NHTSA Complaint #10160702 — 2001 DODGE DAKOTA

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY FRONT END DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, I TOOK MY TRUCK TO MY MECHANIC TO CHECK IT OUT. HE GOT IN IT TO TAKE IT FOR A RIDE. WHEN HE TURNED THE WHEEL, THERE WAS A CLUNK. WE GOT OUT AND LOOKED, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS TURNED TO THE RIGHT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS STRAIGHT. HE SAID IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THE TIE ROD. IT TURNS OUT, THE THREADS HOLDING THE TIE ROD TOGETHER, STRIPPED AND IT CAME APART. HE SAID I WAS LUCKY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY THAT THE WHEEL PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CAME OFF AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. I STILL HAVE THE TIE ROD. I CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ASKED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WON'T REIMBURSE ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T BRING IT TO A CHRYSLER DEALER. I WAS AT MY MECHANICS, WHAT WAS I GOING TO DO? I THINK THEY JUST WANT TO COVER IT UP. MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE STRIPPED TIE ROD ON THE DRIVER SIDE, AND REPLACED THE RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD END BECAUSE IT HAD PLAY IN IT. *NM