Ball Joint Problems of Dodge Dakota - part 2

2001 Dodge Dakota had several ball joint replacements at low miles. All the ball joints were covered under warranty.

See all problems of the 2001 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

3 different mechanics told me that my ball joints were about to decay and possibly make my wheels collapse. I had to get them replaced after hearing and reading about other 1999 Dakota problems and dangers with the ball joints.

See all problems of the 1999 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

Vibrations from front end and rattling sound from rlft front end when driving. Had track bar, ball joints and seals replaced on lft side.

Consumer complained about a ball joint problem. The mechanic determined that the rubber bushings wore out. The consumer was told that the lower bushings were gone and that the upper ones were failing. The consumer found that others have experienced the same problems. There was a screeching noise when turning the wheel to the right or left. The service dealer found the left plate rubbing the rotor.

I bought a 2004 Dodge Dakota 3/20/04 and ever since it was new it has made a "popping" or a "scraping" noise when I turn. I made complaints to the dealer at the 3,000 mi and 7,000 mi oil changes but the dealer tells me they can't find anything. Now I see that 2003 and previous Dakota's have been recalled for ball joint service I am wondering. I have not drove my Dakota since October cause I don't feel safe driving it.

See all problems of the 2004 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

Ball joints defective-taken to dealer parts not available-vehicle unsafe according to dealer-no re-call issued yet - may re-call later-various accidents were reported nation wide-of front wheels falling off!!!!!!!.

See all problems of the 1997 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

1999 Dodge Dakota. I purchased my vehicle new in late 1998. In the five years I have owned it, I have had to replace two ball joints in the right front. Currently, a metal-on-metal squeak exists in the right front, and I believe it is a ball joint. I have lubricated all pivot points and joints, but cannot lubricate the ball joints. The squeak still exists. Here has been no incident as of this date. I only filled in the incident date below with today's because it is a required field.

Having new tires replaced on my 1999 Dodge Dakota 4wd, I was informed and shown that the front ball joints and tie rods were rusted and worn out. It was definitley danerous to drive the pickup and that the wheel would fall off! I do not have the $1,000. 00 to repair it and from what iv'e been told, they just replace the worn parts with the same new defective parts. Kinda like a bandaid. Help!!.

Own a 19'99 Dakota ext cab 4x4, 5. 2l. 52k miles. Upon inspection of ball joints there is starting to be some loosness, but are still within spec. There is unusal noises coming from the front end when going over bumps, indicating some type of looseness. All 4 joints are leaking grease indicating failure could possibly happen within the next 10k miles which would put it in the range of other failed trucks.

While driving on MD rt 468 at approximately 7:10 am on January 9, 2004, the driver of my truck hit a small patch of ice at which time the truck went into a 360 degree spin. At some point during the spin the front wheel came off at which time the driver lost complete control of the vehicle and it ran off of the road and hit three trees. An inspection of the wheel, tire rod and ball joint revealed that the ball joint was rusted and snapped off.

See all problems of the 2003 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

2001 ram 1500 extd. Cab 4wd sport. I don't use it off-road and only use 4x4 in the snow. 32000 miles needed new tires. Shop wouldn't align wheels because they said I needed new ball joints. Brought truck to dealer, they said it was within specs. 35700 miles, same dealer replaces upper and lower universal joints on warranty. I went back to tire dealer for alignment, they said the ball joints were still bad and needed to be replaced. 36010 miles, dealer replaces upper and lower, left and right ball joints on warranty. 65600 miles, check engine light came on, same dealer replaces purge solenoid, stabilizer links and shift rod link to quiet rattling noise.

I own a 1999 Dodge Dakota with 55,000 miles. I recently had to have nearly the entire front end fixed due to inferior parts. At two different auto shops I was told that I am extremely lucky that my wheels did not fall off while driving. I needed 4 new shocks, two new tie rod ends, and my ball joints were totally shot.

