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 | |||
| 08/22/2012 | 139836 | ||
| Pulling out of driveway and the bottom of the control arm broke free letting the wheel come free from the vehicle..... | |||
| 10/01/2006 | 50000 | 5 | 03/13/2003 |
| I have had several alarming failures with my dodge dakota quad cab. it is a 2002 v6 auto transmission pw pl. i have had the ball joints replaced because of the recall, my transmission has failed (twice), my front hubs & spindles completely disintegrated and could have killed my family, my water pump has failed and had to be replaced, the driver side taillight seems to fail often, the vacuum hoses have all had to be replaced because of the cheap rubber used by the manufacturer fail by cracking and causing all sorts of leaks causing engine lights, loud noises under the hood, and horrible gas mileage. i have done everything possible to be proactive in my maintenance of the vehicle. i have had the major repairs done professionally. i do not understand how a 2002 vehicle can have so many potentially fatal problems and be ignored. i have searched high and low for quality bulletins but cannot find anything. my gas mileage is now down to 14 mpg and the truck is falling apart. *jb | |||
| 09/01/2006 | 43000 | 1 | 09/01/2002 |
| 2002 dodge dakota quad cab both upper and lower control arm bushings failed on both sides. *kb the consumer stated she heard a noise every time she went over bump. when the vehicle was taken to a local garage, they could not find a problem. finally, after not being able to take the noise any longer, the consumer took the vehicle to another establishment where they discovered the problem. *jb | |||
| 07/08/2005 | 25572 | 4 | 10/21/2001 |
| Multiple suspension component failures please reopen investigations into dodge dakota/durango products. stabilizer bushings have been replaced three times, upper ball joints failed and were replaced, steering input shaft failed and replaced once. | |||
| 06/01/2004 | 7 | 04/16/2002 | |
| Problems with front suspension and brakes on 2002 dodge dakota. *mr the front suspension squeaked and was unable to be duplicated, the brakes were noisy upon application and was also unable to be duplicated, noise would come from the shock absorber when stopping and when going over bumps, noise was coming from the left front upper ball joints on left turns and when going over bumps, the left caliper made a sticking sound and the wheel bearing was replaced, the drive belt made sounds, and the brakes pulsated. *sc *jb | |||
| 12/01/2003 | 20000 | 1 | 05/15/2002 |
| Brake rotors are warped. started at approximately 20,000 miles. way to early to be warped. have read of many others with same problem. also heard noise from front suspension, thought it might be ball joint or suspension problem, but dealer stated that it is ok. read quite a bit about ball joint problems on same vehicle. *jb | |||
| 01/03/2003 | 10 | ||
| Noisy and unpredictable sound coming from suspension. warning light remains on. stalls and surges unpreditabley. reduced gas mileage. eratic electronic behavior, stops and restarts. even has eratic alarm responses.*ak | |||
| 04/10/2003 | 10 | 6 | 04/04/2002 |
| My 2002 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4 sport has had suspension problems, and brake problems. the upper and lower control arms and ball joints have been bad from day one. i now have 35,000 miles and the pounding and noise have not stopped. this seems to be a very common problem. why not a recall? *nlm | |||
| 11/14/2002 | 6527 | 1 | 08/07/2002 |
| Front end linkage. transmission won't shift out. front end has a popping noise again ( same as before) transmission won't shift out and causes the motor to rev up considerably. *nlm | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||
| 07/17/2010 | |||
| I am a owner of a 2002 dodge dakota sport. 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. excessive wear in the upper ball joint may allow it to separate, which could result in loss of control of the vehicle. whole front end is messed up | |||
| 02/01/2002 | 7000 | 1 | |
| Since i've purchased this vehicle, about six months into driving it, i began experiencing front end problems with the control arms & ball joints. i've had it back to the dealer(big valley dodge) at least 10 times(@75.00 a visit) for them to repair/replace the ball joints/control arm. now it's no longer under warranty and will cost $1500.00-$2500.00 from different quotes i received. i can no longer enjoyably drive the vehicle. and i can't even drive it on the freeway as the whole front-end shakes the entire truck above 50mph. please help me. i love everything about the truck otherwise. i just want dodge to be responsible and fix their problem. they made a recall for the 4x4, why not the 2x4 with a very similar issue. please help! this is not fair. out of all the new trucks i could have bought, i had to buy the one with a problem the manufacture refuses to acknowledge, everyone i've talked to with the same truck from similar years (2000-2003) says they have the same problem. please help! also, front tires become excessively worn on the outside to where i have to replace at least once a year when i drive 10000-12000 miles a year(ridiculous). please help! *tr | |||
| 05/25/2005 | 1 | 08/31/2002 | |
| 2002 dodge dakota right front wheel bearings and the hub needed to be replaced.*mr the consumer experienced intermittent problems with the air conditioner. hot spot on the front rotors caused pulsation when braking. the vehicle's transmission made noise and intermittent delayed shifting. the right front hub and bearing were replaced. the right front outer tie rod end was replaced. the left front upper ball joint was replaced. *nm | |||
| 07/01/2005 | 59560 | 3 | 11/10/2002 |
| I love this vehicle, however will join the masses reporting a failed upper ball joint at 55,000 miles, 3 sets of warped front brake discs and lack of proper braking for the abs system. | |||
| 12/12/2004 | 1 | 09/21/2002 | |
| I have heard news that there may be a recall of dodge dakota trucks for reason of unsafe ball joints. i own a 2002 dodge dakota quadcab 4.7l two wheel drive truck. since i bought the truck, i have heard a loud clunk noise when i turn a corner or go up a bump or driveway. this is not a normal noise on cars or trucks. for a truck that can haul heavy weight, this is not acceptable. i am always aware of the noise and know this is unsafe. anytime you have metal making rubbing in such a manner, there is an obvious problem. i do not believe these vehicles are safe with parts that are not sound and durable for the weight of the vehicles. i ask that the two wheel dakota trucks also be considered for recall for more durable and safe ball joints and suspension parts. i do a lot of highway travel and when you pay thousands of dollars, you should not have to feel your wheel may fall off at any time. *jb | |||
| 11/09/2004 | 47000 | 2 | 11/19/2001 |
| 1. after driving vehicle several miles, audible groan comes from front suspension of vehicle during turns. no problem with steering, no excessive play, but makes that moaning sound. suspect ball joints. this is an ongoing problem.*ak 2. at 46,000 (approx) had to replace 1 rotor, 1 drum on brakes for excessive vibration during stops. problem cleared for about 18,000 miles, now doing same thing again. suspect dodge's supplier of rotor and drums is not very good. | |||
| 10/10/2004 | 74000 | 2 | 11/27/2002 |
| 1. preparing to drive from california to north carolina ib 2002 dodge dakota quad cab 2wd. having tires replaced and front end alignment. front end ball joint and assy needed to be replaced due to extreme wear. mechanic stated i was lucky the wheels didn't fall off. had front end ball assy replaced.*ak | |||
| 08/01/2002 | 5 | 1 | 07/24/2002 |
| 2002 dodge dakota quad cab, vibration in the front end, taken to dealership mult times with no luck, vibration has lasted since truck was new, now 24000 miles later same problem. truck jerks in gear 1st to 2nd and popping when turns, taken it 2 different dealers, 1 said balance tires (3-4 times) no help, other said power steering pump bad, fix did not help. what can i do 30k+ truck has not been fixed since day one! what do i do from here . *ak | |||
