NHTSA Complaint #10083168 — 2004 DODGE DAKOTA

WE JUST BOUGHT A NEW 2004 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. WE HAVE JUST OVER 2000 MILES ON IT, MOSTLY EXPRESSWAY MILES GOING TO WORK. A FEW WEEKS AGO MY GIRLFRIEND (WHO IA A DAIMLER-CHRYSLER EMPLOYEE) PULLED OUT OF HER PARKING SPACE AT WORK TO GO HOME AND GOT ABOUT 20 FEET AND THE DRIVERS FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF IN FRONT OF THE OTHER EMPLOYEES GOING HOME. THERE WAS NO NUT ON THE UPPER BALL JOINT, BUT THE PIN WAS STILL IN PLACE. AND THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY AFTER THE INCIDENT SHE FOUND THE NUT (NOT BROKE) LYING ON OUR GARAGE FLOOR, RIGHT WHERE WE PARKED THE TRUCK. SHE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED ON THE EXPRESSWAY GOING TO WORK THAT DAY, OR KILLED SOMEONE ELSE. AFTER THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER GOT THERE AFTER 4 HOURS (HE GOT LOST), HE PULLED THE DAKOTA UP WITH CHAINS ON THE FLATBED TOW TRUCK WHILE THE TRUCK WAS IN PARK. THEN WHEN HE GOT TO ADRIAN DODGE IN ADRIAN MICHIGAN (WHERE WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK) HE BACKED UP TO ANOTHER TOW TRUCK, HOOKED UP THE DAKOTA WITH CHAINS AND PULLED IT OFF WHILE STILL IN PARK. ALSO HE DID SOME DAMAGE TO THE FENDER FLARE. WE TOOK PICTURES OF THE TRUCK BEFORE IT WAS TOWED. THERE WAS NO BODY DAMAGE. WE WANTED A NEW TRUCK, BECAUSE WE ONLY MADE ONE PAYMENT AND IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT, BUT ADRIAN DODGE SAID THAT CHRYSLER SAID NO, THEY WOULD REPAIR THE DAMAGED ONE. THEY SAID IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT, AND BECAUSE WE BOUGHT IT WITH A EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT THEY COULDN''T DO ANYTHING FOR US. WE ARE VERY ANGRY ABOUT THIS. I THINK IT WAS NEGLIGENCE ON THEIR PART, BECAUSE SHE DROVE TO WORK WITHOUT THAT NUT ON THE TRUCK. AND BECAUSE THEY TOWED IT ON AND OFF THE TOWTRUCK, IT COULD POSSIBLY MESS UP THE TRANSMISSION. THEY FIXED OUR TRUCK AND WE HAVE IT BACK. *AK