Two problems related to front suspension lower control arm have been reported for the 1997 Dodge Dakota. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
A weld that secured the lower right suspension failed on my 1997 Dodge Dakota due to "hard" braking. This failure could have resulted in a serious accident and significant property damage. I believe that such a failure should never occur due to normal use. I believe that this weld should be inspected on all vehicles with this particular suspension system. My phone call to Chrysler customer service did not indicate any interest in follow up on this potentially dangerous manufacturing defect.
Consumer states that the lower control arms failed prematurely, this caused wear on the front tires.