Front Suspension Upper Ball Joint problems of the 2002 Dodge Dakota - part 2

Upper ball joints are failing.

Dodge Dakota 02 with just 50000 miles has noise in front end, thud in front end on bumps and turns, camber seems to change at times when veiwed while parked, called Dodge at 1-800-992-1997, got a runaround from customer service, if I take truck to Dodge and pay for a diognostic on ball joints they may help with repairs. This has to be extremly poor quality parts for this many vehilcles to have proplems.

Upon inspection of road wander complaint, vehicle was found to have a bad upper ball joint, and excessive wear on all other ball joints for mileage noted.

Upper ball joints were loose, one to the point of coming apart. There was no noticeable failure of the part leading up to the point when I discovered the problem. When I went to rotate my tires I bumped the right front and heard an audible "click" while it was on the jackstand. I have since replaced both upper joints as the vehicle was unsafe to drive.

The dealer's technician noticed that the right upper ball joint had excessive play.

Failure is in progress! my upper left ball joint on my 2002 Dodge Dakota is loose!! the dealer tells me it is not a warranty item [40,000 miles on vehicle], that the part is on backorder, and they don't know when they will get mote parts. Everywhere I have look, both auto parts stores and online, it is the same story. . They either tell me it is a dealer item or that they are out of stock. I drive a minimum of 60 miles a day, and I can't buy the part to repair this!! how can this be? who is going to pay for the wear on my tires? where and when can I get a new quaility part?. . Not the piece of crap Dodge puts on !!!.

Failed right upper ball joint with 42,000 miles on vehicle. Problem found after vehicle exhibited wheel binding while making hard right hand turns, clunking noises during left hand turns.

My husband and I own a 2002 Dodge Dakota. We purchased it in March 2002 and moved to puerto rico in September 2002, where we took our Dakota to an authorized Dodge dealership when problems arose. In April 2003, we began to hear unusual noises coming from the front left tire area. The service techs reported premature wearing of the ball joint and replaced it, plus the upper and lower control arms, as well as the sway arm and all related bushings (they showed premature wear, too). The following January (1/23/04), less than 12 months later, we began to hear similar noises from the front right tire area. The service techs at the same dealership as before replaced the same items for the same reasons that affected the driver's side front tire. All new parts, correct? we thought so, but as my husband was making a u-turn one Sunday afternoon in early April 2004, the front passenger tire disconnected from the vehicle (due to defective parts--the very ones that they replaced in January 2004. We video-taped the damages to our vehicle (ball joint, cv joint, control arms, tire, rim, brake lines, front bumper and fog light) and had the truck towed back to the dealership with whom we previously dealt. The dealer eventually agreed that the parts were indeed defective and the cause of our accident. They replaced all damaged parts. Now that we have 37000 miles on the truck, relatively low for that year model, we are concerned that this problem will occur again when we are not driving at such a low speed.

Consumer heard a noise in the front end when the brake pedal was depressed, when making right turns and when down hill. Upon inspection of the front end by a mechanic it was determined that front driver side tire and front upper ball joint were loose. Vehicle was then taken to a dealership who indicated that the ball joints were not loose enough to be replaced.

Upper ball joints are bad, both left and right hand side, was told by a mechanic that there is no way that they should be bad in a '02 truck.

Both upper ball joints.

I own a 2002 Dodge Dakota pickup. After hearing and reading cbs news piece on the durango and Dakota having faulty ball joints, I had my local Dodge dealer check the upper ball joints on my truck. One upper joint was loose and they recommended it be replaced. The cost was $188. I feel since there have been over 700 complaints about this, that daimler Chrysler should recall affected vehicles and fix the problem. The fact that Dodge has had so many complaints and it took a cbs news report to educate the public is tragic. What's more tragic is that it put the life of myself and my son in danger. I feel that Dodge should reimburse my $188.

Popping noise in the front ball joints of my 2002 Dodge Dakota. I noticed this the day I bought this unit. And just today (3-4-04) I found out on cbs that it is a manufacturer defect. And would like very much to have the problem resolved before something bad does happen on the highway.

