle was taken tot he dealer but they were unable to duplicate the problems. the brake, rotors, calipers had to be replaced between 55-8000 miles. *nm | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 35000 | 1 | |
| 2001 dodge dakota has been diagnosed with bad ball joints. *mr *nm | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 10000 | 1 | |
| Consumer experienced problems with the upper ball joints on is 2001 dodge dakota 4x4 quad cab. *ph the ball joints were replaced but the front end noise returned after a few weeks. the consumer believes that the front suspension is not designed or the extra weight that it carries over the standard or extra cab models. *nm | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 56000 | 1 | |
| 2001 dodge dakota had a clunk in the front end when driving over bumps. it was later determined that the ball joints had failed at low mileage. *bf *nm | |||
| 12/23/2003 | 3000 | 6 | 03/15/2001 |
| I have had problems with the front suspension of this truck since shortly after i purchased it new in march 2001. it has been back to the dealer 6 times, and they have replaced many parts, but the problem still persists. the front end makes a loud banging/popping noise when turning or going over bumps. it sounds like the tire is going to fall off the truck! many others i know have the same problem. they need to isue a recall on this serious safety issue before somebody is either seriously injured or killed! | |||
| 50000 | 1 | ||
| The vehicle was experiencing front end problems which included the ball joints, front end suspension and poor wheel balancing. please provide any further information. *nlm | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||
| 01/25/2005 | 75000 | 04/10/2004 | |
| My 2001 dodge dakota has had upper front ball joints replaced due to popping in front end, the popping is still there. front rotors have been changed because of being warped causing vibration in steering and rough braking. the right front wheel bearing and hub has went out causing loud squeeking noise when going down the road there is a constant squeeking noise now from front end. the blower fan has stopped working due to wiring problems. the rear end has a popping noise when putting in park dodge house says thats normal (i have never had a truck do that before) and u joints are good, and i reported it to them when my warranty was good and now my warranty is out and i have all these repairs that i cannot afford !! | |||
| 12/08/2004 | 4 | ||
| I have a 2001 dakota 2 wheel drive with a bad front suspension. it only 54000 miles on it. i have had the bushing replaced three times and now they tell me i need upper control arm bushings, both upper ball joints, and a r/f hub bearing. upper ball joints are very loose. i was wondering why i am always fixing the front suspension and if there is anything i can do to get this problem solved. i heard that there is a recall on the four wheel drive dakota's, but not the two wheel drive. could you please help me figure out what to do/ thanks, stephen. *ak | |||
| 09/09/2002 | 2 | 09/05/2001 | |
| I have a 2001 dodge, dakota, quad cab, 4x4. shortly after the warrenty expired(36000mi.), i developed a poping noise in the front end when turning over bumps. sense then it has progressively gotten worse. i had it inspected and was told it was ok, just typical truck noise due to bumps. after hearing about the problem with the balljoints, i had it re-inspected (many miles later) only to find that i am lucky that a wheel has not came off (bad joints). also, if the truck sets overnight (or 1 or more days)when you first crank the truck and put in gear(reverse) the transmition will slip. took to the dealer while still under warrenty they said it was typical that the torque converter would drain down and that you had to put it in neutral for a few seconds to let the converter fill before putting in gear. i still have the problem!*ak | |||
| 10/10/2004 | 12000 | ||
| I have a 2001 dodge dakota quad cab 4 x 4. the front suspension has been making a loud popping noise when i go over bumps or make turns at low speeds. i have taken it to a dodge dealer numerous times and they continue to say there is nothing wrong. well now my truck is out of warranty and the problem still exist at 50000 miles. i have replaced all four shocks and there still is a problem with popping and clunking. now i have resorted to taking it to firestone/master care and within minutes of being on the hoist the technician was able to identify the ball joints were shot. he said this is the first thing he looked at because he has had more than his fair share of dakotas with the same problem. dodge has a serious problem on there hands and needs to address it before someone gets hurt. please help! thank you, ryan archey | |||
| 01/01/2004 | 1 | 09/28/2001 | |
| Front end problems are numerous on this vehicle. all ball joints have been replaced, sway links replaced, sway bar bushings replaced, power steering rack replaced, tie rods replaced... and this is all between 24-60k miles!! now it is making another front end noise that the dealer can't figure out.*ak | |||
| 11/11/2003 | 27000 | 1 | 11/24/2000 |
| There is terrible noise coming from the front end of my 2001 dodge dakota quadcab. dealer greased bushings but noise is back and worse than ever!!!!!!!!!!!*ak | |||
| 09/04/2003 | 2 | ||
| Approx 30,000 miles rotors warped, during stopping stearing wheel vibrated so bad it was hard to hang on to it, the dealer turned them. at 60,000 rotors warped again, had them replaced. at 70,000 miles the front end started making a creaking noise whenever going over a small bump and pulled to one side. had it inspected and was told it needed to be fixed immediately that it was extremely warn and could fail at any time. upper and lower ball joints replaced, 4 sway bar bushings replaced. the dakota and durango front end components need to be investigated for early failure before there is an accident and/or death.*ak | |||
| 11/21/2001 | 1254 | 1 | 04/01/2001 |
| Front brakes clunk when applied,dealer replaced rotors. transmission won't shift properly,dealer ordered and replaced new valve body. lower engine needed to be replaced,because of valve tapping. a/c has bad odor when on. front end squeaked around boots front end has bad knocking sound. 2 goodyear tires slow leak. problems started at 1,254 miles, and keep going at 26,000 miles. *ak | |||
