1998 DODGE DAKOTA Suspensionfrontcontrol Armlower Ball Joint Problems

MY TIRES HAVE BEEN WEARING ON THE OUTSIDE FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, I HAD THE TRUCK LOOKED AT AND ALL BALL JOINT UPPERS AND LOWERS ARE BAD. THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 90,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN TO AND FROM WORK FOR THE LAST 5 1/2 YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED IT. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE IS READY TO GIVE WAY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. THE BALL JOINTS HAVE COMPLETELY WORN OUT AND ALSO HAS A VERY NOISY LIFTER IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DRIFTS IN AND OUT OF LANES AT ANY SPEED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. HE WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL ON THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S MODEL, BUT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 03/14/08. *LJ THE SHIFTER DIDN OT STAY IN PARK

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURES @ 58,500 MILES. *JB

WE OWN A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT 4X4. IT CURRENTLY HAS 144K KILOMETERS. WE JUST INSTALLED OUR 3RD SET OF UPPER BALL JOINTS, AND HAVE REPLACED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS TWICE. WE EXPECT TO REPLACE THE LOWERS AGAIN BEFORE NEXT YEAR. WE KNOW WHEN THE JOINTS NEED REPLACING, WHEN THE VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO KEEP WITHIN A LANE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, DUE TO EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING. I SEE FROM THE INTERNET THAT CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR 2000 AND LATER MODELS. THIS IS INSUFFICIENT, AS MANY PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE IN MODELS AS LATE AS 1996. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE IS WELL KNOWN IN THE INDUSTRY, ONE PERSON OR FAMILY GETTING KILLED BY THIS DEFECT FOR THERE TO BE AN OFFICIAL RECALL IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. OUR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE IS PAID BY OUR COMPANY, HOWEVER A FAMILY THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE...

DT: THE CONTACT STATES EVERY YEAR WHEN HE TAKES VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED THEY INFORM HIM THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE REPLACEMENT TAKES PLACE APPROXIMATELY EVERY 20, 000-25,000 MILES. A LOCAL MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE DESIGN OF THE BALL JOINTS THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *AK

WALKING BACK TO MY PARKED "98 DODGE DAKOTA, AFTER DINING OUT WITH FAMILY, I NOTICED THAT MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS COCK-EYED WHILE THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS POINTING STRAIGHT. I HAD THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER/SERVICE DEPARTMENT CHECK IT OUT AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT 3 OUT OF 4 BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I WAS APPALLED TO HEAR THAT SINCE I HAD NO INDICATION THAT I OR MY PASSENGERS WERE IN ANY DANGER: THE TRUCK NEVER PULLED TO ONE SIDE, AND IT DIDN'T STEER FUNNY, OR GIVE ME ANY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING WAS SO TERRIBLY WRONG. THE SERVICE MANAGER URGED ME TO REPLACE ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS, WHICH I DID AT A COST OF OVER $773.81. I THINK DODGE NEEDS TO RECALL THE '98 DAKOTAS' BALL JOINTS. THERE'S NO...

BALL JOINTS FAILED, PASSENGERS SIDE CAME LOOSE AND THE WHEEL FEEL OFF AND THE TRANSMISSON HAD TO BE REBUILT DUE TO CHEAP INTERNAL PARTS. BUT IF YOU OWN A 98 DODGE DAKOTA HAVE YOUR BALL JOINTS CHECKED THEY ARE A HAZARD AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED, IF THEY ALREADY HAVE NOT.... *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER HAD A 98 DODGE DAKOTA, TOOK TO TIRE SHOP, TRUCK COULD NOT BE ALIGNED BECAUSE IT HAD DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS. CONTACT CALLED THE DAIMLER CHRYSLER, WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE VEHICLE HAD STEERING PROBLEM. THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THEN, AT REPAIR SHOP OWNER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE STEERING GEAR, AND WOULD COST $800. OWNER DID NOT REPAIR STEERING AND VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT/LEFT. TIRE COMPANY STATED THE CROWN OF THE ROAD CAUSED VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT/RIGHT. TIRE SHOP INDICATED THEY COULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM,BUT THERE WERE 500 STEERING GEARS ON BACK ORDER. OWNER FELT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING GEAR OTHERWISE THERE WOULDN'T BE 500 STEERING GEARS ON BACK ORDER. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. THE FRONT END UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CHRYSLER SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. *AK ALSO FRONT END WAS ALIGNED AND THE BRAKE FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE TURNED. *TT *NM

