2002 DODGE DAKOTA Suspensionfrontcontrol Armupper Ball Joint Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE HAVING THE TIRES CHANGED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED AT THE UPPER BALL BEARING JOINTS AS THE VEHICLE WAS LOWERED WITH THE NEW TIRES INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE FRONT SUSPENSION REPLACED BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 39,500.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT WOULD SPORADICALLY HEAR A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE ALIGNMENT AND TIRE ROTATION. UPON INSPECTION, A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD SEVERE WEAR AND MOVEMENT, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE RUBBER GROMMETS SUPPORTING THE TIE RODS FAILED AND CREATED A METAL TO METAL CONDITION, WHICH CREATED A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE COMPONENTS HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AS WELL. UPDATED 09/16/08. *JB

2002 DODGE DAKOTA UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE. IT SEEMS THAT THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #04V596000 ONLY COVERED FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4X4) VEHICLES BUT THE SAME PROBLEM EXIST ON TWO-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES ALSO. MY VEHICLE HAS 84,000 MILES AND BOTH BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACING. THE REPLACEMENT PART IS THE SAME ON BOTH TWO OR FOUR WHEEL DRIVES. *TR

THE BALL JOINTS ON THE DAKOTA SERIES P/U ARE A CHRONIC PROBLEM. I BOUGHT AN '02 DAKOTA 4X4 WITH 70K AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED NOISE AND A LOOSE FEELING FROM THE FRONT END. I VERIFIED THE BALL JOINT RECALL HAD BEEN COMPLETED. WHEN I WENT TO HAVE IT ALIGNED, I LEARNED THAT ALL FOUR OF MY BALL JOINTS ARE BAD, INCLUDING THE TOP TWO THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED ALREADY. WHILE RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I CAME ACROSS THIS SITE, HTTP://WWW.DODGEDAKOTAS.COM/BOARDS/DEA/140-1.HTML, WHICH IS A DAKOTA FORUM, WITH NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS EXACTLY THE SAME AS MINE. DODGE NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS FAILURE TO USE QUALITY COMPONENTS. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT BE SPENDING $600 EVERY YEAR TO KEEP THEIR VEHICLES ALIGNED ON THE ROAD. *NM

UPPER BALL JOINTS WORN OUT AT 52,00 MILES. WENT FOR TIRE CHANGE AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND FOUND PROBLEM. HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT DID NOT COVER. AM WAITING FOR PART AT THE COST OF ABOUT $600.00 TO REPLACE. *NM

2002 DODGE DAKOTA STARTING MAKING CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING. HAD RECEIVED RECALL LETTER FOR UPPER BALL JOINTS. UPON BRINGING TO DEALER, WAS TOLD BOTH LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. SEEMS LIKE THIS IS COMMON BASED ON WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE. WE HAVE ALSO HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND GOODYEAR TIRES SPLIT. ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS ARE POSTED ON THIS WEBSITE. 99.9% WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE. WE NOW HAVE 2. PREVIOUS SERVICE DEPARTMENT INTERACTIONS STOPPED ME FROM BUYING A DODGE IN JUNE OF 2005 SO I PURCHASED A NISSAN. *JB

THOUGHT I WOULD "BUY AMERICAN" AND GET THE DODGE DAKOTA 4 DR CREW. LOVE ITS STYLE, COMFORTS, MORE POWER THAN I NEED (4.7L V8) 2WD HAS NO TRACTION IN SNOW OR ICE. VERY EASY TO DRIVE AND COMFORTABLE 6FT.2 220LBS.(2 TRIPS NJ TO CALIF.) GAS MILEAGE STINKS...13-18MPG, NO LOADS. BRAKE ROTORS REPLACED 28K, LEFT TOP BALL JOINT WORN (NO RECALL YET)A/C NEEDED CHARGING, RIGHT FRONT HUB AND BEARINGS REPLACED 49K, REAR LEAF SPRING NOISY, TRANSMISSION HESITATION OCCASIONALLY. GREAT TRUCK TO DRIVE AND HAUL BUT RELIABILITY REALLY IN QUESTION WITH ONLY 49K. PROBABLY BACK TO NISSAN OR TOYOTA.