| 12/22/2003 | 49878 | 1 | 12/31/2001 |
| Vehicle = 2002 dodge dakota quad cab - v6 (currently @ 49,000 miles) took vehicle to independent mechanic for annual inspection and was told that both the upper and lower ball joints were worn excessively and would totally fail in approximately 1000 miles. after further investigation on numerous websites i have found this problem to be quite common and is what was causing the feeling of loss of control when hitting bumps in the road at speed, strange noises when turning slowly, and it also seems this is what could have led to my premature brake failures (which i had to have my rotors ground at approx 25k miles). i will be speaking to my dealer tomorrow directly - my girlfriend had called them for me because i was out of town for work and it sounds as though they are claiming they have never heard of the problem. this appears to be quite a common problem and had my mechanic not caught the problem doing the annual inspection it would have definitely caused an extreme safety hazard. hopefully something is being done to remedy this problem. thanks. *ak | |||
| 11/15/2003 | 30000 | 1 | 04/10/2003 |
| 2002 dodge dakota 4x4 quad cab pickup - both upper ball joints experienced premature failure. signs of failure began around 30,000 miles, but misdiagnosed by local mechanic as no problem found. i later took the truck to dodge when knocking noise kept getting worse (after warranty expiration). both upper ball joints were replaced and front end alignment performed for approximately $500. since this is a safety issue, i believe a recall should be implemented. *ak | |||
| 11/03/2003 | 1 | 12/31/2001 | |
| Popping sound in front end when turning at slow speed, driving over a speed bump at slow speed, stopping or pulling out from stop. *la | |||
| 08/05/2002 | 1 | 06/28/2002 | |
| 2002 dodge dakota quad cab. while braking there seems to be a vibration under the front end or sometimes while turning either left or right in motion it will make a popping sound. i did take it to the dealer 2 month ago for that problem, but all they found out that the brake disks needed to be turned. but the same problem still happens. need to find out if there is anything wrong with the upper or lower ball joints, bushings that are not properly seated on the front end parts, or what? *la | |||
| 10/30/2003 | 21000 | 1 | 05/01/2002 |
| Noise when making turns and over light bumps in front suspension of a 2002 dodge dakota crew cab pickup. *la | |||
| 07/22/2003 | 05/03/2002 | ||
| The investigation on the 1998-2003 dodge durango ball joints needs to be expanded to the entire line of dakota trucks. these vehicles, from the b pillar forward are virtually identical. go to this site to see hundreds and hudreds of complaints: www.dodgedakotas.com use the search engine. the ball joints are completely worn on my 2002 dakota quad cab, to the point where the suspension has become unpredictable under certain road conditions. this vehicle has only 21k miles on it. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM | |||
| 10/10/2004 | 74000 | 2 | 11/27/2002 |
| 1. preparing to drive from california to north carolina ib 2002 dodge dakota quad cab 2wd. having tires replaced and front end alignment. front end ball joint and assy needed to be replaced due to extreme wear. mechanic stated i was lucky the wheels didn't fall off. had front end ball assy replaced.*ak | |||
| 01/08/2004 | 10000 | 1 | |
| Control arms and ball joints made clunking and popping sounds. bushings made loud squeaking sounds. all mentioned parts needed to be replaced. sounds started as early as 10,000 miles logged on vehicle. after searching internet found ball joints could separate and finally took vehicle to dealer. dealer is replacing parts under warranty but my concern is they are replacing them with the same defective parts. *la | |||
| 07/25/2003 | 1 | ||
| Dealer replaced both upper and lower ball joints and control arms. consumer stated this vehicle was the version of durango, therefore , they used the same parts. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER ARM | |||
| 10/10/2004 | 74000 | 2 | 11/27/2002 |
| 1. preparing to drive from california to north carolina ib 2002 dodge dakota quad cab 2wd. having tires replaced and front end alignment. front end ball joint and assy needed to be replaced due to extreme wear. mechanic stated i was lucky the wheels didn't fall off. had front end ball assy replaced.*ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT | |||
| 02/09/2006 | 73000 | 2 | 01/01/2006 |
| The ball joints on the dakota series p/u are a chronic problem. i bought an '02 dakota 4x4 with 70k and immediately noticed noise and a loose feeling from the front end. i verified the ball joint recall had been completed. when i went to have it aligned, i learned that all four of my ball joints are bad, including the top two that had been replaced already. while researching the problem i came across this site, http://www.dodgedakotas.com/boards/dea/140-1.html, which is a dakota forum, with numerous complaints exactly the same as mine. dodge needs to be held accountable for its failure to use quality components. consumers should not be spending $600 every year to keep their vehicles aligned on the road. *nm | |||
| 03/10/2006 | 72000 | 1 | 09/20/2002 |
| As a 2002 dodge dakota owner, i have had the upper ball joints replace once out of my own pocket and once at the dealership. i have received my refund. my chief complaint is the fact that when the dealership replaced my upper ball joints they failed to inform me that my lower ball joints also had excessive/unacceptable movement and needed to be replaced. i have also had to replace my rotors and brakes for the third time and i only have 72,000 miles. i don't do any off-roading either. i believe that the upper ball joints caused my lower ball joints to go bad as well in addition to causing the replacement of my rotors and brakes. *nm | |||
| 12/24/2004 | 58000 | 2 | 12/29/2001 |
| Vehicle is 2002 dodge dakota sport plus quad cab 4x4, with 58,000 miles on it. when i took the vehicle to a brake repair shop for rotor / drum resurfacing, it was discovered that the ball joints in the front suspension of the vehicle have worn out, are loose, and need to be replaced, at a cost in excess of $850. i have not replaced the ball joints yet, but will have to soon. i feel the ball joints should have lasted longer than 58,000 miles.*ak | |||
| 07/18/2004 | 73000 | 2 | 06/10/2004 |
| Front end of truck would make noise when hitting bumps the steering wheel would shake violently. oth ball joints on the passenger side were defective. the upper had nearly 1/4 of up and down travel and the bottom was completely broken. it is amazing that the wheel didn't fall off completely. replaced both passenger side ball joints. had to purchase them from an aftermarket vendor do to chrysler having them on national backorder. the only part that they had available was a complete a arm assembly at a price of $250 each versus the $50 for the ball joint itself. i find it somewhat strange that 2wd versions of the dakota and durango are not being covered under the recently announce recall. having managed auto parts stores for several years, are customer complaints and sales are just as high on the 2wd parts as the 4wd.*ak | |||
| 11/14/2003 | 52000 | 1 | 01/09/2002 |
| Had to have the balljoints replaced at less than 50'000 miles.*ak | |||
| 10/10/2004 | 74000 | 2 | 11/27/2002 |
| 1. preparing to drive from california to north carolina ib 2002 dodge dakota quad cab 2wd. having tires replaced and front end alignment. front end ball joint and assy needed to be replaced due to extreme wear. mechanic stated i was lucky the wheels didn't fall off. had front end ball assy replaced.*ak | |||
| 07/08/2003 | 24000 | 2 | 10/14/2001 |
| I own a 2002 dodge dakota and had to have the ball joints replaced at 24,000 miles after doing some research i found that this is common. my hope is that you would investigate this and force chrysler to do a re-call and fix the problem before someone gets hurt or killed. *ak | |||
| 10/31/2004 | 35000 | 1 | 11/30/2001 |
