1997 DODGE DAKOTA Suspensionfront Problems

DUE TO POOR CHOICE OF MATERIALS (I ASSUME) THE FRONT HUB AND SPINDLE ASSEMBLY WEARS. LEAVING FRONT BRAKE SLIDER PINS UNATTACHED TO CALIPER MOUNTING PLATE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE FRONT CALIPER WOBBLES IN IT'S PLACE, POSSIBLY EJECTING THE SLIDEPINS BECAUSE THEY "WOBBLE" IN THE KNUCKLE HOLES DESIGNED TO RETAIN THEM. THIS CAUSES EXCESS WEAR ON THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY, INCREASED WEAR IN BRAKES, AND STRESS ON THE HUB BEARINGS. HAVING READ THE "ALLDATA" DATA BASE, THERE IS A REDESIGNED KNUCKLE WITH IMPROVED SLIDE PIN SUPPORTS. THERE ALSO IS A REPAIR KIT INVOLVING THE USAGE OF "HELI-COIL" INSERTS TO SECURE BRAKE PAD CARRIER TO SPINDLE ASSEMBLY. (SLIDE PINS) I FEEL TOTALLY UNSAFE WITH THIS ARRANGEMENT. I PREFER TO HAVE THE RE-DESIGNED SPINDLE ASSEMBLIES INSTALLED FOR FREE BY DEALER WITH UP-DATED PART NUMBERS. THE DEALER WANTS $1000 PER SIDE FOR THE REDESIGNED UNITS. I THINK THIS IS ABSURD. THIS IS A SAFETY...

THE BALL JOINTS ON MY 97 DODGE DAKOTA ARE WORN OUT. APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND SUPPOSEDLY THERE IS A RECALL IN EFFECT FOR NEWER DAKOTAS AS THOUGH THE PROBLEM DIDN'T START UNTIL AFTER 1997. THIS IS A FAULTY PART FROM THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND ITS REPAIR (AMONGST THE MANY OTHER MANUFACTURING FAULT REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE) IS RUINING ME FINANCIALLY IN THIS ECONOMY. I SHOULD NOT BE HELD FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR A CAR MAKERS INEPT MANUFACTURING. *TR

CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE FRONT END SUSPENSIONS THREE TIMES DUE TO WEAR.*AK

CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING AN ARRAY OF FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. *LA *SC *JB

FRONT END FAILED. CONSUMER STATED FRONT END WAS ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSING. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT BALL JOINTS, INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS FAILED. *LA

THERE IS A LOUD NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TURNING OR GOING OVER A SMALL BUMP. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *LA

FRONT END SUSPENSION FAILED, AND CAUSED THE THREAD ON THE TIE ROD TO BECOME WEAK. THE THREADS APPEARED CORRODED WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *CB *JB

52000 MILES AND I HAVE REPLACED THESE ITEMS: BELT TENSIONER, A/C COMPRESSOR, 3 SETS OF FRONT TIRES (THE TIRES ARE WEARING ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE-THE TRUCK HAS BEEN ALIGNED EACH TIME THE TIRES WERE REPLACED), 2 SETS OF ROTORS, 2 BRAKE CALIPERS, 4 SETS OF BRAKE PADS, THE STEERING KNUCKLE THAT BROKE INTO THREE (3) PIECES WHILE THE TRUCK WAS GOING 65 MPH, AND NOW I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP BECAUSE THE TRUCK JUMPS FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WHILE THE TRUCK IS IN MOTION. ALL OF THESE REPAIR COST HAVE BEEN PAID BY MYSELF. DEALER SAID THERE HAS BEEN NO OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DODGE DAKOTA I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT21575R15 )

TRUCK WAS PURCHASED NEW/NO OFF ROAD TO SPEAK OF AND WELL MAINTAINED. NO DEFECT (S) LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

LOUD NOISE IS COMING FROM FRONT END. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF DEFECT. *AK

STRANGE NOISE IS COMING FROM FRONT END . DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

FRONT END SHAKES INTERMITTENTLY AND OFTEN TIMES CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE DEALER HAS ALLIGNED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. *AK

THIRD SET OF TIRES DUE TO INNER WEAR FROM FRONT END PROBLEMS.THE TRUCK IS BEING SENT BACK AGAIN FOR FRONT END PROBLEM. THESE PROBLEMS ARE ALL LISTED IN YOUR SERVICE BULLETINS DATABASE AND ALSO CONFIRMED IN THE COMPLAINTS DATABASE. AS MY VEHICLE IS NEARING THE END OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PHASE THESE FRONT END PROBLEMS ARE GOING TO BE VERY EXPENSIVE SINCE THERE DOSEN'T SEEM TO BE A FIX.

NO SUMMARY

FRONT SUSPENSION RATTLES WHEN DRIVING ON ROUGH ROAD AFTER HITTING SHARP OBJECTS. *AK

FRONT AND THE REAR BRAKES ARE PREMATURELY WEARING OUT OR FEATHERING WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. ALSO, THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY NEEDS ALIGNMENT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS, ADD ALL VEHICLE VIN#. 8AK