1999 DODGE Dakota

OIL PUMP! Engine builds up to much sludge. this will be second oil pump in a year.

WATERPUMP BROKE 2TIMES IN COUPLE MONTHS. AND DRIVE SHAFTED BROKE ONCE.AND ENGINE IS MAKING NOISE FOR LIKE THREE MONTHS NOW.I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO.

The paint on the roof, hood, and also on the bed is fading and chipping. I know that dodge is aware of this problem, I just wonder why they don’t do anything about it. I love my truck and I would definetly buy another Dodge, but not if the paint is going to wear off after a couple years.

The engine stalls and will not start again for about 1/2 hour or so. This varies. When it does start sometimes it will go 1/2 mile and sometimes 10 miles before it dies again. The check engine light is not on, numerous mechanics cannot find problem. After it dies, when the key is put in the \’on\’ position, the fuel pump is not working. If you hold the speedometer button in and put the key in the \’on\’ position it checks for codes and displays, 920, 921 and 999. None of these seem to mean anything to dodge or the dealership mechanics. Sometimes this will do this repeatedly in one trip and sometimes it won\’t do it for a few days.

The engine bearings and gaskets broketransmission cylinders worntransmission controls for 4th gear and overdrive shut downball joints wornleak in radiatorleak in power steering

The bottom pan casket on the lower intake began a slow leak that my five star dealer (Kile Dodge) did not tell me about but knew it was a recall that I found out after I took the vehicle elsewheres to get repaired the leak became so bad that the vehicle would use up to 2 quarts of oil a week, then the cooling system went out because the leak would also let radiator fluid leak as well causing me more problems. The exhuast system had sensors that went bad and one more sensor on the differntial that monitors mph.

the bolts holding the rear brakes backing plate ripped through the backing plate on both driver and passinger side. Bolt parts got in the drums and ruined them. The clutch wore out at the same time. The truck is listed at approx #9200 weight capacity. I think it is really way under designed like the R/T model.

The air-conditioner has completely stopped blowing cold air.The truck will not crank when the outside temp. goes down as in the winter time.The engine misses constantlyThe suspension is like riding on a bowl of Jello.The transmission will no longer go out of 1st gear unless raced up to 5000 RPM and then wont go past 3rd gear at all.

See failures

See failures

See failures

Paint on top of cab is pealing. Dodge told me that they would pay 50% of $400.00 I feel that this is wrong. They also said that this is a rare problem. Almost all Dakota have this problem. This is a bold lie. I would like to fight this.

Noticed white undercoating was showing through paint and the clear coat seemed to be flaking off. Ongoing medical problems took precedence over attempting to take it to dealer; assumed that since it was just over the 3 year warranty that an extensive battle would be required (as experienced by a co-worker several years ago over a Chevy product and paint problems. Noticed the article from your organization and responded. Am also interested in the alleged towing problem as my vehicle has the heavy duty towing package.

In September of 2003 the right front suspension began making creaking sounds anytime the truck went over a bump. When the vehicle was turned fully to the left, the right front suspension make a loud clunch sound just prior to hitting the wheel turn stop.The vehicle was looked at by an independent mechanic and he determined that the upper and lower ball joints on the right front were failing. He also noted that the left upper ball joint also had some movement. The vehicle was then looked at by the local Dodge dealership, and they determined that only the right side upper and lower control arms and ball joints neeeded to be replaced and repairs were made. Two weeks later I returned the vehicle to the dealership and showed them the movement on the left side. That side was then replaced.

I have just bought my 1999 Dakota Club Cab 4×4 in 12/31/02. The roof of the truck, the sides where the side windows are, and the hood of the truck has paint degradation. The paint is fading down to the primer. The paint on the front fenders is also dull and not looking like it should. It is obviously a paint defect! I called Daimler/Chrsyler customer service center to get warranty info on paint defects and they told me that the warranty was good for 3years/or i forgot the mileage but whichever came first. And of course the mileage came first. I am not sure why the previous owner did not get the paint fixed under the warranty, but I am paying for it now. I love the truck a lot, but for only being 4 years old it should not be having paint problems. I took the truck to a local dodge dealer to see what they could do but they said to talk to the manufacturer. I was not satisfied with what the manufacurer told me. I would just like some help getting the truck paint defect fixed. Please give some information on how I can get my paint looking like it should. Thank You Eric Laplante

i HAVE EXPERIENCED CLANKING AND FRONT END JUMPING WHEN MAKING TURNS IN THE FRONT END OF MY 1999 DODGE DAKOTA. THIS WAS PRESENTED, WHICH WAS ADRESSED BY “ROTATING AND BALANCING THE FRONT AND BACK TIRES” COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS MY UPPER BALL JOINTS IN MY SUSPENSION !!!!!!!! DUE TO THE MILAGE PUT ON MY FRONT TIRES, ABNORMAL WEAR HAS OCCURED DUE TO THE SUSPENSION. I MUST ALSO REPLACE THE DAMAGED TIRES CAUSED BY A DODGE DEFECT!!!!!!! I AM ALSO SUSPECTING EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR IN THE FRONT END DUE TO THIS.

I bought the truck in 11/29/01. The paint seemed fine then, it looked nice. In the summer of 2002 I started to notice the paint was fading around the windows and on the top of the cab in the rear. I went to the dodge dealer and asked them about it . I was told that they would fix the problem for $ 100.00 a panel. I asked about my extended warrenty covering it, they told me it wouldn\’t. The paint looks like it is somewhat pitted in these areas . It seems to me that the paint was touched up to sell the truck. I can\’t prove this, but it seems logical. Because paint shouldn\’t just fade in a year like it has.

Front right upper and lower ball jionts are squeaking. For only haveing 35000 miles on this should not be happening. Going to replace them myself. Truck always made a poping sound when turning left into a driveway. Possabily a manufacture defect?

From the start my truck had minor electrical problems such as: every time I used the lighter the fuse would blow, my radio would fail and I would have troubles with my wipers. Currently my headlights would go out for no apparent reason. I checked all fuses and didn’t find a problem. All of a sudden my headlights will go out and once in a while if I click my high beams on and off the driving headlights will eventually come back on. I was in northern Maine, Sugarloaf area @ 2am, and I lost my power steering. I got stuck and I was all alone. I had to walk through the woods to a cabin I could see had its house light on and knock on the door for help. Once my truck was freed from being stuck I had to drive 3 miles back to the mountain w/no power steering. When I brought it to the local dealer they showed me that there was some long silver rod like thing which had just broken in half!! The men both said they had never seen anything like it before. I didn’t think anything of it because it was still covered under warranty.A while later, my brake system had to be replaced. I was told it would cost over $800. I said I just didn’t have the money at that time. When Lee Dodge of Westbrook Maine called me back they said they could fix the problem for $150!!?? what’s up with that whole deal? Even I could tell there was a rotten fish someplace. Again, life is busy and one is always just happy to get their vehicle back.I had an accident about January 2001 and my airbag did not go off. I know it should have and I was lucky I was not hurt. Someone ran me off the road in a snow storm and I hit a tree after I went off the soft shoulder.This past June my truck went in to be inspected and I was told my upper control arms and ball joints needed to be replaced!! Even I knew that at 44k or so miles it was far too soon for me to need those parts replaced… The cost of repair was about $900 which is a lot of money for anyone. I live on a fixed income because I am disabled. When I went to pick up my truck my passenger side door would no longer close correctly, my hood would no longer open and the headlight problem became much worse. I just didn’t have the time to go to Lee Dodge about the problem and it wasn’t bothersome enough to call right away. The people in the repair shop are good to me and I knew I could see about it when I had the chance.Before I had the chance I had an accident. I had pulled out of my drive and my boyfriend pulled out after me in my brother

Excessive oil comsumption the problem is the plenum gasket under the intake. Dodge knows about it and has a TSB 09-05-00: but will not do a recall on it.

DaimlerChrysler Customer Assistance Center 11-23-03P.O.Box 21-8004Auburn Hills, MI 48321-8004The following should explain this letter of complaints about my 1999 Dakota. At 32,333 miles I brought my truck in to have a sound in the steering pump checked and the following occurred with regard to this. The dealership replaced the steering gear. I left but called them soon thereafter indicating the vehicle didn

COMPUTER CONTROLS, Loud spark knock under moderate acceleration, updated osftware on PCMEXHAUST/EMISSION, Loud popping sounds (bad converter)Suspension, LOUD POPPING from right front side upon shifting, braking, exiting and entering vehicle, repl Right upper and lower control arms, alignment

clear coat coming off base coat

50,000 mi. And all 4 ball joints are worn out, my Dakota is right now undriveable. I have heard a recall is being attempted for 2000-2003 models because of weak or bad ball joints and front wheels falling off. I have been on the dodge forum on the internet and found out that this problem is more so for the 1999 models and they should be added to the possible recall. The paint has been repaired twice and it is still peeling off and the factory warrant on the paint has expired. Your help would be greatly appreciated.

3.9L V6 FI OHV: I am a Colonel in the USAF and my specialty is aircraft and vehicle maintenance. At certain points, I led one of the largest aircraft maintenance groups and one of the largest transportation squadrons in the Air Force. I understand the need for proper maintenance. On three ocassions I\’ve had my oil pressure drop off intermittently and then go to zero. On the first ocassion at 35K miles, I took the vehicle in and was told I had sludge buildup that had damaged the oil pump. I was incredulous as I have routinely changed the oil. After that experience, I began using only synthetic oil. At 47K miles the same thing happened. This time the oil pressure switch was changed (no mention of sludge). At 57K miles while on a road trip, the third event took place and almost simultaneously the engine began severely knocking as it began to fail internally. The local Dodge dealership confirmed the engine had sludge buildup (again) and needed to be replaced. I have meticulous records of all oil changes…well within the manufacturer\’s suggested change interval of 7,500 miles. The mechanic who diagnosed the failed engine told me he didn\’t think the sludge had been completely removed following the first instance and eventually caused the engine to fail. (How it built up in the first place is, of course, the question the manufacturer is not owning up to.) Of course my first call to DaimlerChrysler resulted in them offering to help in absolutely no way because the warranty had expired. A quick check on the Internet revealed that Dodge/Chrysler have several different vehicle types with thousands of these identical incidents being reported.

12/10/04 Slow start after repeated attempts aat remote location (check gage indicator lit up). No further problem after sucessful start.12/11/04 four starts during the day without incident.12/12/04 Dificult start, required battery boost and procedure for flooded engine. After initial start, engine required accelerator pressure to run, idle flucuated 700-1100 RPMs then settled at a steady 800 RPM. Without driving, attempted second start with warm engine. Required flooded engine procedure to start. After start, engine would not idle without accelerator pressure

1 compelete front axle at approx 10k miles due to leaks,then overhauled at approx 30k miles due to bearing problems now have oil leaks again. 3 front drive lines in first 35k miles. complete transmission failure at 55k miles (no warranty)front brake rotors warped at 8k miles (no warranty)engine freeze plug out at 60k miles (no warranty)now front axle shaft bearings bad at differntial that was overhauled at 30k this truck only gets light duty use no towing and minimal 4×4 use in snow

The engine will run but it want pull or go and you can’t steer it or have any brakes. So you can’t stop. You just have to try and get it off the roadway. And if you are on the freeway you can be killed or hurt. We had to surrender the truck back to Car-Mart. We were not going to pay for a truck that the mechanic couldn’t fix. The mechanic tried 2 times to fix it. He said he didn’t know what was wrong with it. Now Car-Mart is going to sell it at a private sale in 10 days from the 15 of May 2009 to someone and they won’t know what is wrong with the truck and they could possibly be hurt or killed.  Car-Mart knows it is a LEMON. I hope you can stop them from selling it. We lost $2,708.00 on the truck. Car-Mart wouldn’t even work with us to get us another veichle. I don’t think its fair we had to lose our money for a reason that wasn’t our fault. Now we are out a vehicle plus lost our money.

Dodge dakota 1999 consumer replaced ball joints three times. *bf the consumer was very disappointed to find out that his vehicle was not included in the recall. *nm

The consumer owns a 99 dodge dakota 4x4 which has the same upper ball joint problem as the 2000-2003 models. the consumer wants to know why the 1999 model was excluded. *bf *nm *sc the consumers vehicle had 35k miles on it at the time of failure. *tc *jb

The consumer owns a 1999 dodge dakota 4x4 which had the same ball joint failure as the other models recalled. the consumer wants to know why the 1999 models were excluded from the recall. *bf *sc the consumer was told that the failure was do to normal wear and tear. *tc jb

The consumer would like to know why the ball joint recall did not include the 1999 dakaota which had the same problem. the consumer believes the scope ofe the recall should be expanded. *bf *nm *sc *tc *jb

Vehicle encountered failure of right front ball joint which resulted in failure of wheel bearing and brake rotor. *bf the vehicle was taken to the dealer who indicated that the ball joint had failed as a result of the failure of the wheel bearing. the consumer does believe that the technicians account of the failures was accurate. *nm

The 1999 dodge dakota front end has failed. the upper and lower ball joints, tie rod and both front tires had to be replaced. consumer wants to know why not include all dodge trucks in the recall. *bf *nm nar - see response to odi no. 10109594 *jls *sc

Consumer have rotors replaced twice. *la the consumer is now being told that the ball joints are cracked. the consumer stated that the vehicle was never driven off road therefore it is not normal and highly unusual for these types of abnormalities to exist. the consumer believes a recall should be initiated for this vehicle. *nm

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 dodge dakota. the contact stated that the lower ball joints for the front suspension fractured without warning. the vehicle was not diagnosed by the dealer. the contact stated that the parts to repair the vehicle were no longer available. the vehicle was not able to be repaired. the contact purchased a lower control arm to repair the vehicle; however, it did not correct the failure. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

Nouse coming from the front of the truck every time you hit a bump. mechanic said all the ball joints were bad.he said they should be recalled ,there was no place to grease them causing them to rust and wear out .bad cheap way dodge makes there vehicles. what happen to the days when dodge made good safe cars and trucks.

