NHTSA Complaint #10102126 — 2000 DODGE DAKOTA

SUBJECT VEHICLE: 2000 DODGE DAKOTA R/T, ILES: 49000; USAGE: DAILY DRIVER-CITY/HWY ONLY; COMPLAINT: EXCESSIVE UPPER BALL JOINT PLAY EARLY FAILURE. *AK AT APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MILES I NOTICED A SLIGHT CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION. I LUBED THE FRONT END USING THE APPROPRIATE TOOL AND GREASE NIPPLES BUT FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO FITTING ON THE UPPER BALL JOINT. THE CLICKING SOUND PROGRESSED TO CLUNKING OVER THE NEXT 10000 MILES AND ON INSPECTION I FOUND EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE UPPER FRONT SUSPENSION ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE LEFT SIDE BEING THE MOST EGREGIOUS. IN ADDITION I STARTED TO NOTICE WANDERING IN THE STEERING TRACK OF THE VEHICLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I FOCUSED MY ATTENTION ON THE UPPER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY'S AND HAVE SINCE REPLACED BOTH. THE SYMPTOM HAS CLEARED. I HAVE HAD AN ASSORTMENT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE THIS HAVING THE MOST POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE APPRECIATED JAMES DALY