2001 DODGE DAKOTA Suspensionfrontcontrol Armlower Ball Joint Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. HE STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE DISENGAGED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE LOWER BALL JOINTS NOT BEING LUBED. IN ADDITION, THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE RUBBING AGAINST THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS. THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,689 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,471.

I BOUGHT A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 4WD A MONTH AGO. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, TIMING CHAIN, WATER PUMP AND NOW THE TRANSFER CASE HAS GONE BAD. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 55000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE ONLY MADE ONE PAYMENT ON THE TRUCK AND HAVE PAID THE REPAIR SHOP OVER $1500 IN REPAIR COSTS. THEY ONLY TIME THAT I HAVE GOT TO DRIVE THE TRUCK IS TO THE REPAIR SHOP EXCEPT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, A TRUCK WITH LOW MILES LIKE THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT THIS TIME PUT THEY COULDN'T MAKE ANY PROMISES. WE PAID FOR EVERYTHING ELSE TO GET FIXED AND I REFUSE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING ELSE. I PAID $10,000 FOR A TRUCK THAT I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE, I'M ACTUALLY SCARED TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE WHO...

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY ONLY THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON THE 2000-2004 DAKOTAS IS COVERED IN THE RECALL AS THE LOWER BALL JOINT ARE THE SAME DESIGN WHERE THERE IS NO WAY TO GREASE UP THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND IT WOULD LEAD TO THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE UPPER BALL JOINTS? *NM

1. NORMAL DRIVING CIRCUMSTANCES. FRONT END SUSPENSION STARTED MAKING CLUNKING/POPPING NOISES AND STEERING BECAME ERRATIC. TRUCK HAS 85,000 MILES. 2. COULD NOT SAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING WAS TOO RISKY. I ALSO NOTICED WHILE THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS PULLING THE VEHICLE ONTO THE TRUCK THAT THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL WAS LEANING OVER AT ABOUT 30 DEGREE ANGLE. 3. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS HAS BASICALLY RUSTED AND DETERIORATED. LOWER JOINTS WERE ALSO ON THEIR WAY TO FAILURE. ADDITIONAL RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE MODELS WERE RECALLED. WHY WEREN'T THE 2 WHEEL DRIVES. THIS PROBLEM MIRRORS THE ISSUE THAT THEY HAD. *NM

2001 DODGE DAKOTA EXTENDED CAB 4X4. RATTLING IN FRONT END WHEN GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS SUCH AS MAN HOLES AND WASHBOARD. SOUNDS SIMILAR TO A LOOSE HUB CAP. WAS TOLD THE LOWER FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE BAD AND DAIMLER/CHRYSLER HAS A BULLETIN PUBLISHED INTERNALLY ON HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND MAY CAUSE THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF. SOUNDS LIKE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT TO ME THAT THEY SHOULD REPLACE. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HAD TO SWERVE TO MISS AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE LOWER BALL JOIN BROKE AT THIS TIME. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WENT INTO A CREEK. THE INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE WERE STILL BEING DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING INSPECTED. *AK

DT: CONSUMER OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE UPPER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 31,915 MILES. THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AT 37,556 MILES. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. HE DID NOT NOTICE IF THERE WAS ANY PLAY IN THE STEERING UNTIL THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. SINCE THE REPLACEMENT IT HAS A TIGHTER STEERING CONTROL. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE UPPER BALL JOINTS, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON THE LOWER BALL JOINTS. *AK *MR *JB

APPROX. 2 MONTHS AGO I HAD UPPER BALLS JOINTS REPLACED UNDER RECALL, THE DEALSHIP NOTED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND TIERODS WERE WORN AS WELL, WAS QUTOED APPROX. $700.00 TO BE FIXED. TODAY MY DAIUGHTER WAS STARTING TO PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WITH HER 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, THE TIEROD FELL OUT OF PLACE CAUSING THE TRUCK TO STOP. LUCKLY MY DAUGHTER WASN'T DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT ON A VERY BUSY STREET!!! I WANT TO KNOW WHY THERE IS A RECALL ON THE UPPER BALL JOINTS BUT NOT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND TIERODS, IT IS A FACT THAT THERE ARE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THESE PARTS, ARE THEY WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO BE KILLED BECAUSE OF THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS?? THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME I PURCHASE A CHRYSLER PRODUCT IF THESE MATTERS ARE NOT DEALT...

