NHTSA Complaint #10052875 — 2000 DODGE DAKOTA

PURCHASED 2000 DODGE DAKOTA. QUAD CAB SUMMER 2002, APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES AT TIME OF PURCHASE. VEHICLE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AT THAT TIME. HAD PROBLEMS WITH STEERING. THE WHEEL WOULD JERK FROM SIDE TO SIDE AS IF THE POWER STEERING WOULD ENGAGE AND THEN DISENGAGE DURING A TURN. BROUGHT TO DEALER. THEY SAID THEY FIXED PROBLEM BY REPLACING STEERING COLUMN. PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. RETURNED TO DEALER. REPLACED BEARINGS IN COLUMN DURING SECOND REPAIR. DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. RETURNED AGAIN, DEALER(FORMERLY COURTESY DODGE, NORWICH, CT) STATED THAT THEY SOLD THERE WARRANTY TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT MAKE REPAIR. I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE TO OTHER DEALERSHIP. TAKEN TO OTHER DEALER SHIP BUT AT THIS TIME PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN FIXED AND VEHICLE WAS OVER 36,000 MILES. DEALER SAID I WOULD HAVE TO FILL OUT FORMS AND THAT IT WAS UNLIKELY THE REPAIR WOULD BE AUTHORIZED. HOW IS IT IF THE REPAIR WAS NEVER COMPLETED THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO WAIT UNTIL WARRANTY EXPIRES AND SAY TOO BAD. I WAS THEN RECALLED BY THE MILITARY AND HAD TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE TO NEW JERSEY SO THE REPAIR WAS NEVER COMPLETED. THANKS, NOW COURTESY KIA. I WISH I COULD CONDUCT MY BUSINESS LIKE THE DEALERS. JUST IGNORE THE PROBLEM AND IT WILL GO AWAY!!!!!!!. IM NOT FINISHED WITH THIS YET!!!! JPL. *LA