This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
While rotating tires right front tire fell off with the lug nuts still in place. This occurred after consumer jacked the vehicle up. Ball joints split down the middle. Prior to this incident, front end would bounce upon coming to a complete stop. 2000 Dodge Dakota passenger front tire fell off of vehicle during wheel rotation. The result of this occurence was due to the ball joints being spilt down the middle. The regular method of checking the ball joints did not reveal a defect.
My 2000 Dodge Dakota R/T has just under 50,000 miles and was diagnosed with faulty upper ball joints. Along with a slew of front suspension components including tie rods, sway bars, and lower control arms.
My wife's 2000 Dodge Dakota 4X4... failed Pennsylvania state safety inspection at 37,000 because of worn upper ball joints. Estimated repair cost $275. It's absurd that this important safety item wore out before the original equipment tires and Dodge is demanding full price to correct an obvious manufacturing safety defect.
When having new tires put on my 2000 Dodge Dakota, they advised me that the eft front tie rod was loose. I contacted the dealer and got an appointment to have it looked at. They looked at it and said the tie rod was loose as well as the upper and lower ball joints. They said the ball joints were on national back order due to problems with other Dodge models (durango). They would contact me when the parts came in. They called yesterday (11-18-03). I have an appointment for next Tuesday, 11-25-03, to have it fixed. I have the extended warranty on my truck, and I only have 47,000+ miles on it. The warranty will pay for all but the $100 deductible and the $49.95 for the subsequent alignment that will be necessary. With all of the similar problems you have had with the Dakotas, durangos, Jeep, etc. I feel like this should be a recall issue and that I should not have to pay for any of it. My husband says suspension problems like this shouldn't occur in vehicles with this low mileage. I do not use this vehicle hard. It does not pull anything, and it does not carry heavy loads. I am the only owner.
When driving over bumps steering wheel vibrated, making it difficult to control the vehicle. Consumer took vehicle to dealer to be inspected, and mechanic informed consumer that the upper ball joints were wearing prematurely.
The right front upper ball joint broke then the front axle broke and caused the wheel to fall off. Causing my husband to lose control of the vehicle and ending up in a 10-12 ft deep ditch with water.
Upper balljoints on my 2000 Dodge Dakota were badly worn out and took it to kirkwood Dodge several times and they did not fix it. Then took it to newark Dodge and they found the problem and fixed it but my warranty had expired so I had to pay full price. I was lucky that nothing bad happened while driving but still the danger was there. I want Chrysler to reimburse me for the car rental and the cost of the work that got done to my truck.
When making a right hand turn the consumer could hear a rattling noise in the front end. The dealer indicated that the ball joints were loose. The dealer replaced the left and right ball joints to correct the problem.
2000 Dodge Dakota, bought with 27,200 miles, ball joints progressively gotten worse in two years time and unable to replace parts vehicle now has 74,000 miles a vehicle this young should not have this type of problems.
While driving at low speeds there was a loud thumping noise coming from the front. Mechanic informed the consumer that it was due to front ball joint failure. Front alignment suddenly went out of whack. Vehicle was 6 months out of warranty. The dealership denied there was anything wrong with the upper ball joints. After filing a complaint with the consumer protection Agency, Dodge recommended and refunded the repair cost.
While traveling at 20 mph driver began to hear clicking noise coming from steering wheel. Steering wheel had a lot loose control, and the front right wheel was turning, but the left front wheel buckled under vehicle. Tires were wearing prematurely due to upper ball joint failure.
I am having my ball joints replaced for the third time. I have a friend who has the exact same vehicle, and they have had theirs done four times. I also know at least three other people with same truck (year, make, model) that have had this same problem multiple times. This is not mere coinicidence- something is wrong with the suspension of these trucks.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Alum Creek, WV, USA