| 06/07/2002 | 24000 | 0 | 05/16/2001 |
| 2001 dakota quad cab has a loud knock in front suspension. three dealers unable to fix. the truck has had many front end parts replaced and the frame welded. for a total of 10 times to the dealers within a 6 month peroid. still unble to fix. i am now concerned about the performance and saftey of vehicle. chyrsler has offered no solution and very uncooperative with problem. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER ARM | |||
| 03/10/2004 | 41000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2001 dodge 4x4 4.7l qc dakota. my mechanic has told me the popping sound in the front end is due to wear on the ball joints and bushings being loose. the truck only has 41000miles on it and has been taken care of.*ak add my complaint to your growing list of unsatisfied owners. | |||
| 02/23/2004 | 35000 | 1 | 02/10/2001 |
| Faulty ball joints on my 2001 dodge dakota quad cab. *ak | |||
| 12/30/2003 | 39070 | 4 | 12/20/2000 |
| Faulty ball joints on a 2001 dodge dakota 4x4 with 39,000 miles on it. my old honda accord sedan (1990) and my existing 1998 accord have never had this problem at 150,000 and 90,000 miles respectively despite driving all the same roads. this thing is a truck and is often advertised as being tough and rugged. is chrysler kidding? today, january 7, 2004, they are being replaced at my expense.*ak | |||
| 11/08/2003 | 47500 | 1 | 04/29/2001 |
| Lower control arm passenger side rubber bushings worn out causing lower control arm and frame mount to contact each other. which causes misalignment of front end and excessive tire wear.*ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT | |||
| 06/17/2005 | 1 | ||
| Approx. 2 months ago i had upper balls joints replaced under recall, the dealship noted that the lower ball joints and tierods were worn as well, was qutoed approx. $700.00 to be fixed. today my daiughter was starting to pull out of my driveway with her 3 year old daughter, the tierod fell out of place causing the truck to stop. luckly my daughter wasn't driving down the road when this happened because there could have been a very bad accident on a very busy street!!! i want to know why there is a recall on the upper ball joints but not the lower ball joints and tierods, it is a fact that there are serious problems with these parts, are they waiting for someone to be killed because of these defective parts?? this will be the last time i purchase a chrysler product if these matters are not dealt with when problems with defective parts are presented!! | |||
| 03/09/2005 | 1 | ||
| When i recently took my 1991 dodge dakota in to have the upper ball joints replaced, i was told the lower ones were shot, also. the truck only has 36,000 miles on it. i only drive on the road and never overload my truck. why would the upper ball joints be recalled and not the lower? this continues to be an accident waiting to happen.*ak | |||
| 01/03/2005 | 0 | 1 | |
| I have a 2001 dodge dakota 4x4 - recalled with campaign id #4v596000. while the garage had my pickup apart they called and said my lower ball joint had excessive wear -quoted $440 to repair. at 38000 miles and to have excessive wear on lower ball joints is a product defect. i decliined to have then repair due to extreme cost while the truck was apart to repair the upper ball joints.*ak | |||
| 12/17/2004 | 30000 | 1 | |
| The consumer took the vehicle to have the upper ball joints repaired under recall. it was also discovered that the lower ball joints were defective. the vehicle had 40,000 miles on it. the consumer contacted the manufacturer and received no assistance. provide further details. *jb | |||
| 05/31/2002 | 17305 | 1 | 06/01/2001 |
| 2001 dodge dakota quad cab was serviced on six separate occasions for clunking in the front end while going over bumps and during turns. several parts were replaced while under warranty but dealership insisted that ball joints and cv joints were fine. they also stated that no other complaints had been filed and that there was not a service bulletin regarding this problem. the problem became apparent within the first 17,000 miles and continues to persist.*ak | |||
| 10/27/2004 | 1 | 12/16/2000 | |
| 2001 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4, vin no. 1b7662an11s202075 - failure of the front ball joint and the tie rod end that had to be replaced at my cost and will have to replace the the other side next year accourding to the dealer that replaced the the ball joint.. the front end of my truck has been making noise from the time i bought the truck with 59 miles for the dealer and i was told it was becuase of the greaseless ball joint and the only way to have it . *ak | |||
| 07/13/2003 | 30000 | 2 | 11/01/2001 |
| Dodge dakota ball joint problem. i have once had them replaced at 30,000 miles due to an awful sound. the sound is back, this is a problem dodge should be dealing with. after research it is my understanding that this is a very common problem that dodge does not wish to deal with, and there has be serious accidents to which i want no part of. i'm guessing at the date of the first problem on this survey.*ak | |||
| 07/15/2001 | 6000 | 1 | 01/19/2001 |
| I bought the truck new in 2001. i complained about clunking noises coming from the wheel area when i made turns. slow and usually at intersections. now it is more advanced and noisy on bumps.*ak | |||
| 10/20/2004 | 01/27/2001 | ||
| Upper and lower ball went bad after only 40,000 miles. | |||
| 04/30/2001 | 1 | ||
| Within several thousand miles of ownership vehicle experienced heavy vibration coming from the front. several parts were replaced, except the original ball joints. vehicle was back at dealership several times with no change in condition or replacement of the original ball joints. *ak | |||
| 05/15/2004 | 20000 | 11/08/2001 | |
| Upper and lower ball joints need to be replaced at 20,000 miles. known issue on dodge durangos that share the same suspension components. not covered under warranty and a definite safety hazard. ball joints are the only thing holding the wheels in line and failure could result in a severe accident. *nm | |||
| 04/12/2004 | 29000 | 1 | 02/07/2003 |
| Ball joints have failed after 29,000 miles. i brought it to the dealership twice complaining of the problem. they told me that there was not a problem and did not fix it. i took the truck to another mechanic he determined that it was a ball joint issue. the vehical is now out of warrantee, and i am affaid that the dealership is going to ask me to pay for the fix. i am waiting for the dealership to contact me. *ak | |||