Often when i start my truck the oil pressure gauge will go all the way up, the gauge for the battery stays down, and when it does start, the serpentine belt will squeal, sometimes it will start and idle, other times it will not idle, unless i keep my foot on the gas, as soon as i take my foot off the gas it will stall, after about 15 minutes, everything will go back to normal and it runs fine, but lately, its been doing it more often, when it does this, there is a foul smell coming out of the exhaust. i have had it scanned and no codes came up on the scanner. i do not have a lot of money, so if there is a recall please let me know how a recall works. this has happened several times, but the last time was 9/23/2019, when i started it today, it ran fine.

Vehicle stalls intermittently in a unpredictable pattern. vehicle restarts after stalling 7 out of 10 times. when it wont restart immediately after stalling it will take upwards of 10 minutes to achieve engine operation. i've replaced the crank position sensor, as well the cam position sensor. vehicle continues to stall intermittently.

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 dodge dakota equipped with four brand new cooper cornell 1000 all season tires, size: p235/75r15. while driving 65 mph, the contact smelled burning rubber. as the contact was pulling off the main road, the vehicle began to shake and the rear passenger side tire blew out. the tires were purchased at pep boys on december 28, 2018. the contact took the vehicle to pep boys and returned the damaged tire. the manufacturer was closed and could not be reached until after the holidays. the vehicle failure mileage was 261,122. the tire failure mileage was 228.

Driving to the grocery store about 30 mph needing to brake and the front brakes were gone. right front caliper bolt broke thread and the caliper came off the spindle, steering caused more grinding and then i thought of the emergency/parking brake. i have replaced the same spindle before, but parts are not available now or before. i can';t find a used/new spindle to repair it and it just passed inspection.

Brakes came apart when applied, no brake. rattle on rotors, pad damage. bolts that go through caliper stripped threads from spindle freeing caliper to bounce on rotor i have replaced with used part once hoping for recall, bad news dude!!!

The nut came off the pinion

I already change the 2 front wheel hub this year n my problem is the rear differential,there is a knock coming when i engage it to drive or reverse.it seem the spindle gear is loose.

I have a 1999 dodge dakota. several time the truck will not start or will shut down a few minutes/miles after starting. the truck has a manual transmission and when this happens even 'kick' starting has no effect. after the truck shuts down, 10 to 15 minutes later it starts up without any trouble. this has happened while on the highway and in city traffic. *tr

Driving down the road, everything shuts off; motor, brakes, steering. odometer reads "no bus" and non of the gauges in the cluster work. after resetting the computer by unpluggin the negative terminal and vehicle cools, it starts up. this is a huge concern as i have read for many owners of similar models and years. it concerns me because i drive congested highways to and from work. this is a big safety issue and needs to be addressed and accounted for. *tr

Pulled out of driveway and started down street could not control vehicle. the 1999 dodge dakota r/t started screeching. i immediately applied the brake to see what was problem and the vehicle veered to the right. i was able to stop the vehicle in the middle of the street but could not turn the vehicle's wheel except on one side. i got out of vehicle and noticed that the front passenger wheel was turned towards the right while the left wheel was straight. i looked underneath vehicle and observed the lower control arm on right side of vehicle was broke from the frame or weld. the control arm was hanging from the frame of the vehicle broken away from the weld. i also have pics of the lower control arm break.

Found u-joints on steering shaft failing. able to turn steering wheel 1/8th turn with no response from vehicle. previously owned a 1998 v6 dakota and a 1998 v8 dakota with identical problem. replaced the steering shaft on all three vehicles. i understand ford crown victorias/ mercury grand marquis/ lincoln towncars have a recall for a similar condition on their steering shafts. *tr

I got the '99 dakota about 7 months ago and liked it drove pretty good even through the week when it was all single digits no problem. then once it started to warm up into the mid to high teens and up to then 60s and 70 it would shake at least twice a week. it always seemed to start at about 45 then once the engine warmed up it would stop. that stopped now that its in the 80s and 90s. now i barely have power steering and looking at it, it seems to be the intermediate steering column shaft which looking at all the complaints i'm surprised you haven't looked into it for it to be recalled by now along with the tie rods, ball joints, etc. these things seem to be falling apart at the front. i just hope nobody dies before this is fixed. *js

I had bought the truck in feb of 2013 from a private seller and i had noticed the driver side was leaning a bit more than the rest of the truck, so i crawled under and lo and behold i noticed that the frame was rusted so bad that the cab mounts was almost gone , and i got to looking and the whole entire frame from front to rear was rusted really really bad. i have never seen a frame rust that bad with 110000 miles . *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 dodge dakota. the contact stated that while he was replacing the front passenger's side brake pads when he removed the caliper pin and noticed it was stripped. the contact replaced the pin three different times however, the failure was recurring. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis, who stated that the steering knuckle would have to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 185,000.

Kept truck inside since purchase in 2/25/99 until the fall of 2009. parked truck outside until present time. truck only has 32217 miles on it. my complaint is that all the clearcoat is coming off or peeling all over the truck. have used mother's brand soap for clear coat finishes. have 93 t-bird and 32 ford which both have clearcoat and have no problem. have seem 3 other red dodges with the same problem. i think dodge should stand behind their product, since the basecoat and clearcoat was not applied right. since the truck only has 32000 miles on it. please reply. larry nichols at [email protected]

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 dodge dakota. the contact stated that while traveling 30 mph, he crashed into the rear passenger's side door of another vehicle. the contact stated that none of the air bags deployed. the contact stated that the vehicle was towed to a repair shop. the contact received injuries to the chest and left side of the body. the contact spoke with the manufacturer and was told that there were no recalls for the vehicle. the contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 01v153000 (air bags) for the clock spring assembly, but the manufacturer advised that there were no recalls for the vehicle. the contact stated he was the original owner and never received a recall notification. the vin was not available. the failure and the current mileages were 160,000.

Im not always in a good place to stop when it dies on me,i almost got hit by a car a few times because of this, it dies and wont restart for awhile, i think its in the computer. *tr

Brake line failure, rear brakes seized. replaced rear brake shoes and wheel cylinders 6,500 miles ago (approximately 1 1/2 years ago). several weeks ago 9/23/2011 my truck suffered rear brake line failure - steel line that runs from front to back - failure adjacent left rear tire within frame housing. i discovered the line wall failure within an area of extreme corrosion of the line - approximately six inches of the brake line with remaining nine plus feet of the line in like new condition. further review discovered the left rear brake assembly to be severely corroded, ie shoes, springs, adjusters, etc. as well as the left front rotor assembly. review of the physical body of the truck found the left front cab body mount to be "gone" (rusted away!) as well as several areas of the left side of the body proper also exhibiting oxidation (two years ago this was not the case at all). the remainder of the truck, center section as well as the right side (brakes included) to be in like new condition exhibiting normal wear and tear, with no corrosion. my conclusion, as well as a number of other "gear head friends", is that the new ice inhibitor being added to the center section of our connecticut roads during the winter months is promoting extreme premature corrosion resulting in ultimate failure of brake, and possibly fuel line components, of our vehicles. *tr

I was coming to a stop when suddenly the brake pedal sank all the way to the floor. a hole was later noticed in the hard brake line just below the driver's side door. the entire line is completely rusted as are the lines leading to the other brakes. luckily, nobody was injured. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 dodge dakota. the contact stated that while driving 35 mph the vehicle stalled. the contact waited for approximately fifteen minutes before the vehicle would restart. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to determine the cause of failure after performing a diagnostic test. the stalling of the vehicle occurred at least six times even though routine maintenance was performed. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure mileage was 170,000.

1999 dodge dakota intermediate steering shaft has a very common problem of the joints going bad causing excessive play in the steering, dodge even came out with a new version of the part knowing this was defective but wont make it a recall. i have done research and this has been a problem on all years even with under 10k miles! i believe this is a major safety concern for the owners and other people on the road with these vehicles. please look into this! thank you. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 dodge dakota. while driving approximately 50-55 mph, the contact stated that the air bag light illuminated and stayed on. the vehicle was taken to a local repair shop where the contact was informed about recall 01v153000 (air bags). both the dealer and manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included. the failure began august 2009 and had not been repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 220,000 and the current mileage was approximately 225,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 dodge dakota. the contact stated that the cable that holds the spare tire broke causing the tire to fall off while driving 25 mph. the bracket that was connected to the cable has excessive rust which also caused it to break. the contact called the manufacturer regarding the failure and the manufacturer stated that there were no recalls and he would be responsible for the repairs. the contact stated that the failure could potentially cause a major crash to occur. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 96,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 dodge dakota with 160000 miles. the failure started when the contact lost control by engaging the radio button and the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel. the air bag light also came on. the vehicle was self diagnosed and the failure was due to the clock spring. the contact stated that recall 01v153000 air bags was related to the failure. a new clock spring was put into the vehicle. the part number to the new clock spring was 56045456ag. the part number for the defective part was 56045456ad. the contact had a previous crash where the original clock spring was replaced with the defective one. the manufacturer was called about the failure but they could not tell the contact the part number of the original clock spring. the contact feels that they put the defective part in his vehicle after the vehicle was repaired.

Tsb#030299a, sounds like my truck is going to fall apart. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 dodge dakota. the contact stated that the front brakes would not release, causing the rotors to become extremely hot. the contact replaced all of the front brake components; however, the failure continued to occur. the contact had not spoken with the manufacturer when the complaint was filed. the vehicle was not repaired. the current mileage was approximately 71,000. the failure mileage was approximately 71,900.

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 dodge dakota club cab. the contact stated that the vehicle was in a head on collision and the air bag did not deploy. the contact was traveling 20 mph at the time of the incident. the vehicle was towed to a garage and the insurance company will pick up the vehicle. the contact was injured in the accident and is still recovering. the contact stated that they never had problems with the air bags prior to the incident. the system did not accept the vin at the time of the complaint.the failure mileage and current mileage was 51000.

Faulty weld at front lower control arm[rt side] control arm weld failed from inadequate penetration nearly resulting in loss of wheel and crash. no evidence of any damage to any other part of vehicle to cause weld failure. *tr

Ball joint failure. *tr

Upon starting my 1999 dodge dakota, it immediately went full throttle and lurched forward, brakes would not hold the vehicle. was placed in reverse and vehicle immediately went backwards in full throttle. still unable to stop the vehicle with brakes, hit an oak tree which totally wrecked the truck. note: the transmission was still in "park" when truck went forward. things happened so fast that my wife, who was driving the truck, did not think to turn off the ignition. *tr

Power steering fluid leaking with no visible reason. national transportation safety administration lists a recall for 1999 dodge dakota for inadequate clearance between left front brake tube and power steering hose. called chrysler to see if we could still act on this recall and they told me no such recall exists. is your system accurate in reporting this recall and can we still have this vehicle checked out? it was just bought by my son in september 2009 so he would not have been notified with the original recall. recall no. 00v193000. *tr

I own a 1999 dodge dakota v-8 magnum 5.2l, it only has 138,000 miles on it. when i bought it it only had 76,600 miles. in that little time i have had to replace the upper and lower ball joints twice, and the rack and pinion, and the water pump, the thermostat, the power steering pump, the tie rods, and there is so much more wrong. why am having to replace these things twice in such little mileage? after reading up on it through the internet i am not the only one with these problems, there are hundreds of people with the same complaints, why is there a recall on the 2000, & 1998 but not 1999? i am out so much money and have almost wrecked my truck twice because of these problems, once with 6 kids in the car with me and again with my 3 kids. this needs immediate attention before several people get hurt or worse, die!!! *tr

1999 dodge dakota had ball joints and tie rod ends replaced. now the consumer has a problem with the brake line and wants to know about any recall information for this vehicle. *nj the consumer was informed the brake line looked a little worn. within a week after the ball joints and tie rods were replaced the brakes went out. the consumer returned to his mechanic and had the brake line replaced. *jb

Dodge dakota 4x4 required replacement of front suspension upper and lower ball joints. wear of ball joints resulted in premature, rapid destruction of a set of tires due to inner shoulder wear. set of 4 tires had to be replaced at approximately 1/2 of expected tread life. total repair cost due to premature failure of ball joints, including new tires, was $1384.93 condition of ball joints was hazardous and could have resulted in an accident through suspension or tire failure. condition was also difficult to notice, as the wear was on inner shoulder of front tires. the ball joint and tire wear was not identified during a thorough inspection by an independent mechanic at 60586 miles or by a dodge dealership during 60,000 mile service performed at 60789 miles. dodge is aware of the safety hazard of the front ball joints on these vehicles, however did not notify me of the condition. i am the original vehicle owner, and these are original miles. dodge has declined to assist in the cost of repair. *tr