THE CONSUMER STATED THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS LOOSE AND THE WHEELS COULD ACTUALLY FALL OFF.

WHEN I RECENTLY TOOK MY 1991 DODGE DAKOTA IN TO HAVE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS REPLACED, I WAS TOLD THE LOWER ONES WERE SHOT, ALSO. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 36,000 MILES ON IT. I ONLY DRIVE ON THE ROAD AND NEVER OVERLOAD MY TRUCK. WHY WOULD THE UPPER BALL JOINTS BE RECALLED AND NOT THE LOWER? THIS CONTINUES TO BE AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.*AK

REPAIRS TO THE UPPER BALL JOINT WAS COMPLETED BY THE CONSUMER PRIOR TO RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER WISHED TO HAVE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS REPAIRED SINCE THEY WERE DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY MANUFACTURER AND DEALER THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V596000 CONCERNING BALL JOINT WEAR. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS WAITING FOR AWHILE AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT UPPER BALL JOINT/TIE RODS WERER WORN OUT. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR A SAFETY INSPECTION. HE WAS THEN INFORMED THE BALL JOINTS WERE WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V596000; DAIMLER CHRYSLER ISSUED AN UPPER BALL JOINT RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT WHEN TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR, RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL.*AK ALSO, INNER TIE ROD WORE OUT, FAILED STATE INSPECTION DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. SIDETO SIDE PLAY IN TIRE WHEN JOCKE DUP. DEALERSHIP STATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. *AK

2001 DODGE DAKOTA WAS RECALLED TO REPLACE UPPER BALL JOINTS. DURING REPAIR LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE ALSO FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THEM TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE OF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS COULD ALSO LEAD TO THE FAILURE OF THE LOWER, AND THIS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 - RECALLED WITH CAMPAIGN ID #4V596000. WHILE THE GARAGE HAD MY PICKUP APART THEY CALLED AND SAID MY LOWER BALL JOINT HAD "EXCESSIVE WEAR" -QUOTED $440 TO REPAIR. AT 38000 MILES AND TO HAVE EXCESSIVE WEAR ON LOWER BALL JOINTS IS A PRODUCT DEFECT. I DECLIINED TO HAVE THEN REPAIR DUE TO EXTREME COST WHILE THE TRUCK WAS APART TO REPAIR THE UPPER BALL JOINTS.*AK

RECALL 04V596000 CONCERNING BALL JOINT WEAR: CONSUMER RECEIVED THIS RECALL NOTICE, AND CONTACTED HIS LOCAL DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT NO PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE UNTIL MARCH 2005.*AK

THE CONSUMER STATES THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH FRONT BALL JOINT PUNCTURED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THIS FORCED THE VEHICLE INTO A DITCH. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER OF THE BALL JOINT FAILURE AND REPAIRED IT. *AK

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAVE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL. IT WAS ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE HAD 40,000 MILES ON IT. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB WAS SERVICED ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR CLUNKING IN THE FRONT END WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS AND DURING TURNS. SEVERAL PARTS WERE REPLACED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY BUT DEALERSHIP INSISTED THAT BALL JOINTS AND CV JOINTS WERE FINE. THEY ALSO STATED THAT NO OTHER COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN FILED AND THAT THERE WAS NOT A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM BECAME APPARENT WITHIN THE FIRST 17,000 MILES AND CONTINUES TO PERSIST.*AK

MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 2WD HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT AND ALREADY NEEDS 3 BALL JOINTS REPLACED.*AK

DODGE DAKOTA BALL JOINT PROBLEM. I HAVE ONCE HAD THEM REPLACED AT 30,000 MILES DUE TO AN AWFUL SOUND. THE SOUND IS BACK, THIS IS A PROBLEM DODGE SHOULD BE DEALING WITH. AFTER RESEARCH IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT DODGE DOES NOT WISH TO DEAL WITH, AND THERE HAS BE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS TO WHICH I WANT NO PART OF. I'M GUESSING AT THE DATE OF THE FIRST PROBLEM ON THIS SURVEY.*AK

I JUST REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS ON MY 2001 DAKOTA. THEY WERE VERY LOOSE AND HAD ALOT OF "PLAY". I'M LUCKY I GOT MINE REPAIRED BEFORE IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT LIKE OTHERS I'VE RECENTLY HEARD ABOUT. I'VE ALSO REPLACED THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT, REAR U-JOINTS AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL ALL WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT ALL THIS IS RELATED. I'M PROBABLY UP OVER $3,000 IN REPAIRS FOR THESE THINGS.*AK