| 03/31/2004 | 52000 | 1 | 03/30/2001 |
| I took my 2001 dodge dakota quad cab to a dealer to check a noise coming from the front end of my vehicle. they informed me that my upper and lower ball joints were wearing down and that i could loose the tires on my vehicle while driving. my complaint is based on the fact that all four ball joints should not need to be replaced on a vehicle until at least 100,000 miles. from my research this is an obvious problem that needs correction in these models. *jb | |||
| 09/20/2002 | 35668 | 2 | 05/26/2001 |
| Premature wear of the upper ball joints on 2001 dodge dakota. dodge dakota quad cab 4x4 vin: 1b7hg2anx1s271903. ball joints were replaced before separatation failure occurred.*ak diligence by the owner identified the problem and ensured replacement thereby preventing the possiblity of danger to others. lower control arm (ball joint) replaced (pn 52106222aa) qty 2. sept 20, 2002 upper control arm (ball joint) replaced - left (pn 52106387ae) qty 1. mar 13, 2003 dublin dodge, dublin california | |||
| 03/10/2004 | 41000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2001 dodge 4x4 4.7l qc dakota. my mechanic has told me the popping sound in the front end is due to wear on the ball joints and bushings being loose. the truck only has 41000miles on it and has been taken care of.*ak add my complaint to your growing list of unsatisfied owners. | |||
| 03/03/2004 | 62000 | 1 | 10/31/2002 |
| Upper and lower ball joints defective and worn after 60,000 miles. ball joints replaced by 3rd party autoshop for less than 1/3 of quoted price from dealer. *ak | |||
| 10/17/2003 | 50000 | 1 | |
| Ball joints on my 2001 dodge dakata quad cab 4x4 needs replacing after 50000 miles.*ak | |||
| 02/16/2004 | 180000 | 1 | 12/22/2000 |
| Upper ball joints on 2001 dodge dakota both balljoints filled at around 100,000 mi. of highway driing. *ak | |||
| 02/17/2004 | 63029 | 1 | 12/29/2000 |
| Near crash due to faulty ball joints on a 2001 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4. *jb | |||
| 10/02/2003 | 62000 | 1 | 02/11/2001 |
| Have a 2001 dodge dakota quad cab 4wd. lost the front wheel while driving earlier this year. ball joint failure was the cause. dodge didn't seem to think it was a problem, though at 60 mph the whole wheel flying off seemed like one to me. *ak not sure of the exact date...though i can find out if needed from police | |||
| 12/30/2003 | 39070 | 4 | 12/20/2000 |
| Faulty ball joints on a 2001 dodge dakota 4x4 with 39,000 miles on it. my old honda accord sedan (1990) and my existing 1998 accord have never had this problem at 150,000 and 90,000 miles respectively despite driving all the same roads. this thing is a truck and is often advertised as being tough and rugged. is chrysler kidding? today, january 7, 2004, they are being replaced at my expense.*ak | |||
| 01/01/2004 | 61000 | 1 | |
| While making a left turn from a complete stop front left ball joints failed, causing the front left tire to detach from the vehicle. *ak *mr | |||
| 12/22/2003 | 47408 | 2 | 12/17/2003 |
| Upper ball joints worn to the point of breakage | |||
| 11/19/2003 | 1 | ||
| 2001 dodge dakota quad-cab 4x4. i had one upper ball joint replace at 37,863 miles. the remaining ball joints also seem to be failing. there is similar noise coming from the front suspension. after viewing a program on cbs news, i felt it would beneficial to report this problem. *la | |||
| 11/15/2003 | 50000 | 1 | 05/01/2001 |
| The upper and lower ball joints both went out and had to be replaced. *ak | |||
| 11/25/2003 | 37000 | 1 | |
| Ball joints on 2001 dodge dakota quad cab have gone out.*ak | |||
| 11/09/2003 | 40000 | 1 | 11/29/2002 |
| Upper and lower ball joints. *ak | |||
| 12/03/2003 | 38800 | 1 | 10/05/2000 |
| Bad ball joint failure. *ak | |||
| 11/09/2003 | 35000 | 1 | 05/01/2002 |
| My 40k '01 dakota qc has a very loose upper left ball joint, a loose lower right ball joint, a loose right outer tie rod and has been making a popping noise/thunk for a number of months. when i called dodge and asked them why they would need to be repaired they said, just wear and tear. as if it was no big deal. they didn't mention any safety concerns. *la | |||
| 11/24/2003 | 40000 | 1 | 06/01/2001 |
| Defective ball joints on 2001 dodge dakota quad cab. *ak | |||
| 12/03/2002 | 71342 | 1 | 06/10/2001 |
| My balljoints snapped while turning in my sons school one morning , resulting in my front wheel and brake assembly falling off completely from my 2001 dodge dakota 4x4 truck in december 2002. i had 1000 miles passed factory warrenty | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER ARM | |||
| 05/05/2004 | 2 | ||
| While driving and upon hitting anything in the road vehicle will make a clanking noise. took vehicle to dealer to be looked at. consumer had the shocks changed. however, it did not solve the problem. contacted the dodge dealer, and was told they needed the upper control arm. *ak | |||
| 12/30/2003 | 39070 | 4 | 12/20/2000 |
| Faulty ball joints on a 2001 dodge dakota 4x4 with 39,000 miles on it. my old honda accord sedan (1990) and my existing 1998 accord have never had this problem at 150,000 and 90,000 miles respectively despite driving all the same roads. this thing is a truck and is often advertised as being tough and rugged. is chrysler kidding? today, january 7, 2004, they are being replaced at my expense.*ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT | |||
| 03/05/2006 | 1 | 08/26/2001 | |
| Own 2001 dodge dakota quad cab. notice the same problem has been identified with front steering ball joint having problems. our truck is suffering same problem with load popping noise when we make a hard left hand turn. has happened numerous times for past 9 months...but now getting more frequent. *nm | |||
| 03/09/2005 | 1 | ||
| When i recently took my 1991 dodge dakota in to have the upper ball joints replaced, i was told the lower ones were shot, also. the truck only has 36,000 miles on it. i only drive on the road and never overload my truck. why would the upper ball joints be recalled and not the lower? this continues to be an accident waiting to happen.*ak | |||
| 06/20/2004 | 1 | ||
