NHTSA Complaint #10184056 — 2000 DODGE DAKOTA

NOISE FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND VIBRATION FROM STEERING WHEEL. SOUNDS AS IF POWER STEERING PUMP WAS LOW ON FLUID. MAKES A LOAD NOISE WHEN STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. DROVE SHORT DISTANCE TO REPAIR FACILITY AND WAS SHOCKED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE HOSES HAD SPLIT. ALSO THE RACK AND PINION STEERING WILL HAVE TO BE REBUILT IF POSSIBLE IF NOT REPLACED. ALSO A BOOT WAS TORN AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. WORK HAS NOT BEEN STARTED AS I FIND IT IS NECESSARY TO GET MORE THAN ONE ESTIMATE. THE LOCAL GARAGE WANTS IN EXCESS OF $1200 FOR THE REPAIRS WHILE THE DEALER WANTS OVER $2000. APPROXIMATELY 12 MONTHS AGO I HAD THE UPPER BALL JOINTS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND HAD TO GET A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AT AN EXTRA CHARGE. NO VISUAL SIGNS OF WEAR WAS NOTICED. *JB