Intake manifold pan gasket was leaking. this problem was identified during an inspection by an independent mechanic, confirmed and repaired by a dodge dealership. i was told this problem could result in destruction of the engine, despite the fact that the dakota was running well. repair cost $664.72. dodge was aware of this widespread problem, and issued a technical service bulletin the year i purchased the truck. despite the fact that this problem was considered difficult to diagnose, dodge did not notify me and suggest that i have the vehicle tested while still on warranty. i am the original owner of this vehicle. dodge has declined to assist in the cost of repair. *tr

Water pump failed. due to recent failures on this dodge dakota, i have also become aware that water pump failures were common on dakotas. this failure mode was known to dodge. i am the original owner and was not notified by dodge. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 dodge dakota. while driving 15 mph or less, the contact heard a loud thumping noise underneath the front passenger side of the vehicle. the noise intensified whenever a turn was made. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the ball joints failed. the vehicle was taken to a private mechanic and the front passenger side ball joints were replaced. the failure recurred years later and the upper ball joints were replaced at 59,244 miles. the contact believes that the chrysler ball joints do not have greasers, which the new replacement ball joints have along with a lifetime warranty. he believes that the manufacturer should issue a recall. the first time the ball joints failed, the contact was forced to replace them with chrysler parts. he believes that this is why they failed a second time. the failure mileage was 32,904 and current mileage is 59,244. updated 05/26/09 *bf the consumer replaced the ball joints at his expense. updated 05/28/09.*jp

Shaky steering wheel, shaky vehicle,left front tire cupping, wearing unevenly. alignment shop cannot align, said ball joints are defective. vehicle unsafe, now parked awaiting disposition from mfger. dealer notified. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 dodge dakota. the vehicle has heritage trail trac ap tires, size 235/75/r15 (na). while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed a constant slow air pressure leak in the rear passenger side tire. in addition, the tire exhibited excessive cracks in the sidewall. the tire has not been replaced and the manufacturer has been notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 160,000 and current mileage was 162,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 dodge dakota sport. in june of 2008, the wheel bearings were replaced on the vehicle. in september and december of 2008 and again in january of 2009, the front wheel bearings were replaced. the contact stated the vehicle has never been taken to get serviced professionally. while driving at any speed, a clicking sound is heard coming from the wheels. the front wheel bearings have failed five times before while driving. this is currently the sixth occurrence and the contact would like some assistance. the failure mileage was 180,000.

Premature ball joint failure resulting in extensive repair costs, premature transmission failure resulting in replacement of transmission, excessive oil sludge build up causing loss of oil pressure, possible damage to engine. *tr

1999 dodge dakota sport transmission failure at 150,000mi and air cond. gone *tr

I have had to replace both front wheel bearings, they failed. now i have to replace front ball joints. why is this not being recalled? is my safety not a concern to dodge or nhtsa? i have already been stranded on the highway at midnight, thanks. *tr

Two years ago i purchased a 1999 dodge dakota 4wd pick up truck with approx. 63k miles. at 68,500 miles i replaced the brake rotors, pads and calipers. the caliper bolts pulled out of the spindle on each wheel and allowed the caliper to drop down onto the rotor causing the brakes to pull to the left side and overheat. when i removed the calipers the bolts were removable by hand and the threading in the spindle was rusted out and would not hold new caliper bolts. i contacted two dodge dealers (parts dept) and they stated they knew of no problems with the spindles. i checked on the internet and it seems that there has been an ongoing problem with the bolts pulling out of the spindles on this model of dakota's and durango's. this is clear cut safety problem that should be the responsibility of dodge and the nhtsa should be forcing them to make the repair or at least provide the parts for a solution. please note that the left front wheel did begin to overheat and actually began to catch on fire which required me to stop the vehicle and allow it to cool down and temporarily adjust the caliper in order to get home. *tr

Caliper bolts separating from spindle causing caliper to fall on to brake rotor. loss of braking to wheel, difficulty steering vehicle. spindle (steering knuckle) had to be drilled out and re tapped and threaded. heli coils (9m) installed to hold caliper bolts. new calipers and rotors installed. further inspection determined that upper ball joint failed. all ball joints will be replaced since the upper ones are not serviceable and i do not trust the lower ones. there has been no recalls for model year 1999 dakota however there are several tsb's #050399, 0200600 and several thousand complaints on the internet. why hasn't this safety issue been addressed by the nhtsa? *tr

After applying the brake to shift gears, the brake pedal went all the way to the floor with very little resistance. the brake light came on the dashboard. when i got out of car, there was a large pool of brake fluid under the driver side door. upon further inspection, i noticed the brake fluid leaking from the rusted brake line. *tr

This is in regards to a 1999 dodge dakota sport with a club cab. it only gets driven a few months out of the year and only has 53,000 mile on it. i drove my truck to the city transfer station on sunday. while backing up to the dumpster my brakes let go. the abs and brake light came on and i was barley able to stop before the truck rolled into the dumpster. upon inspection of the brake system one of the brake lines had rotted and gave way. that following monday i took it to the repair shop. my tech showed me that every brake line under the truck was rotten and had to be replaced costing $900 plus. *tr

The dodge dakota, 1999 model, has a recall given to the ball joints that were installed during the manufacturing process. i own the dodge dakota, 1999 model. also my ball joints have gone bad leading to uneven tire wear. these original ball joints also have no grease fittings for regular greasing. i have already spent countless hours replacing faulty parts going bad on my dodge dakota. i will not continue. i expect to get some kind of reply back on how we can work something out to replace the faulty ball joints on my dodge dakota. especially when there is a recall on them. thank you christopher perrone *tr

I currently own a 1999 dodge dakota 5.2l 4wd ext. cab. i have had upper ball joints replaced at about 65,000 mile range by the dealer and paid for the repairs. now i am at 94,000 and now the lower ball joints are bad. also my inner tie rod. i am seeing alot of complaints about the balls joints on this year causing major issues. i have seen there was a recall of 2000-2003 but what about 1999 year? isn't it the same front end as the other years? also had to replace the rear differential abs speed sensor. now i have read many places regarding the front suspension issue along with the abs and brake light showing on dashboard and is because of a bad sensor in rear differential. what is the possibility of dodge reimbursing me money towards upper ball joints and fixing my lower ball joints and tie rod for free? *tr

Ball joints failed on vehicle. one ball joint broke and took out the brakes. was on freeway when heard clunking noise. got off freeway and had the vehicle towed. dealer said that i could have been killed if i would have continued driving. *tr

Ball joints failed on all four wheels. left front ball joint broke and burned out the brakes. brakes failed. *tr

Around 03/04/2008 i was driving through a credit union parking lot and hit a sheet of ice i engaged my brakes to slow down, but my anti-lock brakes did not work and i slid 25' into an suv causing some costly damage to both vehicles. both vehicles were disabled and had to be towed. also,the airbags on my vehicle did not engage and fortunately i only sustained a minor head injury. *tr

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????? *tr

Aug. 24, 2007 abs @ brake warning lamps light, brake pedal went to the floor. made appointment at a dealership. aug. 25, 2007 1) i found master cycl. was empty (no brake fluid.) 2) found hole in rusted brake line under drivers side door.3) found all brake lines were rusted underneath side of truck. aug. 28, 2007 had truck towed to dealership. aug. 30, 2007 called customer assistance center to check on recall for rusted brake lines. no recalls. given case # 16686272. 1st estimate for repairs $350.00 to 400.00. 2nd estimate for repairs $500.00 to 600.00. 3rd estimate for repairs $700.00 to 800.00. sept. 11, 2007 repairs completed. all brake lines underneath truck were replaced with original parts. total 8 lines. total bill was $865.24 minus a 10% coupon i had total now $781.92. service manager comments: he has a similar truck, after seeing my rusted brake lines, he is going to have all his brake lines replaced on his truck. sept. 14, 2007 called customer assistance center for the 2nd time. gave them updated repair information & told them this is a very serious safety issue & are lucky that i was driving not my wife or one of my children when the brakes went out. asked for refund for repairs, turned down. *tr

Front and rear suspension- all 4 ball joints worn and causing the suspension to shift when driving. when the suspension shifted, it was pulling/pinching the brakeline causing erractic brake function. *tr

Brake line failed on a 1999 dodge dakota. the main brake line leading to the rear wheels failed. the service tech (mooresville tire in mooresville, in stated that the brake line had not been damaged, it just failed. i don't think that a brake line should fail in a vehicle that is 8 years old. this is a safety hazard. *tr. updated 01/11/08. *lj updated *jb

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. *jb

Air conditioner failure. subject on air conditioner cooling performance deteriorating after a few minutes of operation. *tr

Ball joints for the 1998-2004 dodge trucks were faulty, i could not believe after all the complaints received that nothing has ever been done about this faulty parts that could lead to serious injury or death. you could do a search for faulty ball joints on the web and there are thousands of complaints about these ball joints wearing out after sometimes 20,000 miles this is ridiculous and dangerous you guys should be ashamed for not holding dodge responsible for fixing these especially when there was a recall for the 2000 model year. yet no other years yet i am sure that they used that same ball joint for all of those model years.*ak

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 dodge dakota. the contact stated that the brake line is rubbing on the frame of the vehicle. if this continues to occur, it could damage the brake line and cause the brakes to fail. she has not yet notified the dealer or the manufacturer. the powertrain was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 45,000.

1999 dodge dakota applied brake and vehicle pulled to the left**cw** 2nd car from document number 10195900 the consumer stated when the brakes are applied, the brake pads wear, and pressure was being placed on the lugs/slide bars. the consumer also stated that it was also quite possible the brakes could be delayed from engaging because the backing plates are not able to ride up and over the wear spot. the consumer stated when he attempted to apply the brakes a delay in braking occurred, followed by a slight shudder, then the wheel locked up. the vehicle didn't stop and consequently he rear ened another vehicle. *jb

Truck died in downtown denver. no bus"on digital odometer. took to dealership for wire harness connector replacement, but it was still failing. *ak

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 dodge dakota. while driving 5 mph, the contact heard a clunking noise coming from the front end of the vehicle. the dealer stated that the upper ball joint needed to be replaced and performed the repair. approximately three years later, she experienced the same failure. there is recall # 04v596000 for the upper ball joints for model years 2000-2003. the contact feels that her vehicle should be included. the current mileage is 72,000 and failure mileage was 40,000.

Tl*- the contact owns a 1999 dodge dakota. while driving the contact heard a squealing noise and felt a vibration while depressing the brake. the mechanic stated that the front spindles on his vehicle were defective. the mechanic inserted a bolt that was supposed to keep the caliper attached to the spindle. approximately a month later he heard a loud squealing. the contact checked the brake pads and notice that the pads on the driver's side were worn. the contact replaced front rotors, calipers, brake pads and bolts. there has not been any other occurrences since the replacement. the vehicle current and failure mileage were both 123,000 miles.

Tl*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.*ak

The front end started making popping and other metallic sounding noises at slow speeds. when i raised it up and looked, the rubber boots on the ball joints were in tatters! i went to replace them and have been told that they are a "dealer item" and that daimler-chrysler only provides a whole upper and lower control arms with ball joint for replacement as a whole unit. while i have nearly 45 years of automotive service background this is a travisty of the n'th degree!. you produce a defective unit and then screw the poor slob who bought one by making him pay an arm and a leg to replace a whole control arm that only has a bad ball joint on the end of it.

Tl* - the contact states that on 12/14/06, he took his 1999 jeep dakota sport in for a tire alignment because his tires were wearing unevenly. the mechanic told him that he couldn't do the alignment because all four ball joints upper and lower had gone bad. the contact did state that he had heard about the recall on the jeep liberty's and was concerned about his vehicle because he has the same problem. the contact states that he did contact chrysler corporation on 12/21/06 and was told his vehicle warranty had expired and it was his responsibility to repair the vehicle. the contact informed the chrysler representative that he has only had the vehicle for 1 1/2 years. the representative took his complaint and gave him a reference # 15798865.

The 1999 dodge dakota 4 x 4 i bought new has 48500 miles on it now. it's front end ball joints are failing and will need replacement to avoid an accident. this truck has has only been city and highway driven. *nm

Failed transmission, failed upper and lower ball joints failed rear differential and clear coat delamanting on all panels of truck. *jb

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 25 mph on normal road conditions, a squeaking sound was heard coming from the front driver's side. the vehicle was taken into an independent mechanic who replaced the front lower ball joints, but the problem persisted.

