Dodge Dakota Complaints (1998)

545 consumer complaints on file.

#10060373March 4, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
FAILURE OF ALL BALL JOINTS IN MARCH OF 2003 AND THEN A SUBSEQUENT REPLACEMENT OF 2 OF THOSE BALL JOINTS IN JULY OF 2003. CURRENTLY 1 MORE OF THE BALL JOINTS IS GOING BAD.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061352March 4, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
DEALER REPLACED THE LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS AT 90000 MILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060410March 4, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
PREMATURE FAILURE OF RIGHT AND LEFT UPPER BALL JOINTS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061353March 4, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR PREMATURE WEAR OF THE TIRES. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BALL JOINTS WERE RUBBING , AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061369March 4, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GARAGE FOR TIRE REPAIR. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACED DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE INNER SIDE OF TIRES AND WHEEL ARE LOOSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060451March 4, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER, TIRES, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
REPLACED THE TWO UPPER BALL JOINTS,SHOCKS,AND TIRES ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA WITH 61,000 MILES ON IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060251March 3, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, STEERING:COLUMN
BALL JOINTS AND STEERING COLUMN ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK. BOTH WERE WORN OUT AFTER 30,000 MILES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060281March 3, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
I HAVE A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE WITH 55,000 MILES. WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS I HEARD A CLUNKING FROM THE FRONT END IN A HARD RIGHT LOW SPEED TURN. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DODGE DEALER AND BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACE. HAD A FAILURE OCCURED AT HIGH SPEED IT COULD HAVE BEEN A BIG FAILURE. AS A SECOND OWNER I CAN SAY HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED, BUT THE VEHICLE SHOWED NOT OTHER SIGNS OF ABUSE. QUITE THE OPPOSITE IT SHOWED SIGNS OF EXCELLENT MAINTENANCE. DATE BELOW IS APPROXIMATE. THE REPAIR WAS EXPENSIVE, BUT MORE IMPORTANT IT SOMEONE COULD BE KILLED IF THE WHEEL CUTS LOSE AT EVEN MODERATE SPEED. THE PROPERTY DAMAGE CHECKED IS TO VEHICLE THANKS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060211March 2, 2004
STEERING
HEARD CRACKLING AND POPING FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL, AND TRUCK STARTING TO PULL TO THE LEFT. FOUND NY-LOCK SPINDLE NUT (TORQUED TO 185#, FACTORY SPEC'S) ALMOST OFF. RIGHT HAND THREADED SPINDLE WITH INNER RACE OF BEARING ROTATING IN A COUNTER-CLOCKWISE DIRECTION AGAINST THE NUT. BEARING TRASHED, HAVING TO BUY WHOLE HUB ASSEMBLY @ $163. CHECKED RIGHT WHEEL ASSEMBLY WHILE FRONT END RAISED AND WAS ABLE TO TURN NUT WITH A PAIR OF 10" CHANNEL LOCKS. HAD TO REDO BOTH SIDES AT 52+K ORIGIONAL MILES, NO ONE HAS TAMPERED WITH VEHICLE. WHERE'S THE OLD REPAIRABLE SYSTEM WITH THE COTTER KEY?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057643February 26, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
TECHNICIAN SERVICED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PART WAS REPLACED IN JANUARY 2003. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED JANUARY 2004, TECHNICIAN INSTALLED NEW BALL JOINTS. *AK *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055605February 24, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONSUMER HEARD A SUBTLE NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED EXCESSIVE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT WEAR.*AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051930February 19, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046057February 19, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE WEARING OUT. *AK *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057040February 11, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
