Bad front ball joints.

- Gastonia, NC, USA

I bought a 2000 Dakota 4X4 used, with 42,000 mi. In Oct. 03. went to get a Missouri state inspection certificate, I was told upper & lower balljoints were "going bad". July 04, truck started to pull to the right.it"S an expensive repair that I cannot afford right now. I saw a news story on this issue and realized I am not alone. I belive Dodge makes a great truck. They should stand behind there name, as well as product.

- Columbia , MO, USA

On 11/12/04 I brought my 2000 Dodge Dakota, extended cab, 4X4, with 36,703 miles, in for a routine front end allignment. The mechanic showed me that the right upper ball joint was bad. I had it replaced. The cost was parts: $92.39, labor: $96. Today, I heard on the news that you are currently conducting an investigation into this problem.

- Chicago, IL, USA

2000 Dodge Dakota upper ball joints. Last year, my upper left ball joint (bj) failed. Thankfully I was still in a parkign lot at the time. If this failed at speed on the highway, it would have invloved sginificant injuries. Due to the failure of the one bj, I had a Dodge dealer replace the left tire rod end and the left front axle shaft assembly since they bent when the tire and wheel assmembly came loose. In addition, I had the both lower joints replaced and the right upper bj and right side tie rod. The problem I have now is that the new Dodge tie rods rub against the wheels on sharp turns. I took the vehicle and the service reps indicated there is no problem with this. However, the tie rod ends continue to wear the factory aluminum wheels. One dealer rep indicated that in 2001 the Dakotas went to 16" wheels, and since my 2000 has 15" wheels, that I need to buy 16 wheels so the tie rods don't rub. Well, quite frankly that is unacceptable. I find Dodge / damiler Chrysler response to the upper ball joint issues pathetic. In addition, the spray nozzle freeze up anytime the temperature goes below 30 degrees. I've used all kinds of washer flui, and even added rubbing alcohol to the fuild, regardless this is a visibility hazard, and it should be noted the design was changed in the 2001 Dakota / durango models

- Chagrin Falls, OH, USA

I have a 2000 Dodge Dakota 2wd with bad ball joints. The 2 wheel drive and 4 wheel drive have the same "defective" ball joints.

- Alpharetta, GA, USA

The front ball joints are making a popping noise, causing the wheel to shkae and rust to fall off. Dealer was informed by consumer for repairs.

- Mount Washington, KY, USA

Premature wear of factory ball joints on my 2000 Dodge Dakota and water leak that fills up my passenger side floorboard. Dealer has never been able to find water leak problem.

- Cocoa, FL, USA

Dodge Dakota upper ball joint failure. Shaking steering wheel and front end noise clued me in to the known problem. Ball joints were replaced with better moog greasable ones.

- Albany, NY, USA

Subject vehicle: 2000 Dodge Dakota R/T, iles: 49000; usage: Daily driver-city/hwy only; complaint: Excessive upper ball joint play early failure. At approximately 35,000 miles I noticed a slight clicking sound coming from the front right suspension. I lubed the front end using the appropriate tool and grease nipples but found that there was no fitting on the upper ball joint. The clicking sound progressed to clunking over the next 10000 miles and on inspection I found excessive play in the upper front suspension on both sides of the vehicle. The left side being the most egregious. In addition I started to notice wandering in the steering track of the vehicle at higher speeds. I focused my attention on the upper ball joint assembly's and have since replaced both. The symptom has cleared. I have had an assortment of problems with this vehicle this having the most potential for catastrophic failure. Your attention to this problem would be appreciated james daly

- Oviedo, FL, USA

Tie rod broke. Replaced toe rod and all ball joints.

- Cross Plains, WI, USA

Problem started with popping noise in front suspension. Tires eventually were wearing uneven. Took truck to dealer for alignment. They could not perform due to worn out upper ball joints. Replaced ball joints and noticed left upper joint had deteriorated to the point that it was close to separation. Also noticed tires had worn to the point that inner steel belts were exposed.

- Waxhaw, NC, USA

Since filing my complaint last month, my front passenger side upper ball joint detached and cause my wheel to nearly fall off. Luckily I had just pulled onto a street when the wheel fell off, so my speed was less than 5mph. I have been waiting on backordered parts to be shipped since my orignal complaint in October, so the worn ball joints had not been replaced yet.

- Anchorage, AK, USA

Both upper ball joints are loose requiring replacement.

- Grove City Ohio, OH, USA

Noticed very loud squeaking in front end of 2000 Dodge Dakota. Took in for dealer to service(46,000 miles). Mentioned ball joints. They replaced sway bar bushings. Four months later squeaking was back(51,000 miles). Returned to dealer questioning ball joints again. They lubricated the sway bar bushings. Five months later vehicle in for state inspection and drivers side upper ball joint failed, passenger side upper ball joint almost out of tolerance (55,000 miles). Had both replaced with oem from Dodge. Sent email to service manager questioning coverage by Dodge and received no response.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

I have a 2000 Dodge Dakota. On November 2,2004 while driving on city side streets the front passenger wheel fell off the vehicle. While waiting for a tow truck to arrive, I called the Dodge dealership where I purchased my vehicle and was told this would not be covered under warranty. I had my vechile towed to my mechanic who did most of the repairs (totaling about $1,300). He handed me a box with the ball joints from my vehicle and told me to hang onto them. The upper and lower ball joint on both sides needed to be replaced. The cause of the accident was the upper ball joint losing all it's grease (this is supposed to be a sealed unit!), causing undo stress on the joint until it eventually sheared away from the vehicle. I still have to take my vehicle in for some repairs that need to be completed (cv boot replacement and a tie rod that is twisted) - which is estimated to be an additional $400. I do have the ball joints - all in varying degrees of defective damage along with photos of the vehicle at the place of the accident. Photos include close up shots of the wheel and ball joint. I have written a letter to Dodge corporation as I feel they should pay for the repairs since the parts were obviously defective. This is also a serious safety concern as if this wheel had fallen off my vehicle just 2 miles sooner, I would have been traveling at 65 mph coming down the highway from the rocky mountains! the wreck would have almost certainly killed me!! the wreck would have also taken out any vehicles traveling near me! this is a very serious safety risk.

- Denver, CO, USA

While driving steering wheel jumped on its on. Consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and took it to the dealer for inspection. Mechanic determined that the rack and pinion steering and upper ball joint needed to be replaced.

- Roseburg, OR, USA

Front driver's side upper and lower ball joints failed.

- Ocala, FL, USA

Failure of upper ball joint. 2000 Dodge Dakota. Discovered during a tire purchase. Having fixed at dealership. Wear is premature.

- New Richmond, OH, USA

I own a 2000 Dodge Dakota that I bought new. It is a club cab 4X4 with the 4.7L V8 an automatic. The vehicle has never been off road and has just turned 51,000 miles. Without warning the pass. Side upper and lower ball joints both wore out and needed to be replaced. This of course was not covered under the warranty. Luckily I caught the problem before the wheel fell off. I drive approx. 90 miles a day on a major highway and if the wheel would have come off it could have caused a major accident.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

Upper and lower ball joints are worn to the point of making alignment impossible. Alignment shop says condition is dangerous and could result in wheel separation. Condition has existed and has worsened since about 30,000 miles. This condition was repeatedly mis-diagnosed by several Dodge dealerships until warranty expired.

- Logan , UT, USA