1999 dodge dakota ball joint failure. *nm

Premature ball joint failure on 1999 dodge dakota. these vehicles should be added to the recall list of 2000-2003 dodge dakotas and durangos. *jb

Dealer notified me that both ball joints and control arms are dangerously loose and need replaced. nhtsa campaign # 04v596000 specifies manufacture date from 01/07/1999 - 12/31/2002. my truck was build in march of 1999. they are claiming that i got lucky and my truck does not fall under the recall, yet i still have the problem. 1999 dodge dakota sport 4x4 vin #[xxx]. *nm updated 07/12/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

Safety recall nhtsa id 04v-596 not honored dodge of bellevue 316 116 ave n.e bellevue, washington 98004 (425) 454-8411 luke blackwell (425) 454 8411 general manager failed to honor recall even though his mechanic stated there is a front end ball joint problem with my 1999 dodge dakota vin [xxx]. mechanic states- inner tie rods have excessive play. rec replace left front lower ball joint has excessive play. rec replace .dodge of bellevue invoice [xxx]. subsequent inspection conveniently reports to the dealers advantage that the vehicle is in specification invoice [xxx]- please check and measure all 4 ball joints and advise need to contact chrysler upon inspection with measurements. check all 4 ball joint all with specs -left front upper .010'' -lower .05'' right upper .020'' lower .010 all with in spc's right front upper has the most movement but is with in specs. file # with chrysler is [xxx]. i feel that chrysler is playing a numbers game with me - i want chrysler to replace the ball joints. *jb updated 07/16/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

I am on my second set of having to replace the ball joints on my 1999 dodge dakota at 89,000 miles. i know this is a common problem with all of dodge dakota's and durango's, and they were forced to deal with the 4wd models of 2000-2003. mine, however, is a 1999 2wd model, and the ball joints are no better on mine. fortunately, i have my truck checked enough that my wheels haven't fallen off yet, but i was told recently i was going to have to replace them again. i'm sick of paying for these, and dodge needs to finally admit their big screw ups on these. *jb

Vehicle was brought to a mechanic for intermittent brake noise. while checking vehicle brakes, mechanic noticed both lower ball joints nearly pulled through spindle. upper joints were visibly loose with excessive movement (factory spec is .060"; mechanic found .125"). vehicle had steered and driven normally but could have had major suspension failure without giving any sign to operator that there is a potentially dangerous issue. vehicle has 'low' (65k) miles for seven year old vehicle and is well maintained. failed joints are not serviceable-sealed for life- a very short life, and cannot be lubricated. design of suspension components' is poor resulting in wear that is excessive. no warning that failure is imminent causing potentially catastrophic results. all four ball joints were replaced. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated while having routine maintenance, the dealership determined the upper and lower ball joints were loose and needed to be replaced. there was a nhtsa recall, # 04v596000, regarding the upper ball joint; however, it was not included in the recall due to the vin.

Clunking in front end. *nm

I had bought my 1999 dodge dakota in 2001, less than 1 year of purchasing this truck, i lost oil pressure, returned the truck to dealer where they tried to replace my motor with a motor that had more miles, this did not happen. then another year later, gears in my transmission were spent where i had to pay a few thousand dollars to have it repaired. truck has been sitting for a year, cause of engine knocking again, with no oil pressure, also replaced the oil pump, still no pressure. new converter was put in, still good!! brakes and rotors are another big complaint of mine, when i have to constantly replace these parts, like every 6 months, can you tell me why? i used to love dodge, but this truck has been a 1 big headache, even parked, cause i know it is going to be costly to repair it again. *jb

Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 55mph, the left front tire blew out without warning. the sidewalls shredded on each side. the dealership has not been alerted. the manufacturer of the tire is goodyear. the brand name is wrangler. *ak

This web site under vehicle doesn't have the correct choices for a 98 dodge dakota 2 door club cab truck - manufacturer chrysler 2 issue 1 - design flaw in the ball joints of the dadge dakota trucks a) we replaced them april 2003 cost to us $1107.89 b) tv special aired about defects dec 2003 and dec 2004 c) looking for reimbersment - old part not available 2 - catalytic converter a) having our third catalytic converter replaced - known defect but chrysler will not cover the cost. replacement scheduled for 3/28/06. *jb

When putting heater on the vent setting the electric locks, the dome lights and the 4 way flashers start blinking, had central timer module replaced, still is doing same thing. *nm

The abs light and brake light in my 1999 dodge dakota started staying on after startup intermittently. the lights stayed on more often as time went by. shop couldn't find a problem. eventually both lights were on all the time. vehicle started stalling at stop signs and when going around corners. speedometer wouldn't work at low speeds--came on about the time doors automatically locked (20-25 mph). shop replaced speed sensor. vehicle ran fine for 30 days or less. same symptoms are back. *nm

My son escaped danger when the transmission/torque converter of his 1999 dodge dakota went out on an interstate highway. after replacing that and heading back home, his u joints and wheel bearings went out almost causing another wreck. these were all repaired. so far $3000 in repairs in a month. then the oil pressure dropped to zero as he was driving. now the oil pump needs replaced. along with the tie end rods, the timing chain, and the serpentine. he'd already had the total brake system replaced this summer. having all the receipts showing regular oil changes, the warranty company refuses to pay for the oil pump because of some sludge in the pump. now i find from researching on the computer that this is a very common problem in durangos and dakotas. we've put $5000 in this truck in less than one month. the manufacturer needs to admit the flaws in this vehicle. they have some responsibility here. we are just glad he was not injured or killed. but we've put over $5000 in a '99 vehicle - which is unfair when the problems are related to the design and manufacture of the vehicle. *nm

I have recently have had suspension issues with my 1999 dodge dakota ext. cab pickup with 69,600 miles. . i have been the original owner since new. i experienced shaking, noises during corning, etc. coming from the front end of vehicle. i then took it to an alignment shop and they informed me that my lower ball joints were bad and could separate and cause an accident. i did some internet research and found numerous websites that included notables of other individuals with the same issues. i also found that other dodge dakota models have had ball joint recalls. this didn't include my year of truck. i wanted to file a complaint so that i can be included in this ongoing investigation regarding ball joint issues with the 1999 dodge dakota 2 wheel drive ext. cab vehicles. i have not replaced the faulty ball joints as of yet. the vehicle is not currently in use. thank you, brent owens. *nm

Vin number: 1b7gg22yx xs206501; vehicle description: dodge dakota 4x4 p/u club cab model year: 1999 a knocking began in the front end and i took it to a mechanic who found both lower ball joints nearly ready to fall apart and both upper ball joints well worn. he said dodge had recalled newer model years but was refusing to fix the same problem in the 1999 models. the mechanic said the problem in my pickup was exactly the same problem in several 2000 - 2003 models he'd fixed. i called dodge but they just said it wasn't their problem. i entered an incident date below but there really wasn't a specific incident that happened. the ball joints just deteriorated much too quickly. i'm now paying over $700 to have the problem corrected. *nm

At 79,729 miles and all the regularly scheduled oil changes at the dealership (last one at 70,000) throughout the life of the vehicle, the "check gauges" light suddenly came on. i immediately stopped and checked fluid levels (oil, transmission, and radiator) which were fine. oil pressure would drop to 0 and jump back to 40 when engine was restarted. thinking (incorrectly) that it might only be an oil pressure sensor failure, i tried to drive home to get it serviced the next day, but it began knocking and smoking after a few miles and had to be towed. it is being evaluated now, but it will probably involve a complete engine replacement to repair. i noticed several similar complaints and think that dodge should own up to this defect. *nm

Dt: when the contact took vehicle to dealer for inspection. the dealer determined that the upper ball joints wore out. this problem constantly recurred with this type of vehicle. repairs have been made t at the contact's expense.*ak

Dt: the contact recently purchased a used vehicle that exhibited a front suspension problem. after the initial vehicle purchase he noticed a pulling sensation on the front suspension. he took the vehicle to an independent repair shop for inspection. the mechanic determined both front suspension lower ball joints needed to be replaced. however, no repairs have been made due to excessive expense. *ak

1999 dodge dakota, 87,000 miles dodge dealership states upper and lower ball joints (front left and right) need replacement before front end alignment can be done. also right hub bearing recently replaced. normal highway driving, no accidents. *jb

Dt: the contact stated vehicle would not stay in alignment. it made loud popping and snapping sounds when making turns. upon inspection the upper ball joint grease seal completely disintegrated. the lower ball joints had up and down play, which caused excessive wear on the tires. both upper and lower ball joints were replaced at the contact's expense. the manufacturer offered an extended warranty for model years 2000-2002 two wheel drive only. however, this did not cover this model year. additionally, there was nhtsa recall 04v596000 concerning upper ball joints. this recall was for model years 2000-2002 four wheel drive models only. the contact felt the extended warranty or recall should apply to this vehicle because it experienced the same problems. *ak updated 11/29/2005 - the outer tie roads and upper/lower bushings were also replaced. *nm

In 2003, when my vehicle, a dodge dakota pick-up was due a smog check. mileage was only approximately 39,900 miles. it failed. it failed 3 times. after paying about $800.00 it pass the smog test. this year, my pick-up was due a smog test. the mileage was 49,900 miles, again it failed the smog test (twice now). to this date, it has not passed the smog test and cost has already gone to approximated $300.00. *nm

Dodge dakota 99, 2wd. bumper prematurely rusts. exhaust manifold bolts prematurely rust causing manifold to separate from engine block. possibility of causing exhaust gases to enter drivers cabin. dodge will not fix failure - warranty expired. *nm

Dt: the contact stated the upper and lower ball joints along with the tie rod assembly wore out so badly that it almost caused an an accident. the dealership told him that it was not covered under the recall for the ball joints because his vin was not included. the nhtsa recall 04v596000 was issued he had the ball joints replaced, and was seeking reimbursement, but because of his vin not being included they would not reimburse. *ak updated 12/27/2005 - *nm

99 dodge dakota steering felt loose and wandered at highway speeds, i took it in for a alignment, technician informed me upper and lower ball joints and 1 tie rod were worn past spec, had to be replaced. the truck only has 34000 miles on it!, is in mint shape, and never driven offroad. i understand chrysler recalled 2000+ up dakota/durango for ball joint problems, what about 97-99 models? same vehicle/ same problem. can you say rip-off. *nm

On my 3 ball joint replacement in 4 years. uppers and lowers. recall should be expanded. there is clearly a problem here and i'm obviously not alone. *nm

1999 dodge dakota ball joint and tie rods. ball joints are separating and tie rods are bad just like the recall for the 2000-2004 models why wasn't this extended to the 1999 model. i have 78000 miles on this truck that i bought in aug 05. *jb

Upper and lower ball joint failure (multiple times) along with control arm and tie rod. *jb

I own a 1999 dodge dakota 4wd sport and i have had to replace both upper ball joints twice. i started having problems late 2001 early 2002, i took it to ansted motors in ansted wv and was informed the upper ball joints were bad. i contacted the chrysler corporation and was informed that my truck was no longer under warranty, so the best they could do was help pay for labor and that i needed to take it to a certain dealership, located in south charleston wv. because the truck was not safe, i had the ball joints replaced in 2002 at what is now joe holland chrysler. this lasted for about six months and i started having problems again in mid 2002, i took the truck to sears at the crossroads mall in beckley wv and was told the ball joints were bad, i had the ball joints replaced for a second time. i recently discovered a recall on dodge durango and dakota, but for the years 2000 through 2003, with the same problems that i have experienced. i have not received a recall notice.

Dt: ball joints were defective. . when the caller got new tires he was told the ball joints were bad. the caller said there was a recall on other years models but not on his year model. dealer has not been contacted yet. manufacturer said the call would have to pay for repairs himself. *ak

1. tires wearing on the inside. 2. ruined tires. 3. replaced ball joints. *nm

Won't idle on start sometimes and throttle sticks at 1700-2400 rpm's, have to shift to neutral in order to stop before hitting someone. dealer can't find the problems after being in the shop 6 times and replacing several parts. no codes in computer.

1999 dodge dakota ball joint failure. *nm

Dt: the consumer was driving at 35 mph on the street when the transfer case busted. it fall out of the bottom of the vehicle. consumer had to manually push the vehicle to the side of the street. the engine was still running, but the vehicle was nonmovable. there were no events leading up to this problem. there were no other problems with the vehicle. consumer took vehicle to the dealership and they told him they had never seen a problem like like this before. they said the whole housing busted and fell down, and they would have to replace the whole housing. *ak

Upper ball joints replaced at approximately 65000. abs fault lights on-not yet resolved.

Dt: contact states the upper and lower ball joints on the right side and left side had to be replaced due to a rejection notice from a safety inspection. this year when the vehicle was taken to be inspected they rejected the safety part of the vehicle. the vehicle will not stay in alignment. when the vehicle was being driven it made a thumping noise and pulled to the right side. the steering wheel constantly had to be turned to the left. there was abnormal wear on the tires, and the tires had to be replaced. there was a recall on model year 2003-2004 for this component, but this model year was not included in the recall. the vehicle has not been to a service dealer yet. the consumer was going to call the manufacturer. *ak

I owned a 1999 dodge dakota club cab since 09-99. it was bought new. .before my warranty expired on sept-2000, there was a popping noise from my front end, which was attributed to the ball joints. not only that, but every time i filled it up, gas would start pouring out from the tank. i took it to the the dealership maroone dodge in pembroke pines, fl), and was told that it was probably because i put too much gas in it. after the warranty expired, the problem got worst, and i was told that i needed to replace the fuel pump gasket, and the ball joints. i asked why i haven't been told that before my warranty expired, but the service advisor that attended me wasn't working there anymore. i complained to chrysler, trying to service my truck since i had complained from before the warranty had expired, but they never got back to me. i was just in this chat room, and saw that plenty of people have had the same problem with the ball joints, i don't know about the fuel leaking all over from the tank.

1999 dodge dakota pickup, v-6. the vehicle front ball joints are defective and will have to be replaced immediately by my mechanic. the mechanic mention a recall on on the ball joints so i contacted the dealer. they informed me that the recall is only for 2000-2003 vehicles. since the ball joints are faulty, i beleive the recall needs expanding to other years and if service has been completed, reimbursement is warranted to the owner

Squeek developed at right front wheel area of 1999 dodge dakota pickup with only 43,596 miles. i took it to the dodge dealer i purchased it from and they discovered the upper and lower ball joints were dry rotted and all lubricate was gone. upon futher investigation, the left side upper and lower ball joints were also detriorated and cracked to a lessor degree. i feel these parts were defective upon initial installation. this truck has never been off the highway, never in any accident, nor abused in any way to cause this problem. i realize the truck is almost seven years old but still feel i should not have been expected to spend $738.40 on this .