| Premature ball joint failure in 2002 dodge dakota 4x4. ball joints where making clunking sound and were bad at 35000 but dealer refused to fix. now when i returned at 79000 and they are really really bad and unsafe they admit that they are bad and that they know dodge has a problem with the ball joints but still refused to fix under warranty.*ak | |||
| 03/25/2004 | 1 | ||
| My 2002 dodge dakota's upper and lower ball joints failed at around 48,000 miles of regular highway driving, and now at 58,000 it feels as if they are going again. they were replaced with dodge parts, and chrysler told me that they are not recalling it. after all the news i've seen on dakota/durango ball joint problems, i figured i'd file a complaint with you guys, i'm just fed up i guess.thank you . *ak | |||
| 09/01/2004 | 41000 | 1 | 02/08/2004 |
| Worn ball joints and related suspension noise. *ak | |||
| 09/14/2004 | 05/10/2002 | ||
| Upon turning the steering wheel, i would hear popping coming from the front suspension. brought it in for inspection. mechanic diagnosed the problem as bad ball joints. replaced both upper and lower ball joints (left and right). the condition of the upper ball joints indicated that they were ready to pop out of the socket. | |||
| 08/18/2004 | 18000 | 1 | |
| I have had clunking and squeaking noises coming from the front end of my 2002 dodge dakota quad cab since about 18,000 miles. i have mentioned it to the dealer and they say they do not know what it is. after viewing the internet i have realized that there is many problems with the upper and lower ball joints. i will soon be returing to the dealer with the info to try to get it fixed. *ak | |||
| 08/18/2004 | 1 | 03/13/2002 | |
| I have a 2002 dodge dakota quad cab--with 49000 on it and it needs lower ball joints! is there any type of recall or course of action i can take ? these ball-joints should not need to be replaced at 49000. *jb | |||
| 07/08/2004 | 60325 | 2 | 05/13/2002 |
| Ball joints and u-joints are in need of replacement after only 26 months of ownership and 60,000 miles put on the truck. *ak | |||
| 04/18/2004 | 30600 | 1 | 03/18/2004 |
| 2002 dodge dakota quad-cab 4x4 the upper and lower balljoints in the front end seem to be loose and causing excessive popping noises when i hit dips/bumps in the road or turn sharp. my truck only has 30,000 miles on it.*ak | |||
| 12/10/2003 | 35000 | 1 | 09/08/2002 |
| Premature wear of ball joints on 2002 dodge dakota pickup. this wear could result in an accident if not repaired.*ak | |||
| 12/22/2003 | 49878 | 1 | 12/31/2001 |
| Vehicle = 2002 dodge dakota quad cab - v6 (currently @ 49,000 miles) took vehicle to independent mechanic for annual inspection and was told that both the upper and lower ball joints were worn excessively and would totally fail in approximately 1000 miles. after further investigation on numerous websites i have found this problem to be quite common and is what was causing the feeling of loss of control when hitting bumps in the road at speed, strange noises when turning slowly, and it also seems this is what could have led to my premature brake failures (which i had to have my rotors ground at approx 25k miles). i will be speaking to my dealer tomorrow directly - my girlfriend had called them for me because i was out of town for work and it sounds as though they are claiming they have never heard of the problem. this appears to be quite a common problem and had my mechanic not caught the problem doing the annual inspection it would have definitely caused an extreme safety hazard. hopefully something is being done to remedy this problem. thanks. *ak | |||
| 01/05/2004 | 20000 | 1 | 11/08/2001 |
| Premature failure of upper lower ball joints. this started at 20k at which time i brought it into a dealership, but the front end guy was sick that day (how convient), so no one would look at the truck. very loud popping noise from front end especially when turning at low speed on icy conditions. when turning sharp the wheel feels as if its about to colapes under itself. very dangerous. now that im over the 36k warrenty dodge tells me i have to pay to have it fixed. i will never purchase a dodge again. this is a life threatening condition should it fail. i have children and no longer feel safe transporting them in this vehicle. i cannot even trade it in untill i fix it as all the other car dealers are quite aware of this defect....help please!!!*ak | |||
| 05/14/2003 | 27104 | 2 | 09/26/2002 |
| I own a 2002 dodge dakota. at 27,000 miles, the dealership replaced all four ball joints. they also worked on the 4 wheel drive. at 34,000 miles they replaced three ball joints and worked on the 4 wheel drive. at 42,000 miles they replaced the rack and pinion on the passenger side and worked on the 4 wheel drive. at 49,000 miles i had to replace wheel bearings in the passenger side. fortunately, i have not had any accidents. i have heard noises and taken it to the dealership or my mechanic. i am very concerned about driving it. i do not feel safe driving it anymore. i think they have some serious front end problems that they should be addressing. i don't think i should be footing the bill for it. i am also very upset that the dealership and dodge have known about the problems and chose to blame them on other conditions caused by the owner.*ak | |||
| 10/15/2002 | 10000 | 1 | 12/20/2001 |
| Upper and lower ball joints are exhibiting premature signs of failure at 10,000 miles load popping sounds when turning and braking. vehicle now has 23,000 miles and is showing signs of steering vibrations. why haven't the dakota models been included with the durango suspension engineering investigation. there are almost 100 complaints on the website? *jb | |||
| 05/12/2003 | 16582 | 1 | 11/29/2001 |
| I am owner of a 2002 dodge dakota quad cab pick-up with defective front ball joints. i have noticed noise from the front end of vehicle and took it to dealer. even took the shop forman on road test and he also heard the noise i was experiencing. then the dealer blamed it on the side bars that i had previosly installed. (the noise was there before the the bars were installed). needless to say, i was given the run around. i am a experienced mechanic by trade and i know about these things. i am very concerned that i am driving a potential time bomb just like the durango's which share the same front suspension that are having critical balljoint failures which there is now a class action law siute in process. there needs to be a recall initiated because lives are in danger!*ak | |||
| 07/07/2003 | 2 | 04/12/2002 | |
| We own a 2002 dodge dakota quad cab truck. it's getting ready to be taken back into the shop for a ball-joint problem we supposedly already had fixed. we purchased this dodge truck as our main family vehicle. how can i feel safe transporting my family in a vehicle that could have a tire collapse at any time? i've researched information about this very problem and am disturbed to find out that it's happening to a lot of vehicle owners. for most of us, a vehicle is one of the most costly purchases we make in our lifetimes... how long are we going to have to wait for daimler/chrysler/dodge to stop sweeping this problem under the rug and take the safety of all passengers seriously? *la | |||
| 11/12/2003 | 40000 | 1 | 06/03/2002 |
| Premature failure (40000 miles) of ball joints in a 2002 dodge dakota quad cab. *la | |||
| 07/25/2003 | 1 | ||
| Dealer replaced both upper and lower ball joints and control arms. consumer stated this vehicle was the version of durango, therefore , they used the same parts. *ak | |||
| 07/22/2003 | 05/03/2002 | ||
| The investigation on the 1998-2003 dodge durango ball joints needs to be expanded to the entire line of dakota trucks. these vehicles, from the b pillar forward are virtually identical. go to this site to see hundreds and hudreds of complaints: www.dodgedakotas.com use the search engine. the ball joints are completely worn on my 2002 dakota quad cab, to the point where the suspension has become unpredictable under certain road conditions. this vehicle has only 21k miles on it. | |||
| 05/22/2003 | 27689 | 1 | 09/08/2001 |
