NHTSA Complaint #10093817 — 1997 DODGE DAKOTA

I OWN A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA, V8 AND FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WHEN I WAS TURNING, I EXPERIENCED THE TERRIBLE GRINDING SOUND FROM MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. I TOOK IT IN TO FIRESTONE TODAY WHERE THEY DIAGNOSIS UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FOR ALL FOUR WHEELS AT A COST OF OVER $1,000. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THIS WAS COMMON IN DODGE DAKOTA'S AND DURANGO'S AND THAT THEY ARE REALLY BAD. HE STATES I COULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT BUT WORST CASE SCENARIO IS I'LL BE DRIVING SOME DAY AND THE WHEEL COULD COME OFF OR LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING. I'VE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS AND DAIMLER CHRYSLER AS YET HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I ALSO NOTE THAT YOUR AGENCY IS SUPPOSED TO BE INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE. I AM WAITING ON YOUR REPORT BEFORE I PAY TO REPLACE THE JOINTS ALTHOUGH THIS MAY LEAD TO A SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES ON MY PART. WHEN WILL DAIMLER CHRYSLER ADDRESS THIS ISSUE? *NM