2002 DODGE DAKOTA RECALL.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR CONSUMER RECEIVE WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR UPPER BALL JOINTS. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW WHY THE 2WDS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. *TT *NM

DAIMLERCHRYSLER MOTOR CORPORATION P.O. BOX 21-8004 AUBURN HILLS, MI 48321-8004 ATTENTION: QUALITY ASSURANCE MY DODGE PRESENTLY HAS 49,200 MILES. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED AT RECOMMENDED AND REQUIRED INTERVALS AT MANAHAWKIN DODGE APPROXIMATELY EVERY 3,000 MILES. EARLY INTO MY OWNERSHIP I HAD INTERMITTENT TROUBLE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THEY TRIED TO ASSESS THE PROBLEM. THEY DID A RECHARGE OF THE SYSTEM AND CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD AT 28998 MILES THAT THE "PULSING" WHEN MY BRAKES WERE APPLIED WAS DUE TO "HOT SPOTS" ON MY FRONT ROTORS. WHEN I INQUIRED AS TO HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN TO A RELATIVELY NEW TRUCK THAT IS USED AS A PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE I WAS TOLD THEY REALLY "DID NOT KNOW BUT HAVE HAD TO REPLACE OTHERS." IT IS NOTED THAT I NEVER HAD TO REPLACE ROTORS ON MY PREVIOUS NISSANS. THAT ENDED UP COSTING ME $393. I BEGAN HEARING A NOISE IN...

MECHANIC DETECTED FAILING BALL JOINT, FRONT RIGHT I WAS INFORMED CONDITION COULD FAIL, AND VEHICLE COULD BE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE HAD MECHANIC REPAIR DEFETIVE BALL JOINT. CHRYSLER REFUSED WARENTEE, AS THEIR DEALERSHIP DID NOT REPAIR DEFECT.

CONSUMER RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE D47 FOR UPPER BALL JOINTS .*AK THE DEALER HAD THE PARTS BUT REFUSED TO DO THE WORK STATING THEY COULD ONLY DO 1 OR 2 REPAIRS A DAY AND WERE BOOKED UNTIL END OF JUNE. *BF *NM

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT END COLLAPSED, OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS HOME. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, AND CONSUMER STATED HE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR TWO MONTHS FOR REPAIR. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 04V596000 CONCERNING UPPER BALL JOINTS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH SUDDENLY THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STRIKE THE GROUND. VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE. THE POLICE ARRIVED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE CONSUMER MADE CONTACT WITH HIS INSURANCE COMPANY. IT WAS DISCOVERED LATER THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. CURRENTLY, THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOT FILING THE CONSUMER'S CLAIM. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO SENT AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER HEARD NOTHING FROM THE MANUFACTURER SINCE THEN. *AK

RECALL CAMPAIG 04V596000 WAS RECEIVED FOR THE UPPER BALL JOINT WEAR. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR THE REPAIRS, AND DISCOVERED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE ALSO DEFECTIVE. *AK

THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE'S FRONT BALL JOINTS ARE LOOSE. *NM *JB

THE RECALL FOR THE UPPER BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN ISSUED, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATES THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITING SINCE DECEMBER. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

RE 2002 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK THAT MAKES A NOISE IN THE FRONT BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS. CONSUMER INQUIRING WHY SHE HAVE NOT REC'D A RECALL LETTER. *BF *NM

RECALL CAMPAIGN#04V596000: THE VEHICLE'S BALL JOINTS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. *NM THE BALL JOINTS HAD WORN OUT. THE CONSUMER REQESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC *JB

THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE SCOPE OF THE BALL JOINT RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED. THE BALL JOINTS ON THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FAILED YET THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE CONSUMERS 100K MILES LIMITED WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION ALSO FAILED. *BF *NM *SC THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION STALLS AND GETS STUCK IN LOW GEAR WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD. *TC

