NHTSA Complaint #10274564 — 1998 DODGE DAKOTA

I OWN A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING. THE STEERING WAS LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC WHO SHOWED ME THAT MY INTERMEDIATE STEERING LINKAGE WAS FAILING AND COULD COME APART, CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN DAKOTAS AND DURANGOS. I CHECKED WITH THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. AND WAS TOLD THAT IT HAPPENED SO OFTEN THAT THEY COULDN'T KEEP THE PART IN STOCK. SALVAGE YARDS DON'T EVEN LIKE TO SELL THIS PART USED BECAUSE THEY FAIL. I CHECKED WITH CHRYSLER/DODGE AND THERE IS NO RECALL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. DODGE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I'VE READ STORIES ON THE NET FROM OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR THANK YOU