2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4, VIN NO. [XXX] - FAILURE OF THE FRONT BALL JOINT AND THE TIE ROD END THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT MY COST AND WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE THE OTHER SIDE NEXT YEAR ACCOURDING TO THE DEALER THAT REPLACED THE THE BALL JOINT.. THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK HAS BEEN MAKING NOISE FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT THE TRUCK WITH 59 MILES FOR THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS BECUASE OF THE GREASELESS BALL JOINT AND THE ONLY WAY TO HAVE IT . *AK UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

TIRES ON THE FRONT END OF MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 4WD 3.9L V6 WERE WEARING REALLY UNEVENLY. COME TO FIND OUT THAT I HAD ONE UPPER AND ONE LOWER BALL JOINT ON OPPOSING SIDES THAT WENT BAD. MY TRUCK ONLY HAD 40,000 MILES ON IT AND THEY WERE ALL HIGHWAY. BOTH BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND WAS DONE IN DECEMBER 2003. IT WORE OUT TWO BRAND NEW TIRES.*AK

FRONT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK THE FAULTY BALL JOINTS CAUSED ABNORMAL WEAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *NM

THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA EXTENDED CAB 4X4 PICKUP HAVE HAD MASSIVE DETERIORATION WITH ONLY 17,500 MILES ON THEM. THEY CAUSE TREMENDOUS STEERING AND TRACKING PROBLEMS, AND HAVE CAUSED ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF SAFETY CONCERNS. BECAUSE THESE CANNOT BE LUBRICATED OR ADJUSTED, THEY MUST BE REPLACED. I WILL EITHER DO THESE REPAIRS MYSELF IN THE NEAR FUTURE OR HAVE THEN DONE AT A QUALIFIED GARAGE, BUT I WILL SAVE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING EXCESSIVE WITH THE VEHICLE SUCH AS OFF-ROADING, TRAILERING, HEAVY LOADS, OR ANY "NON-STANDARD" USE. ALL EQUIPMENT (TIRES INCLUDED) ON THE TRUCK IS FACTORY, I.E. NO AFTERMARKET MODIFICATIONS THAT WOULD CAUSE NON-STANDARD LOADS OR STRESSES. THIS TYPE OF PREMATURE FAILING AT ONLY 17,500 MILES IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, AND FROM MY RESEARCH I UNDERSTAND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE YEAR...

BALL JOINTS MAKE LOUD METALLIC NOISE, WEAR TIRES QUICKLY, REQUIRING EXCESSIVE ALIGNMENT/BALANCING. *JB

I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW IN 2001. I COMPLAINED ABOUT CLUNKING NOISES COMING FROM THE WHEEL AREA WHEN I MADE TURNS. SLOW AND USUALLY AT INTERSECTIONS. NOW IT IS MORE ADVANCED AND NOISY ON BUMPS.*AK

UPPER AND LOWER BALL WENT BAD AFTER ONLY 40,000 MILES.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY DODGE HAS NOT RECALLED THE DODGE DAKOTAS FOR DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS AND DISC ROTORS. I HAVE SCANNED THE INTERNET AND FOUND A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS I. MY 2001 DAKOTA WAS PURCHASED IN DECEMBER. OF 01 AND HAS 44,000 MILES . I AM 54 YEARS OLD AND THIS WAS MY FIRST NEW VEHICLE. UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS A DODGE. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER DODGE PRODUCT,AND IF ASKED MY OPINION WILL NOT RECOMMEND DODGE TO ANYONE !!!!!!!!! PLEASE SEND THIS TO THE DODGE CORP.*AK

THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONSUMER THOUGHT THAT THE BRAKES WERE BAD WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS NOT THE BRAKES BUT THE BALL JOINTS HAD FAILED. THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED AND HAD TO COME OUT OF POCKET TO DO SO. *JB

DRIVER SIDE FRONT OF P/U STARTED 'KNOCKING' WHEN TRAVERSING BUMPS OR MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS AT 12000. PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE BEGAN TO FEATHER AT 30000. AT 37775 WITH NEW SHOCKS AND TIRES, ALLIGNMENT WAS NEEDED TO CORRECT PULLING TO THE RIGHT. WAS DISCOVERED THAT LOWER PASSENGER AND UPPER DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINTS WERE "HORRIBLY SHOT. *AK