| While driving at any speed driver heard a loud knocking noise coming from the front. vehicle vibrated uncontrollably. vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection,but cause had not been determined at this time. *ak | |||
| 01/01/2005 | 1 | ||
| Since the beginning of january dealer had no parts for defect. nhtsa recall campaign 04v596000 concerning upper ball joints.*ak | |||
| 09/06/2004 | 71323 | 1 | 06/07/2001 |
| Left wheel started to make noise when turning to the left or right. took it to the dodge dealer and was charged $747.00 to replace failed ball joints my vin number is included in the range covered aby the recent dodge recall - but they say it only applies to 4 wheel drive,,,,regardless these ball joints were replaced as failures. *jb | |||
| 06/10/2002 | 50000 | 1 | 09/09/2000 |
| My husband and i own a 2001 dodge dakota quad cab, for about 2 1/2 years we are having problems with the front end. now a recall on the ball joints has come in and dodge will not even look at our vehicle until the recalls go in the mail. i have brought to their attention how many times i have called with this complaint, i am scared something is going to happen to me and my family but dodge just tells me to stop driving the vehicle. how can i do that when it is my only one and i cant get to work or my kids to school.. please help in this. my husband can give more info if needed please call him at 707-689-2333 if you need more info. *jb | |||
| 12/17/2004 | 30000 | 1 | |
| The consumer took the vehicle to have the upper ball joints repaired under recall. it was also discovered that the lower ball joints were defective. the vehicle had 40,000 miles on it. the consumer contacted the manufacturer and received no assistance. provide further details. *jb | |||
| 05/31/2002 | 17305 | 1 | 06/01/2001 |
| 2001 dodge dakota quad cab was serviced on six separate occasions for clunking in the front end while going over bumps and during turns. several parts were replaced while under warranty but dealership insisted that ball joints and cv joints were fine. they also stated that no other complaints had been filed and that there was not a service bulletin regarding this problem. the problem became apparent within the first 17,000 miles and continues to persist.*ak | |||
| 12/11/2004 | 65000 | 1 | 02/13/2001 |
| Recently the ball joints were recalled for dodge dakotas/durangos 2000-2003, but only for 4 wheel drive. my 2001, dodge dakota needs new ball joints. it also uses the same bal joint as the 4 wheel drive. if there's are bad, why isn't mine? *jb | |||
| 10/27/2004 | 1 | 12/16/2000 | |
| 2001 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4, vin no. 1b7662an11s202075 - failure of the front ball joint and the tie rod end that had to be replaced at my cost and will have to replace the the other side next year accourding to the dealer that replaced the the ball joint.. the front end of my truck has been making noise from the time i bought the truck with 59 miles for the dealer and i was told it was becuase of the greaseless ball joint and the only way to have it . *ak | |||
| 07/13/2003 | 30000 | 2 | 11/01/2001 |
| Dodge dakota ball joint problem. i have once had them replaced at 30,000 miles due to an awful sound. the sound is back, this is a problem dodge should be dealing with. after research it is my understanding that this is a very common problem that dodge does not wish to deal with, and there has be serious accidents to which i want no part of. i'm guessing at the date of the first problem on this survey.*ak | |||
| 09/18/2004 | 72000 | 1 | 06/26/2002 |
| Passenger side front end ball joint failure. ball joint replaced by local dodge dealer.*ak | |||
| 01/01/2004 | 60000 | 1 | 12/31/2001 |
| Ball joints on 2001 dakota need replacement at 60,000 miles. caused uneven tire wear, some difficulty with vehicle tracking. will replace old parts, and keep parts available. *jb | |||
| 05/05/2004 | 2 | ||
| While driving and upon hitting anything in the road vehicle will make a clanking noise. took vehicle to dealer to be looked at. consumer had the shocks changed. however, it did not solve the problem. contacted the dodge dealer, and was told they needed the upper control arm. *ak | |||
| 07/15/2001 | 6000 | 1 | 01/19/2001 |
| I bought the truck new in 2001. i complained about clunking noises coming from the wheel area when i made turns. slow and usually at intersections. now it is more advanced and noisy on bumps.*ak | |||
| 10/20/2004 | 01/27/2001 | ||
| Upper and lower ball went bad after only 40,000 miles. | |||
| 10/06/2004 | 75800 | 1 | 04/14/2001 |
| My front passenger side tire fell off my 2001 dodge dakota. this was due to a faulty ball joint. as a result, the brake line and axle also needed replacing. i notified the dealership and dodge. i was told there is nothing they could do, because the vehicle was no longer under warranty, nor was it recalled. *jb | |||
| 09/10/2004 | 70000 | 1 | 05/10/2001 |
| I have been told that i need to have the ball joints replaced on my 01 dakota. the dealer states that failure to do so will result in the wheels falling off at any time. *ak | |||
| 04/30/2001 | 1 | ||
| Within several thousand miles of ownership vehicle experienced heavy vibration coming from the front. several parts were replaced, except the original ball joints. vehicle was back at dealership several times with no change in condition or replacement of the original ball joints. *ak | |||
| 07/10/2004 | 40687 | 5 | 06/01/2001 |
| I own a 2001 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4 sle that we purchased new. in the last 6 months, and with only 49000 miles on the truck currently, the following failures have occurred: (1) (from february 2004 to present) the factory-installed external wiring harness (for towing a trailer) melted from the inside out, shorting out the electrical system. (2) brakes would pulsate anytime brakes were applied. dealer attributed this to warping of rotors and replaced pads and turned the rotors. dealer noted a spring on driver-side caliper was missing and replaced it as well. (3) the heater/ac controls failed. (4) went for state inspection and inspector failed truck due to failure of upper ball joints and brakes. the same brakes i just had fixed in february. premature failure of ball joints attributed to typical problem for dakotas/durangos. well if it's typical, why isn't there a recall?? the dealer had no answers. failure was a result of calipers not releasing