NHTSA Complaint #10100974 — 1998 DODGE DAKOTA

I STARTED TO NOTICE A LOUD POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL WELL ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA SLT CLUB CAB. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO AN INDEPENDANT GARAGE AND WAS TOLD THAT MY BALL JOINTS WERE IN DESPARATE NEED OF REPLACEMENT. I WAS TOLD BY THE ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC THAT THE BALL JOINTS ARE SEALED AND COULD NOT GET THE PROPER LUBRICATION CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE BALL JOINTS COULD HAVE FAILED AT ANY TIME CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FAIL WHICH WOULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I ASKED THE MECHANIC IF THE REPLACEMENT BALL JOINTS WERE GREASABLE. HE TOLD ME YES. I FEEL THAT THE ORIGINAL BALL JOINTS WERE NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER, AND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT WARRANTS A RECALL.