Front Suspension Upper Ball Joint Problems of Dodge Dakota - part 1

I took my 2005 Dakota to repair shop because of clunking noise on front drivers side. Noise was heard when driving or rocking the truck when it was parked. Repair shop said lower ball joint completely failed and was riding on lower control arm instead of supported by ball joint. Upper ball joint was also bad. Passenger side upper ball joint worn out and lower ball joint boot was cracked. All tie rod ends also needed to be replaced.

See all problems of the 2005 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

This car has been a safety nightmare. From steel brake lines rusting through (and the vehicle losing it brakes), to upper ball joints almost separating to steering wheel drive shafts where the u-joints almost separated. These are not items that should fail like this. I spent part of my career looking after global product liability for cummins engine and I am stunned at the poor quality Chrysler has used in critical components.

See all problems of the 1998 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that he was informed that the upper ball joint was worn. The independent mechanic informed the contact that the upper ball joints need to be replaced to repair the vehicle. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 73,647.

See all problems of the 2001 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

Upper ball joints determined to be seriously worn. Need to be replaced ASAP. Was told Dodge had recall/extended warranty on these parts but Chrysler will not cover replacement at current time and with current mileage. Was told by Chrysler to initiate NHTSA contact relative to Chrysler case #24796745.

See all problems of the 2003 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

I backed out of a parking spot, turned the wheel to straighten out the vehicle. As I straightened out the drivers side front wheel upper ball joint failed trapping the wheel beneath the truck.

While traveling over a set of railroad tracks, the driver side front tire along with the upper ball joints separated from the vehicle causing me to temporary lose control of the vehicle. When I researched to see if this was a common problem relating to this vehicle I found about the recall. However, when I contacted daimlerchrysler I was informed that the recall was VIN specific and that my vehicle was not covered.

The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the front upper and lower ball joint failed while attempting a right turn. There was a loud noise coming from under the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and advised they were unable to assist because the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number: 04v596000 (suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 88,500 and the current mileage was 89,000.

The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the passenger side upper ball joints arm separated from the wheel. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic shop where the contact was awaiting repairs. The dealer was contacted who offered no assistance. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure and the VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 140,000.

The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the front tie rod end detached from the vehicle while the contact was in reverse. The dealer diagnosed that the upper ball joints would need replacing. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 75,000 and the current mileage was 85,000.

See all problems of the 2006 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

Upper ball joints were both loose and dealer recommended replacement. VIN number was not included in previous recall by Chrysler.

The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. While having the tires changed at an independent mechanic, the front suspension collapsed at the upper ball bearing joints as the vehicle was lowered with the new tires installed. The vehicle was not taken to an authorized dealer to be examined for the cause of failure. The vehicle was having the front suspension replaced by the independent mechanic. The VIN was unavailable. The failure and current mileages were 39,500.

See all problems of the 2002 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

I have a 2003 Dodge Dakota club cab. According to the dealer the upper ball joint on both sides of the vehicle are blown. Dealer states no recall for my year due to the fact mine is a 2wd. Called corporate and have had no luck. Dealer is charging me $400. My truck only has 65,000 miles. Will not honor the 10 year or 100,000 miles extended warranty.

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Dakota 4x4. While driving approximately 10 mph, the contact attempted to make a turn then unexpectedly the front driver's side wheel collapsed due to a fractured ball joint. The vehicle crashed into a cement post in a parking lot. There were no personal injuries. The vehicle was towed to the contact¿s residence. There was a recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 04v596000 (suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint); however the VIN was not included. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

See all problems of the 2004 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that he previously had repairs performed on the vehicle under NHTSA campaign id number 04v596000 (suspension, front control arm, upper ball joint). He was experiencing an abnormally loud squeaking and clanking sound while he was driving various speeds. The contact stated that the identical failure recurred after the recall repairs were made. The failure mileage was 90,000 and the current mileage was 94,000.

