Driveshaft problems of the 2003 Dodge Dakota

The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Dakota. While driving 55 mph he noticed smoking coming from the engine. He immediately took the vehicle to the car wash to stop it from smoking. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who located the failure as the front drive shaft. The drive shaft was replaced. The total cost of the repair was $320. 00. The manufacturer stated that they would not offer any assistance with the repair cost because the repair was not done by an authorized dealer. The failure mileage was 68,000. The current mileage was 100,000. Updated 3/17/10 the consumer stated the defect was on the hgh velocity joint fo the front drive shaft. Updated 05/14/10.

The truck was taken in to be looked at because there was a vibration. I told them it was a u-joint or bearing going out. The truck had been in the same shop 4 times, for the same thing -the u-joint or bearing. The mechanic at the shop said that the tires needed to be balanced but they did not do that at thier shop. I tokk it to another place, they looked at it and said the tires did not need to be balanced,but they balnced them anyways. So I had two opinions on the truck. The next night I picked up the guys I work with and we went to work. On the way home the drive shaft, drive line,yolk, and transfercase came apart and tried to come up through the floorboard, causing holes in the floorboard, and it pulled the electrical wiring out which caused all the warning lights to come on. Anyone could have been hurt. I got the the truck to a nearby convienent store and I called a tow truck to tow my truck to the shop. I called my wife and we went and picked up all the parts off the highway. The truck, which is still under warranty. They took pictures and sent them to their reps. Their reps in another state said it was in 4 wheel drive in 4 low under extensive torque in a mud hole. It had not rained here in over a month. So the dirt road I was on was dry and smooth. I did not have it in four wheel drive. Why buy a 4 wheel drive if you are not going to use it. They said I was driving fast causing extensive torque!? I was driving the speed limit and people drive fast and their vehicles don't fall apart. They said they wouldn't cover the damage, even though their mechanic made a wrong diagnosis. It is their fault and they should take the responsibility to fix it, with no money coming out of my pocket. I get paid to drive to and from work. Now I don't have a truck to get me to work. The shop says they will pay half the cost to fix it and I can pay the other half. They say they are doing me a favor by doing this.