I went in to get my truck aligned because the outer end of my tires are woren. However, I was informed that all four of my ball jionts were worn out and that this is a very common problem with Dakotas. I am looking into fixing them but if they are defective and will be recalled I would like the manufacture to pay to have them fixed.

- Fairfield, CA, USA

After taking the vehicle into a repair shop, the ball joints were completely worn out after only 40K miles.

- Antioch, TN, 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 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

Both upper ball joints were loose and had to be replaced in order to pass state (mo) safety inspection. Vehicle mileage was only 35311 and the inspection and replacement was performed by a Dodge dealership.

- St. Charles, MO, 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 driving the consumer heard a loud knocking noise coming from the front upper ball joint. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

- Gastonia, NC, USA

Consumer took the vehicle to the dealership for inspection and the mechanic determined that both upper ball joints were wearing prematurely. Consumer will have the mechanic replace the upper ball joints. The vehicle made a squealing noise. The mechanic discovered a ball joint problem. The brake warning light had come on and the P/S wheel squeaked when going over bumps.

- Stratford, NJ, USA

Front ball joints on my 1998 Dodge Dakota failed. I noticed a popping noise in my front end that transitioned up through my steering column. They have to be replaced!

- Boise, ID, 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

Consumer took vehicle to the dealership for inspection. The mechanic determined that the upper ball joints failed. The dealer replaced the ball joints under the vehicle's warranty.

- Thomasville, NC, 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