The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated the vehicle was taken to a local repair facility for an alignment when the contact was informed that the lower ball joints were severely worn to the point where they were unable to perform an alignment. The lower ball joints were causing the tires to wear unevenly. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000 and the current mileage was approximately 97,700.

- Federal, WA, USA

Excessive movement in front suspension of 2004 Dodge Dakota quad cab 4X4, side to side lateral movement and steering difficulty. Dodge service department found excessive play in lower ball joints on both right and left wheels and steering rack coming apart at tie rod. Failure of ball joints can cause wheel to detach from vehicle without warning. Previous model years have been recalled for upper ball joints with same issue. Parts must be replaced.

- Hainesport, NJ, USA

I am concerned the 2004 Dodge durango and Dakota are not being investigated. They have the same ball-joints!!. also Dodge know about the ball joint problem in 2003 but continue installing the ball-joints during the 2004 production run.

- Panama City, FL, USA

2004 Dodge Dakota quad cab 4X4, purchased 8/16/04. Currently 2,200 miles on the vehicle. Within the first week of ownership, the vehicle developed rattling or clunking noises in the front end when traveling over bumps. Additionally, the vehicle is out of alignment, and pulls to the left when braking. Tire wear (although very slight @ 2,200 miles in not symmetrical between LH front to rh front tire). I will be taking the truck into the dealership @ 3,000 miles to have them look at the front end, as well as the alignment.

- Dearborn, MI, USA

The ball joints has already started to squeak on the consumers new truck. The consumer would like them replaced with non-defective parts.

- Unknown, DC, USA

I have a brand new 2004 Dakota that has a ball joint squeak starting already at just over 4000 miles. The local garage I took it to tells me that it is the start of the ball joint problems that Dakota's are notorious for. My short investigation on the internet turned up all kinds of discussion and expensive horror stories. My son has a 2002 Dakota which has had the ball joints replaced 3 times also. Obviously, this is a major design flaw and a significant safety hazard. According to the article on cbs, if these aren't taken care of, they will separate and the wheel comes off. Replacement of these parts by DaimlerChrysler is not enough. DaimlerChrysler needs to redesign these and the NHTSA needs to insist that they recall the effected vehicles and replace the ball joints with the redesigned parts. And soon, as far as I'm concerned this problem is very much the same as the Ford tire problem. Let's not wait until all the loss of life that was experienced with that problems begins with the Dodge Dakota's and durango's. I don't think the NHTSA wants that on their conscience. Please let me know what your investigation has found and what recommendation the NHTSA will be making and in what time frame. I would like to get my ball joints fixed with non-defective, correctly designed parts. Thank you. Gordon lanker re: EA03 - 023.

- Kalamazoo, MI, USA