properly causing the rotors and brake pads to glaze. dealer opted to pick up the tab for the new rotors and the new pads, only at my request. the new calipers and brake lines still cost me $800. again i'm wondering why i'm paying for so much on a truck that is only 3 years old with only 49000 miles. (5) unknown problem at startup when engine is cold. pressing the accelerator causes the engine to sputter. problem exists until engine is warm then goes away. two dodge dealerships and neither can figure out the problem as there is no computer error code coming up. all items mentioned were paid for by me unless otherwise specified. had any of these issues been a result of negligence, or lots of mileage, or had the dodge dealership(s) opted to pay for items that were the obvious result of poor craftsmanship, i wouldn't complain. but, the failures relating to the brakes could quite possibly have resulted in an accident which risks my life and that of my wife, and dodge doesn't seem to care. *ak | |||
| 06/28/2004 | 40000 | 1 | |
| While driving through a parking lot and making a left hand turn the right upper ball joint disengaged. vehicle was moving about 5 mph at time of incident.*ak | |||
| 05/15/2004 | 20000 | 11/08/2001 | |
| Upper and lower ball joints need to be replaced at 20,000 miles. known issue on dodge durangos that share the same suspension components. not covered under warranty and a definite safety hazard. ball joints are the only thing holding the wheels in line and failure could result in a severe accident. *nm | |||
| 05/01/2004 | 45000 | 2 | |
| Premature ball joint failure. *ak | |||
| 03/31/2004 | 52000 | 1 | 03/30/2001 |
| I took my 2001 dodge dakota quad cab to a dealer to check a noise coming from the front end of my vehicle. they informed me that my upper and lower ball joints were wearing down and that i could loose the tires on my vehicle while driving. my complaint is based on the fact that all four ball joints should not need to be replaced on a vehicle until at least 100,000 miles. from my research this is an obvious problem that needs correction in these models. *jb | |||
| 03/30/2004 | |||
| I have a 2001 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4 and had the passenger side upper ball joint fail (luckly i was having my mechanic change the oil) when he said that the upper ball joint simply fell out. i think that dodge should have made owners aware of this problem rather than cause injuries to consumers. also why is it that you cannot purchase a replacement ball joint from dodge (you must purchase the whole upper control arm assembly?)*ak | |||
| 03/10/2004 | 1 | 12/15/2000 | |
| 2001 dodge dakota has never held it's alighnment since it was bought brand new. when we heard the report on cbs news about ball joint problems on this type of vehicle, and checked in internet about same problem we became very alarmed. i took the truck in again to see what was wrong with it and had them check the ball joints just in case. they said it has problem, and we are not the only customers with this problem on this year or type of truck. the dealer can not get the ball joints in because they are on back order, too much demand. there is not a recall as of yet. this truck has had a problem since we bought it that keeps it from holding an alighnment. there are other cases of problems with this type of truck, and durangos (use the same ball joint). the company does not want to face the problem. i believe that an investagation should be done on these trucks before someone is hurt or killed. i also believe that many cases of the problem were not reported, they were probley just fixed or traded off. i am useing the most recent date only to be able to preceed.*ak | |||
| 09/20/2002 | 35668 | 2 | 05/26/2001 |
| Premature wear of the upper ball joints on 2001 dodge dakota. dodge dakota quad cab 4x4 vin: 1b7hg2anx1s271903. ball joints were replaced before separatation failure occurred.*ak diligence by the owner identified the problem and ensured replacement thereby preventing the possiblity of danger to others. lower control arm (ball joint) replaced (pn 52106222aa) qty 2. sept 20, 2002 upper control arm (ball joint) replaced - left (pn 52106387ae) qty 1. mar 13, 2003 dublin dodge, dublin california | |||
| 03/10/2004 | 41000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2001 dodge 4x4 4.7l qc dakota. my mechanic has told me the popping sound in the front end is due to wear on the ball joints and bushings being loose. the truck only has 41000miles on it and has been taken care of.*ak add my complaint to your growing list of unsatisfied owners. | |||
| 03/03/2004 | 62000 | 1 | 10/31/2002 |
| Upper and lower ball joints defective and worn after 60,000 miles. ball joints replaced by 3rd party autoshop for less than 1/3 of quoted price from dealer. *ak | |||
| 03/01/2004 | 1 | 09/15/2001 | |
| 2001 dodge dakota quad cab. loud groaning noise from front end when making hard left turn over bump (e.g., driveway apron) at slow speed. fear it may be a ball-joint problem. will be inspected at next service. 22k000 miles on vehicle.*ak | |||
| 03/02/2004 | 53000 | 2 | 10/09/2001 |
| At 53000 the upper ball joints on my 2001 dalota quad cab needed to be replaced. the fact i caught this defect early i'm certain prevented an accident. perhaps even a fatality. dodge engineering seems to be somewhat faulty in this case compunded by the fact that i'm not alone with this problem.*ak | |||
| 03/01/2001 | 64950 | 2 | 03/15/2001 |
| Upper ball joint failure on 2001 dodge dakota quad cab. *ak | |||
| 03/04/2004 | 1 | 08/01/2001 | |
| My wife and i own a 2001 dodge dakota and a 2003 dodge durango. ever since i bought my dakota new there have been problems with popping noises from the front end. after seeing the recent news story about bad upper ball joints i am convinced this is the problem. now i am worried we will have the same problem with our durango, and my dakota is no longer under warranty. i think there should be a recall from the sounds of this problem, and after doing some more research on my own.*ak | |||
| 05/15/2003 | 1 | ||
| I had to have the driver side upper ball joint replaced on my 2001 dodge dakota. now i believe the passenger side must be replaced.*ak | |||
| 09/18/2003 | 47000 | 2 | 02/18/2001 |
