NHTSA Complaint #10158115 — 1997 DODGE DAKOTA

I BOUGHT A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA PICK/UP THAT HAD 52,303 MILES SHOWING ON THE SPEEDOMETER, THE DEALER SAID AND SHOWED ME A "SAFETY CHECK" SEAL ON THE WINDSHIELD AND TOLD ME THEY SAFETY CHECK ALL THEIR USED CARS AND TRUCKS, AFTER FINALLY PUTTING 1,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK I NOTICED IT WAS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO STEER AND CONTROL, I ALSO STARTED HEARING A LOUD NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING. I FINALLY TOOK THE TRUCK TO A GARAGE AND ASKED TO CHECK THE FRONT END, THE DEALER HAD SUPPOSEDLY ALIGNED THE FRONT END AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. TO MY SURPRISE AND THE MECHANICS, WHEN HE JACKED UP THE VEHICLE AND WENT TO CHECK THE BALL JOINTS, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL STARTED TO FALL OFF, THE BALL JOINT WAS SO WORN OUT. THIS VEHICLE HAS 53,324 MILES ON IT AT PRESENT, THESE ARE ACTUAL MILES, THERE IS ONLY 3 TITLES BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS VEHICLE, THE ORIGINAL BUYER (NEW), THE DEALER AND MY SELF. APPARENTLY THE DEALER KNEW THE FRONT END BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT, A TRUE SAFETY CHECK AND THE SUPPOSEDLY FRONT END ALIGNMENT THEY CLAIM THEY DID WOULD HAVE SHOWN THAT. ALSO THE SAFETY CHECK THEY CLAIM THEY DO, SHOULD HAVE SHOWN THE BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. IF WE HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF, I DREAD THINKING HOW MANY CARS WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE WRECK. THE COST OF REPLACING ALL 4 BALL JOINTS COST ME $237.00, I AM POSITIVE A DEALER WOULD HAVE PAID LESS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO GUARANTEEING THAT IT WAS A SAFE VEHICLE. IN HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE DODGE TRUCKS HAVE A HISTORY OF BALL JOINT FAILURE, ESPECIALLY OLDER MODELS. *JB