1998 DODGE DAKOTA Suspensionfrontcontrol Armupper 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

I WAS ADVISED TODAY THAT MY 1998 DAKOTA IS PLAGUED WITH THE SAME ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE A WHILE. THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ARE GARBAGE AT ABOUT 75,000. FORTUNATELY I DROVE MY WIFE'S CAR BY A STROKE OF LUCK AND THEY GAVE ME A LOT OF NOISE. SO I CAUGHT IT BEFORE A WHEEL FELL OFF. DODGE SHOULD BE RECALLING OR AT LEAST REPLACING FREE OF CHARGE ALL BALL JOINTS THAT FAILED. NOT JUST THE 2000-2003 MODEL NUMBERS.*JB

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

II HAD NOTED A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND AT OTHER TIMES INVOLVING TURNING OR DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR TURNING UP AN INCLINE, ALSO THE STEERING FEEL HAD BECOME VAGUE. DURING MY ANNUAL STATE INSP. THE MECH STATED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES WERE COMPLELY WORN OUT, AND AS SUCH COULD NOT PASS IT WITHOUT REPAIR.

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

ALL 4 BALL JOINTS IN FRONT OF VEHICLE HAVE FAILED. ADVISED TO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE

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

CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW WHY THE BALL JOINT RECALL WAS NOT EXPANDED TO INCLUDE 1998 DODGE DAKOTAS. *BF *NM

DODGE DAKOTA 1998 CONSUMER REPLACED BALL JOINTS. *BF THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS AT 31000 MILES AND BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AT 43000 MILES. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE LACK OF GREASE FITTINGS ON THE ORIGINAL DESIGN CREATED AND EXCESSIVE WEAR PROBLEM. *NM

VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE AND MAKE A CLANKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINT ON THE RIGHT SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL. *AK *BF *NM

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

CONSUMER NOTICED FRONT TIRE ON DAKOTA WAS HAVING ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS DUE TO FRONT BALL JOINTS. *BF THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED

(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

I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END AND A LOW PITCHED GROWL FROMN THE REAR END. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT AT 35,428 MILES THEAT IT NEEDED TWO UPPER BALL JOINTS AND A NEW DIFFERENTIAL (REAR END) . VEHICLE IS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA 4WD.*AK

1998 DODGE/DAKOTA HAS SAME PROBLEM AS 2000-2003. UPPER BALL JOINTS PROBLEMS. CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW WHY ARE YOU EXCLUDING 1998 WHEN THE PROBLEM EXISTED IN THE 1998. *BF

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

DODGE DAKOTA 1998 FRONT END HAS FAILED. CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW WHY THE RECALL INFO DOESN'T INCLUDE THE '98 MODEL YEAR. THE VEHICLES FRONT WHEEL COULD HAVE FALLEN OFF AT ANYTIME BECAUSE THE BALL JOINTS WERE SO BAD. *BF *JB

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. DRIVER NOTICED WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL A CLANKING NOISE WOULD FOLLOW. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

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

UPPER BALL JOINTS PREMATURELY WORN OUT DUE TO LUBRICATION BEING WASHED OUT (SAME PROBLEM AS DETAILED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V596000, BUT MY VEHICLE IS A 1998 MODEL AND THIS CAMPAIGN IS FOR 2000 AND NEWER).*AK

POPPING SOUND WAS COMING FROM LEFT FRONT OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN WITHOUT IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT. HAD SERVICE WORK DONE FOR $1500. CONSIDERING THE PROBLEM IS OBVIOUSLY RELATED TO THE SAME ISSUE THAT SPARKED THE RECALL NOTICE IN LATER MODEL DAKOTAS, I FEEL I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS. *NM

BAD BALL JOINTS ON 1998 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT, VIN [XXX], 41,300 MILES, DISCOVERED AT PA STATE ANNUAL SAFETY INSPECTION.*AK UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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 A 1998 DAKOTA 4X4, MAKING SUSPICIOUS NOISES IN FRONT END. TOOK TO ALIGNMENT SHOP WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT ALL BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS NEEDED REPLACEMENT BADLY, AS , ACCORDING TO SHOP OWNER, THE WEAR WAS SO EXTENSIVE THAT THE TRUCK WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. TRUCK WAS REPAIRED ON 12/01/ 2004. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN AN OFF-ROAD USED VEHICLE, HWY. MILES ONLY. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE SHOP OWNER THAT HE HAS RECENTLY BEEN RECEIVING SAME COMPLAINT AND NEED FOR REPAIR BY AN UNUSUALLY HIGH NUMBER OF DAKOTA AND DURANGO OWNERS. RECALL FOR 2000-2003 VEHICLES AS RELEASED BY THE MEDIA OCCURRED AFTER MY TRUCK WAS REPAIRED.*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

MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA, VIN [XXX]. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, BEGINNING IN THE SECOND YEAR OF OUR LEASE. DURING THE PAST FOUR YEARS, WE HAVE SPENT APPROXIMATELY $9,000 ON VEHICLE REPAIRS INCLUDING A NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW ENGINE, NEW STARTER, NEW WHEEL BARING, NEW BRAKE CALIPER, NEW HEATER CORE AND NEW WATER PUMP. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND ALTERNATOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND TWO O2 SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS BEEN REPAIRED FOUR TIMES. WHILE THESE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN COSTLY AND INCONVENIENT, NONE OF THEM HAS POSED A SAFETY CONCERN PER SE. I AM WRITING NOW TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR MOST RECENT VEHICLE FAILURE WHICH MOST CERTAINLY IS A SAFETY ISSUE. ON NOVEMBER 18, 2004, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN HIS FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BROKE OFF FROM THE AXLE. THE TIRE FELL ON ITS SIDE...

MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 5.2L CLUB CAB TRUCK HAD THE FRONT BALL JOINTS FAIL ON ME. I KNOW THERE IS NOW A RECALL FOR 2000 TO CURRENT MODELS, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE 98? IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE 89000 MILES ON IT CURRENTLY. *JB

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

DURING INSPECTION CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT DRIVER/PASSENGER UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER STATED UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. THE PROTECTIVE COATING BROKE, WHICH ALLOWED DIRT ONTO THE BALL JOINTS. *AK......ALSO, DEALER REPLACED WHEEL BEARING, AND PERFORMED THROTTLE BODY SERVICE. *AK

WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. AS A RESULT, FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF, AND THE FRONT END COLLAPSED. *AK

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

BALL JOINTS HAVE BEGUN TO FAIL..ONLY 64,000 MILES ON VEHICLE...57,000 AT THE TIME PROBLEM STARTED...KNOW THERE IS A RECALLL FOR 2000 AND HIGHER MODELS...BUT FEAR THIS IS A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN KNOWN IN EARLIER MODELS AS WELL....DEALER WILL FIX, BUT NOT PAY, AND HAVE NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THERE IS SUCH AN EARLY FAILURE.....ALSO HAVE NOTICED FROM YOUR SITE THAT THERE WERE OTHER RECALLS....DID NOT KNOW OF THESE...WILL TRY TO HAVE DEALER FIX THESE......AND CHECK ON MY 4 BALL JOINTS.

WHILE MAKING A TURN THE TIRE RUBBED THE WHEEL WELL. *NM THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *TC *JB

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

MY UPPER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED IN MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA AT 56,000 MILES. WHY ARE THE 98 AND 99 DODGE DAKOTA'S NOT BEING COVERED UNDER THE SAME RECALL. THAT IS UN-ACCEPTABLE AS THEY HAVE THE EXACT SAME BALL JOINT IN THEM. *JB

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...

THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO, AND IN SUPPORT OF, THE RECCOMMENDED RECALL OF DODGE DAKOTAS. I HAVE A 1998 DAKOTA AND RECENTLY HAD WORK DONE (JULY '04) ON THE FRONT BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS. AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF POPPING NOISES FROM THE FRONT END WHEN BACKING OUT AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND A DEFINITE FEELING OF LOOSE SUSPENSION ON TURNS I TOOK IT TO THE DODGE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME THE TRUCK WAS NOT DRIVEABLE. THE BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS WERE BOTH FAILING AND I WAS WARNED HAD I CONTINUED DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION I WOULD HAVE HAD A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THIS, AFTER HAVING THE SAME SYMPTOMS, BUT DIFFERENT REPAIRS MADE BY A DIFFERENT DEALER, A YEAR PRIOR. THE VEHICLE HAD ONE PREVIOUS OWNER AND 61,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT IN LATE 2002. I PUT ON MAYBE...