2.8
hardly worth mentioning- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 52,597 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The vehicle is making a clicking noise and tends to shake while making turns and is at low speeds. Taken to dealer for check up, and results showed that the front upper ball joints needed to be replaced.
- Napa, CA, USA
60,000 miles to and from work no abuse ball joints failed and ac has leak in dash, timing chain and idler pulley makes noise. Radiator leaks transmission fluid plastic tanks on radiator.
- Corpus Christi, TX, USA
Upper and lower ball joints wore out prematurely.......consumer claimed that he had a valid request after seeing notification of a recall on 2000-2003 Dodge Dakota trucks to replace ball joints. Asked for a reimbursement of $663.60 for replacing upper and lower ball joints.cedar rapids Dodge told consumer he had replace the ball joints. They said it was a safety issue and quoted $1,126.50 to make the repair. Howeverbartosh automotive charded $663.60 to perform same work.
- Amana, IA, USA
My truck started to squeak up front over any bumps. My tires were also starting to go bad, even as I rotated them every 3000 miles. Soon the squeak was really bad so I took it to tuffy auto. They gave me an alignment for the tire wear and said that my ball joints were causing the squeak. I replaced the upper ball joints. Then about 1000 miles later I heard a horrible grinding in the front, took it to the dealer. It was a bad wheel bearing, caused by bad ball joints as described by the dealer. Replaced lower ball joints, wheel bearing, and now all 4 tires as they wore badly due to the ball joint problem. Total cost of 800 plus 4 tires at 130 each. I am in college with a baby as well. These costs killed my budget, and now I find out there is a recall on 2000 and up models. What a deal, seems to me the parts were the same on the 97, but no recall on them" why, and what is the reason for not including the 97? I also work at a body shop and we had a 99 Dakota in a few months ago which had the brake pedal snap off, causing a total wreckage to the Dakota, but he ended up fixing it as Dodge stood behind the pedal. Why can they not stand behind my truck? I am concerned with my parts on my truck now, are they the same ones being recalled on the 2000 and up, even though they are not being recalled on the 97? what gives"
- Story City, IA, USA
I was pulling in a driveway with a slight incline at a slow speed when the right front wheel fell off. The lower control arm landed on the wheel keeping the truck from hitting the ground. It was the upper ball joints which failed. New upper and lower ball joints were replaced all around as all of them bad.
- Machesney Park, IL, USA
Popping, grinding noise while turning and over bumps. Dodge inspected and replaced one upper ball joint and both lower ball joints and both inner tie rod ends.
- Evansville, IN, USA
Going down the road at 55 mph and all of a sudden I hit a pothole and the passenger side tire came right off, it is the same problem as the 2000 - 2003's have. We have pictures of it to prove it. The upper and lower ball joints let loose the cv shaft pulled out and the shock got bent. The tire turned on its side while the truck was sliding down the road sideways and I was unable to control how the truck was going. The only thing holding the tire on the truck was the brake line. The tire rim had chunks taken out of it and the tire had wear from being on its side under the frame of the truck while it was sliding. We had to get it flatbedded to the repair shop. We had a certified repair shop do all the necessary repairs to the truck to which included new upper and lower ball joints, new cv shaft, new rim adn tire, new shock, axle assembly, brake hose, steering gear and linkage, inner and outer tie rods and a front end alignment.this truck had just been through a nys inspection in December 2003 and passed. This accident happened on October 25, 2004 which left us without this vehicle because it was not able to be repaired immediately we got the truck back on November 10, 2004. We feel that Chrysler should be responsible for the repair bill for this vehicle because they are admitting there is a problem the same as this to the newer models.
- Cattaraugus, NY, USA
Consumer was replacing upper and lower ball joints every 35,000 miles. Also, consumer replaced the idler arm. Consumer contacted the dealer, who informed consumer that they will not warranty the suspension parts. Provide further details. The consumer stated the manifold plenum gasket was leaking oil into the intake. The consumer replaced the gasket himself.
- Eastchester, NY, USA
(1) popping noise and difficulty steering; 2) upper-ball joint failure.... the joints were so worn that when the mechanic raised the vehicle, the front-right wheel fell off of the truck. (3) mechanic replaced the all 4 balljoints (upper and lower) with non-oem parts at my request. Cost: Approx $600.
- Houston, TX, USA
Need to replace upper and lower ball joints on Dakota with 173,000 miles. This will be the 7th set of ball joints on this vehicle. Dealer states "no other customer complaints.
- Methuen, MA, USA
The consumer took the vehicle in for routine maintenance. The mechanic noticed both front upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to corrosion. Please fill in additional information.
- Attica, IN, USA
Suspension ball joint failure.
- Eighjty Four, PA, USA
Ball joints bad on 97 Dodge Dakota 4X4.
- Dublin, CA, USA
I own a 1997 Dodge Dakota, V8 and for several months when I was turning, I experienced the terrible grinding sound from my front driver side wheel. I took it in to Firestone today where they diagnosis upper and lower ball joints for all four wheels at a cost of over $1,000. The technician informed me this was common in Dodge Dakota's and durango's and that they are really bad. He states I could continue to drive it but worst case scenario is I'll be driving some day and the wheel could come off or lose control of the steering. I've researched the issue and found that there are thousands of complaints and daimler Chrysler as yet has done nothing to correct the problem. I also note that your Agency is supposed to be investigating this issue. I am waiting on your report before I pay to replace the joints although this may lead to a serious consequences on my part. When will daimler Chrysler address this issue?
- Broken Arrow, OK, USA
Upper and lower ball joints on the right and left sides of the vehicle were defective. While driving consumer heard a popping noise when ever making a right or left turn. Took vehicle to the mechanic, and was told to park the vehicle because it was very dangerous.
- Robbinsville, NC, USA
While driving 55 mph vehicle pulled to the right. Vehicle was taken to a repair shop, and mechanic determined that the entire upper and the lower ball joints needed to be replaced. Also, the parts were available for analysis. Dealer was contacted.
- Surprise, AZ, USA
Driving down I-55 by wilmington truck started to pull real bad to the left got off the highway next exit went straight to garage the mechanic put on the lift was able to remove the balljoint with his hand.
- Wilmington, IL, USA
While driving 50 mph vehilce vibrated and wandered across the road. Vehilce was taken to a repair shop, and mechanic determined that both front upper ball joints were worn out and need to be replaced.
- Kansas City, MO, USA
My 1997 Dodge Dakota-with 48ooo miles failed safety inspection, due to bad ball joints and unsafe steernig. During repair process I discovered that this is a common and even expected event with these vehicles (with low mileage) and also durangos. It is so commonplace that Dodge repair people expect it. Obviouosly tis is a sfatey defect and should be remedied at no cost to consumer. It will only be a matter of time until the parts fail; and a catastrophe happens to some un suspectig driver, unless there is a recall and permanent quality replacment of the parts.
- Eighty-Four, PA, USA
- Sparta, IL, USA