Dt: consumer stated that ball joints prematurely wore out. a recall was issued for this make/ model and year, but this vehicle was not included in the recall due to vin. consumer noticed the tires were wearing out unevenly, and he took the vehicle to dealer for an alignment. was told by dealer tires could not be aligned because the whole front end needed to be replaced. consumer called dodge, and was told they wouldn't cover the repair charges.*ak *jb

Dt: contact stated that the brake line rusted through below the driver's side door where it was attached to the frame. the consumer is going to take the vehicle to the service dealer. *ak *nm

1999 dodge dakota ball joints were loose.*mr the rack and pinion was also loose. *bf *nm

Brakes. the steel brake lines are mounted to the top of the frame with a bracket directly under the master cylinder and to the rear of the fender well. the lines have rusted through and burst whlile i was approaching an intersection. fortunately no cars were in front of me and i was able to stop safely. i was amazed as to how rusty the are and left to be that subject to the elements.

Upper ball joints on passenger side is making loud poping sounds and paint on hood is coming off. have been unable to have it looked at by someone because of disability.

Consumer replaced the upper and lower ball joints. this vehicle was not included in the upper ball joint nhtsa recall 04596000. *ak

Found excessive wear - upper and lower ball joints & inner tie rods. replaced upper and lower ball joints & the inner tie rods. *jb

1999 dodge dakota has problems with ball joints and tie rods.*mr the front end of the vehcile was loose and wobbling as a result. *nm

My brake rotors constantly pulse very heavily when the brakes are applied. steering is effected and the truck is hard to control when stopping. the abs light is constantly light up. i took the vehicle to a garage to check the abs brakes and they said the brakes were fine but they can not remove the light abs light. this will be my second time replacing my rotors since i bought the truck new. it has 85,103 miles today. i have had numerous problems with the brakes but not the rotors. *ak

Last year my 1999 dodge dakota, 5.2l slt fail it's annual inspection due to faulty ball joints. one year later and less than 10,000 miles the ball joints need replace again. i drive this vehicle part time as a second vehicle and do not drive on unsmooth surfaces. it cost $700 last year to replace the bottom ball joints and i am not looking foward to paying that again this year. the stearing is very loose and hard to control. i turn the wheel and the wheels do not react in a timely mannor. it is also hard to stay in the driving lane. the vehicle sways from one side to the other.

Consumer's vehicle experienced the very same problem as stated in recall 04v596000 concerning ball joint wear. *ak

I have a 1999 dodge dakota slt with about 26500 actual miles on it. i had the truck at the mechanic because of a nasty 'clunk' in the front end. turned out the right ball joint was so worn that it needed to be immediately replaced; the left is showing unusual wear as well and will need to be addressed in the near future. i understand this is "fairly normal" for the 99 dakota. that doesn't make it acceptable.*ak

During a routine inspection, the consumer was informed of loose upper/lower ball joints. the problem was not resolved. *ak the consumer stated all 4 of the ball joints needed to be replaced. *jb *nm

Ball joint failure at 53,000 miles. also, leak in steering rack. *ak

Vehicle experienced a problem with the upper ball joints. owner was having the vehicle inspected when it was discovered that the upper ball joints were completely worn out. when turning the steering wheel in either direction the front wheels would squeak and clank. *ak *bf *nm

1999 dodge dakota 4x4 (83,000): vehicle "wanders". noisey front suspension. local shop diagnosed as worn ball joints and tie rod ends.*ak

A clanking noise started coming front the front end when turning. left and right upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. *ak... the wheels felt like they were bonding when turning. the noise and binding was more noticeable at lower speeds. took vehicle to goodyear automobile service, was told upper an dlower ball joints and inner and outer tie rods were needed. servic ecenter stated there was a recall from chrysler for these parts, even though the recall was for 2000 year models forward the parts were exactly the same. consumer contacted daimler chrysler and was told to take the vehicle to a dodge dealer for an estimate. was told by the dodge dealer the parts should be covered because of the recall. contacted daimler chrysler again with an estimate and was told because of the mileage on the vehicle it could not be covered under the recall. *ak

Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision while driving between 40-45 mph. the other vehicle was driving between 30-40 mph, when it suddenly pulled out in front of consumer's vehicle. upon impact, the air bags failed to deploy. driver sustained forehead/ arm/wrist, and elbow injuries when impacting the steering wheel. also, seat belt failed to retract, causing the driver to pull a muscle in lower back. the vehicle was totaled. *ak police report available.*ak

Failed ball joints on 1999 dakota at 32,000 miles and 67,000 miles. *ak

On february 6, 2004 my 1999 dodge dakota had both the upper and lower ball joints on both the driver and passenger sides replaced because of excessive wear and deterioration. the truck had 46,500 miles at that time and is driven under normal road conditions. it is not used commercially. the cost for repairs came to $1078. subsequently, on march 4, 2005 i had to have to have my upper ball joints replaced on both sides, again because of wear and deterioration. the cost to repair was $338. it would appear that the original ball joints used by dodge are sufficiently lacking in quality, and so are the replacement parts, as well. *ak

The upper and lower ball joints of the consumer's 1999 dodge dakota wore prematurely. *nm *nm

I have a 1999 dodge dakota. the vehicle has the same problems in the ball joints as 2000 and up vehilcles that were recalled. i do fall out of the guide lines og the recall manufactor dates, this truck has manufactor date of 8-98 last 8 of vin#xs128563. i feel that i am close enough to the dates of recall and the ball joints used on my truck are the same defective one used on the recalled trucks , and shoulkd not have to pay to have my unsafe truck fixed . *ak

Vehicle encountered failure of right front ball joint which resulted in failure of wheel bearing and brake rotor. *bf the vehicle was taken to the dealer who indicated that the ball joint had failed as a result of the failure of the wheel bearing. the consumer does believe that the technicians account of the failures was accurate. *nm

During inspection the lower ball joints were found to be defective. the brakes pulsated and the vehicle was hard to stop.*ak

Aluminum wheels lugs:nuts came off. consumer stated the dealer had tightened the lugs:nuts, however, they will not stay tightened.*ak...everytime consumer had wheel work done, front wheel lugs:nuts and bolts loosened after driving one hour or more. consumer's first concern is for his family. also, if he should trade or sell it it would be a problem. *ak

Vehicle was experiencing a clanking noise while driving at any speed. vehicle was taken to a repair shop, and mechanic determined that the differential needed to be replaced. the dealer was notified.*ak

My 1999 dodge dakota 4wd extened cab was in the shop for a front end alignment and i was told the ball joints were worn out. i then took it to the local dealership to have the ball joints inspected and was informed that all four (4) needed to be replaced. *ak the dealership advised me to contact a representative at daimler chrysler, who eventually hung up on me after denying my claim of defective parts. i informed the dealership of my conversation and they were kind enough to work out a satisfactory resolution. they were going to try to get it warranted through daimler chrysler but were unable to.

The upper and lower ball joints, control arm bushings and now wheel bearings have been replaced on this vehicle. every year when the emisson testing and safety inspection is done it seems there is a nother problem. how long before dodge will have to own up and recall and repair these items at their expense not ours. this vehicle has only 72200 miles and has had both side done and now has to be done to the left sid again. this is a disgrace. thanks for your assistance in this matter. how many problems does it take to have a recall initiated. *ak

I have a 1999 dodge dakota the upper and lower ball joint are shot, my machanic told me that they will come apart at anytime. *jb

Last july at isspection the dealer said the front lower ball joints needed relaced on my 1999 dakota. this was at 22000 miles. i have never taken it off road and take very good care of it.*ak

While driving at any speed driver heard a loud squeaking noise coming from the front. suddenly, the vehicle vibrated uncontrollably. vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that both frontal ball joints needed to be replaced, and replaced them. however, the problem recurred, and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer. after tightening both frontal ball joints the problem recurred. mechanic determined again that the upper ball joints needed to be replaced. *ak

Dodge dakota 1999 consumer states vehicle front end wobble, brake vibration and upper/lower ball joint problem. *bf the shock absorbers and transfer case was defective. the power steering pump leaked and there was extra play in the steering. a piece of the exhaust fell off the vehicle. *jb

While driving at high speeds the steering wheel vibrated. dealership informed the consumer that the problem pertained to the front ball joints. the problem was not repaired. *ak

Vehicle is experiencing problem with the ball joints. owner recently had the vehicle go through the state inspection where it was discovered that the ball joints were defective causing the ball bearings to wear prematurely. owner contacted the manufacturer but was informed that this year, make, and model is not included in the current recall for ball joint wear. provide further details. *nm

Dodge dakota 1999 numerous problems with vehicle ball joint and steering mechanisms. *bf there were also problems with the rear end, transmission, engine malfunction lights, poor engine performance which consisted of hesitation and loss of power especially when under a load-going up and hill and seemed to get worse as the gas level in the tank lowered, hard abrupt shifting when in reverse and park to reverse, loud rubbing which was intermittent when making left turns and when stopping, the front would shake, the four wheel drive light was not visible on the dash when activated and would only show when the all wheel drive was activated, and there was a wobble, flexing and or vibration that would be present when braking along with a loose feeling or wobble when turning the front wheels. *sc *jb

Dodge dakota 1999 consumer replaced ball joints three times. *bf the consumer was very disappointed to find out that his vehicle was not included in the recall. *nm

The consumer request that the manufacturer expand the ball joint recall to include 1999 dodge dakotas . *bf *nm

Vehicle experienced problems with the upper ball joints. owner took the vehicle to an independent mechanic shop to have the tires replaced. it was discovered that the ball joints wore out completely. when turning the vehicle in either direction the wheels squeaked and clanked when turning and going over bumps. *ak dealer found right upper control arm bushing noisy. cooling system leak. thermostat and gasket replaced. *tt

Upon taking the vehicle in for a routine oil change consumer found that the ball joints were bad. there was a clanking noise coming from the front end of the vehicle. consumer contacted dodge. however, dodge will do nothing to assist the consumer.*ak

Dodge dakota 1999 ball joints failed and had to be replaced. consumer wants to know why wouldn't a recall be issued on the 98 -99 not just the 2000-2005 models. *bf the consumer stated that the manifold bolts snapped off in the engine compartment and they needed to be removed. *jb

Dodge dakota 1999 ball joints failure. consumer wants to know why wouldn't a recall be issued on the 97-99 like for the 2000-03 models, for the durango/dakota's. *bf the consumer stated the upper and lower ball joints were replaced twice on the passenger side and has failed again. *jb

63000miles and upper ball joint dry and squeaking. found urethane seal deteriorated allowing water/salt intrusion and purging of grease. why not detected in vehicle testing???*ak will repair myself with prepped aftermarket components thank you very much

Vehicle experienced problems with the brake line. the brake line was rotting off the vehicle. owner went to apply the brakes, and discovered that there was a hole in the brake line. also, owner had to replace the ball joints on four occasions. owner contacted the manufacturer, who claimed that vehicle had too many miles on it, and he will do nothing to assist the owner. *ak

The consumer experienced problems with the upper ball joints as well as having to replace the upper control arms on both sides. the owner took the vehicle to the dealer and had the services performed. provide further details. *jb

Owner of 1999 dodge dakota reporting defective ball joints in dakota and durango. *bf the consumer stated the upper and lower ball joints were replaced on his vehicle as well as the control arms and tie rods at a low mileage. *jb

At 46,000 miles the ball joints failed. there was grinding in the right front side of the vehicle. had to have the tie rods and wheel bearings replaced. *ak

I have a 99 dodge dakota with 59,000 miles. i am currently having my second 4wd transfer case replaced. first replacement was at 41,000 miles. i use my 4wd approx 20 times a year and for short distances. i have replaced the u joints twice, the a/c compressor once due to it being located in a terrible place. oh, lets discuss the ball joints as well. *jb

Front rotors need frequent turning, they pulse, i have had them turned three times and they need it again. i have a 1999 dakota, v6, auto 2-wheel drive with 45,000 on it. *jb

After hearing a humming noise coming from the front end. the dealership informed the consumer that the front wheel bearing were worn. *jb *sb *nm

2 lower ball joints, 2 upper ball joints and 2 inner tie rods all replaced at 48,600 miles in 2/02. new recall only covers 2000-2004 dakotas when it is obvious that the 1999 model should also be covered. reimbursement from chrysler for parts/labor/alignment at $806 for defective parts should be expected. *nm

Recall campaign 04v596000 concerning upper ball joints. consumer brought vehicle to dealer for brake work and discovered the upper ball joints were defective. this vehicle is not included in the upp ball joint recall due to vin. *ak

My truck began having strange noises and vibrations. i had my dealership check it for me and the advised having 4 ball joints and sway bar bushings replaced, which i did at a cost of $1100. i have saved the old parts. i have asked chrysler for compensation and they deny on grounds my truck is a 1999. my veichle has only 44,000 miles on it and i bought it new. i had the work done before an accident happened.*ak

The consumer experienced "a" frame and upper ball joint problems. the manufacturer reimbursed the consumer for the parts but not the labor. *nm *sc *jb

