Front Suspension Upper Ball Joint problems of the 1997 Dodge Dakota

Premature wear and failure of upper and lower ball joints. Truck was making popping noises when you turned the wheel or went over bumps. Took to local mechanic; mechanic stated that the ball joints were scary bad. Mechanic also stated that if I had not brought the vehicle in the front wheels could have broken off causing the vehicle to wreck.

1997-99 Dodge Dakota has same problem as 2000-2003. Upper ball joint problems. Consumer wants to know why are you excluding 1997-99 when the problem existed in the 1997-99.

The vehicle is making a clicking noise and tends to shake while making turns and is at low speeds. Taken to dealer for check up, and results showed that the front upper ball joints needed to be replaced.

I was pulling in a driveway with a slight incline at a slow speed when the right front wheel fell off. The lower control arm landed on the wheel keeping the truck from hitting the ground. It was the upper ball joints which failed. New upper and lower ball joints were replaced all around as all of them bad.

The upper ball joints on my 1997 Dodge Dakota failed with only 28,000 miles on them. I replaced them myself with moog greasable ball joints. I still have the old parts.

Ball joints bad on 97 Dodge Dakota 4x4.

My truck started to squeak up front over any bumps. My tires were also starting to go bad, even as I rotated them every 3000 miles. Soon the squeak was really bad so I took it to tuffy auto. They gave me an alignment for the tire wear and said that my ball joints were causing the squeak. I replaced the upper ball joints. Then about 1000 miles later I heard a horrible grinding in the front, took it to the dealer. It was a bad wheel bearing, caused by bad ball joints as described by the dealer. Replaced lower ball joints, wheel bearing, and now all 4 tires as they wore badly due to the ball joint problem. Total cost of 800 plus 4 tires at 130 each. I am in college with a baby as well. These costs killed my budget, and now I find out there is a recall on 2000 and up models. What a deal, seems to me the parts were the same on the 97, but no recall on them? why, and what is the reason for not including the 97? I also work at a body shop and we had a 99 Dakota in a few months ago which had the brake pedal snap off, causing a total wreckage to the Dakota, but he ended up fixing it as Dodge stood behind the pedal. Why can they not stand behind my truck? I am concerned with my parts on my truck now, are they the same ones being recalled on the 2000 and up, even though they are not being recalled on the 97? what gives?.

While driving at any speed vehicle vibrated from the front end. Consumer took vehicle to the dealership, and mechanic determined that the upper ball joints failed.

During a routine inspection dealerships informed consumer that front upper ball joints were worn out.

Consumer took vehicle to an independent service dealer to have the brakes checked and the front end aligned. Upon performing the front end alignment the service dealer determined that the upper ball joints were bad and needed to be replaced. The consumer was informed that the lower ball joints would need to be replaced in a year.

I own a 1997' Dodge Dakota v8 long bed standard cab pick-up with only 32000 origional miles. The ball joints are bad and I have to have them replaced. I went to look up how to replace them and discovered the problem is wide spread. Sears mechanics were suprised that the ball joints were so worn with so few miles on the vehicle.

While driving 50 mph vehilce vibrated and wandered across the road. Vehilce was taken to a repair shop, and mechanic determined that both front upper ball joints were worn out and need to be replaced.

The contact states there NHTSA recall campaign 04v596000 concerning upper ball joints. The consumer is experienced the same problems as indicated in the recall, but his vehicle was not included in the recall due to the model year of vehicle. The contact has not repaired the vehicle. Updated 12/27/05.

While driving there was a popping noise in the front end, and vibration in the steering wheel and the rear seat. State inspector noticed that front tires had play in them while inspecting the truck, and told the consumer that the upper ball joints needed to be replaced.

I had to replace the lower ball joints in my 1997 Dodge Dakota @ 72,000 miles. I believe this failure was premature.

While driving, the consumer heard a noise coming from the front end of the vehicle. The consumer took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who replaced the upper ball joints due to deterioration. The ball joints were worn.

(1) popping noise and difficulty steering; 2) upper-ball joint failure . . . . The joints were so worn that when the mechanic raised the vehicle, the front-right wheel fell off of the truck. (3) mechanic replaced the all 4 balljoints (upper and lower) with non-oem parts at my request. Cost: approx $600. 00.

: the contact stated while the vehicle was having an oil change performed by the dealer, the service department determined the upper ball joints needed to be replaced. The upper ball joints were replaced and lubricated. There is a NHTSA recall, # 04v596000, regarding the upper ball joints. The VIN was not included in the recall. Updated 6/1/2006 -.

I have a Dodge Dakota that is a 1997 model. I have replaced the ball joints at under 30,000 miles and I now have ones my machanic says are bad and need replaced. I was a ware of this problem before. My machanic thought it was very unusual for them to wear out so fast.

Vehicle vibrated while driving. Dealer replaced the left upper ball joint twice.

While driving at low or high speeds a noise could be heard coming from the front of the vehicle. Dealer determined that the upper ball joints must be replaced.

While driving at low or high speeds, a noise could be heard coming from the front of the vehicle. The dealer determined that the upper ball joints must be replaced.