NHTSA Complaint #10102620 — 1997 DODGE DAKOTA

GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HIT A POTHOLE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE CAME RIGHT OFF , IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 2000 - 2003'S HAVE. WE HAVE PICTURES OF IT TO PROVE IT . THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS LET LOOSE THE CV SHAFT PULLED OUT AND THE SHOCK GOT BENT. THE TIRE TURNED ON ITS SIDE WHILE THE TRUCK WAS SLIDING DOWN THE ROAD SIDEWAYS AND I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL HOW THE TRUCK WAS GOING. THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE TIRE ON THE TRUCK WAS THE BRAKE LINE. THE TIRE RIM HAD CHUNKS TAKEN OUT OF IT AND THE TIRE HAD WEAR FROM BEING ON ITS SIDE UNDER THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK WHILE IT WAS SLIDING. WE HAD TO GET IT FLATBEDDED TO THE REPAIR SHOP . WE HAD A CERTIFIED REPAIR SHOP DO ALL THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO THE TRUCK TO WHICH INCLUDED NEW UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS,NEW CV SHAFT, NEW RIM ADN TIRE , NEW SHOCK , AXLE ASSEMBLY,BRAKE HOSE , STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE,INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS AND A FRONT END ALIGNMENT.THIS TRUCK HAD JUST BEEN THROUGH A NYS INSPECTION IN DECEMBER 2003 AND PASSED. THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 25, 2004 WHICH LEFT US WITHOUT THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ABLE TO BE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY WE GOT THE TRUCK BACK ON NOVEMBER 10 , 2004. WE FEEL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR BILL FOR THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY ARE ADMITTING THERE IS A PROBLEM THE SAME AS THIS TO THE NEWER MODELS. *AK