The contact owns a 2000 Dodge Dakota quad cab. While driving approximately 30 mph the contact began to hear a squeaking noise and the steering wheel suddenly became loose. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop where they informed that the the steering wheel failure was related to the defective upper ball joints. The manufacturer was notified and the contact was advised the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 04v596000 (suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 98,000 and the current mileage was 134,000.

See all problems of the 2000 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

For the last 3 or 4 years, I have complained about my 2005 Dodge Dakota 4x4 jerking which seemed to get worse when I applied my brakes. I just took it in for inspection and was told that my lower & upper ball joints need replaced in order to pass inspection. This just doesn't seem right when the truck only has 22,400 miles on it and has been only driven on city streets. I did get on the internet and searched this problem and it seems like alot of people have been having this same problem. Shouldn't there be a recall when so many people are experiencing the same problem?.

3 weeks after purchase had truck in shop with noise in front and rear tire/suspension areas. . . In for several service visits, seemed to get better than came back, they replaced bushings//had not heard noise. . . January 28, 2009 very loud noise and hard to turn drove to local tire company which said my suspension was bowed that tires were angled incorrectly and an immediate fix of the upper ball joints needed to be done for safety. . . $900. 00 later they replaced. I found out that night through an on line search that there had been a recall of the same part that was consistent with my situation same model make year/ I have the removed defective parts.

Upper ball joint failure passenger side of vehicle, I contacted Chrysler and they say that my vehicle is not covered under the recall #04v216000, which covered 600,000 vehicles for this very type of failure. I was never offered or informed of a extended warranty given by Chrysler to cover this very problem. If I was made aware of the possibility of this problem occurring with my vehicle, I would of made sure that my vehicle was inspected on a timely manner in this area. I did return my vehicle for a recall for my windshield washer assy in December of 2004 and also for my balljoints due the fact I was sent a recall notice. If the weather was worse or I did drive my vehicle off road I do believe my ball joint would have deteriorated as a accelerated rate. I also believe that if I experienced this failure in my vehicle,which was not recalled, there are many more Dodge Dakota pick up trucks that will experience this type of failure. Chrysler says the numbers don't warrant a recall,but this failure in their vehicle compared to gm or Ford products of the same type vehicle are about 300% to 1% comparing the numbers. I feel Chrysler should be responsible for any and all expense that I have incurred to repair my vehicle and more vehicles should be put into a recall status for this problem.

I was driving my truck over a speed hump going approx. Ten mph when something sounded like it dropped, I put the truck into park and got out to find my right passenger side tire laying horizontal, but still attached to the truck. I had to have it towed and I was informed that my upper ball joint had broke along with the half shaft/cv joint. I called Dodge because I was told there was a recall on the ball joints and they said they couldn't help me because my truck is no longer under warranty. I don't think I should be responsible for this repair. The truck only has 56,000 miles on it.

The contact owns a 2000 Dodge Dakota. Whenever the contact turns the steering wheel while driving at any speed, the front end of the vehicle pops. She also hears a clanking noise in the front suspension. The contact took the vehicle to a repair shop and was informed of NHTSA campaign id number 04v596000 (suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint). The failure mileage was 8,000.

The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Dakota. While accelerating from a stop light, the front passenger side upper ball joint failed. The front tire became disconnected and detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop and the cause of the failure was confirmed. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 04v596000 (suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint). The current and failure mileages were 104,000. Updated 09/10/08 updated 09/15/08.

The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Dakota quad cab. The contact stated that there is excessive wear on the ball joints. The dealer stated that his VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 04v596000 (suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint). The current and failure mileages were 71,000. Updated 03-25-08 updated 03/25/08.

Ball joint problem on 4x2 Dodge Dakota. Popping grating sound and lack of control in the upper ball joint assemblies. These use the same upper ball joint assy. As the 4x4 units that have been recalled. These cause the same problems and dangerous safety issues.

2002 Dodge Dakota upper ball joint failure. It seems that the recall under NHTSA campaign id #04v596000 only covered four-wheel drive (4x4) vehicles but the same problem exist on two-wheel drive vehicles also. My vehicle has 84,000 miles and both ball joints need replacing. The replacement part is the same on both two or four wheel drives.