| 2001 dodge dakota ball joint failure. took to dealer twice before warranty expired complaining of noise from front end. they told me all was fine and not to worrk as it was normal. two months later and 47,000 on odometer (warranty expired) entire right front wheel fell off while turning in parking lot. dealer wanted me to pay for repair. i called daimler chrysler several times and complained to no avail. in the end, the dealer found that the other side of the dakota was worn as well and that they wanted to replace the ball joints there as well. after a month of fighting and complaining, i finally got my truck back (with a complete new front end). repairs cost of $3100 of which i had to pay about $700.00 as a good will. now that i have had my truck and 3000 miles later, the front end is starting to make noise again. this is a defect and dodge should be responsible! ironically, from what i saw on the news, the durango has the same problems. my wife drives a '99 durango and is now nervous, as you can imagine.*ak | |||
| 02/23/2004 | 35000 | 1 | 02/10/2001 |
| Faulty ball joints on my 2001 dodge dakota quad cab. *ak | |||
| 10/17/2003 | 50000 | 1 | |
| Ball joints on my 2001 dodge dakata quad cab 4x4 needs replacing after 50000 miles.*ak | |||
| 02/16/2004 | 180000 | 1 | 12/22/2000 |
| Upper ball joints on 2001 dodge dakota both balljoints filled at around 100,000 mi. of highway driing. *ak | |||
| 02/17/2004 | 63029 | 1 | 12/29/2000 |
| Near crash due to faulty ball joints on a 2001 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4. *jb | |||
| 02/11/2004 | 43980 | 05/17/2003 | |
| Front upper ball joint failure on 2001 dosge dakota with 43,980 miles on odometer. | |||
| 01/22/2004 | 29000 | 1 | 09/01/2001 |
| Both upper ball joints are making noise, will need to be replaced. i only have 29000 miles on the truck. *la | |||
| 10/02/2003 | 62000 | 1 | 02/11/2001 |
| Have a 2001 dodge dakota quad cab 4wd. lost the front wheel while driving earlier this year. ball joint failure was the cause. dodge didn't seem to think it was a problem, though at 60 mph the whole wheel flying off seemed like one to me. *ak not sure of the exact date...though i can find out if needed from police | |||
| 01/19/2004 | 1 | 11/13/2000 | |
| I purchased my 2001 dakota on 11/13/2000. by april 2001 i heard popping and creaking noise from the front end. took it to the dealer and they said the hub was loose and re-torqued the bolt. then about 6 to 9 months later i heard the same noise again. took it back to the dealer and they said that it was the steer stop. they told me nothing was wrong, just not to turn the wheels all the way to one direction or the other. at 25,000 i replaced the tires because they went bald on the outer edge, but had plenty of tread on the inner edge. on the news, i heard able the issues with the ball joints on dodge dakotas and durangos. upon researching the ball joint issue, i found that failure of the ball joints can lead to popping and creaking noises in the suspension, and premature tire wear. i also learned that there were a couple instances where the wheel actually separated from the vehicle. on 11/13/2003, the factory warranty expired...leaving me on the extended warranty. the noise has since gotten louder, so on 1/19/2004 i took my vehicle back to the dealership to have the noise checked and to ensure that the vehicle is safe to drive. they informed me that the upper right ball joint is failing and needs to be replaced. my extended warranty will cover the repair, however will not cover the alignment that is required to make sure the vehicle is complety driveable and safe again. i feel that the dealer waited on the ball joint issue until the factory warranty expired. i also feel that there should be a recall on the ball joints for these vehicles. today, my dakota has 25,500 miles on it. ball joints are a safety issue, and should last ove 50,000 mile or more. *ak | |||
| 01/07/2004 | 37256 | 1 | 08/17/2001 |
| Squeaking noises heard eminating from front suspension at 35000 miles, unable to lubricate suspension because components lack service/grease fittings. during follow-up inspection and tire rotation, identified premature wear to right side upper ball joint causing misalignment, unusual wear to front tires and wear to left wheel bearing. dealer replaced left wheel bearing and right side upper ball joint at 37336 miles. dealer also recommended the replacement of most of the other suspension components before they failed. dodge was helpful in picking up the cost of failed parts, not recommended repairs. my cost $100.00, for going over the warrantee milage and not being able to maintain a maintenance free system. plus, i get to pay for a re-alignment after the current repairs and most likely the cost of any other premature failure of these maintenance free parts in the near future. | |||
| 01/13/2004 | 40000 | 0 | 05/06/2002 |
| Front right ball joint for my 2001 dodge dakota quad cab extremly loose and broken. needed replacement. cost $200 for parts and labor. repair shop said he had the same problem with his '01 dakota and so are many others. | |||
| 12/30/2003 | 39070 | 4 | 12/20/2000 |
| Faulty ball joints on a 2001 dodge dakota 4x4 with 39,000 miles on it. my old honda accord sedan (1990) and my existing 1998 accord have never had this problem at 150,000 and 90,000 miles respectively despite driving all the same roads. this thing is a truck and is often advertised as being tough and rugged. is chrysler kidding? today, january 7, 2004, they are being replaced at my expense.*ak | |||
| 01/01/2004 | 61000 | 1 | |
| While making a left turn from a complete stop front left ball joints failed, causing the front left tire to detach from the vehicle. *ak *mr | |||
| 12/22/2003 | 47408 | 2 | 12/17/2003 |
| Upper ball joints worn to the point of breakage | |||
| 11/06/2003 | 48000 | 0 | 04/30/2001 |
| Upper ball joints worn out. only 53435 miles and front end shakes, pops and wobbles. | |||
| 09/09/2002 | 33000 | 1 | 05/02/2001 |
| Upper right ball joint failure. *ak | |||
| 11/27/2003 | 42000 | 2 | 02/18/2003 |
| Both upper ball joints on my 2001 dodge dakota are displaying characteristics of excessive wear. grease is leaking out around the ball joints and a popping sound comes from the front left of the vehicle under hard braking. it also pops when i turn all the way to the right. the ball joints are not fitted with grease fittings, so i cannot lubricate them myself. | |||
| 11/19/2003 | 1 | ||
