Front Suspension Control Arm problems of the 1999 Dodge Dakota

Pulled out of driveway and started down street could not control vehicle. The 1999 Dodge Dakota r/t started screeching. I immediately applied the brake to see what was problem and the vehicle veered to the right. I was able to stop the vehicle in the middle of the street but could not turn the vehicle's wheel except on one side. I got out of vehicle and noticed that the front passenger wheel was turned towards the right while the left wheel was straight. I looked underneath vehicle and observed the lower control arm on right side of vehicle was broke from the frame or weld. The control arm was hanging from the frame of the vehicle broken away from the weld. I also have pics of the lower control arm break.

The front end started making popping and other metallic sounding noises at slow speeds. When I raised it up and looked, the rubber boots on the ball joints were in tatters! I went to replace them and have been told that they are a "dealer item" and that daimler-Chrysler only provides a whole upper and lower control arms with ball joint for replacement as a whole unit. While I have nearly 45 years of automotive service background this is a travisty of the n'th degree!. You produce a defective unit and then screw the poor slob who bought one by making him pay an arm and a leg to replace a whole control arm that only has a bad ball joint on the end of it.

Dealer notified me that both ball joints and control arms are dangerously loose and need replaced. Nhtsa campaign # 04v596000 specifies manufacture date from 01/07/1999 - 12/31/2002. My truck was build in March of 1999. They are claiming that I got lucky and my truck does not fall under the recall, yet I still have the problem. 1999 Dodge Dakota sport 4x4 VIN #1b7gg22yxxs235562.

1999 Dodge Dakota pickup, v-6. The vehicle front ball joints are defective and will have to be replaced immediately by my mechanic. The mechanic mention a recall on on the ball joints so I contacted the dealer. They informed me that the recall is only for 2000-2003 vehicles. Since the ball joints are faulty, I beleive the recall needs expanding to other years and if service has been completed, reimbursement is warranted to the owner.

1999 Dodge Dakota ball joint.

Faulty ball joints and bushings in the front suspension failed before 50,000 miles. This could create a condition where the front wheel assembly breaks off from the vehicle and cause a major accident.

While driving consumer heard a squeaking noise from the front end of the vehicle. Consumer took the vehicle to the dealership to have serviced. The dealership indicated that the upper driver side control arm bushing was going out. The dealership replaces the parts, problem reaccured 1000 miles later on the both lower control arm bushing. Consumer feels theirs a defect in this part. Please provide more information. Ts.

Consumer states vehicle pulls to the left at all times. Dealer found excessive play in ball joints and had to replace them, also performed a front end alignment.

Premature failure of ball join during inspection by dealer.

Vehicle failed inspection 2 years in a row because upper and lower ball joints were worn out. Consumer had an appointment at dealer to find out the cause.

All four ball joints prematurely need replacement. , excessive play. The dealer stated that the ball joints have 60 thousands of an inch play from the factory. I had an independent front end specialist inspect my brakes and doing so he found the ball joints in the front end no good (excessive play). He said that this is a known problem throughout the industry and Dodge has not corrected this problem.

While driving heard noise in the front end of vehicle. Right/left ball joints and upper control arm have been replaced, which did not correct the problem. Please give any further details.

While having vehicle out side of dealer ship technician stated all four ball joints needed to be replaced . Consumer let manufacturer's dealer look at ball joints. Technician stated that ball joints needed to be replaced at consumer's expense.