| Only 27689 miles safety front end components failed power steering rack seal leaking fluid.sway bar bushings were replaced.seat right rear coming apart pass side plastic recliner handle broke my 2002 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4 sport has had suspension problems, and brake problems. the upper and lower control arms and ball joints make a popping sound when step on brakes or make a sharp left turn. i now have 29900 miles and the pounding and noise have not stopped. vehicle feels like you will loose control when going over bumps in the highway. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER ARM | |||
| 10/10/2004 | 74000 | 2 | 11/27/2002 |
| 1. preparing to drive from california to north carolina ib 2002 dodge dakota quad cab 2wd. having tires replaced and front end alignment. front end ball joint and assy needed to be replaced due to extreme wear. mechanic stated i was lucky the wheels didn't fall off. had front end ball assy replaced.*ak | |||
| 02/27/2004 | 21000 | 4 | 01/09/2002 |
| All four ball joints bad at 21000. heater switch bad at 21000k and also canister hose cracked at 21000. my main concern is faulty, failing ball joints. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT | |||
| 09/27/2007 | 84000 | 1 | |
| 2002 dodge dakota upper ball joint failure. it seems that the recall under nhtsa campaign id #04v596000 only covered four-wheel drive (4x4) vehicles but the same problem exist on two-wheel drive vehicles also. my vehicle has 84,000 miles and both ball joints need replacing. the replacement part is the same on both two or four wheel drives. *tr | |||
| 02/09/2006 | 73000 | 2 | 01/01/2006 |
| The ball joints on the dakota series p/u are a chronic problem. i bought an '02 dakota 4x4 with 70k and immediately noticed noise and a loose feeling from the front end. i verified the ball joint recall had been completed. when i went to have it aligned, i learned that all four of my ball joints are bad, including the top two that had been replaced already. while researching the problem i came across this site, http://www.dodgedakotas.com/boards/dea/140-1.html, which is a dakota forum, with numerous complaints exactly the same as mine. dodge needs to be held accountable for its failure to use quality components. consumers should not be spending $600 every year to keep their vehicles aligned on the road. *nm | |||
| 12/14/2006 | 52000 | 1 | 10/07/2005 |
| Upper ball joints worn out at 52,00 miles. went for tire change and front end alignment and found problem. had extended warranty but did not cover. am waiting for part at the cost of about $600.00 to replace. *nm | |||
| 05/05/2005 | 20000 | 3 | 08/31/2002 |
| Thought i would buy american and get the dodge dakota 4 dr crew. love its style, comforts, more power than i need (4.7l v8) 2wd has no traction in snow or ice. very easy to drive and comfortable 6ft.2 220lbs.(2 trips nj to calif.) gas mileage stinks...13-18mpg, no loads. brake rotors replaced 28k, left top ball joint worn (no recall yet)a/c needed charging, right front hub and bearings replaced 49k, rear leaf spring noisy, transmission hesitation occasionally. great truck to drive and haul but reliability really in question with only 49k. probably back to nissan or toyota. | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 1 | ||
| 2002 dodge dakota recall.***no answer required***. *mr consumer receive warranty extension for upper ball joints. however, consumer wants to know why the 2wds were not included in the recall for the upper ball joints. *tt *nm | |||
| 05/25/2005 | 28000 | 3 | 08/31/2002 |
| Daimlerchrysler motor corporation p.o. box 21-8004 auburn hills, mi 48321-8004 attention: quality assurance my dodge presently has 49,200 miles. it has been serviced at recommended and required intervals at manahawkin dodge approximately every 3,000 miles. early into my ownership i had intermittent trouble with the air conditioner and they tried to assess the problem. they did a recharge of the system and corrected the problem. i was told at 28998 miles that the pulsing when my brakes were applied was due to hot spots on my front rotors. when i inquired as to how this could happen to a relatively new truck that is used as a personal transportation vehicle i was told they really did not know but have had to replace others. it is noted that i never had to replace rotors on my previous nissans. that ended up costing me $393. i began hearing a noise in the transmission and intermittent delayed shifting into gear resulting in the transmission being serviced which included changing filters, lubricant, etc. i was also told that my upper ball joint was worn and replaced one side only. this i subsequently learned has been a problem for some dodge vehicles and i have since received a letter from daimlerchrysler regarding an extended warranty on the part. today i was told that i had play in the right front ball bearing and the hub needed a total replacement. along with that a strut had to be replaced and an alignment once it was completed. when i asked how axle bearing could go bad with this low a mileage i was told that the hub is sealed and no way to lubricate and that it should not have gone bad. in addition, i have a noisy left leaf spring that needs a part. the cost for the front hub is over $600. i rarely get over 16 miles per gallon even i the best driving conditions. sincerely, charles w. stauffer cc: nhtsa nj division consumer affairs file | |||
| 05/19/2005 | 40590 | 1 | 05/15/2002 |
| Mechanic detected failing ball joint, front right i was informed condition could fail, and vehicle could be dangerous to drive had mechanic repair defetive ball joint. chrysler refused warentee, as their dealership did not repair defect. | |||
| 12/24/2004 | 58000 | 2 | 12/29/2001 |
| Vehicle is 2002 dodge dakota sport plus quad cab 4x4, with 58,000 miles on it. when i took the vehicle to a brake repair shop for rotor / drum resurfacing, it was discovered that the ball joints in the front suspension of the vehicle have worn out, are loose, and need to be replaced, at a cost in excess of $850. i have not replaced the ball joints yet, but will have to soon. i feel the ball joints should have lasted longer than 58,000 miles.*ak | |||
| 07/18/2004 | 73000 | 2 | 06/10/2004 |
| Front end of truck would make noise when hitting bumps the steering wheel would shake violently. oth ball joints on the passenger side were defective. the upper had nearly 1/4 of up and down travel and the bottom was completely broken. it is amazing that the wheel didn't fall off completely. replaced both passenger side ball joints. had to purchase them from an aftermarket vendor do to chrysler having them on national backorder. the only part that they had available was a complete a arm assembly at a price of $250 each versus the $50 for the ball joint itself. i find it somewhat strange that 2wd versions of the dakota and durango are not being covered under the recently announce recall. having managed auto parts stores for several years, are customer complaints and sales are just as high on the 2wd parts as the 4wd.*ak | |||
| 11/14/2003 | 52000 | 1 | 01/09/2002 |
| Had to have the balljoints replaced at less than 50'000 miles.*ak | |||
| 08/20/2004 | 54000 | 1 | |
| The right front tire came off while driving at 75 mph on the highway. vehicle went into the median and stopped. vehicle was towed. it was discovered that ball joints were defective, and caught on fire.*ak | |||
| 10/10/2004 | 74000 | 2 | 11/27/2002 |
| 1. preparing to drive from california to north carolina ib 2002 dodge dakota quad cab 2wd. having tires replaced and front end alignment. front end ball joint and assy needed to be replaced due to extreme wear. mechanic stated i was lucky the wheels didn't fall off. had front end ball assy replaced.*ak | |||
| 07/15/2004 | 75000 | 1 | 02/28/2002 |
| I noticed loud cracking-popping noises coming from the front suspension when turning or traveling over rough pavement. i took the vehicle to the dealership for service. i told them about the noises from the suspension. they checked the vehicle and said that i was in danger of losing a wheel if i hit a pot hole. they wanted over $1000.00 to replace the upper ball joints. i declined. i replaced the upper ball joints myself. i know i was over the 36000 mi. warranty. i thought it was an excessive ammount of money to replace 2 ball joints that cost $50.00 each. i did not keep the old parts. one of the ball joints fell apart as i was removing it.*ak | |||