WHEEL AND ASSEMBLY CAME OFF WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. CV JOINT, BALL JOINTS, BRAKE REMOVED.*AK

WITHIN SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES OF OWNERSHIP VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HEAVY VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT. SEVERAL PARTS WERE REPLACED, EXCEPT THE ORIGINAL BALL JOINTS. VEHICLE WAS BACK AT DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO CHANGE IN CONDITION OR REPLACEMENT OF THE ORIGINAL BALL JOINTS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE INNER TIE ROD END CAME OUT OF THE SOCKET AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE TURNED TO THE LEFT. THIS RESULTED IN VEHICLE CRASHING INTO A CONCRETE PHYLUM. THE INNER TIE ROD , FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT, FENDER, BUMPER, BLINKER AND RIM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO WHEN MAKING A SHARP RIGHT TURN DRIVER'S SIDE INSIDE RIM WAS RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT WILLING TO REPLACE ANY COMPONENT UNTIL THEY WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE.*AK

WEBMASTER FOIA REQUEST ALL COMPLAINT/NOTICES/DOCUMENTS OR WARNING BETWEEN NHTSA ND DAIMLER CHRYSLER RE: PROBLEMS MALFUNCTION, FAILURES OF THE UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK FOR MY 2001. (NAR) *PH *CB *JB

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 20,000 MILES. KNOWN ISSUE ON DODGE DURANGOS THAT SHARE THE SAME SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. BALL JOINTS ARE THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE WHEELS IN LINE AND FAILURE COULD RESULT IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT. *NM

BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED AFTER 29,000 MILES. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE COMPLAINING OF THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM AND DID NOT FIX IT. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO ANOTHER MECHANIC HE DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A BALL JOINT ISSUE. THE VEHICAL IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTEE, AND I AM AFFAID THAT THE DEALERSHIP IS GOING TO ASK ME TO PAY FOR THE FIX. I AM WAITING FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO CONTACT ME. *AK

LOCAL DODGE DEALER SERVICE DEPT INFORMED ME TODAY THAT MOST LIKELY BALL JOINTS ON MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA PROBALLY NEED TO BE REPLACED. WITH LESS THAN 30000 MILES THIS IS UNBELIEVEABLE. JWK

I TOOK MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB TO A DEALER TO CHECK A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE. THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WEARING DOWN AND THAT I COULD LOOSE THE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. MY COMPLAINT IS BASED ON THE FACT THAT ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED ON A VEHICLE UNTIL AT LEAST 100,000 MILES. FROM MY RESEARCH THIS IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS CORRECTION IN THESE MODELS. *JB

FRONT END FELT LOOSE AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT AND MUST BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25 AND 30 MPH, CONSUMER HEARD NOISE COMING THROUGH THE FRONT END. DEALERSHIP REPLACED DRIVER SIDE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK

I OWN A 2001 DODGE 4X4 4.7L QC DAKOTA. MY MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THE POPPING SOUND IN THE FRONT END IS DUE TO WEAR ON THE BALL JOINTS AND BUSHINGS BEING LOOSE. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 41000MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.*AK ADD MY COMPLAINT TO YOUR GROWING LIST OF UNSATISFIED OWNERS.

PREMATURE WEAR OF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4 VIN: [XXX]. BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED BEFORE SEPARATION FAILURE OCCURRED.*AK DILIGENCE BY THE OWNER IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AND ENSURED REPLACEMENT THEREBY PREVENTING THE POSSIBILITY OF DANGER TO OTHERS. LOWER CONTROL ARM (BALL JOINT) REPLACED [XXX] QTY 2. SEPT 20, 2002 UPPER CONTROL ARM (BALL JOINT) REPLACED - LEFT [XXX] QTY 1. MAR 13, 2003 [XXX] UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE IN THE FRONT END. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A PROBLEM WITH THE BALL JOINTS. CONSUMER REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 55,000 MILES. CURRENTLY, HE WAS ABOUT TO PUT ON A NEW SET OF BALL JOINTS. *AK

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS DEFECTIVE AND WORN AFTER 60,000 MILES. BALL JOINTS REPLACED BY 3RD PARTY AUTOSHOP FOR LESS THAN 1/3 OF QUOTED PRICE FROM DEALER. *AK

AT ANY SPEED WHEN VEHICLE HITS A BUMP A RATTLING SOUND IS HEARD IN THE FRONT END. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE SUSPENSION. *AK