ALL 4 FRONT BALL JOINTS FAILED AT 86,000 MILES

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL FELK OFF. DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS BROKE, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA I EXPERIENCED A "KLUNKING" SOUND IN THE FRONT END. FOUND OUT AT 84,000 MILES THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE BAD AND CONTRIBUTED TO WHEEL BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY PROBLEMS. REPAIR BILL WAS $738.95. I HAD THE REPAIR PERFORMED AT MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER "MORGAN DODGE" IN DURHAM, NC. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE REPAIR WAS NECESSARY AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT THE REPAIRS. THE OEM REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE ON NATIONAL BACKORDER AND THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO USE AFTERMARKET PARTS FOR THE BALL JOINTS. I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE AND THEY SAID THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND "IS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY RECALL" SO THEY CAN NOT ASSIST ME.*AK

NOISE FROM FRONT END, HAD CHECKED OUT AND MECHANIC FOUND LEFT SIDE BALL JOINTS (UPPER AND LOWER) WERE PREMATURELY WORN. I HAD THEM REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. I SAVED THE OLD PARTS. NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE NEDDS TO BE REPLACED. AGAIN THE DEALER TELLS ME THE RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO MY CAR.

I OWN A 1998 DODGE DOKOTA TRUCK AND HAD TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED IN NOVEMBER, 2003. I HAVE HEARD THEY ARE RECALLING THE DOKOTA'S STARTING IN YEAR 2000. WHAT ABOUT THE ONES BEFORE THAT YEAR. I HAVE RECEIPTS WHERE IT COST ME $753.71 TO HAVE THIS WORK DONE.*AK

WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM THE GAS PUMP CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THEN THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE FELL/DROPPED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO OBSERVE THAT THE FRONT RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS THE LOWER BALL JOINT. ALSO, THE LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK

(1) FRONT END MAKING A POPPING NOISE. WHEN I TURNED. TRUCK WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY DEALERSHIP KEPT SAYING IT WAS BRAKE NOISE. (2)UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE, BALL JOINTS WERE RUSTED OUT, (3)ALL 4 BALL JOINTS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE,WHEN TRUCK WAS BARELY OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB

PURCHASED TRUCK IN 1998 AND IN 2001 AT 48000 MILES HAD TO REPLACE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS IN THE FRONT END ON BOTH SIDES AND I THINK I AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN AND MILEAGE IS OVER 99000. I ALSO MADE TWO OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR BOTH FRONT CALIPERS SEIZING ON THIS WEBSITE. I WOULD HAVE MADE COMPLAINTS SOONER, BUT JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS SITE. I WANTED TO MAKE COMPLAINTS AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE DODGE DAKOTA AND DURANGO MODEL YEAR 2000 AND UP WITH THEIR BALL JOINTS. *JB

LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS SEVERELY WORN . DUST BOOTS TORN AND NO GREASE FITTINGS (SUPPOSE TO BE LIFETIME LUBRICATED). REPLACED WITH AFTER MARKET ONES WITH GREASE FITTINGS. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 64,700 MILES . *AK

HAD TO REPLACE UPPER AND LOWER BALLJOINTS AND OUTER TIE ROD ENDS.*AK

1. EXCESSIVE DRIFTING BACK AND FORTH IN THE LANE I WAS DRIVING IN . UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. 2. SERVICE TECH SAID THAT I WAS LUCKY A WHEEL DIDN'T COME OF WHILE DRIVING. 3. REPLACEMENT OF UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON MY 98 DODGE DOKOTA SPORT.*AK

