Front end noise. Excessive tire wear and frequent front end allignments. 2 lower ball joints failure requires replacement replacement of faulty lower ball joints.

- Yacolt, WA, USA

The rubber boot on all 4 ball joints shredded and all of the grease was lost and washed out.

- North Augusta, SC, USA

At 50K miles the front end was extremely loose and steering control was becoming quite dangerous. No off road activities. Both upper and lower ball joints were pretty much destroyed. After 1300$ to fix the front end found that the steering worm gear is also worn out. Steering is still dangerous. The steering should pretty much never fail and under normal conditions the ball joints should last at least 100K miles.

- Cary, NC, USA

Purchase of used 98 Dakota on 8/14-04, noise in front end, returned to used car dealer, bad ball joints, replaced bad parts.

- Berrien Springs, MI, USA

Ball joints, front upper, and lower wore out, and were very loose. Took vehicle to the dealer. However, the problem still existed.

- Washougal, WA, USA

The lower ball joints were worn and needed to be replaced. In a discussion with the dealer representative, I was told to retain my bill since although there had not yet been a recall, there may be one in the future. From this conversation, it was obvious that this is a problem as has been indicated on several news reports and newspaper articles.

- Cary, NC, USA

The vehicle was having a problem with the ball joints. The ball joints caused excessive tire wear from the inner sidewalls.

- Sonoma, CA, USA

Consumer heard a clicking noise in the front of the vehicle. Once the vehicle was turned off consumer still could hear the clanking noise. The ball joints have been rerpaired twice.

- Castle Rock, CO, USA

Upper and lower ball joints deteriorating 5-24-2004, 27,675 miles steering intermediate shaft 6-22-2004. Ball joints, lower control arm, and right wheel bearing had to be replaced by dealer. Steering intermediate shaft had to be replaced at freehold Dodge NJ very loose front end, hard to control, bounce. Typical symptoms of a front end falling apart. Dates above are replacement dates. Third major problem is all of the bolts attaching the cab are deteriorated. Taking to my nm Dodge dealer. Can not even take off the bots they are so bad on the cab of my truck [xxx] I have been the owner from day one. In my parents name in New Jersey for insurance rate reduction. Updated 07/24/2012* js information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Alamogordo, NM, USA

(1) events leading to the failure were simply normal driving. Nothing special or out of the ordinary was done or attempted. (2) the ball joints on both of my upper and lower control arms have failed. The joints were original equipment and are permanently sealed supposedly requiring no maintenance. However the rubber boot surrounding the joint failed, thus leading to water and other road grit to enter the joint. Thus the joints did not remain lubricated, eventually leading to mechanical failure. (3) due to Dodge not selling the individual ball joints, I opted replaced both of the entire front control arms. Due to the cost of that repair I opted to purchase and install aftermarket ball joints for the lower control arms rather than replace the entire arm as had been done with the upper. The repair was very labor intensive; especially on something which should require minimal if any maintenance.

- The Woodlands, TX, USA

While vehicle was being serviced technician noticed that the ball joints along with the tie rod ends were loose.

- Sioux Falls, SD, USA

I have a Dodge Dakota 98. I went in for an alignment today. My 69 dollar alignment was bumped up to 830 dollars. They said that all of the ball joints need to be replaced and that this happens all the time with the Dodge truck of this year thru 2003. They told me that my wheels might just fall off. I told them not to perform this since I did not have the money and they told me to watch out for bumps and sharp turns. My truck is not making any wired noises and I cant believe that this issue was legitiment since you would think a recall would have been issues for such a dangerous thing. I went online of course to look into this and found that this is currently being looked into by the feds. If I had not gone in for the allignment, and my wheel fell off with my 6 year old child in the car I or her / both might not be here. I will be driving my other vehicle for the time being and would like to know when this will be recalled / addressed. Firestone put at the bottom of the recommended services: System failure - required upper-both ball joints/ lower both ball joints the money is one thing. Me and my kid is another. And with no indication of this problem, that really concerns me!!!

- Pickerington, OH, USA

While having the vehicle inspected technician determined that vehicle would not pass inspection due to defective left and right front ball joints.

- Cabot, PA, USA

1998 Dodge Dakota ball joint failure. Consumer felt that failure of ball joints was an example of poor design and vehicle being unsafe.

- Unknown, DC, USA

I am on my third catalytic converter on a 1998 Dodge Dakota, I just hit 70,000 miles and there seems to be an aweful lot of bad catalytic converters on this vehicle. Now the dealer tells me the biggest safety problem with my truck is the upper and lower ball joints (it'll cost almost $1000), these are the same as used on the durango and they have had all kinds of problems also.

- Harwinton, CT, USA

Consumer took the vehicle to an inspection station and vehicle did not pass inspection due to worn out upper and lower ball joints. Consumer will take the vehicle to the dealer in the near future.

- Laurel Fork, VA, USA

Upper and lower ball joints wore out prematurely.

- Richmondville, NY, USA

Front suspension, ball joints, & stabilizer bars were all replaced due to unusual wear & tear. The steering was popping and my front tires were loose. My vehicle was deemed unsafe by the dealer & needed immediate repair. According to the dealer this is a common problem with the Dakotas & durangos & daimler Chrysler is fully aware of this issue. I was told it would be in my benefit to bring my particular vehicles problem to NHTSA's attention as well as daimler Chrysler.

- Denver, CO, USA

Defective upper and lower ball joints on my 98 Dodge Dakota. I just went to les schwab to get new tires and an allignment when they told me all of my ball joints needed to be replaced. This seems way to soon for this type of problem. And it cost me 800 dollars to get it fixed.

- Woodinville, WA, USA

Premature wear on both upper ball joins and one lower ball joint.

- Wilmington, NC, USA