NHTSA Complaint #10080688 — 1998 DODGE DAKOTA

(1) EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE WERE SIMPLY NORMAL DRIVING. NOTHING SPECIAL OR OUT OF THE ORDINARY WAS DONE OR ATTEMPTED. (2) THE BALL JOINTS ON BOTH OF MY UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAVE FAILED. THE JOINTS WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND ARE PERMANENTLY SEALED SUPPOSEDLY REQUIRING NO MAINTENANCE. HOWEVER THE RUBBER BOOT SURROUNDING THE JOINT FAILED, THUS LEADING TO WATER AND OTHER ROAD GRIT TO ENTER THE JOINT. THUS THE JOINTS DID NOT REMAIN LUBRICATED, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO MECHANICAL FAILURE. (3) DUE TO DODGE NOT SELLING THE INDIVIDUAL BALL JOINTS, I OPTED REPLACED BOTH OF THE ENTIRE FRONT CONTROL ARMS. DUE TO THE COST OF THAT REPAIR I OPTED TO PURCHASE AND INSTALL AFTERMARKET BALL JOINTS FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS RATHER THAN REPLACE THE ENTIRE ARM AS HAD BEEN DONE WITH THE UPPER. THE REPAIR WAS VERY LABOR INTENSIVE; ESPECIALLY ON SOMETHING WHICH SHOULD REQUIRE MINIMAL IF ANY MAINTENANCE.*AK