| 2001 dodge dakota quad-cab 4x4. i had one upper ball joint replace at 37,863 miles. the remaining ball joints also seem to be failing. there is similar noise coming from the front suspension. after viewing a program on cbs news, i felt it would beneficial to report this problem. *la | |||
| 06/04/2002 | 2 | 05/11/2001 | |
| Ball joints. my 2001 dakota quad cab was only one year old when my ball joints started squeeking. now two years old and they are completely rusted and worn. *ak | |||
| 11/15/2003 | 50000 | 1 | 05/01/2001 |
| The upper and lower ball joints both went out and had to be replaced. *ak | |||
| 11/25/2003 | 37000 | 1 | |
| Ball joints on 2001 dodge dakota quad cab have gone out.*ak | |||
| 11/22/2003 | 85776 | 1 | 02/19/2001 |
| I have a 2001 dodge dakoda quad cab pickup that has only 91,233 miles on it that both upper ball joints are shot alredy. i am not sure what year the dodge people came out with the ball joints and upper control arms as being one piece and this might have something to do with the premature failures. my dayly travel is about 75 miles per day to work and home. the roads are asphalt and concrete construction. the road ways are in good working condition. i drive about 100 feet in my drive to get to the hard road and never get off the road other than to my carport.*ak | |||
| 11/09/2003 | 40000 | 1 | 11/29/2002 |
| Upper and lower ball joints. *ak | |||
| 12/03/2003 | 38800 | 1 | 10/05/2000 |
| Bad ball joint failure. *ak | |||
| 11/25/2003 | 54000 | 1 | 07/12/2003 |
| I am very concerned with the national news report regarding the upper ball joints severing off the vehicle without warning. i have very recently as of 11/25/03 had the sway bar bushings replaced. i had an annoying problem with the front end squeaking very loudly. replacing the bushings has alleviated that problem for now. i have little or no confidence in the vehicle at this time a safety issue of this magnitude should not be taken lightly, ultimately people's lives are at stake and the manufacturer should take action immediately. thank you. *la | |||
| 11/09/2003 | 35000 | 1 | 05/01/2002 |
| My 40k '01 dakota qc has a very loose upper left ball joint, a loose lower right ball joint, a loose right outer tie rod and has been making a popping noise/thunk for a number of months. when i called dodge and asked them why they would need to be repaired they said, just wear and tear. as if it was no big deal. they didn't mention any safety concerns. *la | |||
| 10/25/2003 | 38102 | 1 | |
| I have a 2001 dodge dakota 2x4 with 38,000 miles. both upper ball joints are bad. this is the same ball joint that is in the durango. i work at a small family owned tire store. i have replaced many, many, many sets of dodge durango/dakota upper ball joints over the last year. 90% of them go bad before the vehicle reaches 100,000 miles. i have been disappointing several times over the last few weeks with chrysler's customer service. all distributors are back ordered on the parts so i can not even get the parts to repair my own dakota. i have heard through our parts distributors that there is an investigation underway. these ball joints are not safe! they develop extensive play in the socket part of the joint in a short period of time. the only saving grace is that they usually start to make a lot of noise (a popping or squeaking sound when the suspension flexes) before they fall out. the sound usually scares people into have it checked. i believe this is the only reason that they have not had more fall apart and cause a wreak. wes campbell. *la | |||
| 11/24/2003 | 40000 | 1 | 06/01/2001 |
| Defective ball joints on 2001 dodge dakota quad cab. *ak | |||
| 11/08/2003 | 31900 | 1 | |
| On saturday november 8 2003 i was going through a intersection at approx. 10 mph, i hit a small bump in the road and the next thing i know my tire is almost laying flat on the ground. i cannot believe a vehicle with 31,900 miles the upper ball joint would completely come appart. i cannot imagine if you were on the highway and this happened, dodge has to fix this problem. *ak | |||
| 11/29/2003 | 36400 | 1 | |
| I have a 2001 dodge dakota with the left side upper ball joint wore out. i have only 36400 miles on the truck and saw a news report on tv about the ball joints and inspected my truck and to my shock sure enough i jacked the tire up and it has lots of play. so much play im afraid to drive it. if i would have not seen this news report i could have been killed if this came apart. so now i have to figure out how to get it to the dealer to see if they can fix it. i am scared to drive my truck like this. i then did some more investigating on the internet and to my supprise this has been going on for years. you would think dodge would have noticed this by now. the thing that scares me is that my 2 year old son has ridden in the truck with me a lot. if those ball joints would have failed going down the road at 55 mph what would have happened to us. something needs to be done before people start getting hurt.*ak | |||
| 09/06/2003 | 29000 | 2 | 09/22/2001 |
| Recently had to replace the following: drivers side upper ball joint and control arm, drivers side spindle retaining plate and locking nut. the simptoms were, a slight thumping noise when going over smal but sharp bumps (like entering a driveway), and a sound similar to a spring being stretched and compresses. the work was done under waranty (29,000 miles). the thing that bothers me is that it took 2 attempts at the dealer to get it fixed, and that all the things i've been reading indicate problems on the passenger side! am i just a disaster waiting to happen? is daimler chrystler going to own up to defective design and manufacture or do a bunch of people have to die first?*ak | |||
| 10/20/2003 | 38400 | 1 | 03/28/2001 |
| Front upper ball joints on both sides are worn out before 38,612 miles (mileage at time i am sending this email). took dakota dealer (rainier dodge, olympia, washington) last monday, october 20, 2003, and was told that it was safe to drive and would only take a few days to get new parts. they still don't have the parts to fix it and we just saw a news report (on durangos that also mentioned dakotas being worse) showing how dangerous it is to drive a vehicle with bad upper ball joints (broke off and wheel and all went across 4 lanes of traffic). on their word that it was safe to drive, we took an out of town trip this weekend. i thank god that we made the trip safely! when is a recall going to be made on both the dakota and durango? our dodge dealer seems to be dragging their feet getting the parts to fix ours, and i am afraid to drive my dakota until it is repaired. people need to know how dangerous this condition is and dodge needs to accept the responsibility to correct the problem asap! *la | |||
