NHTSA Complaint #10495980 — 2007 DODGE DAKOTA

I HAVE A 2007 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB, V-6 THAT WAS BOUGHT NEW AND SERVICED AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. NO ONE ELSE HAS WORKED ON IT. I TOOK IT IN FOR THE REGULAR OIL CHANGE RECENTLY AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK ON A POPPING KIND OF SOUND COMING FROM WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE RIGHT FRONT END. THE DEALER SAID I NEEDED SHOCKS ON ALL FOUR WHEELS. IT COST ME ABOUT $950.00 TO HAVE THIS DONE. I AM 65 YEARS OLD AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING SINCE I WAS 16 YEARS OLD. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS, BUT HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THE SHOCKS IN ANY VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED. THIS IS MY THIRD DAKOTA. THE FIRST TWO WERE USED AS WORK TRUCKS AND CARRIED HEAVY LOADS JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY. BOTH HAD OVER 100,000 MILES WHEN I GOT RID OF THEM AND I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH THE SHOCKS. THE DAKOTA I CURRENTLY HAVE HAS NOT BEEN USED FOR CARRYING ANYTHING HEAVY. PROBABLY THE HEAVIEST WAS A COUPLE OF SHEETS OF PLYWOOD. I HAVE TALKED TO A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS IN CHARGE OF ALL FLEET VEHICLES FOR THE COUNTY IN WHICH I LIVE. HE SAID OF ALL THE VEHICLES HE HAS WORKED ON, HE HAS NEVER HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR SHOCKS. HE SAID EVERY NOW AND THEM ONE SHOCK ON A VEHICLE MAY GO OUT, BUT NEVER ALL FOUR. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME TO CONTACT DODGE. DODGE LOOKED AT THE SPECIFICS AND SAID IT WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I FEEL THAT I HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO THE CLEANERS BY THE DEALER. *TR