NHTSA Complaint #10183811 — 1998 DODGE DAKOTA

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. WHEN I BROUGHT IN THIS VEHICLE FOR THE MANDATORY SAFETY INSPECTION IN 2006 I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE MANIFOLD BOLTS HAD BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE VEHICLE TO PASS THE SAFETY INSPECTION. WITHOUT REPLACING THE BOLTS IT WOULD BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. COST TO ME WAS $561.18. I HAD THE REQUIRED SAFETY WORK COMPLETED. THIS YEAR I BROUGHT THE SAME VEHICLE IN FOR THE REQUIRED SAFETY INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE WARN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS THE SAFETY INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE HAS 63,736 MILES ON IT. I TALKED WITH SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT BALL JOINTS SHOULD BE WARN OUT AT THIS LOW MILEAGE. I ALSO WENT TO THE CONSUMERS AFFAIRS COMMISSION WEB SITE AND THERE WAS NUMEROUS ARTICLES REGARDING THE PROBLEMS WITH THE DODGE DAKOTAS SUSPENSION AND STEERING ASSEMBLIES. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE DEFECTS WITH THESE PARTS. ANY HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED. *NM