While driving consumer lost control. Dealership informed consumer that the problem pertained to the front upper ball joints.

My 2002 Dodge Dakota quad cab 4x4 has 21,000 miles and now all four upper ball joints are bad.

Upper ball joints failed without warning.

The upper ball joints were worn out and need to be replaced. When vehicle went over a pump in the road there was a clucking or knocking noise from the front end. This was a common problem with these trucks.

Consumer heard a popping noise in the front end of the vehicle when turning, driving over any imperfection in the road ,or any front end movement. Upon inspection of the vehicle by the dealership they noticed that the front upper ball joint wore out prematurely, and needed to be replaced.

While making right hand turns consumer heard a loud noise coming from the front end. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

The ball joints on my 2002 Dodge dakato 4x4 have prematurely failed. The truck has approx. 27000 miles on it. The infamous knocking sound comes from the front suspension when I turn. The truck has been taken to 2 different dealerships a grand total of 5 times for this same problem. A service tech and a service manager have both ridden in the truck and agree that there is a problem initially. Upon inspection, I have been repeatedly told that there is no problem "under normal operating condition. " I have contacted Dodge and have been told that they always favor the service dealers over the customer's opinion. Through research I found out that the ball joints on Dakotas and durangos prematurely fail. I informed Dodge that I knew this and that I would like them to rethink their original decision. They said that nothing in my research provided reason to change their conclusion. My truck has prematurely failed ball joints and neither Dodge nor the Dodge service dealer will do anything about it.

While driving 30 mph upper ball joints fell out.

Passenger side ball joint broke apart at 50,000 miles, with loss of control of vehicle, especially on gravel road and while braking. . . . Replaced at my expense, now less than one month later, the driver side ball joint seems to be going. . . This time with a little bit more warning than the last time. . . . Hopefully, other people are not having this problem and losing control of their truck. . Please let me know 2002 Dodge ram 4x4 quad cab 1500.

During a routine inspection the consumer was informed that the upper ball joints were severely worn. The manufacturer and the dealer are aware of the problem.

Vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for a front end alignment. Mechanic determined that the right upper ball joint needed to be replaced.

Clunking and excessive squeaking coming from the front-end. Slow 90 degree or u - turns consistently reveal clunking. 18000 miles currently on Dakota quad cab. Steering shimmy inadvertently appears when driving straight down the road. These symptoms have been happening for 3+ months. I am experienced with front-end work, and recognize these symptoms to be familiar with upper ball-joints failure. I refuse to have the same product installed. There is obviously a problem.

While parking consumer heard a loud noise coming from the front end. Vehicle was taken to the dealership, where they replaced the upper ball joint.

Upper ball joints are failing prematurely. Passenger side is worse.

With 23,359 miles on my Dodge Dakota the right upper ball joint exhibited excessive play and had to be replaced. I believe there should be a recall and all the upper and lower ball joints should be replaced on all Dakotas and durangos.

Consumer saw an advertisement concerning ball joints. Vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the upper ball joints.

Right front control arm failed which caused knocking in the front end.

2002 Dakota pickup truck with 29,600 miles loosing front steering stability and front end rattling. Check with local mechanic reveals both left and right upper balljoints failing and need to replaced ASAP to prevent wheel failure. Also tires wearing out. Dodge contacted, no recall yet???.

I took my 2002 Dodge Dakota to get state inspection and was told the left upper ball joint was worn out. Only has 35000 miles on it. I went to dealer to have it repaired on Dec 29 2003 and was told the ball joints are on back order until Jan 14 2004 and was told I may not be one of the luck ones to get it even then. My truck has been sitting since Dec 31 2003 because of the inspection has exp.

Upper ball joints are worn out and are popping and causing front tires to cup,and truck will not drive straight. You can really hear popping noises when turning sharp and going in a driveway.

Premature failure at 34,000 miles on both upper ball joints on my 2002 Dodge Dakota quad cab. Front-end noises (at turning, rough pavement, speed bumps) started occurring before 10,000 miles and continued to grow worse until replacement.

The upper ball joints wore out prematurely.