I HAVE REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS TWICE NOW ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS. ON A RECENT VISIT TO MY MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE, I WAS ADVISED THAT I WILL AGAIN NEED TO REPLACE MY BALL JOINTS AND THAT ONE IN PARTICULAR WAS CLOSE TO FAILURE AND WAS UNSAFE. IN HIS WORDS: "YOU GOT LUCKY. THIS COULD HAVE FAILED AT ANY TIME." I HAVE SCHEDULED ANOTHER APPOINTMENT TO ONCE AGAIN REPLACE MY BALL JOINTS. *NM

WHEN TURNING OR DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THERE WAS A DRY SHUTTERING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PARTS WERE REPLACED. FAILURE RECURRED 3 YEARS LATER ON UPPER BALL JOINTS ONLY. *AK CONTROL ARM, BALL JOINT, AND TIE RODS WERE REPLACED AGAIN AT 136,807. *TT

1 - TOOK THE DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK IN TO HAVE THE SNOW TIRES PUT ON AND WAS TOLD THAT THE UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS WHERE READY TO FAIL. THE AUTOMOTIVE SHOP THEN REPLACED THE UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS. *AK

NOISES IN FRONT END, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA 4-WHEEL DRIVE DEFECTIVE. LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 34,853 MILES. REPLACED LOWER JOINTS AGAIN AND UPPER BALL JOINTS AT 59,629 AT A COST OF $1123.55. LUCKILY IT WAS CAUGHT BEFORE ANY SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURRED. YOUR RECALL INDICATES YEAR 2000-2003 BUT PROBLEM WAS THERE PRIOR TO THAT.*AK

MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT ALL 4 BALL JOINTS AND THE INNER & OUTER TIE ROD ENDS NEED REPLACING ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. SINCE THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL FOR 2000-2003 DAKOTAS & DURANGOS AND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT PENDING FOR 1998 DURANGOS, I WONDER IF THERE IS MERIT TO MY 1998 DAKOTA FAILURE AND THE RESULTING EXPENSE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND SUDDENLY CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT, AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONTAL LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

A RECENT RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR DODGE DAKOTAS AND DURANGO ONLY INCLUDED THE MODEL YEARS OF 2000-2004 FOR FAILED BALL JOINTS AND WHEELS FALLING OFF. THIS COMPLIANT IS TO NOTIFIY THE NHTSA THAT EARLY MODEL YEARS ALSO EXPERIENCE THE SAMPLE PROBLEM. IN 2001, MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA HAD THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL COLAPSE WHILE IN MOTION DUE TO A FAILED BALL JOINT. THE NHTSA SHOULD EXPAND THIS RECALL TO EARLIER MODELS.*AK

1998 DODGE DAKOTA, CURRENT MILEAGE:426,000. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL CONTROL ARMS TWICE. BALL JOINTS UNAVAILABLE, REQUIRING ENTIRE A-ARM REPLACEMENT. BUMMER. *JB

I'VE SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY PLIGHT PREVIOUSLY BUT I HAVE ANOTHER EPISODE TO REPORT. MY FIRST COMPLAINT (LAST YEAR) DETAILED PROBLEMS WITH MY 98' DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK. THE BALL JOINTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE SUBSTANDARD TO SAY THE LEAST AND ARE ACTUALLY DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS. MY TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 70000 HIGHWAY MILES ON IT AND I HAVE REPLACED TWO BALL JOINTS ALREADY (AS NOTED IN MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT) AND NOW A THIRD IS FAILING AND IN NEED OF REPAIR. YOU MAY ASK HOW I KNOW IT FAILING WHEN I HAVEN'T HAD IT REPAIRED YET?... BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENED SO MANY TIMES BEFORE AND I KNOW THE SYMPTOMS. THAT MAKES 3/4 OF THE BALL JOINTS ON THE FRONT OF THIS TRUCK THAT WILL HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. I WAS ELATED TO SEE WHERE THE NHTSA HAS REQUESTED CHRYSLER TO RECALL THE DAKOTA AND DURANGO AS A RESULT...

LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE IN 1998 DODGE DAKOTA 4WD. QUERY: WHY ISN'T THE RECALL RE. BALL JOINTS COVERING DAKOTAS MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO 2000? MINE EXPERIENCED LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE AT 30,000 MILES AND I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT WILL CAUSE REPEATING BALL JOINT FAILURE. NOW I AM INFORMED THERE IS A RECALL OF 2000-2004 MODELS WITH A SIMILAR DEFECT, BECAUSE WHEELS HAVE COME OFF. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COMPREHENSIVELY ADDRESSED TO INCLUDE PRIOR MODEL YEAR PROBLEMS. MOST OF THESE VEHICLES ARE STILL ON THE ROAD ! *AK

1998 DODGE DAKOTA UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. REPORTED BY REPAIR SHOP WHEN ASKED TO PERFORM A FRONT ALLIGNMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT TEY HAVE NEVER SEEN A WORSE CASE OF WORN OUT BALL JOINTS. THEY TOLD ME THAT AN ALLIGNMENT CANNOT BE PERFORMED WITHOUT THE BALL JOINT REPALCEMENT. FRON END IS LOOSE AND MAKES A POPPING SOUND WHEN TURNING. TRUCK HAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000 MILES. NO REPAIR COMPLETED AS YET. I WAS INFORMED BY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT IS LIKELY TO BE INITIATED SOON AND THAT I SHOULD WAIT FOR THE RECALL AND AVOID DRIVING THE TRUCK UNTIL FIXED. *AK

I STARTED TO NOTICE A LOUD POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL WELL ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA SLT CLUB CAB. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO AN INDEPENDANT GARAGE AND WAS TOLD THAT MY BALL JOINTS WERE IN DESPARATE NEED OF REPLACEMENT. I WAS TOLD BY THE ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC THAT THE BALL JOINTS ARE SEALED AND COULD NOT GET THE PROPER LUBRICATION CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE BALL JOINTS COULD HAVE FAILED AT ANY TIME CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FAIL WHICH WOULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I ASKED THE MECHANIC IF THE REPLACEMENT BALL JOINTS WERE GREASABLE. HE TOLD ME YES. I FEEL THAT THE ORIGINAL BALL JOINTS WERE NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER, AND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT WARRANTS A RECALL.

LEFT AND RIGHT BALL JOINTS ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK FAILED WITH ONLY 46,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. I HAD TO REPLACE THEM IN ORDER FOR THE TRUCK TO PASS ITS STATE SAFETY INSPECTION.*AK

THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT COMPLETELY AT 27,000 MILES. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT A CONSISTENT RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT STEERING SUSPESION AREA. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PLAY INSIDE THE BALL JOINT WAS SEVERE. *TC

THERE IS A SQUEAKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT ALL 4 BALL JOINTS NEEDS TO REPLACED DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR.*AK

DISCOVERED UPON VEHICLE INSPECTION; ABNORMAL WEAR TO FRONT TIRES, FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS, UPPER AND LOWER FRONT BALL JOINTS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, A SQUEAKING/POPPING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT BOTH FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

THE VEHICLE HAD TO HAVE BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 29,045MI ON IT. *JB (RIGHT AND LEFT LOWER BALL JOINTS) THERE WAS EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS TO BE WORN WITHIN EXCESS OF THE SPECIFICATIONS AND COULD NOT BE ALIGNED. *SC

I WENT IN TO GET MY TRUCK ALIGNED BECAUSE THE OUTER END OF MY TIRES ARE WOREN. HOWEVER, I WAS INFORMED THAT ALL FOUR OF MY BALL JIONTS WERE WORN OUT AND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH DAKOTAS. I AM LOOKING INTO FIXING THEM BUT IF THEY ARE DEFECTIVE AND WILL BE RECALLED I WOULD LIKE THE MANUFACTURE TO PAY TO HAVE THEM FIXED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, A LOUD POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

FRONT END NOISE. EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR AND FREQUENT FRONT END ALLIGNMENTS. 2 LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILURE REQUIRES REPLACEMENT REPLACEMENT OF FAULTY LOWER BALL JOINTS. *AK

