NHTSA Complaint #10102549 — 2000 DODGE DAKOTA

2000 DODGE DAKOTA UPPER BALL JOINTS. LAST YEAR, MY UPPER LEFT BALL JOINT (BJ) FAILED. THANKFULLY I WAS STILL IN A PARKIGN LOT AT THE TIME. IF THIS FAILED AT SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY, IT WOULD HAVE INVLOVED SGINIFICANT INJURIES. *AK DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE ONE BJ, I HAD A DODGE DEALER REPLACE THE LEFT TIRE ROD END AND THE LEFT FRONT AXLE SHAFT ASSEMBLY SINCE THEY BENT WHEN THE TIRE AND WHEEL ASSMEMBLY CAME LOOSE. IN ADDITION, I HAD THE BOTH LOWER JOINTS REPLACED AND THE RIGHT UPPER BJ AND RIGHT SIDE TIE ROD. THE PROBLEM I HAVE NOW IS THAT THE NEW DODGE TIE RODS RUB AGAINST THE WHEELS ON SHARP TURNS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE AND THE SERVICE REPS INDICATED THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THIS. HOWEVER, THE TIE ROD ENDS CONTINUE TO WEAR THE FACTORY ALUMINUM WHEELS. ONE DEALER REP INDICATED THAT IN 2001 THE DAKOTAS WENT TO 16" WHEELS, AND SINCE MY 2000 HAS 15" WHEELS, THAT I NEED TO BUY 16 WHEELS SO THE TIE RODS DON'T RUB. WELL, QUITE FRANKLY THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. I FIND DODGE / DAMILER CHRYSLER RESPONSE TO THE UPPER BALL JOINT ISSUES PATHETIC. IN ADDITION, THE SPRAY NOZZLE FREEZE UP ANYTIME THE TEMPERATURE GOES BELOW 30 DEGREES. I'VE USED ALL KINDS OF WASHER FLUI, AND EVEN ADDED RUBBING ALCOHOL TO THE FUILD, REGARDLESS THIS IS A VISIBILITY HAZARD, AND IT SHOULD BE NOTED THE DESIGN WAS CHANGED IN THE 2001 DAKOTA / DURANGO MODELS