I started noticing a "lurch or lateral shift" of the front end during tight left and right turns at low speed (35 mph or less). Driving at highway speeds on straight roads did not indicate any problems. Recently, during a brake system inspection, significant "slop / free movement" at the upper ball joint & wheel knuckle assembly connection was noted (> 0. 5"). I researched the problem and discovered the NHTSA issued recall for "upper ball joint failures on 2000-2003 Dodge Dakotas" as well as the Dodge issued TSB for the same defect. I took my 2001 Dakota in to a Dodge dealer for the recall repair. The Dodge dealer and Chrysler both conveniently took the position that my VIN was not part of this recall, therefore they were not responsible for making the repair. My vehicle has the same failure mode described in the NHTSA recall and the Dodge issued TSB. The NHTSA should force Dodge to expand the scope of VIN's covered by the recall to include all 2000-2003 Dakotas that experience premature ball joint failures. A safety related suspension component should not fail at 50,000 miles. To arbitrarily exclude some vehicle VIN's from the recall even though they have the same defects is dishonest and not in the best interest of the traveling public. I urge the NHTSA to force Dodge/Chrysler to repair this defect on all 2000-2003 Dakotas.

My upper ball joints have failed on my 1999 Dodge Dakota ex cab. I have been informed of many similar failures from this year/make/model. I have read the recall on certain models of Dakotas with this failure. Will my vehicle be covered by this recall? I can supply any further vehicle information that is needed if necessary. Please advise, my vehicle is currently disabled due to this. Thankfully there was no crash, bodily harm, or other injuries. Thanks.

See all problems of the 1999 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Dakota 4x2. The contact stated that the upper ball joints were corroded. The failure was noticed while driving 45 mph. A mechanic repaired the vehicle. The contact believes that the failure is a safety hazard. The current and failure mileages were 23,198.

The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the vehicle was not included in safety recall # 04v59600 due to the VIN ,specifically for the Dodge durango. On March 16, 2007, while driving at 0-5 mph, the contact heard a clunking sound near the front of the vehicle. The following day, the clunking sound increased, and the contact noticed the front control arm upper ball joints were becoming detached from the vehicle. The contact would like the vehicle repaired under the safety recall. The current and failure mileage were 87,000.

I have upper ball joints going out on my 2003 Dodge Dakota. . And the Dodge dealer in fargo nd says my VIN number is not recalled. But on your site there is a recall for them? I want clarification, of why mine has not not recalled too? please contact me through my internet addresses. Thank you.

I was advised today that my 1998 Dakota is plagued with the same issue that has been around for quite a while. The upper and lower ball joints are garbage at about 75,000. Fortunately I drove my wife's car by a stroke of luck and they gave me a lot of noise. So I caught it before a wheel fell off. Dodge should be recalling or at least replacing free of charge all ball joints that failed. Not just the 2000-2003 model numbers.

Upper ball joints worn out at 52,00 miles. Went for tire change and front end alignment and found problem. Had extended warranty but did not cover. Am waiting for part at the cost of about $600. 00 to replace.

Ball joint failure on Dodge Dakota 4x4. Recall on other vins not mine. Failure at 30000 miles. The dealer said 1200 dollars and they would put on the new modified ones. Why am I paying for a Dodge defect.

Premature wear and failure of upper and lower ball joints. Truck was making popping noises when you turned the wheel or went over bumps. Took to local mechanic; mechanic stated that the ball joints were scary bad. Mechanic also stated that if I had not brought the vehicle in the front wheels could have broken off causing the vehicle to wreck.

See all problems of the 1997 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

Clunking in front end.

: the contact stated while driving at various speeds the vehicle vibrated. It has been to the dealership twice for repairs. The first time, they aligned the front end of the vehicle. The second time, they replaced the front axle, lower and upper ball joints however, the problem still exists.