| 08/23/2004 | 55707 | 2 | 02/07/2002 |
| I purchased my 2002 dodge dakota quadcab 4x4 new from the dealer. and at about 40,000 miles i notice suspension noise from the front. it was intermittent at first then as i approached 50,000 miles the noise became a metallic chatter at all times. i had the parts replaced by a local shop after the dealer failed to honor my appointment times. the mechanic said that the upper ball joints were out and that they had to be replaced. he also commented that he has never seen a ball joint wear out in just 50,000 miles. he gave me the old parts showed the play in the joint and the absence of grease in the boot. he claimed that the design must be defective to wear out that early and completely. i use the car for work and lose money when it is not operative. my main concern was safety and reliability since i am required to work in all weather conditions with my contract to the local utility, pg&e. now i am at 65,000 miles and they are giong out again. it is under warranty with the local shop but is it fair for this business to deal with a manufacturing problem? the date of repair was 8/23/04 but the problem was first noticed 4/5/04 and worsened to i felt i couldn't safely drive the vehicle anymore. now the early signs are starting again 10,000 miles after repair. *ak | |||
| 01/02/2004 | 22076 | 1 | 02/07/2002 |
| Right front control arm failed which caused knocking in the front end. *ph *nm | |||
| 07/08/2003 | 24000 | 2 | 10/14/2001 |
| I own a 2002 dodge dakota and had to have the ball joints replaced at 24,000 miles after doing some research i found that this is common. my hope is that you would investigate this and force chrysler to do a re-call and fix the problem before someone gets hurt or killed. *ak | |||
| 10/20/2004 | 30000 | 1 | 07/02/2002 |
| While attempting to get the front end aligned on my 2002 dodge dakota it was discovered the upper ball joints have failed and separated. the vehicle had less than 30,000 miles. the mechanice states it is a defect of the parts. *ak | |||
| 10/31/2004 | 35000 | 1 | 11/30/2001 |
| Premature ball joint failure in 2002 dodge dakota 4x4. ball joints where making clunking sound and were bad at 35000 but dealer refused to fix. now when i returned at 79000 and they are really really bad and unsafe they admit that they are bad and that they know dodge has a problem with the ball joints but still refused to fix under warranty.*ak | |||
| 11/01/2004 | 46800 | 1 | 11/15/2001 |
| Front end vibration and creeking. dealer states both upper front ball joints worn and need replacing. old parts available.*ak | |||
| 03/25/2004 | 1 | ||
| My 2002 dodge dakota's upper and lower ball joints failed at around 48,000 miles of regular highway driving, and now at 58,000 it feels as if they are going again. they were replaced with dodge parts, and chrysler told me that they are not recalling it. after all the news i've seen on dakota/durango ball joint problems, i figured i'd file a complaint with you guys, i'm just fed up i guess.thank you . *ak | |||
| 10/18/2003 | 34000 | 1 | 01/14/2003 |
| This is in regards to my 2002 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4. i began noticing popping noise coming from the front right side wheel at approximately 20,000 miles. i took it into the dealer who claimed nothing was wrong. 6,000 miles later it was getting worse so i took it back to the dealer. sure enough i had a bad upper ball joint, which they replaced under warrenty. i now have 40,000 miles on this truck and the right side is making the popping noise. i wish dodge would make a recall a fix the problem for good. i feel that if i was not dillegent in my pursuit to have my truck repaired, that i would have been one of the many others who have had there front wheel fall off while driving their dakota or durango.*ak | |||
| 10/07/2004 | 1 | 08/10/2002 | |
| Upper ball joints of a 2002 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4 needing replaced with only 15,153 miles on truck. *nm | |||
| 02/01/2003 | 42000 | 2 | 04/15/2002 |
| Upper control arm. *nm | |||
| 10/03/2004 | 33824 | 1 | 05/01/2002 |
| Noise in front end pickup moves side to side. *ak | |||
| 09/01/2004 | 41000 | 1 | 02/08/2004 |
| Worn ball joints and related suspension noise. *ak | |||
| 09/28/2004 | 56298 | 2 | 11/17/2001 |
| 2002 dodge dakota pickup truck exhibits premature wear on upper ball joints resulting in loud popping noise during turns and front in rattle on uneven pavement.*ak | |||
| 09/14/2004 | 05/10/2002 | ||
| Upon turning the steering wheel, i would hear popping coming from the front suspension. brought it in for inspection. mechanic diagnosed the problem as bad ball joints. replaced both upper and lower ball joints (left and right). the condition of the upper ball joints indicated that they were ready to pop out of the socket. | |||
| 08/23/2004 | 36990 | 1 | 04/01/2002 |
| Premature failure on left upper ball joint for 2002 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4, 36,990 miles. popping sounds coming from front left, so i took it to the dealer for evaluation. i was charged for the ball joint check and deductable on extended warranty.*ak | |||
| 08/18/2004 | 18000 | 1 | |
| I have had clunking and squeaking noises coming from the front end of my 2002 dodge dakota quad cab since about 18,000 miles. i have mentioned it to the dealer and they say they do not know what it is. after viewing the internet i have realized that there is many problems with the upper and lower ball joints. i will soon be returing to the dealer with the info to try to get it fixed. *ak | |||
| 08/11/2004 | 25000 | 1 | 11/01/2001 |
| Brought 2002 dakota to dealer cause of popping noises coming from front end especially when turning. dealer said no problem found. truck still makes noises. heard that there may be a problem with ball joints. *jb | |||
| 02/24/2004 | 18000 | 1 | |
| The upper ball joints were worn out and need to be replaced. when vehicle went over a pump in the road there was a clucking or knocking noise from the front end. this was a common problem with these trucks. *ak | |||
| 07/04/2004 | 33000 | 2 | 07/23/2002 |
| After approximately 1 year and about 15,000 miles i took my 2002 dodge dakota slt quad cab 4.7l v8 4x2 in to the dealer for a clunking noise in the steering. the dealer stated that the upper ball joints were worn and replaced the parts under warranty. on 4 july 2004, after having the truck for about 2 years and 32,000 miles, while going over a speed bump at approximately 10 miles per hour, a lound crash was heard followed by a griding noise. it turns out that the upper ball joint on the passenger side just snapped and the steering arm slammed in to the rim of the wheel scraping the edge of it barely missing the tire by 1-1.5 inches. the vehicle is now having that same clunking noise when going over bumps and it can be felt in the steering.*ak | |||
| 07/08/2004 | 60325 | 2 | 05/13/2002 |
| Ball joints and u-joints are in need of replacement after only 26 months of ownership and 60,000 miles put on the truck. *ak | |||
| 06/30/2004 | 46000 | 2 | 05/20/2002 |
| Upper ball joints are failing. *nm | |||
| 06/09/2004 | 37550 | 1 | |
| Upon inspection of road wander complaint, vehicle was found to have a bad upper ball joint, and excessive wear on all other ball joints for mileage noted.*ak | |||
| 10/10/2001 | 7 | 08/09/2001 | |