Frequent popping feeling in the steering wheel coming from front suspension. Always relates to front suspension up/down movement. Several garages have inspected, but cannot locate problem. Suspect problem has to do with early sign of ball joint failure. Dealer admits history front suspension and ball joint problems in this model.

See all problems of the 2000 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

I own a 2001 Dodge Dakota and noticed a loud clunking sound from my wheel when I turn the wheel at a hard angle and it is worse when in 4 wheel drive. The vechicle is out of warranty so it has not been in to get repaired. I have saw several reports where similar noise resulted in a lost wheel on the vechicle. Dodge should recall this ball joint problem and make my vehicle safe to drive. I drive my vehicle for work sales purposes and put on very many miles per year at highway speeds. This noise happens most of the time and when cold or in 4 wheel drive worse when the wheel is turned hard.

The investigation on the 1998-2003 Dodge durango ball joints needs to be expanded to the entire line of Dakota trucks. These vehicles, from the "b" pillar forward are virtually identical. . Read more...

See all problems of the 2002 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

On 7-16-03 I was a restrained passenger in a Dodge ram 1500 4x4 quad cab. We were returning from a short trip to the store. While driving on a perfectly straight dry road, with completely clear visibility at approx 3 pm afternoon with very light traffic we unexpectedly felt a hard bump, as if we had hit a pot hole. It was so hard I was thrown forward in my seat. The driver immediately yelled that the steering had locked. He was also trying desperately to hit the brakes, but they too were not working. The driver struggled with all his might to try and gain control of the vehicle, but wasn't able too. We drove directly into the lane of oncoming traffic. We then left the lane and proceeded into a parking area of a convenience store, where we struck a parked vehicle. After striking the parked vehicle we were redirected back into the lane of oncoming traffic. It was at that time we were struck head on by a semi truck. The semi drove completely over the passenger side of the Dodge truck crushing me inside and rolling the semi. The police report states that the front passenger wheel was found several hundred yards away from the scene of the wreck. In the area we noted the initial bump. The vehicle was investigated and it was found the front passenger ball joint had been broken completely in half; however, the investigated stated that the damage was too severe to make a determination as to whether the ball joint failed before, or was broken during the collision. There was approximately 5 seconds between the failure to control the vehicle and the collision. Something failed on that vehicle rendering it uncontrollable. I do have the vehicle in my possession, and it is available for any further investigation. Dodge has shown no interest what so ever in investigating this possible mechanical failure. I will spend the rest of my life trying to recover from the injuries I incurred from this accident.

Right front ball joint had to be replaced because of excess wear on tires and loose driving. I now have just over 50k miles and have been told that both right and left ball joint need to be replaced. Truck has a terrible ride and a Dodge dealer stated that my problem would not be covered under any bullitin or warranty. Cost is estimated to be over $1200. 00.

I have a 2002 Dodge dokota sxt 2wd that has a clunking sound similar to that which I have heard described in regard to a front ball joint problem. I have spoking with other persons who also have 2wd Dakotas and have hed to replace the ball joints well before they should be. I currently have 43,00 miles on the vehicle but the clunk has been present for several thousand miles and I was hoping there might be a recall before I have it fixed. I have no ride or handleing problems but just the clunk when I go over an object or onto a sidewalk to park.

I have a 2001 Dakota that started knocking on bumps at approx. 25000 miles. I determined that this was not normal and took it to a 5 star dealer at approx. 34000 and 37000 miles at which both times they could not find a problem. It is very obvious there is an issue with the suspension. My father owns a 1995 Dakota that had the same problem. Once the ball joints were replaced, not by a Dodge dealership, the noise issue was resolved. There are many reviews stating this issue but chryler does nothing to address it. The only thing I am left to do is pay $800-$1000 to repair it. I unfortunately cannot afford this and risk having it break at anytime.

