NHTSA Complaint #10166250 — 2000 DODGE DAKOTA

I OWN A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA 2WD. THERE ARE DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS ON THE FRONT END. THERE WAS A RECALL ON 4WD DAKOTAS, HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL FOR THE BALL JOINTS ON THE 2WD MODELS. THERE WAS AN "EXTENDED WARRANTY" THAT WAS SILENTLY (AS IN I NEVER KNEW THERE WAS AN ISSUE) ON THE BALL JOINTS ON THE 2WD MODELS. I HAVE HAD 6 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS TROUBLE WITH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE (I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW 07/2000). AS IN I HAVE REPLACED THE ROTORS ON THE FRONT END AT LEAST EVERY 3 MONTHS FOR THE FIRST 18 MONTHS OF OWNING IT. I HAVE HAD IT ALIGNED (FRONT AND REAR ALIGNMENTS) OVER A HALF DOZEN TIMES. ALL WORK DONE IN THE FIRST 18 MONTHS WAS DONE AT THE DEALER, WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN, AND PROBABLY WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. AFTER 18 MONTHS OF PAYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM (OUT OF MY OWN POCKET BECAUSE DODGE'S WARRANTY ISN'T WORTH THE PAPER IT'S WRITTEN ON) I CONCEDED DEFEAT (AND TOOK THE WORD OF THE DEALER) THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG, AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT BUT MAINTAINING THE ROTORS AND PURCHASING NEW TIRES EVER 12-16 MONTHS. WHEN MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, DODGE IS UNWILLING TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. IF NO ONE HAS DIED, THERE IS NO PROBLEM. LET ALL BUYERS BEWARE, SAFETY IS NOT ALWAYS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE. *JB