| Dodge dakota 4x4 2002 /have been experiencing front end problems with truck since purchase. brought in numerous times to dealer for brake issues[front rotors,pads,rear drums and discs].told multiple times there is no problem, its the way you drive. truck has never been abused,very well cared for. after the 5th time to dealer finnally told that the upper ball joints need replacment.this was after one full year of denial.notified dealer of noise at the steering wheel,told they could not vrify the complaint would probably go away after replacing upper ball joints.one week later after replacment of upper ball joints ,same noise reoccured [loud clunking sound at front end]took back to dealer only to be told that the bottom ball joints need replacment,no mention one week prior about wear on lower area.dealer also stated that the noise noted coming from stering wheel from previous complaints was now thought to be an intermiediate shaft in the steering column,this same noise that one week earlier could not be identified.at 30,000 miles my entire differential gear assembbly needed replacment.i have been charged multiple warranty deductibles on what seems to me to be, the same problem and possibly a canidate for lemon status.at what point will the consumers right's be protected.i am joining a class action lawsuit in regards to chrysler/daimler and suggest to everyone who reads this to do the same.check out www.dodgetalk.com for info and links.also i reccomend to anyone who has had problems with their daeler in terms of denials/non repairs/faulty workmanship/or any related costs out of pocket to file formal complaints and contact a local lemon law attorney in relation to their actions and lack of proper business ethics.only until we make change happen can we acctually achieve it.good luck to everyone who reads this.*ak | |||
| 04/12/2004 | 36800 | 3 | 03/29/2002 |
| My husband and i own a 2002 dodge dakota. we purchased it in march 2002 and moved to puerto rico in september 2002, where we took our dakota to an authorized dodge dealership when problems arose. in april 2003, we began to hear unusual noises coming from the front left tire area. the service techs reported premature wearing of the ball joint and replaced it, plus the upper and lower control arms, as well as the sway arm and all related bushings (they showed premature wear, too). the following january (1/23/04), less than 12 months later, we began to hear similar noises from the front right tire area. the service techs at the same dealership as before replaced the same items for the same reasons that affected the driver's side front tire. all new parts, correct? we thought so, but as my husband was making a u-turn one sunday afternoon in early april 2004, the front passenger tire disconnected from the vehicle (due to defective parts--the very ones that they replaced in january 2004. we video-taped the damages to our vehicle (ball joint, cv joint, control arms, tire, rim, brake lines, front bumper and fog light) and had the truck towed back to the dealership with whom we previously dealt. the dealer eventually agreed that the parts were indeed defective and the cause of our accident. they replaced all damaged parts. now that we have 37000 miles on the truck, relatively low for that year model, we are concerned that this problem will occur again when we are not driving at such a low speed. *ak | |||
| 04/22/2004 | 11/17/2003 | ||
| Failure is in progress! my upper left ball joint on my 2002 dodge dakota is loose!! the dealer tells me it is not a warranty item [40,000 miles on vehicle], that the part is on backorder, and they don't know when they will get mote parts. everywhere i have look, both auto parts stores and online, it is the same story..they either tell me it is a dealer item or that they are out of stock. i drive a minimum of 60 miles a day, and i can't buy the part to repair this!! how can this be? who is going to pay for the wear on my tires? where and when can i get a new quaility part?..not the piece of crap dodge puts on !!! | |||
| 04/18/2004 | 30600 | 1 | 03/18/2004 |
| 2002 dodge dakota quad-cab 4x4 the upper and lower balljoints in the front end seem to be loose and causing excessive popping noises when i hit dips/bumps in the road or turn sharp. my truck only has 30,000 miles on it.*ak | |||
| 04/15/2004 | 1 | 04/23/2002 | |
| Failed right upper ball joint with 42,000 miles on vehicle. problem found after vehicle exhibited wheel binding while making hard right hand turns, clunking noises during left hand turns.*ak | |||
| 03/26/2004 | 51000 | 2 | 11/20/2001 |
| Upper ball joints are bad, both left and right hand side, was told by a mechanic that there is no way that they should be bad in a '02 truck.*ak | |||
| 02/16/2004 | 13000 | 1 | 07/22/2002 |
| Clunking and excessive squeaking coming from the front-end. slow 90 degree or u - turns consistently reveal clunking. 18000 miles currently on dakota quad cab. steering shimmy inadvertently appears when driving straight down the road. these symptoms have been happening for 3+ months. i am experienced with front-end work, and recognize these symptoms to be familiar with upper ball-joints failure. i refuse to have the same product installed. there is obviously a problem. *jb | |||
| 02/27/2004 | 21000 | 4 | 01/09/2002 |
| All four ball joints bad at 21000. heater switch bad at 21000k and also canister hose cracked at 21000. my main concern is faulty, failing ball joints. *ak | |||
| 02/27/2004 | 21000 | 4 | |
| My 2002 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4 has 21,000 miles and now all four upper ball joints are bad.*ak | |||
| 02/17/2004 | 40000 | 1 | |
| Vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for a front end alignment. mechanic determined that the right upper ball joint needed to be replaced. *ak | |||
| 01/21/2004 | 23359 | 1 | 12/08/2001 |
| With 23,359 miles on my dodge dakota the right upper ball joint exhibited excessive play and had to be replaced. i believe there should be a recall and all the upper and lower ball joints should be replaced on all dakotas and durangos. *jb | |||
| 12/21/2003 | 40000 | 1 | 07/24/2002 |
| Upper ball joints are worn out and are popping and causing front tires to cup,and truck will not drive straight.you can really hear popping noises when turning sharp and going in a driveway. | |||
| 12/10/2003 | 35000 | 1 | 09/08/2002 |
| Premature wear of ball joints on 2002 dodge dakota pickup. this wear could result in an accident if not repaired.*ak | |||
| 12/21/2003 | 17 | 1 | 08/09/2002 |
| Premature failure at 34,000 miles on both upper ball joints on my 2002 dodge dakota quad cab. front-end noises (at turning, rough pavement, speed bumps) started occurring before 10,000 miles and continued to grow worse until replacement.*ak | |||
| 11/16/2003 | 25200 | 1 | 08/30/2002 |
| Ball joint failure at 25,000 miles. *ak | |||
| 07/06/2003 | 35000 | 1 | 10/30/2001 |
| Balljoints bad on my 2002 dodge dakota 4x4 at 35,000 miles.*ak | |||
| 12/29/2003 | 35500 | 1 | 11/01/2002 |
| I took my 2002 dodge dakota to get state inspection and was told the left upper ball joint was worn out. only has 35000 miles on it. i went to dealer to have it repaired on dec 29 2003 and was told the ball joints are on back order until jan 14 2004 and was told i may not be one of the luck ones to get it even then. my truck has been sitting since dec 31 2003 because of the inspection has exp. *la | |||
| 12/22/2003 | 49878 | 1 | 12/31/2001 |
| Vehicle = 2002 dodge dakota quad cab - v6 (currently @ 49,000 miles) took vehicle to independent mechanic for annual inspection and was told that both the upper and lower ball joints were worn excessively and would totally fail in approximately 1000 miles. after further investigation on numerous websites i have found this problem to be quite common and is what was causing the feeling of loss of control when hitting bumps in the road at speed, strange noises when turning slowly, and it also seems this is what could have led to my premature brake failures (which i had to have my rotors ground at approx 25k miles). i will be speaking to my dealer tomorrow directly - my girlfriend had called them for me because i was out of town for work and it sounds as though they are claiming they have never heard of the problem. this appears to be quite a common problem and had my mechanic not caught the problem doing the annual inspection it would have definitely caused an extreme safety hazard. hopefully something is being done to remedy this problem. thanks. *ak | |||
| 01/05/2004 | 20000 | 1 | 11/08/2001 |