| 04/01/2003 | 28000 | 2 | |
| The upper ball joints wore out prematurely. the consumer had to replace the part within four months. dealer stated there was no grease fitting in the ball joints and the joints became dry. please provide additional information. *jb | |||
| 09/12/2003 | 46258 | 1 | 08/14/2001 |
| Took my 2001 dodge dakota to get alignment at local dodge dealer and was told upper ball joints were worn excessively and needed to be replaced. the truck only has 45000 miles on it, this if you ask me is unacceptable. also the truck was in the dealer 2 times before this because of a noise in the front end, and they could never find anything wrong, and i believe this could be related. *ph | |||
| 06/09/2003 | 40000 | 2 | 09/08/2001 |
| Both upper ball joints went bad at about 40,000 miles. everyone i talked to said that was much too early. had to replace both upper control arms. also made for early tire replacement because of wear. dodge should really have a recall on these items. alot of dakota owners have gone through the same problem.*ak | |||
| 07/22/2003 | 53000 | 1 | 01/03/2001 |
| I have a 2001 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4 and had the passenger side upper ball joint fail (luckly i was pulling into a gas station at the time). why is it that you cannot purchase a replacement ball joint from dodge (you must purchase the whole upper control arm assembly?)*ak | |||
| 12/03/2002 | 71342 | 1 | 06/10/2001 |
| My balljoints snapped while turning in my sons school one morning , resulting in my front wheel and brake assembly falling off completely from my 2001 dodge dakota 4x4 truck in december 2002. i had 1000 miles passed factory warrenty | |||
| 07/08/2003 | 1 | 02/19/2001 | |
| I have 80000 miles on my 2001 dodge dakota quad cab and i have already changed tires and now i need to change my upper ball joints. is it really true that you can not change just the joints buit you have to change the upper control arm also with the new joints? *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - HUB | |||
| 06/03/2004 | 42000 | 2 | |
| At 42,000 miles the front wheel hub assembly failed. as a result, while driving driver's side tire bounced up and down. also, a grinding noise was produced at slow speeds. the dealer stated tire loosened on the axle. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - STABILIZER BAR | |||
| 10/10/2003 | 23558 | 1 | 07/21/2001 |
| I have a 2001 dodge dakota pickup. last year it started making a squeaky noise (like an old car creaking) in the front end. i have taken it into dealmaker dodge here in watertown, ny. the first time taking it in they stated that the noise was from loose bolts in the front end and that they just tightened them up. the noise progressively got worse. i took it in again and they told me that it was possibly the sway bars. then the oct. 10, 2003 i was driving and when i hit a bump in the road, something popped in the front end, the front end dropped down and i lost steering of the truck. this was extremely frightening. i immediately drove the truck very slowly over to dealmaker dodge and they looked at it (never test drove it, just looked at it). they stated that they are not sure what happened but that maybe the sway bars gave way. tim (service mgr) stated that they would need to order bushings and a part for the steering box and that until they came in the truck would be safe to drive. unfortunately, i did not feel it was safe to drive - we parked the truck in our driveway until the parts came in. we asked why this happened to a fairly new truck and tim (service mgr) could not answer us, he did not know. we took the truck in once the parts arrived and had it worked on. when i went to pick it up, i asked tim (service mgr) what did they do to the truck (repairs)? he stated he did not know but that his warranty girl was out of the office and that they would mail me a copy of the paperwork. upon receipt of this paperwork, it noted that both sway bar bushings were replaced as well as the coupling. the noise seems to be gone in the front end, however, when i go over bumps or rough road, it still makes a popping noise in the front end. after watching the cbs evening news tonight with regard the front end safety issues about dakotas, i am now very concerned about the safety of myself and the life of passengers while driving this vehicle. *la | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - WHEEL BEARING | |||
| 01/07/2004 | 37256 | 1 | 08/17/2001 |
| Squeaking noises heard eminating from front suspension at 35000 miles, unable to lubricate suspension because components lack service/grease fittings. during follow-up inspection and tire rotation, identified premature wear to right side upper ball joint causing misalignment, unusual wear to front tires and wear to left wheel bearing. dealer replaced left wheel bearing and right side upper ball joint at 37336 miles. dealer also recommended the replacement of most of the other suspension components before they failed. dodge was helpful in picking up the cost of failed parts, not recommended repairs. my cost $100.00, for going over the warrantee milage and not being able to maintain a maintenance free system. plus, i get to pay for a re-alignment after the current repairs and most likely the cost of any other premature failure of these maintenance free parts in the near future. | |||
| 36000 | 1 | 11/30/2002 | |
| Problems with vehicle's engine.*mr when using the defrost or a/c, the engine pump did not function properly. the seat belt was installed improperly and also the wheel bearing was not functioning properly, the consumer was told a hose would be placed on the retaining bolt.*ts *jb | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS | |||
| 05/18/2004 | 49808 | 1 | |
| Consumer heard a loud bang from under the vehicle, after loading the back of the vehicle consumer examined the under side of the vehicle ,and noticed nothing was wrong. after a second examination of the vehicle consumer found that the rear spring broke in half. dealer examined the problem, but will not repair it for free. *ak *nm | |||