Two problems related to steering knuckle spindle have been reported for the 2001 Dodge Dakota. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Recently had to replace the following: drivers side upper ball joint and control arm, drivers side spindle retaining plate and locking nut. The simptoms were, a slight thumping noise when going over smal but sharp bumps (like entering a driveway), and a sound similar to a spring being stretched and compresses. The work was done under waranty (29,000 miles). The thing that bothers me is that it took 2 attempts at the dealer to get it fixed, and that all the things I've been reading indicate problems on the passenger side! am I just a disaster waiting to happen? is daimler chrystler going to own up to defective design and manufacture or do a bunch of people have to die first?.
If we were traveling at a higher speed we would have been severly injured or killed. No safety defect listed.