NHTSA Complaint #10064246 — 2004 DODGE DAKOTA

I HAVE A BRAND NEW 2004 DAKOTA THAT HAS A BALL JOINT SQUEAK STARTING ALREADY AT JUST OVER 4000 MILES. THE LOCAL GARAGE I TOOK IT TO TELLS ME THAT IT IS THE START OF THE BALL JOINT PROBLEMS THAT DAKOTA'S ARE NOTORIOUS FOR. MY SHORT INVESTIGATION ON THE INTERNET TURNED UP ALL KINDS OF DISCUSSION AND EXPENSIVE HORROR STORIES. MY SON HAS A 2002 DAKOTA WHICH HAS HAD THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED 3 TIMES ALSO. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW AND A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE ON CBS, IF THESE AREN'T TAKEN CARE OF, THEY WILL SEPARATE AND THE WHEEL COMES OFF. REPLACEMENT OF THESE PARTS BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER IS NOT ENOUGH. DAIMLERCHRYSLER NEEDS TO REDESIGN THESE AND THE NHTSA NEEDS TO INSIST THAT THEY RECALL THE EFFECTED VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS WITH THE REDESIGNED PARTS. AND SOON, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED THIS PROBLEM IS VERY MUCH THE SAME AS THE FORD TIRE PROBLEM. LET'S NOT WAIT UNTIL ALL THE LOSS OF LIFE THAT WAS EXPERIENCED WITH THAT PROBLEMS BEGINS WITH THE DODGE DAKOTA'S AND DURANGO'S. I DON'T THINK THE NHTSA WANTS THAT ON THEIR CONSCIENCE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOUR INVESTIGATION HAS FOUND AND WHAT RECOMMENDATION THE NHTSA WILL BE MAKING AND IN WHAT TIME FRAME. I WOULD LIKE TO GET MY BALL JOINTS FIXED WITH NON-DEFECTIVE, CORRECTLY DESIGNED PARTS. THANK YOU. GORDON LANKER RE: EA03 - 023. *AK