Ball Joint problems of the 2004 Dodge Ram 3500

Truck currently has 76,000 miles. Replaced all 4 ball joints at the same time, fewer than 40k. Had to replace an injector around the same time. Filters Dodge came out with were too large, letting "junk" into the injectors. Not ong after that, we were driving and lost power. Pulled to side of road, saw belts hanging down. Popped the hood and the pulley(?) the belts attach to had snapped off! fortunately, we were on a county road, driving slowly. Then, at 76k, the front left wheel locked up, causing us to have to replace the entire front axle system. We were stopped at a stop sign, then proceeded to pull forward. About halfway across the intersection, left wheel locked up. We could go in reverse, but not forward. Injectors are clogging up as well and will most likely have to be replaced. We bought this new in 2005 for $42,000. It has had an 'easy' life with very little towing.

Truck started to have severe drivability problems with the front end. Had received a recall notice for both the steering linkage and left ball joint. Took into dealer who performed the physical inspection. Was told that our vehicle was not part of the recall due to configuration but the whole front end need to be replaced and all parts needed where exactly the parts under the recall if our truck had the configuration covered by the recall. We were faced with paying for the repairs base on some technicality that somehow our configuration excluded us from the safety hazard which caused the recall. We do not feel it is a coincidence that the repair needed were exactly the now that were under the recall but our truck was not part of the recall. Our opinion is the recall is too narrow and the safety issue is broader than how it is set up now.