NHTSA Complaint #10111952 — 2000 DODGE DAKOTA

ALL THE BALLJOINTS ON MY 2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 2WD WITH 51,000 MILES, HAVE GONE BAD. THE LOWERS I REPLACED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL OR NOTICE OF EXTENDED WARRANTY. WHILE REPLACING THE LOWERS, ONE THE THE DUST BOOTS FELL OFF THE UPPER BALL JOINT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I THEN INSPECTED THE BOOT TO FIND THAT THERE WAS DRIED GREASE(FLAKY) AND THE BALLJOINT WAS EXTREMELY EASY TO ROTATE BY HAND. I THEN REALIZED THAT THE BOOT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME OFF ON ITS OWN. SO I CALLED TWO LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIPS AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE. THEY EXPLAINED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE BOOT CAME OFF(AND DID CONFIRM IT SHOULD NOT HAVE), AND THAT THE GREASE MAYBE DRIED OUT, THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE BALLJOINT UNTIL IT ACTUALLY HAS PLAY IN IT. NOW I KNOW THAT WITHOUT GREASE, THE BALLJOINT WILL WEAR OUT FASTER, AND THAT THESE HAVE ALREADY BEEN AN ISSUE. I AM REALLY CONCERNED THAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT BECOMES DANGEROUS. I DO HAVE HIGH RESOLUTION PICS OF THE BALLJOINT DESCRIBED ABOVE. THANKS.*AK