The ball joint and axle failed, which caused the tire to separate from the vehicle. The ball joint and axle failed, which caused the tire to separate from the vehicle. Puerto rico police report 03-6-004-00805.

Ball joints on my 2001 Dodge Dakota pickup are already bad after 46k miles. I heard many complants about the same problem from other owners.

A continuous "clunk" in the front left suspension which the consumer was told was the ball joints. The left side was at "380 degree" and the oe specific was "0," and needed to be replaced. A non dealer told the consumer that the original design was poor.

Sir, I just read on the internet where Chrysler is recalling the Dodge Dakota going along with the governments recommendation. I understand they are only going back to the 2000 models. Well, I have an 1998 model that's going through the same things. The ball joints have gone bad the steering has gone bad. There's been a bad crunching coming from the front-end for over a year and no-one can find out what's making it. I'm getting scared to drive it. I've already spent a load of money on the front-end of this vehicle!!! I have been to the Dodge dealers numerous times and they tell me there is no bulletins on these problems but you can go on the internet and check on complaints for the Dakota and there are thousands on the front-end ever since they changed to the new body style. I don't know what you guys can do about this problem but I think you should, in good faith, make them reimburse or recall all of these vehicles having the problems not just the last 4 years. This is just a cop-out on their part to keep you guys off their backs. If you think there are not complaints just go on the internet and check it out. This problem began several years ago, not just in 2000. Thank you -------- an answer to this e-mail would be appreciated. Jim jerles .

See all problems of the 1998 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

I have had so many problems with this vehicle, I don't know where to begin. After purchasing this vehicle new, within the first year and several trips to the dealership for a clunking noise which got louder and faster as I accelerated the dealer couldn't figure out what it was. After picking it up the umteenth time, the noise was still there, I drove back to the dealership demanding they figure it out. They put there qa tech on it and discovered it was the drive shaft. That was replaced and I have had nothing but problems with the transmission slipping, the tires prematurely wearing, ball joints have been replaced several times. They were replaced in December 07 the last time, less than a year before the last time, along with new tires. It is now April 11, 2008 and I was just told after servicing the vehicle they need replaced again and the tires are wearing. The air conditioning failed several times, the brakes and rotors wear bi-annually and don't stop properly, after about 60,000 miles, the computer went on this vehicle, leaving me stranded many, many times. It was at the dealership several times for this and they couldn't detect the problem, even after my personal mechanic told them what it was. I had to have this fixed on my own because the dealership couldn't. The front passenger seat belt sticks and is difficult to unfastened, the paint on this vehicle is almost completely gone from everywhere but the sides of the vehicle. The serious safety issues with this vehicle are ridiculous and really need to be addressed by the manufacturer. How many deaths are you waiting for to occur before you make the manufacturer accountable for their defects??? is it going to take a death to occur and Chrysler to be sued for their neglect and faulty equipment?????.

2001 Dodge Dakota had a clunk in the front end when driving over bumps. It was later determined that the ball joints had failed at low mileage.

2001 Dodge Dakota has been diagnosed with bad ball joints.

While driving, the front of the truck began to shake along with a noise. The consumer inspected the front and noticed the passenger side tire had come off. The consumer was able to pull the entire tire off with his hands because the ball joint had failed. .

Vehicle was three years old when the right ball joint had to be replaced. The consumer heard a popping noise from the front of the vehicle, which alerted him of a problem.

Inquiry into anything consumer could do to get Dodge to take care of the ball joint failure which he experienced. The consumer stated the ball joints rusted and loosened.

Consumer questioned whether the numerous complaints of ball joint failure would be enough to issue a recall. When the consumer took the vehicle into the shop to be serviced, he was told the upper and lower ball were bad.

New tires couldn't be aligned because the ball joint were so bad.

At 54k miles, the ball joints had to be replaced.

The vehicle was experiencing front end problems which included the ball joints, front end suspension and poor wheel balancing. Please provide any further information.