THE RUBBER BOOT ON ALL 4 BALL JOINTS SHREDDED AND ALL OF THE GREASE WAS LOST AND WASHED OUT. *AK *SC *JB

AT 50K MILES THE FRONT END WAS EXTREMELY LOOSE AND STEERING CONTROL WAS BECOMING QUITE DANGEROUS. NO OFF ROAD ACTIVITIES. BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE PRETTY MUCH DESTROYED. AFTER 1300$ TO FIX THE FRONT END FOUND THAT THE STEERING WORM GEAR IS ALSO WORN OUT. STEERING IS STILL DANGEROUS. THE STEERING SHOULD PRETTY MUCH NEVER FAIL AND UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS THE BALL JOINTS SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 100K MILES. *JB

PURCHASE OF USED 98 DAKOTA ON 8/14-04, NOISE IN FRONT END, RETURNED TO USED CAR DEALER, BAD BALL JOINTS, REPLACED BAD PARTS.*AK

BALL JOINTS, FRONT UPPER, AND LOWER WORE OUT, AND WERE VERY LOOSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. *AK

THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN A DISCUSSION WITH THE DEALER REPRESENTATIVE, I WAS TOLD TO RETAIN MY BILL SINCE ALTHOUGH THERE HAD NOT YET BEEN A RECALL, THERE MAY BE ONE IN THE FUTURE. FROM THIS CONVERSATION, IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM AS HAS BEEN INDICATED ON SEVERAL NEWS REPORTS AND NEWSPAPER ARTICLES.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE BALL JOINTS. THE BALL JOINTS CAUSED EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR FROM THE INNER SIDEWALLS. *JB

CONSUMER HEARD A CLICKING NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF CONSUMER STILL COULD HEAR THE CLANKING NOISE. THE BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN RERPAIRED TWICE. *AK

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS DETERIORATING 5-24-2004, 27,675 MILES STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT 6-22-2004. BALL JOINTS, LOWER CONTROL ARM, AND RIGHT WHEEL BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED BY DEALER.*AK STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT FREEHOLD DODGE NJ VERY LOOSE FRONT END, HARD TO CONTROL, BOUNCE. TYPICAL SYMPTOMS OF A FRONT END FALLING APART. DATES ABOVE ARE REPLACEMENT DATES. THIRD MAJOR PROBLEM IS ALL OF THE BOLTS ATTACHING THE CAB ARE DETERIORATED. TAKING TO MY NM DODGE DEALER. CAN NOT EVEN TAKE OFF THE BOTS THEY ARE SO BAD ON THE CAB OF MY TRUCK [XXX] I HAVE BEEN THE OWNER FROM DAY ONE. IN MY PARENTS NAME IN NEW JERSEY FOR INSURANCE RATE REDUCTION. UPDATED 07/24/2012* JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

(1) EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE WERE SIMPLY NORMAL DRIVING. NOTHING SPECIAL OR OUT OF THE ORDINARY WAS DONE OR ATTEMPTED. (2) THE BALL JOINTS ON BOTH OF MY UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAVE FAILED. THE JOINTS WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND ARE PERMANENTLY SEALED SUPPOSEDLY REQUIRING NO MAINTENANCE. HOWEVER THE RUBBER BOOT SURROUNDING THE JOINT FAILED, THUS LEADING TO WATER AND OTHER ROAD GRIT TO ENTER THE JOINT. THUS THE JOINTS DID NOT REMAIN LUBRICATED, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO MECHANICAL FAILURE. (3) DUE TO DODGE NOT SELLING THE INDIVIDUAL BALL JOINTS, I OPTED REPLACED BOTH OF THE ENTIRE FRONT CONTROL ARMS. DUE TO THE COST OF THAT REPAIR I OPTED TO PURCHASE AND INSTALL AFTERMARKET BALL JOINTS FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS RATHER THAN REPLACE THE ENTIRE ARM AS HAD BEEN DONE WITH THE UPPER. THE REPAIR WAS VERY LABOR INTENSIVE; ESPECIALLY ON SOMETHING WHICH SHOULD REQUIRE MINIMAL IF ANY...