No hot air blowing from heater. i took it to two repair facilitys and both confirmed that the heater core needed to be replaced. the vehicle only has 68k miles and it appears this is a chronic problem with dakotas, although the dealer will not acknowledge the problem. it is not easy to replace the heater core and typical cost run from $600-$1000. *ak

1999 dodge dakota with 64k miles experienced faulty inner and outer tie-rods which required replacement. it was fortunate that the problem occurred after moving from a public parking space as this would have been a real safety concern if it occurred while driving and could have caused a catastrophic outcome on the highway.*ak

Air bag failed to deploy, and the seat belt did not work. *bf this was a head on collision with a telephone pole. *sc

The consumer owns a 99 dodge dakota 4x4 which has the same upper ball joint problem as the 2000-2003 models. the consumer wants to know why the 1999 model was excluded. *bf *nm *sc the consumers vehicle had 35k miles on it at the time of failure. *tc *jb

The consumer owns a 1999 dodge dakota 4x4 which had the same ball joint failure as the other models recalled. the consumer wants to know why the 1999 models were excluded from the recall. *bf *sc the consumer was told that the failure was do to normal wear and tear. *tc jb

The consumer would like to know why the ball joint recall did not include the 1999 dakaota which had the same problem. the consumer believes the scope ofe the recall should be expanded. *bf *nm *sc *tc *jb

Have stayed updated on tune-ups and keeping truck running, got new tires nov. 24, 2004 from leschuab. on dec. 1 2004, i was hit on the front end driver side. took truck in for reapirs, and found out that ball joints were extremely worn. *ak

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. *jb

Dodge dealer advised me that upper ball joints on my 1999 dodge dakota 4wd were dry and needed replacement. the truck had 18562 miles. having already seen the cbs special , i knew there would eventually be a recall. the recall is for 2000-2003. my 1999 has the same problem. it now has 23505 miles, with the same dry ball joints in need of replacement.*jb

The upper ball joints are wearing out prematurely and need to be replaced. the cause has yet to be determined. *ak......the truck wa sonly driven on road, very low mileage for ball joint failure. 150 other complaints in nhtsa data base on same issue. *ak

Upper ball joint bad after less than 61,000 miles on my 1999 dodge dakota. there was no crash or injury as a result. *ak

The 1999 dodge dakota front end has failed. the upper and lower ball joints, tie rod and both front tires had to be replaced. consumer wants to know why not include all dodge trucks in the recall. *bf *nm nar - see response to odi no. 10109594 *jls *sc

Consumer complained about upper ball joint problem. after hearing noise consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, and was informed that the ball joints were busted and needed immediate replacement. the service technician stated that he never saw ball joints in that condition before. *ak .....*ak

1. front suspension making clunking noises. tires cupping. steering felt loose. . i didnt allow the failure to occur. . replaced upper and lower ball joints. *ak

Consumer heard a clicking noise when making turns and at low speeds, making it difficult to control vehicle. consumer took vehicle to dealer for upper ball joints repairs twice. *ak

I believe the ball joints on my 1999 dodge dakota 5.2l v8 were defective. i had alignment problems and was told the ball joints were bad (both upper and lower) and needed replacement. had i not gotten this fixed, the wheel may have eventually fallen off, resulting in injury or even death. the vehicle had approximately 54,500 miles on it at the time and the ball joints were replaced on 12-01-04. i believe that the recall already in effect for dodge durango and dakotas 2000-2005, should be extended back to at least to1999, as they are likely using the same defective parts. *ak

The right front tire completely wore from the inside. the vehicle was taken to dealer for a front end alignment, and the upper ball joints were found to be defective.*ak *jb

The upper and lower ball joints wore out prematurely. *ak

Front end wear causing erratic handling and excessive tire wear. replaced all four ball joints (upper and lower) on 3/1/2004 at a cost of $777.14. excess tire wear reduced useful life of front tires by 20,000 miles. replaced tires on 12/31/2004 at a cost of $547.09.*jb

1999 dodge dakota with 27355 miles - front wheels about to fall off, had to replace upper ball joints - cost to me at the dealer was $484.38. i am the original owner and purchased the vehicle new. i think it's absurd to have to have ball joints replaced with those few miles - have never had to have that done with other vehicles owned with more mileage. i think the manufacturer should have replaced faulty items at no cost to the owner. front wheels susceptible to falling off - i think would be a major concern to the manufacturer and the nhtsa.*ak

Complaint received via e-mail." a month after purchase (10/25-02) i had a ball joint failure on the passenger side, it literally fell apart. i contacted dodge several times and took it to dodge for a diagnostics test and they said the ball joint was bad but would not fix it. they said that the warranty only covered the drive chain and o well. i had a mechanic fix it - not dodge. here it is a year later and the other ball joint is starting to fall apart. the upper radius arm bushings are too close to the engine and heat causes the bushing to dry rot allowing space, the ball joints cannot handle the movement and collapse. the 1999 dodge trucks are not in the recall, why ? this model came out in 1997 i believe that all of them have this problem and it is a defect. one month ago i went to tate dodge and asked the mechanic if he knew of any other trucks with this problem or if they had to do a lot of front end repairs, he lied. he said i don't know anything and i haven't heard of one yet. a week later the recall came out. i notified dodge of my problems back in 2002, i bet a lot of accidents would have been nullified if they had listened." *jb

Consumer complained about steering problems. he took the vehicle to dealer to be serviced, and it was determined that the vehicle had damaged ball joints. consumer was aware of recall on dodge dakota and durango 2000-2003. *ak

I have had my upper and lower ball joints replaced a few times under warrenty along with the intermediate steering shaft ! always replaced with the same factory part prone to failure !at $100.00 deductable per incident along with the cost of a front end alignment after each repair (not covered) - and now my extended warrenty is up and it will cost me more for the privledge to own this useless truck !

Consumer complained about upper and lower ball joints problem. when driving there was a clanking noise. could hear it when pulling in and out of parking spaces. consumer contacted the manufacturer, and was told that the recall for these vehicles were between the years 2000 to 2003. they will not make an exception. *ak *nm

All four ball joints were replaced. however, the problem recurred. contacted dodge, and was not willing to assist the consumer with fixing the vehicle. *ak...mechanic notified consumer that one of the upper ball joints was defective to the point the wheel was in danger of breaking off at the ball joint. *ak

Is the 1999 going to be included on the ball joint recall? i allready replaced one,, now i got another going out. replaced tires on the front twice. *jb

There was a popping noise in the front end while turning. vehicle was driven to the dealership, who indicated after inspection that the lower ball joints had worn out prematurely and needed to be replaced. the lower ball joints were replaced. however, failure recurred 4000 miles later with the upper ball joints. *ak

Vehicle experienced problems with the upper and lower ball joints. consumer had the vehicle inspected, and discovered that both the upper and lower ball joints split. both the upper and lower ball joints were replaced. later, consumer contacted the manufacturer, who informed consumer that this vehicle was not recalled due to vin. *ak

We have a 1999 dodge dakota that was riding rough. after driving another vehicle, and then driving the dakota you would notice that the smoothness was gone, and when going over any uneven pavement or bumpy roads you really had to grip the steering wheel to have control. took the vehicle in for inspection and ended up having the upper and lower ball joints replaced. the vehicle had 44,000 miles on it. the replacement took care of the problem with an out of pocket cost of $633.00. *ak

The consumer had the ball joints replaced for premature wear. the vehicles performance was poor and the sound was excruciating. *jb

Numerous front end/engine, exhaust, brake and electrical mafunctions/mechanical problems including increasing severity front end wobbling/vibration/flexing when turning wheels, going down a hill and when applying brakes. no accident has occurred yet but owner is very concerned with safety of vehicle and operation. i have contacted,compained, called.e-mailed and faxed the dealer where i purchased this 1999 dodge dakota with suppossedly only 44951 miles -mitchell pre-owned certified on queen street in southington, ct and also the mitchell conglomerate owner steve mitchell as well as mitchell dodge in simsbury, ct who provided this suppossedly inspected, certified safe vehicle to mitchell in southington, ct for sale to the public. *ak

"recall campaign 04v596000" concerning ball joints: consumer stated the ball joints disintegrated completely. consumer contacted the dealership and manufacturer. however, the problem still exists. *ak

Upper and lower ball joints,tierod ends on both sides went out on my 1999 dodge dakoda. had then repalced twice already and cost alot of money. *ak

I own a 1999 dodge dakota 3.9l v6. i am aware of the recall that has been issued for models 2000-2004 for ball-joint issues. the 1999 models deserve to be in this recall...most of the complaints are starting from the 99's and 2000 models. my truck is part of this problem. i have a noticeable problem with my ball-joints, and it's only a matter of time until my wheel decides to fly off (probably while traveling 70 mph on the highway, which will be disastrous to me and others). with my truck only having near 79,000 miles on it and given the way it's delicately been driven, there should be no reason why i should have a problem with these joints. please push dodge to extend the recall to cover 99 models as well. i know i'm not alone in this problem. i have searched many forums, and am pretty sure there are about 100,000+ more cases just in this 99 group alone. thanks for listening and please respond with any information or updates on this matter! *jb

Wheels would shake and make a clicking noise when making turns and traveling at low speeds. vehicle repaired by the dealer when consumer found out that the upper ball joints needed to be replaced. *ak......also, replaced lower ball joints. *ak

Both upper and lower ball joints was ng when i went for inspection. i couldn't believe i was driving this vehicle like this. i now think they are getting bad again....*jb

To date, i have replaced the following: 1) upper ball joints - both sides 2) lower ball joints - both sides 3) calipers - both sides (front) 4) water pump 5) wheel hubs - both sides (front) 6) catalytic converter 7) headlamp switch. *jb now, i have the following problems: 1) headlamp switch (again) 2) transmission will not shift between gears 3) upper control arm bushings. *jb

I have had to service and replace both the upper and lower ball joints on this truck due to near failure three times in the two years i have owned this truck. subsequent replacements of the ball joints have been covered under warranty since they all have occured within one year of each replacement. however, i fear in the future i will begin to either encure huge expenses with annual replacements not to mention the huge risk of ball joint failure. i have done considerable research regarding this problem and am amazed that the recent 2000-2002 dodge dakota recall was not extended to the numerous problems plagueing the 99 models. i hope soon the recall will be extended to include these terribly faulty ball joints as well.*ak

While driving 10 mph passenger's wheel broke. vehicle was towed to a garage for inspection, and mechanic determined that both frontal upper ball joints needed to be replaced. *ak

While driving 35 mph or more vehicle wandered while in motion. vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the consumer that the upper/lower ball joints needed to be replaced on both sides.*ak

After only 38,000 miles, my dodge dealer in 2001 advised me my ball joints were defective and needed repair on my 1999 dodge dakota 4x4. out of warrenty by only 2000 miles and only about a year old, they advised me to keep the paper work and parts, if there ever was a recall.*ak

Replaced ball joints twice in my 99 dakota 1 time with dodge part should i have to pay for them again come on have them call the early one back to or should i not replace them and sell the truck to some person with out the knowledge i know it's a hard but please stick up for the little guy or girl the dodge boys new about this for years but i think they but hope it just wash away please help us. *jb

The steering of my vehilcle displayed excess movement and made a clicking / loose kind of sound when changing steering direction. it was necessary for me to replace the front end of my 1999 dodge dakota. this consisted of the upper and lower ball joints on both sides. this was not covered by the dealer. i had all work performed by my local mechanic at my expense. i saw the article on line regarding the possible recall and would like to know if my vehicle as well as those of others who have experiencedn this condition and have paid for these repairs themselves can be considered part of this action and possibly receive reinbursment to off set these expenses. *ak

Why is the 1999 dodge dakota not included in the ball joint recall. my 1999 dodge dakota had a bad upper ball joint at less than 60,000. *jb

Bad ball joints! 1999 dakota r/t. *jb

Ball joint failure right front side,and now the left front side is going out.i replaced the part myself with a greasable ball joint.*ak

Upper ball joints are very loose and could separate from control arm. i believe the ball joint recall should include my 1999 2 wheel drive dodge dakota because it also is in great danger of the front suspension collapsing whle driving. *jb

My 1999 dodge dakota had the wheel bearing fail at 65,000 miles. this is the same failure that has occurred in the 2000 to present recall. they should include the 1999 model in their recall. *jb

Consumer took vehicle to the dealer for annual maintenance, and was told that the upper ball joints/idle arm , and tie rod ends were defective.*ak

Ball joints were repaired three times. consumer stated the ball joint was too close to the engine, and caused them to rupture. problem continued to happen.*ak

Not necessarily an incident, yet... but how come 1999 dodge dakotas are not affected by the new recall on the ball joints?!!?!? the '99 is the exact same design as the 2000 dakota. i have a rwd 99 dakota, and i had the ball joints replaced 3 times since i've owned it. three times. daimler chrysler doesn't care if our wheels fall off?!? i had warning once of three times when my ball joints were shot. what were to happen if i rolled my truck and died?! i can't believe that the recall for the ball joints only affects the 2000-2003 models, i know from plenty of other dakota owners, the 99's are every bit as bad, if not worse. same design = same problems. i'm not paying for dc to do my ball joints again, there is no reason the 1999s should be excludeed from the recall. if the balljoints on the 200s are bad, then being the same ones on the 99s will go just as bad. i'm glad to see somebody finally stepped in and did something about this, but i am very dissapointed in the fact that the recall doesn't include all the years with the same design flaw. there is no reason for it, and quite frankly, it infuriates me.....*jb

