NHTSA Complaint #10143274 — 1998 DODGE DAKOTA

WALKING BACK TO MY PARKED "98 DODGE DAKOTA, AFTER DINING OUT WITH FAMILY, I NOTICED THAT MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS COCK-EYED WHILE THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS POINTING STRAIGHT. I HAD THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER/SERVICE DEPARTMENT CHECK IT OUT AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT 3 OUT OF 4 BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I WAS APPALLED TO HEAR THAT SINCE I HAD NO INDICATION THAT I OR MY PASSENGERS WERE IN ANY DANGER: THE TRUCK NEVER PULLED TO ONE SIDE, AND IT DIDN'T STEER FUNNY, OR GIVE ME ANY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING WAS SO TERRIBLY WRONG. THE SERVICE MANAGER URGED ME TO REPLACE ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS, WHICH I DID AT A COST OF OVER $773.81. I THINK DODGE NEEDS TO RECALL THE '98 DAKOTAS' BALL JOINTS. THERE'S NO REASON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 73,000 MILES ON IT SHOULD HAVE 3 OUT OF FOUR BALL JOINTS GO BAD TO THE POINT THAT THE WHEELS ARE COMING OFF. *NM