| Premature failure of upper lower ball joints. this started at 20k at which time i brought it into a dealership, but the front end guy was sick that day (how convient), so no one would look at the truck. very loud popping noise from front end especially when turning at low speed on icy conditions. when turning sharp the wheel feels as if its about to colapes under itself. very dangerous. now that im over the 36k warrenty dodge tells me i have to pay to have it fixed. i will never purchase a dodge again. this is a life threatening condition should it fail. i have children and no longer feel safe transporting them in this vehicle. i cannot even trade it in untill i fix it as all the other car dealers are quite aware of this defect....help please!!!*ak | |||
| 04/16/2003 | 23190 | 10/22/2001 | |
| 2002 dodge dakota quad cab has had grinding/jumping/bumping condition when braking since 4/03 @under 24k miles. private mechanic has checked brakes twice for this and has found no problems stemming from brakes. condition persists, and am wary of problems with this make/model and ball joint wear. is dodge covering this as a warranty repair now or not? | |||
| 05/14/2003 | 27104 | 2 | 09/26/2002 |
| I own a 2002 dodge dakota. at 27,000 miles, the dealership replaced all four ball joints. they also worked on the 4 wheel drive. at 34,000 miles they replaced three ball joints and worked on the 4 wheel drive. at 42,000 miles they replaced the rack and pinion on the passenger side and worked on the 4 wheel drive. at 49,000 miles i had to replace wheel bearings in the passenger side. fortunately, i have not had any accidents. i have heard noises and taken it to the dealership or my mechanic. i am very concerned about driving it. i do not feel safe driving it anymore. i think they have some serious front end problems that they should be addressing. i don't think i should be footing the bill for it. i am also very upset that the dealership and dodge have known about the problems and chose to blame them on other conditions caused by the owner.*ak | |||
| 12/16/2003 | 34500 | 1 | 04/01/2002 |
| Ball joints had to be replaced due to being worn out on my 2002 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4. dealer never mentioned the ongoing investigation or problems with ball joints. subsequently viewed the cbs report on dakota ball joints and ongoing investigation the night we got truck back from dealer with new ball joints.*ak | |||
| 11/15/2003 | 30000 | 1 | 04/10/2003 |
| 2002 dodge dakota 4x4 quad cab pickup - both upper ball joints experienced premature failure. signs of failure began around 30,000 miles, but misdiagnosed by local mechanic as no problem found. i later took the truck to dodge when knocking noise kept getting worse (after warranty expiration). both upper ball joints were replaced and front end alignment performed for approximately $500. since this is a safety issue, i believe a recall should be implemented. *ak | |||
| 10/07/2003 | 25000 | 1 | |
| Driver's side upper ball joint wore out prematurely. as a result the dealership was unable to perform a front end alignment. the ball joint was replaced.*ak | |||
| 11/26/2003 | 29000 | 1 | 12/01/2002 |
| Consumer noticed uneven wear on the outside edge of the front tires. there was a groaning sound coming from the axle area when turning corners and the steering column was very loose. the dealer informed the consumer that the upper ball joints were defective. *ak *jb | |||
| 10/15/2002 | 10000 | 1 | 12/20/2001 |
| Upper and lower ball joints are exhibiting premature signs of failure at 10,000 miles load popping sounds when turning and braking. vehicle now has 23,000 miles and is showing signs of steering vibrations. why haven't the dakota models been included with the durango suspension engineering investigation. there are almost 100 complaints on the website? *jb | |||
| 12/02/2003 | 40405 | 2 | 09/25/2002 |
| I own a 2002 dodge dakota with 40,385 miles. after seeing a piece on cbs about the upper ball joint problems, i had my truck checked at the dealer. both upper ball joints had to be replaced at a cost of $384.55. upon going to this site i saw an open investigation so, decided to file a complaint hoping to eventually have a recall on this obviously defective part. *nlm | |||
| 05/12/2003 | 16582 | 1 | 11/29/2001 |
| I am owner of a 2002 dodge dakota quad cab pick-up with defective front ball joints. i have noticed noise from the front end of vehicle and took it to dealer. even took the shop forman on road test and he also heard the noise i was experiencing. then the dealer blamed it on the side bars that i had previosly installed. (the noise was there before the the bars were installed). needless to say, i was given the run around. i am a experienced mechanic by trade and i know about these things. i am very concerned that i am driving a potential time bomb just like the durango's which share the same front suspension that are having critical balljoint failures which there is now a class action law siute in process. there needs to be a recall initiated because lives are in danger!*ak | |||
| 07/07/2003 | 2 | 04/12/2002 | |
| We own a 2002 dodge dakota quad cab truck. it's getting ready to be taken back into the shop for a ball-joint problem we supposedly already had fixed. we purchased this dodge truck as our main family vehicle. how can i feel safe transporting my family in a vehicle that could have a tire collapse at any time? i've researched information about this very problem and am disturbed to find out that it's happening to a lot of vehicle owners. for most of us, a vehicle is one of the most costly purchases we make in our lifetimes... how long are we going to have to wait for daimler/chrysler/dodge to stop sweeping this problem under the rug and take the safety of all passengers seriously? *la | |||
| 11/12/2003 | 40000 | 1 | 06/03/2002 |
| Premature failure (40000 miles) of ball joints in a 2002 dodge dakota quad cab. *la | |||
| 11/09/2002 | 27200 | 1 | 08/30/2002 |
| Upper ball joint on 02 dodge dakota quad cab needs to be replace w/ only 27,200 miles on truck.*ak | |||
| 04/04/2003 | 19500 | 1 | 09/12/2001 |
| Upper control arm ball joint failure. *ak | |||
| 30000 | 1 | 12/01/2001 | |
| Heard and felt a clunking sound in steering when vehicle hit a bump/ ball joints and arms replaced. *mr the consumer felt and heard a clunking sound in the steering when a bump was hit or turning a corner. the dealer replaced the upper ball joints and a arm under warranty. *scc *jb | |||
| 07/25/2003 | 1 | ||
| Dealer replaced both upper and lower ball joints and control arms. consumer stated this vehicle was the version of durango, therefore , they used the same parts. *ak | |||
| 05/16/2003 | 26857 | 1 | 11/30/2001 |
| Premature failure of upper ball joint. *ak | |||
| 07/22/2003 | 18000 | 0 | 09/07/2002 |
| I have a 2002 dodge dakota 4x4 pick up truck which needs to have itsupper left ball joint replaced after 10 months of ownership. i previously owned a 2000 dodge durango which had the same part replaced on three occasions. | |||
| 07/22/2003 | 05/03/2002 | ||
| The investigation on the 1998-2003 dodge durango ball joints needs to be expanded to the entire line of dakota trucks. these vehicles, from the b pillar forward are virtually identical. go to this site to see hundreds and hudreds of complaints: www.dodgedakotas.com use the search engine. the ball joints are completely worn on my 2002 dakota quad cab, to the point where the suspension has become unpredictable under certain road conditions. this vehicle has only 21k miles on it. | |||
| 05/22/2003 | 27689 | 1 | 09/08/2001 |
| Only 27689 miles safety front end components failed power steering rack seal leaking fluid.sway bar bushings were replaced.seat right rear coming apart pass side plastic recliner handle broke my 2002 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4 sport has had suspension problems, and brake problems. the upper and lower control arms and ball joints make a popping sound when step on brakes or make a sharp left turn. i now have 29900 miles and the pounding and noise have not stopped. vehicle feels like you will loose control when going over bumps in the highway. *ak | |||
| 12/30/2002 | 27000 | ||
