NHTSA Complaint #733147 — 1998 DODGE DAKOTA

LOOSE CLUNKING EMINATING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKE PEDAL. THIS OCCURS WHEN TURNING, ACCELERATING AND APPLYING THE BREAKS. APPEARS TO BE A LOOSE FITTING IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLOM OR THE MID SHAFT. GETTING WORSE ALL THE TIME. ONLY 21K ON THIS TRUCK. ALSO, TRUCK SLIDES ALL OVER THE ROAD WHEN SURFACE IS DAMP OR WET. THIS HAPPENS EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. ANTILOCK SYSTEM DOES NOT APPEAR TO WORK. TRUCK ALSO BURNS UP TIRES AFTER 15K MILES. ENGINE MISS-FIRES AND UTILIZES WAY TO MUCH FUEL. APROX. 12 MPG. OVERALL, MY TWO MAIN CONCERNS ARE THE STEERING AND BRAKES. PROBLEM. THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY AN UNSAFE VEHICLE WHICH SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BEFORE SOMEONE LOOSES THEIR LIFE. THE TIME IS NOW, NOT LATER. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH SEVERAL OWNERS OF THIS YEAR AND MODEL. THEY TOO REPORT THE SAME SITTUATION WITH RESPECT TO THE STEERING AND BRAKE SYSTEM.*AK