NHTSA Complaint #10127243 — 1998 DODGE DAKOTA

DT: THE CONSUMER HAD A 98 DODGE DAKOTA, TOOK TO TIRE SHOP, TRUCK COULD NOT BE ALIGNED BECAUSE IT HAD DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS. CONTACT CALLED THE DAIMLER CHRYSLER, WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE VEHICLE HAD STEERING PROBLEM. THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THEN, AT REPAIR SHOP OWNER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE STEERING GEAR, AND WOULD COST $800. OWNER DID NOT REPAIR STEERING AND VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT/LEFT. TIRE COMPANY STATED THE CROWN OF THE ROAD CAUSED VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT/RIGHT. TIRE SHOP INDICATED THEY COULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM,BUT THERE WERE 500 STEERING GEARS ON BACK ORDER. OWNER FELT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING GEAR OTHERWISE THERE WOULDN'T BE 500 STEERING GEARS ON BACK ORDER. *AK