| Vibration when applying brakes. warped rotors at only 27,000 miles when used only for commuting to and from work, mainly highway miles. was told that many things could cause premature wearing and or warping of the rotors such as heavy towing and high temp's. none of which the truck has endured. i do not/have not towed anything and furthermore the warping happened in the middle of winter so, high heat couldn't have been the cause either. i've done extensive research online and realize now that many other people are experiencing the same problems with this model and year. dodge will not assist with resolving the issue as they will only warranty rotors up to 12,000 miles. the other cases i've read about seem to happen at or within 10,000 miles. this is a serious issue that dodge needs to address and take responsibility of. not only the brake issue but i am also experiencing similar problems as others with the upper ball joints. mine have already had to be replaced because they were so loose that you could move them with your hand. dodge should be help accountable for these issues!!!! *nlm | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - HUB | |||
| 10/01/2006 | 50000 | 5 | 03/13/2003 |
| I have had several alarming failures with my dodge dakota quad cab. it is a 2002 v6 auto transmission pw pl. i have had the ball joints replaced because of the recall, my transmission has failed (twice), my front hubs & spindles completely disintegrated and could have killed my family, my water pump has failed and had to be replaced, the driver side taillight seems to fail often, the vacuum hoses have all had to be replaced because of the cheap rubber used by the manufacturer fail by cracking and causing all sorts of leaks causing engine lights, loud noises under the hood, and horrible gas mileage. i have done everything possible to be proactive in my maintenance of the vehicle. i have had the major repairs done professionally. i do not understand how a 2002 vehicle can have so many potentially fatal problems and be ignored. i have searched high and low for quality bulletins but cannot find anything. my gas mileage is now down to 14 mpg and the truck is falling apart. *jb | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - TORSION BAR | |||
| 05/22/2003 | 27689 | 1 | 09/08/2001 |
| Only 27689 miles safety front end components failed power steering rack seal leaking fluid.sway bar bushings were replaced.seat right rear coming apart pass side plastic recliner handle broke my 2002 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4 sport has had suspension problems, and brake problems. the upper and lower control arms and ball joints make a popping sound when step on brakes or make a sharp left turn. i now have 29900 miles and the pounding and noise have not stopped. vehicle feels like you will loose control when going over bumps in the highway. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - WHEEL BEARING | |||
| 05/05/2005 | 20000 | 3 | 08/31/2002 |
| Thought i would buy american and get the dodge dakota 4 dr crew. love its style, comforts, more power than i need (4.7l v8) 2wd has no traction in snow or ice. very easy to drive and comfortable 6ft.2 220lbs.(2 trips nj to calif.) gas mileage stinks...13-18mpg, no loads. brake rotors replaced 28k, left top ball joint worn (no recall yet)a/c needed charging, right front hub and bearings replaced 49k, rear leaf spring noisy, transmission hesitation occasionally. great truck to drive and haul but reliability really in question with only 49k. probably back to nissan or toyota. | |||
| 05/25/2005 | 28000 | 3 | 08/31/2002 |
| Daimlerchrysler motor corporation p.o. box 21-8004 auburn hills, mi 48321-8004 attention: quality assurance my dodge presently has 49,200 miles. it has been serviced at recommended and required intervals at manahawkin dodge approximately every 3,000 miles. early into my ownership i had intermittent trouble with the air conditioner and they tried to assess the problem. they did a recharge of the system and corrected the problem. i was told at 28998 miles that the pulsing when my brakes were applied was due to hot spots on my front rotors. when i inquired as to how this could happen to a relatively new truck that is used as a personal transportation vehicle i was told they really did not know but have had to replace others. it is noted that i never had to replace rotors on my previous nissans. that ended up costing me $393. i began hearing a noise in the transmission and intermittent delayed shifting into gear resulting in the transmission being serviced which included changing filters, lubricant, etc. i was also told that my upper ball joint was worn and replaced one side only. this i subsequently learned has been a problem for some dodge vehicles and i have since received a letter from daimlerchrysler regarding an extended warranty on the part. today i was told that i had play in the right front ball bearing and the hub needed a total replacement. along with that a strut had to be replaced and an alignment once it was completed. when i asked how axle bearing could go bad with this low a mileage i was told that the hub is sealed and no way to lubricate and that it should not have gone bad. in addition, i have a noisy left leaf spring that needs a part. the cost for the front hub is over $600. i rarely get over 16 miles per gallon even i the best driving conditions. sincerely, charles w. stauffer cc: nhtsa nj division consumer affairs file | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR | |||
| 02/27/2004 | 21000 | 4 | |
| My 2002 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4 has 21,000 miles and now all four upper ball joints are bad.*ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY | |||
| 05/05/2005 | 20000 | 3 | 08/31/2002 |
| Thought i would buy american and get the dodge dakota 4 dr crew. love its style, comforts, more power than i need (4.7l v8) 2wd has no traction in snow or ice. very easy to drive and comfortable 6ft.2 220lbs.(2 trips nj to calif.) gas mileage stinks...13-18mpg, no loads. brake rotors replaced 28k, left top ball joint worn (no recall yet)a/c needed charging, right front hub and bearings replaced 49k, rear leaf spring noisy, transmission hesitation occasionally. great truck to drive and haul but reliability really in question with only 49k. probably back to nissan or toyota. | |||
| 05/25/2005 | 28000 | 3 | 08/31/2002 |
| Daimlerchrysler motor corporation p.o. box 21-8004 auburn hills, mi 48321-8004 attention: quality assurance my dodge presently has 49,200 miles. it has been serviced at recommended and required intervals at manahawkin dodge approximately every 3,000 miles. early into my ownership i had intermittent trouble with the air conditioner and they tried to assess the problem. they did a recharge of the system and corrected the problem. i was told at 28998 miles that the pulsing when my brakes were applied was due to hot spots on my front rotors. when i inquired as to how this could happen to a relatively new truck that is used as a personal transportation vehicle i was told they really did not know but have had to replace others. it is noted that i never had to replace rotors on my previous nissans. that ended up costing me $393. i began hearing a noise in the transmission and intermittent delayed shifting into gear resulting in the transmission being serviced which included changing filters, lubricant, etc. i was also told that my upper ball joint was worn and replaced one side only. this i subsequently learned has been a problem for some dodge vehicles and i have since received a letter from daimlerchrysler regarding an extended warranty on the part. today i was told that i had play in the right front ball bearing and the hub needed a total replacement. along with that a strut had to be replaced and an alignment once it was completed. when i asked how axle bearing could go bad with this low a mileage i was told that the hub is sealed and no way to lubricate and that it should not have gone bad. in addition, i have a noisy left leaf spring that needs a part. the cost for the front hub is over $600. i rarely get over 16 miles per gallon even i the best driving conditions. sincerely, charles w. stauffer cc: nhtsa nj division consumer affairs file | |||