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V596000; DAIMLER CHRYSLER ISSUED AN UPPER BALL JOINT RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THERE WERE NO AVAILABLE PARTS IN ORDER TO DO RECALL REPAIRS. THIS WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE WHEELS COULD FALL OFF.*AK

NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR RECALL D47 CONCERNING BALL JOINTS. *AK AS OF 2/20/05 THE DEALER STILL HAD NO PARTS AND WAS UNABLE TO TELL THE CONSUMER WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. *NM

RECALL CAMPAIGN: 2002 DODGE DAKOTA HAVE UPPER BALL JOINTS PROBLEMS. REPLACED UPPER BALL JOINTS. *BF RECALL CAMPAIGN; THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE TO HAVE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE TIE ROD REPLACEMENT AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT WOULD NOT BE COVERED. *TC THE CONSUMER HAD THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. *JB

RECALL CAMPAIGN: 2002 DODGE DAKOTA HAVE UPPER BALL JOINTS PROBLEMS. *BF RECALL CAMPAIGN: THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL ON HIS VEHICLE DEALING WITH THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD BUT NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INFORMATION ON WHY ONLY TO REPLACE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS IF THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE STILL BAD AND WHAT RECOURSE HE HAS OTHER THAN CONTACTING CHRYSLER. *TC

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V596000 CONCERNING FRONT BALL JOINTS. THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THERE WERE NO APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE UNTIL MAY, WHICH COULD BE DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE WHEELS COULD FALL OFF.*AK

RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V596000 CONCERNING BALL JOINT WEAR. OWNER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER IN JANUARY 4, 2005. OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE, AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION AS TO WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE. ALSO, CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY TOO WERE UNABLE TO GIVE A DARE AS TO WHEN PARTS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SWAYS FROM SIDE TO SIDE. *TC

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V596000; DAIMLER CHRYLSER ISSUED AN UPPER BALL JOINT RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THERE WERE NO AVAILABLE APPOINTMENTS UNTIL MAY, WHICH COULD BE DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE WHEELS CAN FALL OFF. *JB. CONSUMER STATED NO AVAILABLE APPOINTMENTS UNTIL MAY WAS RIDICULOUS SINCE THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

NHTSA RECALL 04V596000 ON THE BALL JOINT WEAR. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE NEXT AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT IS ON MAY 26, 2005. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

CONSUMER COULD HEAR A CLICKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *JB

RECALL 04V596000 CONCERNING BALL JOINT WEAR. CONSUMER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE RECALL ON BALL JOINT WEAR. CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THERE IS NO DATE OF EXPECTATION EITHER. *AK......*AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT UPPER BALL JOINTS PROBLEM. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER INSPECTED IT, GAVE IT A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, AND THEN SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. CURRENTLY, MANUFACTURER IS RECALLING THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE IS A TWO WHEEL DRIVE. *AK

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V596000; DAIMLER CHRYSLER ISSUED AN UPPER BALL JOINT RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THERE WERE NO APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE UNTIL LATE MARCH 2005. *AK

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR THE UPPER BALL JOINT RECALL. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT AS WELL, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MANUFACTURER STATED NO RECALL.*AK RECALL CAMPAIGN; NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V596000 DEALING WITH UPPER BALL JOINTS. THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WITH THE SAME DEFECT. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V216000; DEALING WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS SERVICED AND HAD AT LEAST ONE FAILURE SINCE THE REPAIR. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 03V389000 DEALING WITH THE DASH WIRING HARNESS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. *TC

VEHICLE IS 2002 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT PLUS QUAD CAB 4X4, WITH 58,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BRAKE REPAIR SHOP FOR ROTOR / DRUM RESURFACING, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BALL JOINTS IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE HAVE WORN OUT, ARE LOOSE, AND NEED TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST IN EXCESS OF $850. I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS YET, BUT WILL HAVE TO SOON. I FEEL THE BALL JOINTS SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER THAN 58,000 MILES.*AK

