NHTSA Complaint #10102526 — 1998 DODGE DAKOTA

THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO, AND IN SUPPORT OF, THE RECCOMMENDED RECALL OF DODGE DAKOTAS. I HAVE A 1998 DAKOTA AND RECENTLY HAD WORK DONE (JULY '04) ON THE FRONT BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS. AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF POPPING NOISES FROM THE FRONT END WHEN BACKING OUT AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND A DEFINITE FEELING OF LOOSE SUSPENSION ON TURNS I TOOK IT TO THE DODGE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME THE TRUCK WAS NOT DRIVEABLE. THE BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS WERE BOTH FAILING AND I WAS WARNED HAD I CONTINUED DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION I WOULD HAVE HAD A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THIS, AFTER HAVING THE SAME SYMPTOMS, BUT DIFFERENT REPAIRS MADE BY A DIFFERENT DEALER, A YEAR PRIOR. THE VEHICLE HAD ONE PREVIOUS OWNER AND 61,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT IN LATE 2002. I PUT ON MAYBE 10,000 MILES BEFORE THE FIRST INCIDENT AND ONLY A FEW THOUSAND MORE BEFORE THE SECOND INCIDENT. I FEEL THIS VEHICLE IS NOT ONLY UNSAFE, BUT POORLY MANUFACTURED AND HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WITH MY CONCERNS. I FEEL THE SUGGESTED RECALL SHOULD INCLUDE THE YEARS PRIOR TO THOSE RECCOMMENDED (2000-2003). I HAVE HAD TWO AUTHORIZED DODGE DEALERS PERFORM TWO SETS OF REPAIR TO THE AMOUNT OF NEARLY $3000.00. THIS IS NEARLY THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE AND IT'S NOT EVEN PAID OFF YET.*AK