NHTSA Complaint #10273740 — 1999 DODGE DAKOTA

DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. WEAR OF BALL JOINTS RESULTED IN PREMATURE, RAPID DESTRUCTION OF A SET OF TIRES DUE TO INNER SHOULDER WEAR. SET OF 4 TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 1/2 OF EXPECTED TREAD LIFE. TOTAL REPAIR COST DUE TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF BALL JOINTS, INCLUDING NEW TIRES, WAS $1384.93 CONDITION OF BALL JOINTS WAS HAZARDOUS AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT THROUGH SUSPENSION OR TIRE FAILURE. CONDITION WAS ALSO DIFFICULT TO NOTICE, AS THE WEAR WAS ON INNER SHOULDER OF FRONT TIRES. THE BALL JOINT AND TIRE WEAR WAS NOT IDENTIFIED DURING A THOROUGH INSPECTION BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AT 60586 MILES OR BY A DODGE DEALERSHIP DURING 60,000 MILE SERVICE PERFORMED AT 60789 MILES. DODGE IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY HAZARD OF THE FRONT BALL JOINTS ON THESE VEHICLES, HOWEVER DID NOT NOTIFY ME OF THE CONDITION. I AM THE ORIGINAL VEHICLE OWNER, AND THESE ARE ORIGINAL MILES. DODGE HAS DECLINED TO ASSIST IN THE COST OF REPAIR. *TR