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.
I purchased the vehicle used but it had new brakes. I had it for a month and drove approx. 1000 miles and the brake rotors became warped. I had them turned and they were fine. I drove the vehicle for approx. 5 more months and 6000 miles and the rotors became warped again. The vibrations occur very badly when braking from 50 mph-40 mph. When braking from a higher or lower speed than 40-50 there are only minor vibrations. I also have noise coming from the front drivers side suspension when turning at slow speeds and going over a bump/curb(such as to enter/leave a driveway).
Excessive ball joint wear. My wife (stephanie ball) filed a complaint back in 1999 for the same problem. I think his name was steve from NHTSA contacted us and keep us informed of the problem. She has had the ball joints replaced five times in her Dakota. The last contact from NHTSA was that they was going to make Dodge recall these vehicles for this dangerous problem. It has been two years and we have not heard any more on this issue. I help by getting names of other people that was having the same problem. I manage an auto parts store a auto of madison wv and this is not just an isolated problem. I know of 4 Dakota that were wrecked and sustained severe damage due to ball joint failure. The adjuster from state farm's mother had a wreck due to ball joint failure. And he said that he had seen several that had wrecked. I could replace these ball joints with aftermarket moog brand and solve the problem. But it shouldn't be up to me to solve it. I would have thought after the Firestone episode that issues like this would be taken more seriously. I contacted the dealer today because you have to check the ball joints every couple of weeks. I don't want to take a chance on killing someone because of a problem that has existed since 1997. The dealer said that the ball joints was supposed to have so much play from the factory. The aftermarket one I sell do not. Anyone with common sense knows that if a component in a high stress area that takes a lot of beating is not supposed to have any play. The longer you drive it the worse it gets. I recently took a wv state inspection class. The state police have Dodge durango's. he said to make sure and check the ball joints because they were having the same problem I am. So I think the time has come to get this problem corrected, before some else wrecks or someone gets killed. Its pretty evident when the trooper teaching the inspection class tells you to pay special attention to this problem! please notify me if you need anything.
The consumer experienced problems with (possibly)the ball joints. While he is driving there is a clunking sound that gets worse when turning on curves. The dealer has been contacted and stated that this is a common problem with this model and is unable to help. Ts other problems are as followed: The vehicle will slide/skate over any bump/uneven surface and corner, noise in front end/passenger side front wheel/passenger side window, the engine light was on-found evap leak, bad gas cap, rear brake drums are hopping, ABS light on, internal mail relay and valve plug shorted, and front inner brake pad spring clips bent out of shape. The consumer requests the following: Refund of the purchase of the vehicle, lessen the bank payments for the time of use, and apply a refund towards the purchase of a new Dodge Ram. Scc
While driving, front end of vehicle pulls severely to the right, dealer can not identify cause of problem. Control arm was replaced. Calipers were replaced. Dealer found air leak with the gas tank and replaced the fuel pump, this was causing the engine light to illuminate.
- Burbank, IL, USA
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- Jackson, WY, USA