Ball joints on 1999 dodge dakota. i have already replaced one and need to replace the other. my model year is not being recalled despite the fact that the exact same manufacturer of the ball joint and the same design was used on it, as it is on the 2000-2004 that is included in the recall. in addition, you have recommended only recalling the 4x4 models, but 4x2 models also suffer from this problem. who paid you guys to not include our model year. you are a disgrace. i am outraged. *jb

During a routein tire rotation at my chrysler dearer it was discovered that after only 44,529 miles the ball joints were ready to fail on my 1999 dakota sport cc pickup. before i left the dealer he replaced the upper and lower ball joints both sides and the left and right inner tie rod ends. i was lucky i went in for a tire rotation. *ak

I have a 1999 dodge dakota 4x4 with the same ball joint safety issue that has resulted in the recall of 2000 - 2004 models. dodge is refusing to fix the safety related issue. i spoke with stew hansen dodge (where i purchased the vehicle) and they will not fix the issue under the current recall. *jb

1 defective ball joints on 1999 dakota; misaligned front wheels, and 3 replaces all four joints on front. *ak

1999 dodge dakota right ball front ball joints went bad. took it to the dealership to replace them. 61000 miles on the truck. no accident, or injuries, just unsafe conditions to drive with this vehicle. just purchased this month. *ak

On 11/9/2004 i took my 1999 dodge dakota pickup into my independent mechanic to give me a normal oil/lube/filter. when they started the pickup up on the lift, the left, front ball joint broke and the whell fell off. they said it was all rusted and worn. my pickup had 41,000 miles at the time. i contacted my chrysler dealerand was told to contact crysler directly which i did. the chrysler customer support line registered my problem but said that since i did not use chrysler parts or use their repair shop that i was out of luck. the latest recall program apparently is for 2000-2003 years only. this is not right that a truck 1 year earlier with exactly the same problem as the recall addresses should be the responsibility of the owner. have you looked into earlier model years?*ak

1) loud squeaking , poping noise 2) replaced before complete failure 3) replaced upper and lower ball joints on the drivers side. *jb

Catalytic converter failure, excessive rattling and noise during operation. *jb

The upper and lower ball joints wore out prematurely. *ak

Upper and lower ball joint failure in 1999 dodge dakota rt, aftermarket parts installed the first time at 39,000 miles and is in need of a second replacement now at 60,000 miles. *jb

Continuous abs problems. some times the abs brakes will apply without touching the brake pedal, most of the time the abs won't work at all, abs sensors are continuously needing replacement,all 4 front end ball joints worn out, noisy rear end, only 50,000 miles. *jb

Consumer complained about steering problems. took vehicle to dealer for inspection, but it not serviced. however, mechanic determined that ball joints failed. he was aware of the durango, dakota investigation by dodge.*ak

Had ball joints replaced once already and thy need to be replaced agian. first time on my extended warranty, this time will be at my expense. if this is an example of new vehicle manufacturing to have to replace safety components every 2 years. i would rather go back to the older vehicles. there are no grease fittings on the new stile ball joints.

I took my 1999 dodge dakota pickup truck in to have it aligned. the mechanics at big o tire told me it could not be aligned due to bad upper and lower ball joints and tie rod ends. big o tires informed me that not only were the parts worn prematurely, but that it presented a dangerous situation and that my wheels could fall off the truck. i did not believe big o, so i took the truck to loveland bear alignment for a second opinion. loveland bear alignment verified what big o told me, and in addition told me that to use chrysler parts would not be acceptable because the chrysler replacement parts were as defective as the parts being replaced and that it would not solve the problem of premature wear and danger of the wheels falling off. the vehicle had 67,571 miles on it at the time i was told this. due to both the safety concern over my wheels possibly falling off and the need to align the vehicle to avoid wearing out my new tires, i ordered the ball joint and tie rod ends replaced with lifetime warranty aftermarket parts followed by alignment. the repairs to my vehicle cost approximately $1,037.00. so far, the only consequences were premature wear on the last set of tires and the fact that i was compelled to replace the parts for safety concern and the ability to perform a front end alignment on the vehicle. the old parts are not available. i now understand that there is a recall in effect for this vehicle but only for 2000 and newer vehicles. i want you to be informed that the defect also affects at least some vehicles manufactured in 1999 and to request that you extend the recall to include my vehicle.

The upper and lower ball joints had to be replaced at 60k miles. i had mechanics at ntb take a look at my truck, and they said that driving with the ball joints in such a condition was extremely hazardous.*ak

1999 dodge dakota-upper and lower ball joints. notice a clanking noise during rough roads and in turns. in icy conditions, the control of the vehicle can be poor. prolonged wear can cause the entire wheel to fall off at any speeds. i have been on many other forums to see if any one else has had to replace these. it seems to be a very frequent thing for people to have to replace these. upon removal of the ball joints, i discovered that they were missing one thing that keeps them from wearing out....grease. new upper and lower ball joints are to be replaced asap before a serious accident occurs.*ak

(1) normal on-road use (2) premature ball joint wear and failure causing suspension noise, looseness and dangerous driving conditions (3) ball joints replaced with quality aftermarket supplier parts (moog)

Failing dodge dakota ball joints (both upper and lower). in mid october i had both the upper and lower ball joints replaced on my 1999 dodge dakota. the machanic informed the upper one were shot and the lower ones where starting to go. i know that there may be a recall in the forseable future, however, i do not think the consumers should pay the bill for an obvious design flaw. luckly i caught the problem before the wheel fell off (i have heard that this has happened). please let me know what the status of the 1999 dakota ball joints. *ak

Ball joints and tie rods are defective. this is very dangerous safety issue. my 1999 dodge dakota sport has 55,000 miles. via internet and word of mouth i have been made aware of many other dakotas with the same problem with much less miles.*ak

1999 dodge dakota ball joint. *ak

Consumer stated the lower ball joints failed stat inspection. *ak

I had the tell-tale sign of popping sounds in the front end - especially when turning. sure enough, both upper & lower ball joints were bad. both sides! given the cost of labor, i am doing it myself (i'm a c mechanic part-time). the play was so bad; firestone could not do an alignment! i am replacing all ball joints. have receipts & saving all parts for any possible investigation by nhtsa. i did notice, after doing 1 side, that the ball joints look like the wear surface inside is totally gone! it is metal-metal contact. the upper joints come from the factory sealed (lubed for life). some flakes of plastic did fall out of the upper ball joint.*ak

I have had to prematurely repair/replace the ball joints on my vehicle. i have noted an inordinately large number of repairs related to this issue when researching the repair process online and with my dealer. because of the potential for injury or loss of life, i have had to severely limit my usage of the vehicle until i can afford the large amount of money required to repair this issue. this problem was first noted in 2001, when the vehicle was only 2 years old. since then, i have driven the vehicle only when absolutely necessary, and it has caused unjust disruption in my personal and professional life. i am requesting that the nhtsa follow through with contacting daimler/chrysler on my behalf so that i may receive financial compensation for the repair. total cost of repair is $492. *nm

While applying the brakes a loud squeaking noise was heard coming from the front. the driver noticed suddenly a vibration uncontrollably while making a left or right turn. the driver was able to drive it to the dealer for inspection. the mechanic informed the driver that the upper and lower ball joints needed replacement due to corrosion. please fill in additional information. *jb

Routine maintenance of brakes revealed ball joints (left and right) needed replacement. second opinion was obtained, with same opinion while also stating that vehicle was too dangerous to drive. truck has 44,000 miles on it. *nm

The vehicle's upper and lower ball joints had to be replaced at 43,826 miles. *bf

At my last regular service (oil, filter change) the service technician advised me that the upper right ball joint was on the verge of failure. i believe this to be a premature failure do to the low mileage and the fact that it has been regularly serviced by the same dealer since new. *ak

While driving consumer noticed that vehicle was swaying back and forth. consumer pulled over, and noticed that driver's rear tire blew out from the sidewall and was cracked open. all four tires had stress marks located on the sidewall. goodyear, wrangler st, p215/75r15, dot# m6hfeywr348 . second set, p215/75r15, dot # m6hfeker3800. *ak the consumer had the same problem twice. the sidewall on all four tires split. *tc

While driving at any speed, the consumerer heard a loud noise coming from the front. the vehicle vibrated uncontrollably. the consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle and drove it to the dealer for inspection. the mechanic informed the consumer that the upper and lower ball joint needed to be replaced. please provide further details. *jb

I drive mainly on public roads, so i occasionaly have a few potholes. i have to keep taking my truck to the dealer for balljoints and control arms. *ak the dealer says it fixed and within two weeks time i hear a bonk in the frount end and need to see the dealer again.

While driving at any speed vehicle vibrated uncontrollably. consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and drove it to the dealer for inspection. mechanic determined that upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to worn out parts. this information was provided by mrs. williams husband curtis england. *ak

While turning/driving consumer noticed a clicking noise coming from the vehicle. vehicle was taken to dealer, who was unable to locate the problem. *ak

I had noticed the front tires cupping and brought it to a dealer for an alignment, there they told me it needed upper ball joints, lower ball joints, and a tie rod end. i then brought it back the dealer where i bought it and they told me the amount of "play" is acceptable according to dodge measurements, however they did recommend to replace the tie rod end, which i had them do and had to bring it elsewhere for an alignment as they didn't have an alignment rack. i then brought it to a place they recommended close to where i live for the alignment, where i was told the upper ball joints were shot and they would not be able to align it. i then had the shop replace the upper ball joints with aftermarket parts that can be lubed and had a warranty along with an alignment. the truck is a '99 club cab v8 4x4 w/47500 miles.*ak

While driving, the hub assembly went out without warning. the consumer contacted the manufacturer and the dealer and the dealer denied the claim. the whole front tire became detached from the vehicle, which caused more problems with the steering and front end assembly. provide further details. *jb

Noise in front end of 1999 dodge dakota truck with only 51,000 miles on it . ad to replace both lower ball joints and one tie rod end.*ak

Flat tire. side wall has slits right next to the rim of the wheel. after obtaining a flat tire i had my garage man check the other 3 tires and they all were the same , with slits in the sidewalls. unsafe to drive on. *ak

Prior to the part replacement, i experienced the following with my 1999 dodge dakota pickup (manual transmission). the engine stalled, the speedometer acted erratically and dropped to zero, and the check engine and abs warning lights came on. this occurred while i was still in gear and moving at speeds of 50 mph, 35 mph, 25 mph, and when just starting out after backing out of a parking space. those times when i had sufficient speed, the engine would restart within 10 seconds - if i left the vehicle in gear. at other speeds, the truck stopped dead in the roadway - with traffic behind me having to slam on their brakes. the internet is littered with stories of the failure of the abs/rear wheel speed sensor in dodge vehicles. (for examples, see www.dodgedakotas.com). there are, however, no indications of related accidents. i suspect it is only a matter of time. i researched the problem via the internet and took my vehicle to my local dealer and had them replace the part (at a cost of $85 +$36.10). the vehicle has not exhibited any of the above symptoms since replacing the sensor. i retained the failed part. the issue here is that this sensor should not cause the engine to stall. there are no diagnostic codes associated with this failure. my belief is that the firmware for the onboard computer must be flashed for all models (and the issue corrected for any future models) so that the engine is not told to shut down. i would add that, since this sensor is associated with emissions, the replacement and labor should be covered under the warranty. thank you for letting me vent! *jb

Because i heard of all the problems with front ends on these vehicles i have it checked every time i get my oil changed. with only 35,000 miles on my dodge dokota sport i had theupper and lower ball joint replaced, the tie rod ends and last week the u-joint. hard to believe there

Close

This vehicle was purched used with less then 30,000 miles at the time i noticed a shimmy in the right front wheel, took it back to the dealer and was told there was nothing wrong with it. the wheels now have an excessive shimmy and grinding when making a right turn. the shimmy can be felt in the steering wheel as well as noticed from the outside when the truck is moving. have taken it back to the dealer and told that this is something that dodge is aware of and has done nothing to fix the problem, as the service machanic said its just dodge, then he went on to say he wouldn't own a dodge dakota and he services them!!!*ak

When driving 1999 dodge dakota pickup in temperatures below -10 degrees f overdrive malfunctions. dealer at first claimed that it was supposed do this. later they admitted that it was a design defect, but, do not know how to fix it. many of these vehicles have been sold in the northern states under false pretences. *ak

Consumer noticed that the rear axel seal leaked and was dripping fluid onto the rear brakes. this problem was repaired twice, problem recurred. also, ball joints wore out excessively on both sides, upper and lower.*ak

1999 dodge dakota 77,250 miles. front upper ball joint failure. having ball joints replaced.*ak

Front tires were wearing unevenly. vehicle was taken to the local repair shop to investigate the cause of uneven wear of the tires. upon inspection of the tires dealership determined that the upper and lower ball joints/tie rods, and drag link were worn out, and needed to be replaced. *ak *nm

Both unper and lower ball joints on both sides of my 1999 dodge dakota failed and had to be replaced this march with less than 50,000 miles on the vehicle. the mechanic said the ball joints were ruined and that it was in large part to there being to small and also having no grease fittings.*ak