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AFTER 2,000 MILES OF OWNERSHIP. THIS WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION. THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, STATING IT WAS A WEAR ITEM. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT AND FIXED BEFORE OFFERING THE VEHICLE FOR SALE, BUT THEY CLAIM OTHERWISE. I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE BOTH SETS OF BALL JOINTS ON MY OWN. SINCE THEN, DC HAS RECALLED THE UPPER JOINTS. THE UPPER JOINTS CREATED A SITUATION CAUSING THE LOWER JOINTS TO FAIL ALSO AND SHOULD BE COVERED IN THEIR RECALL. THEY ALSO DO NOT SPECIFY COVERING THE ALIGNMENT NEEDED AFTER JOINTS ARE REPLACED. THE RECALL SHOULD BE REISSUED COVERING UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ALONG WITH ALIGNMENT TO REMEDY THE SITUATION IN THIS RECALL FAILURE. *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04V596000 CONCERNING BALL JOINT WEAR. DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PURCHASED AT THAT PARTICULAR DEALERSHIP. *AK

FRONT END OF TRUCK WOULD MAKE NOISE WHEN HITTING BUMPS THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY. OTH BALL JOINTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WERE DEFECTIVE. THE UPPER HAD NEARLY 1/4" OF UP AND DOWN TRAVEL AND THE BOTTOM WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN. IT IS AMAZING THAT THE WHEEL DIDN'T FALL OFF COMPLETELY. REPLACED BOTH PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINTS. HAD TO PURCHASE THEM FROM AN AFTERMARKET VENDOR DO TO CHRYSLER HAVING THEM ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. THE ONLY PART THAT THEY HAD AVAILABLE WAS A COMPLETE A ARM ASSEMBLY AT A PRICE OF $250 EACH VERSUS THE $50 FOR THE BALL JOINT ITSELF. I FIND IT SOMEWHAT STRANGE THAT 2WD VERSIONS OF THE DAKOTA AND DURANGO ARE NOT BEING COVERED UNDER THE RECENTLY ANNOUNCE RECALL. HAVING MANAGED AUTO PARTS STORES FOR SEVERAL YEARS, ARE CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS AND SALES ARE JUST AS HIGH ON THE 2WD PARTS AS THE 4WD.*AK

I HAVE A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA 2WD TRUCK. I HAVE JUST BEEN REJECTED A VIRGINIA INSPECTION BECAUSE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS IN MY TRUCK ARE ABOUT TO COME OUT. THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE 2WDS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IF THE DAKOTAS ARE MADE WITH THE SAME PARTS FOR THE SAME PLACE. ISN'T IT LIKELY THAT ALL THE PARTS ARE FAULTY. NOW I HAVE A TRUCK THAT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION AND A $400.00 PROBLEM TO FIX ON A TRUCK THAT ONLY HAS 40K MILES.*AK

TOLD BY FOUR PEOPLE AT WORK THAT THEY HAD PROBLEM WITH THERE BALL JOINT AND HAD TO REPLACE THEM ON DODGE DAKOTAS TRUCK, ASK DODGE DEALER THEY SAID THEY GO BAD BECAUSE OF MICHIGAN ROADS, I ASK HIM WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER 49 STATES. *JB

SIR, I READ ABOUT DODGE DAKOTA HAS UPPER JOINT PLM. GATES(CHRYSLER) SAYS, THEY CAN HEAR NOISE FROM JOINT BUT U FORGET ABOUT DEAF PEOPLE HAVE OWN TOO. I AM DEAF AND MY TRUCK IS 2002 4X4 DODGE DAKOTA. THEY SHOULD CONCERNS ABOUT DEAF PEOPLE TOO. PLEASE INFORM ME SOON BEFORE HAPPENS ANYTIME!!! THANKS. *AK

1. PREPARING TO DRIVE FROM CALIFORNIA TO NORTH CAROLINA IB 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 2WD. HAVING TIRES REPLACED AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT. FRONT END BALL JOINT AND ASSY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXTREME WEAR. MECHANIC STATED I WAS LUCKY THE WHEELS DIDN'T FALL OFF. HAD FRONT END BALL ASSY REPLACED.*AK

THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MAKING TURNS, CAUSING THE SUSPENSION TO BECOME LOOSE AND MAINTAIN PROPER CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR FRONT BALL JOINT REPAIRS FOR THE FOURTH TIME.*AK

THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WENT INTO THE MEDIAN AND STOPPED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE, AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK

I BROUGHT MY DODGE TRUCK (2002) REG. CAB (NO 4X4) TO THE DEALER BACK IN 01/30/2003 I HAD 6470 MILES ON IT. I COMPLAINED ABOUT A THUMPING NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WHEN I GO OVER A BUMP. PRYER TO THIS WHEN I WAS GETTING AN INSPECTION A WEEK EARLIER THEY TOLD ME MY BALL JOINT WAS BAD. WHEN THE DEALER TOOK IT IN THEY SAID THAT THE BALL JOINT PLAY WAS WITHIN SPECIFICATION AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. TO THIS DAY I STILL HAVE THE SAME THUMPING NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE/BALL JOINT. I AM VERY WORRIED THAT THIS IS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM ALL ALONG AND HAS BEEN COVERED UP. WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW. *AK

HAD TO HAVE THE BALLJOINTS REPLACED AT LESS THAN 50'000 MILES.*AK

THERE HAS BEEN NO FAILURE OF MY FRONT END YET, HOWEVER I HAVE NOTICED A RATTLE IN THE FRONT. I HAVE NOT NOTIFIED MY DEALER YET. I DONT BELIEVE THE BALL JOINTS ARE UNDER WARRANTY. JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN.*AK

I NOTICED LOUD CRACKING-POPPING NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN TURNING OR TRAVELING OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE NOISES FROM THE SUSPENSION. THEY CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND SAID THAT I WAS IN DANGER OF LOSING A WHEEL IF I HIT A POT HOLE. THEY WANTED OVER $1000.00 TO REPLACE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. I DECLINED. I REPLACED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS MYSELF. I KNOW I WAS OVER THE 36000 MI. WARRANTY. I THOUGHT IT WAS AN EXCESSIVE AMMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPLACE 2 BALL JOINTS THAT COST $50.00 EACH. I DID NOT KEEP THE OLD PARTS. ONE OF THE BALL JOINTS FELL APART AS I WAS REMOVING IT.*AK

RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM FAILED WHICH CAUSED KNOCKING IN THE FRONT END. *PH *NM

I PURCHASED MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUADCAB 4X4 NEW FROM THE DEALER. AND AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES I NOTICE SUSPENSION NOISE FROM THE FRONT. IT WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST THEN AS I APPROACHED 50,000 MILES THE NOISE BECAME A METALLIC CHATTER AT ALL TIMES. I HAD THE PARTS REPLACED BY A LOCAL SHOP AFTER THE DEALER FAILED TO HONOR MY APPOINTMENT TIMES. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE OUT AND THAT THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO COMMENTED THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN A BALL JOINT WEAR OUT IN JUST 50,000 MILES. HE GAVE ME THE OLD PARTS SHOWED THE PLAY IN THE JOINT AND THE ABSENCE OF GREASE IN THE BOOT. HE CLAIMED THAT THE DESIGN MUST BE DEFECTIVE TO WEAR OUT THAT EARLY AND COMPLETELY. I USE THE CAR FOR WORK AND LOSE MONEY WHEN IT IS NOT OPERATIVE. MY MAIN CONCERN WAS SAFETY...

I OWN A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA AND HAD TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED AT 24,000 MILES AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS COMMON. MY HOPE IS THAT YOU WOULD INVESTIGATE THIS AND FORCE CHRYSLER TO DO A RE-CALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. *AK

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GET THE FRONT END ALIGNED ON MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA IT WAS DISCOVERED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED AND SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. THE MECHANICE STATES IT IS A DEFECT OF THE PARTS. *AK