During routine brake maintenance, dealership warned that upper ball joints are loose and upper control bushings are cracked and both are in urgent need of replacing. Vehicle mileage was at 55,746. Ball joints are supposed to last to 100,000 miles. Vehicle is secondary family vehicle and only driven freeway with no towing, heavy loads, or hauling. If vehicle was not maintained regularly this defect would have been missed and serious harm or death to pregnant wife, 7 year old, and myself would have occurred due to the nature and severity of defect.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

While driving over bumps at any speed, the consumer could hear a rattling sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. The consumer can also feel a thumping sensation coming through the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic who replaced the left upper ball joint.

- Waxhaw, NC, USA

While the tires were being rotated mechanic found that the upper ball joints wore out prematurely. Mechanic informed the consumer about the upper ball joints, and recommended that vehicle should not be driven.

- Maryville, TN, USA

At very low mileage, an independent shop replaced the lower and upper ball joints at the consumer's expense.

- Marine City, MI, USA

My 2000 Dakota quad cab which has 63,000 miles on it. I took it into the dealer to have it checked out because it was making clunking noises and also make squeaking noises in the front end (like a worn out 70S model truck). This problem has been occurring since the truck had about 30,000 miles on it. Their diagnosis is that both front upper and lower control arms need to be replaced. (right and left side). Both the bushings and the ball joints are worn out. The service tech that called me back to tell me what was wrong said I would not continue to drive your vehicle in the condition it is in, it is not safe due to the worn ball joints.

- Cypress, TX, USA

Upper and lower ball joints defective. Replaced @ 75,000 miles when handling degraded and "clunking" noise started to avoid catastrophic event.

- Seabeck, WA, USA

Consumer serviced the vehicle, and a technician determined that ball joints became loose.

- Powell, TN, USA

The front of vehicle experienced vibration. After having vehicle serviced consumer was told that the ball joints needed replacement.

- Rathdrum, ID, USA

Truck with 53,000 failed state inspection with a worn upper ball joint. It is possible to replace this part without the control arm, saving about $100 in repair costs. However, Dodge has these parts on backorder due to the high demand(coincidence??), resulting in a $300 repair bill for my truck to pass inpection. Recall anyone"?"

- Holts Summit , MO, USA

While driving front driver side tire wobbled. Dealership informed the consumer that the problem pertained to a front ball joint failure.

- Eagle, MI, USA

At 31450 miles dealership replaced lower ball joint and left upper ball joint.

- Christiansburg, VA, USA

Upper ball joints failed. As a result, when turning in either direction wheels wobble back and forth.

- Trinity, NC, USA

Consumer indicates there is a lot of play in the front wheels, and can hear a popping noise while driving. Consumer feels this may be related to ball joint problem, and the wheel may come off.

- Joplin, MO, USA

In a parking lot while travelling less than 5mph the passenger side upper ball joint seperated without warning. The entire wheel, brake, and control arm assembly rotated under the vehicle. The vehicle had to be towed. Before pulling into this parking lot I had been travelling at 55mph on a highway.

- Oxford, PA, USA

I too am experiencing shaking, popping in the front end of my 2000 Dodge Dakota quad..turn the wheel too sharply and a bad shake, engine wants to die out. Tires aren't wearing evenly (2nd set) and on my 3rd set of rotors (all warped, mechanic in columbia, SC said Dodge put undersized rotors on...knock on wood - rotors are hanging in there so far after 1 year). Tires & rotors (way too many changes have cost me over $2000 with a brake job). I now have something called a lock actuator that has gone bad, locks make horrible noise when locking/unlocking & rear right doesn't lock. Humid mornings make for a rough start as the engine will race in park (high idle), then rapidly drop, dies out sometimes. Dealer couldn't replicate the problem (they admitted not starting it until noon!!).

- Piedmont, SC, USA

Consumer stated that ball joints were popping so badly that he was afraid to drive the vehicle. When he made a turn either right of left it sounded as if the wheel was coming off. This problem started at 60,000 miles.

- Vassar, MI, USA

Upper ball joints failed.

- Ponca, OK, USA

Noise felt in front suspension when turning - especially with left turns. Took to dealer and they were unable to reproduce problem. Took to a different dealer a few months later and they told me I needed new upper ball joints. I took it to a different dealer and was told that I needed new lower ball joints. I have replaced the lower ball joints for a little over $600! I still can't afford to replace the upper ball joints and I am still feeling a slight thump when turning. This problem is so common with this vehicle and I am mad at Dodge for not recalling. I read a report on 60 minutes about ball joint problems causing tires to fall off vehicles during driving. What a dangerous thing to happen. I think of this everyday as I drive on the highway. What would happen if my tires fell of on the highway while driving over 60 mph? I hope Dodge gets some sense and does a recall on this! here is the link to the article: www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/03/03/eveningnews/main603833.shtml

- Charlotte, NC, USA

While driving consumer heard a loud popping noise coming from the upper ball joints. Consumer had the problem repaired.

- Saltillo, MS, USA

While driving there was a popping metal noise in the front end. Dealership replaced the upper then the lower ball joints because they were worn out. The ball joints were replaced at 27K miles and again at 65K miles.

- Manassas Park, VA, USA