I HEAR A POPPING SOUND WHEN I TURN LEFT. I TOOK MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID ALL FOUR OF MY BALL JOINTS (TWO UPPERS AND 2 LOWERS) ARE SHOT. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY SO I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER ABOUT GETTING NEW BALL JOINTS. THE PARTS DEPT. MANAGER TOLD ME THERE IS A NATIONWIDE BACK ORDER ON THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND HE EXPECTED TO GET THEM IN WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. AS FOR THE UPPERS, HE SAID HE COULD GET THEM WITHIN A FEW WEEKS. IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE DODGE KNOWS THE BALL JOINTS ARE DEFECTIVE SO THEY PULLED EVERYTHING FROM STOCK AND ARE HAVING NEW ONES MADE UP. I THINK DODGE MIGHT BE DOING THIS TO AVOID A RECALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056691February 6, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
MY COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO THE BALL JOINTS ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK. MY TRUCK HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT, BUT I BABY IT, HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, AND CAN REMEMBER JUST ABOUT EVERY POTHOLE I'VE HIT ON THE ROAD BECAUSE IT MAKES ME CRINGE EVERY TIME. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE THE LOUD NOISES I COULD HEAR, AND FEEL, WHEN I DROVE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY ALL FOUR OF THEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE THE BALL JOINTS WERE FAULTY UPON MANUFACTURE, AND HOPE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR. GRANTED THIS IS PROBABLY A LOW PRIORITY ISSUE BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN A RELATIVELY LOW NUMBER OF FATALITIES ATTRIBUTED TO BALL JOINT FAILURE, AND IT GENERALLY DOES NOT INVOLVE FIRE, OR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE POINT THAT MY TRUCK IS MUCH MORE RESPONSIVE, AND THE STEERING FEELS MUCH TIGHTER, AND ATTRIBUTE THIS TO THE NEW BALL JOINTS. WHETHER THIS IS JUST IN MY HEAD, OR I REALLY DO FEEL A DIFFERENCE, I AM RELIEVED TO SAY THAT I GOT IT DONE. BUT I DID CONSIDER NOT DOING IT AND WAITING TO HEAR MORE ABOUT POTENTIAL RECALL STATUS. I WOULD LIKE TO URGE PEOPLE NOT TO WAIT IF THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS, AND KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED FOR A FUTURE RECALL. THE BIT OF SLOPPINESS, AND POTENTIAL FAILURE OF THE BALL JOINT, IS A LARGE RISK, AND IF YOU CORRECT THE PROBLEM NOW YOU CAN MITIGATE THE RISK THAT WILL BECOME AN ISSUE AS THE AUTOMOBILES WITH FAULTY BALL JOINTS GROW IN AGE AND SEVERITY OF DEFECT. PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN TO PUSH FOR RECALL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055847January 26, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
THE VEHICLE'S UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054710January 23, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING ,TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT TO NEXT GEAR, RPM'S GO REALLY HIGH AND THE SPEEDOMETER STICKS. I'M AFRAID WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION THAT I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET ACROSS AND IT MIGHT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054493January 20, 2004
SEAT BELTS
I BOUGHT MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA WITH THE CONFIDENCE OF KNOWING THAT I HAD SELECTED A SAFE, COMFORTABLE, RELIABLE CAR. HOWEVER, THAT PERCEPTION WAS GONE THIS MORNING WHEN I FOUND THE WEBSITE CALLED WWW.UNSAFEBELTS.COM . *AK I AM APPALLED (YET NOT SURPRISED, QUITE HONESTLY) TO LEARN THAT CHRYSLER IS KNOWINGLY ALLOWING MANY PEOPLE TO DRIVE THEIR CARS WITH SEATBELTS THAT ARE NOT ADEQUATE OR RELIABLE. I AM MORE SHOCKED THAT NHTSA AND OTHER GROUPS LIKE IT ARE NOT LOBBYING FOR SAFER BELTS. AS THE OTHER OWNER OF MY CAR DRIVES THE VEHICLE AT LEAST 20 HOURS PER WEEK, I AM SHOCKED AND SADDENED BY THIS INACTION. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL FOR A RECALL OF THESE BELTS. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR TODAY AND REQUESTING REPLACEMENTS FOR MY SEAT BELTS. I WILL ALSO BE ASKING CHRYSLER TO COVER THE COST OF THIS REPLACEMENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054280January 16, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT REQUIRE REPLACEMENTS AS WELL AS TIE RODS. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054167January 15, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 30 MPH, THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. AN INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED THE UPPER BALL JOINT AND THE UPPER ARM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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