Bad ball joints and tie rod ends

I pulled out of a parking lot and heard a loud thump coming from the passenger side of the truck. i got out and pulled on the top side of the wheel because it sounded like the wheels wanted to come off. when i pulled the tire moved an inch. further investigation found the ball joint boot split in half and no sight of the back side control arm bushings. *la

Consumer have rotors replaced twice. *la the consumer is now being told that the ball joints are cracked. the consumer stated that the vehicle was never driven off road therefore it is not normal and highly unusual for these types of abnormalities to exist. the consumer believes a recall should be initiated for this vehicle. *nm

1999 dodge dakota we bought it new rotors have been replaced 4 times for cracking tie rod ends are bad the first set of tires lasted 14000 miles. front tires are impossible to keep. *ak

Vehicle was taken for a routine general maintenance, and the mechanic noticed the upper ball joints worn out prematurely. dealer and manufacturer has been notified. *la

While driving, a loud noise was heard coming from the front end of the vehicle. upon having the vehicle inspected, the mechanic determined that the ball joints needed to be replaced. *ak the ball joint were worn. the upper and lower joints were loose and noisy, and the front brakes had rusted. *sc *jb

Every time i used the lighter the fuse would blow, my radio would fail and i would have troubles with my wipers. i checked all fuses and didn't find a problem. all of a sudden my headlights will go out and once in a while if i click my high beams on and off the driving headlights will eventually come back on. i was in northern maine and i lost my power steering. i had to walk through the woods to a cabin i could see had its house light on and knock on the door for help. once my truck was freed from being stuck i had to drive 3 miles back to the mountain w/no power steering. when i brought it to the local dealer they showed me that there was some long silver rod like thing, which had just broken in half!! i didn't think anything of it because it was still covered under warranty. a while later, my brake system had to be replaced at a cost of $800. i said i just didn't have the money at that time. lee dodge of westbrook maine called and said they could fix the problem for $150! i had an accident about january 2001 and my airbag did not go off. i was run off the road in a snowstorm and hit a tree. this past june my truck went in to be inspected and i was told my upper control arms and ball joints needed to be replaced!! even i knew that at 44k or so miles it was far too soon for me to need those parts replaced. i live on a fixed income because i am disabled. when i went to pick up my truck my passenger side door would no longer close correctly, my hood would no longer open and the headlight problem became much worse. before i had the chance to have the car looked at, i had an accident. i had pulled out of my drive and my boyfriend pulled out after me in my brother?s car. when he pulled out of a drive, i went to pull up along side him, my tires were spinning on piles of wet leaves, my wheel would not respond, my gas and my brake would not respond. i had both feet on the floor not either gas or brake... the truck then thrust forward and hit my brother?s car!

Ball joints on 2000 dakota failing with only 35k mi. i went to the websitehttp://www.dodgedakotas.com/boards/v8/208.html....i think it pretty well sums up the problem...extremely cheap parts...how long will it take for dodge to recall these when people start dying from front end failure...you guy's need to read all of these complaints and look at the mileages shown. because of the price i have not yet replaced the part...i just started driving my truck lately again after my son finished driving it to and from college and he did not say anything about it. i truly hope you do share this with chrysler corp because when i can go online and read so much collective info and see people with cheap ball joints breaking down at as low as 7k mi. if they do not react esp. when someone dies from a serious breakdown...i will never purchase another one of their vehicles. *nm

In september of 2003 the right front suspension began making creaking sounds anytime the truck went over a bump. when the vehicle was turned fully to the left, the right front suspension make a loud clunch sound just prior to hitting the wheel turn stop. the vehicle was looked at by an independent mechanic and he determined that the upper and lower ball joints on the right front were failing. he also noted that the left upper ball joint also had some movement. the vehicle was then looked at by the local dodge dealership, and they determined that only the right side upper and lower control arms and ball joints neeeded to be replaced and repairs were made. two weeks later i returned the vehicle to the dealership and showed them the movement on the left side. that side was then replaced.

I have a 1999 dodge dakota 4x4. at 50,000 i installed new tires and took my truck to a mechanic for a wheel alignment. i recently moved and the mechanic was new, but had good reports. he told me that he could not do the alignment because of bad ball joints and tie rod ends. i was outraged, thinking that he might be trying to rip me off. i told him at 50,000 miles i should not have to get new steering parts, but the mechanic said that he has replaced ball joints and tie rod parts on several dakotas and durangos at that mileage. i told him to replace the parts and do the alignment. when i picked up my dakota, he showed me the parts, they were bad. i have worked for two large agricultural machinery manufacturers and have seen them cut costs by installing cheap chinese parts. the cost to produce the product goes down and the consumer price of the product goes up increasing the margins and lining the pockets of mr. ceo and other higher ups without a concern to the consumer. it happens everywhere. this on the other hand is serious involving cheap parts on the steering components on a highway vehicle. this is a safety concern and i pray that dodge does not have blood on their hands if someone gets in an accident because of their neglegence. i have also had brake issues with my dakota. the dakota with the 5.2 goes like a bat out of hell, but the handling components such as steering and brakes are less than to be desired.*ak

I have experienced clanking and front end jumping when making turns in the front end of my 1999 dodge dakota. this was presented, which was adressed by rotating and balancing the front and back tires come to find out it was my upper ball joints in my suspension !!!!!!!! due to the milage put on my front tires, abnormal wear has occured due to the suspension. i must also replace the damaged tires caused by a dodge defect!!!!!!! i am also suspecting excessive brake wear in the front end due to this.

While driving consumer the consumer heard a loud cracking noise coming from the front suspension. the dealership repaired the problem once, but problem recurred. *ak the problem was repaired for a second time. *sc

Ball joints on 1999 dodge dakota excessive tire replacement(3)sets of tires on front vehicle has only 65000 miles also had to replace rotors and brakes i don't beliee this is typical for this amount of miles.

Upper, lower and inner tie rods were worn at 92k miles. *ph

While driving at any speed and when making a turn heard a knocking noise coming from the front end. consumer could pull the steering wheel with his hands and hear a knocking sound in the steering column. dealer examined the vehicle twice and found nothing wrong. an alignment shop while attempting to realign the tires found that the upper ball joints were worn out. *ak

While driving front upper/lower ball joints wore out. . this could cause the vehicle to shimmy. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak

I have a dodge dakota,1999, all the ball joints are bad and dangerously worn. the biggest problem is they are the same as the durango!!!!! and i can't get them. they are out of stock all over at a cost of $2000.00approximately.!!!*ak i understand there is an investigation underway for the durango but did you realize the dakota is the same part.............. not only cant i afford this repair it is a 53,000 mile vehicle that is well cared for and this is abosorbent and gouging the public. please consider including the dakkota with the durang investigation. thank you frank yunits sr.

Had to relace front ball joints at 20,000 miles. had to replace them again at 60,000. this time had mechanic replace them with ones that have nip so they can be lubricated. *mr

Front end steering mechanism had to be replaced. *ak both of the vehicle's lower control arm ball joints were replaced. the starter assembley was replaced. the battery terminals were also replaced. *nm

Paint on top of cab is pealing. dodge told me that they would pay 50% of $400.00 i feel that this is wrong. they also said that this is a rare problem. almost all dakota have this problem. this is a bold lie. i would like to fight this.

Computer controls, loud spark knock under moderate acceleration, updated osftware on pcm exhaust/emission, loud popping sounds (bad converter) suspension, loud popping from right front side upon shifting, braking, exiting and entering vehicle, repl right upper and lower control arms, alignment

When driving the vehicle at an undetermined speed and when braking vehicle vibrated from the front end. consumer took the vehicle to the dealership for inspection, and mechanic determined that both front rotors failed. the consumer stated that the front rotors were already replaced. *ak

Premature wear to upper and lower ball joints on 1999 dodge dakota. dealership quoted $1000.00 to fix! i put new tires on the truck and they were unable to do an allignment because of this problem. it's seems very unsafe. *ak

During replacing brakes on 1999 dodge dakota 4x4 v8, (brake equipment froze on one side), mechanic heard noises and found that both upper ball joints were severely worn and in his opinion, ready to seperate (drivers side being worst). veh. has 70,000 miles and is in very good condition. the mechanic believes this to be unusual and abnormal wear to the vehicle. the ball joints are going to be replaced to avoid any hazardous driving conditions and i will save the parts if you request for later examination.*ak

Replacement of ball joints and additional parts that were wornout, and the truck had only 68,000 miles, $900 repair costs, definitely a hazard that could have been averted by the manufacturer, and i would like reimbursemnt for my problem that alot of vehicles of chrysler-dailmer dodge dakota p/uhas had.*ak

While driving engine check light came on and vehicle stalled 2 seconds later. this occurred because of oil pump failure. the oil pressure wasn't being evenly distributed, and it destroyed the engine. *ak

Vehicle was originally getting 17 miles per gallon ,but it was loosing miles per gallon. vehicle was taken to the dealership,and technician configured the computer fuel economy. the car was in worse shape than it ever had been. *ak *nm

Faulty ball joints and bushings in the front suspension failed before 50,000 miles. this could create a condition where the front wheel assembly breaks off from the vehicle and cause a major accident.*ak

My 99 dakota began howling and whinning in the rear end. i had the rear end and gear lube inspected. gear lube was full, and gears and bearings showed no sign of wear. about 1 week later while driving on the highway, my abs and e-brake light came on. brake fluid was nearly empty. mechanic found front and rear brake liners worn, and repaired as necassary. this did not fix any light or noise problems. as soon as the abs light came on, my speedometer would not function under 40 mph, and engine would stall at stops. mechanic removed differential, and pinion gear. pinion bearing was shredded badly, causing the howling. all bearings in rear end were replaced, and rear end noise was cured. the bearing shavings may have damaged the rear abs speed sensor. i have heard of the same symptoms for the rear end noise from other dakota owners both on line and in person. this was a costly and stressful diagnosis proceedure, and may warrant some sort of possible recall investigation. is the manufacturer using an inferior lubricant? this truck's front bumper was almost completely rusted by 40,000mi. not the first i've heard of that issue either.

Car became difficult to steer. next day took it to a repair shop. they diagnosed problem as ball joints.both are completely worn out should have been replaced a long time ago. repair estimate $1,000. this is a 1999 dodge dakota pickup truck. *ak

Dealership has told me that the front ball joints on my dodge dakota are bad. when i asked if this was normal with only 56,000 miles on a vehicle they became very evasive and would not give an answer. i asked if chrysler was helping their customers on this issue. i was told they were taking care of some of them but they would not help me. the first 2 years i had this vehicle it was in the shop 23 times for repairs. i had to go through arbitration twice while the vehicle was still under warranty because chryslers regional manager told the dealership not to work on it anymore. they refused to honor the factory warranty. now they want $1,100 to repair a defect that requires $150 worth of parts.

Upper and lower ball joints were severely worn out. while pulling onto shop parking lot to be repaired the upper ball joint on the passenger side separated. *ak

Lower ball joints had to be replaced on 99 dodge dakota at 66,000 miles.*ak

During a routine inspection dealerships informed the consumer that brake line cracked, and was causing brake fluid to leak. mechanic did not resolve the problem. *ak *nm

Faulty intake manifold gasket in my 99 dodge dakota with 38,900 miles on it. chrysler daimler covered only parts. it cost me 370 dollars to get it repaired. i contested when they said they would only cover parts. chrysler stated that it was out of warranty and that this is all they would do. i found numerous complaints on the internet of other people with the same problem with a leaking intake manifold gasket at very low miles on this chrysler product. i believe that this is unacceptable. chrysler won't talk to me anymore. they stated that the only way i could still fight it was to pay the full price for the repair and then contest it. i needed my truck back. the dealer told me that it was unsafe to drive it far do to the oil consumption. i was stuck. i paid it cause i needed a vehicle. age shouldn't matter in a case like this. 38,900 is way to low of miles for a major repair like this. i am worried that it will happen again and that chrysler will just say "tough". i have read complaints on the web where people have had it replaced 3 times within 100,000 miles. *nm

Since i bought the dakota i have had problems with front end alignment, weraring of tires and breaks and other items associated with suspension. the vehicle pulls to the right. as i drive down the road the vehicle has a wobble in the front end,causing abnormal wear on the tires stress on the breaks and hideous noise. presently the wheel sounds as if it is going to fall off making a grinding noise as i drive down the road. i have recently replaced the full break assembly(rotors, shoes,calipers,bearings etc). the noise is getting progressively worse. th e nois might even be considered a public nuisance. the noise is so bad that innocent pedestrains look at my vehicle in shock and awe of the terrible racket as i drive past. the dealer caims that i need control arms. this will cost quite a bit in addition to what i have already invested in the dakota (22k + repairs to suspension and interest). i could have made a decent down payment on a new dodge with what i have spent on the dakotas front end. i have seen several complaints on the above issues and believe that dodge should do the right and safe thing by issuing a recall.. the recall cannot come soon enough. am i safe driving the dakota? *ak

While driving consumer heard a loud noise coming from the front of the vehicle. consumer took the vehicle to the dealership, and mechanic determined that the right upper ball joint failed. *ak lower ball joint was recommended by the dealer that it needed replacement. in addition, wheel bearing were replaced. *la

Warped rotors. third set of roters in 46,000 miles. they are too small for this truck. causes pulsating . *ak

While traveling consumer heard a noise coming from the front end. a technician serviced the vehicle and determined lower ball joints needed replacement.*ak *la

Due to news info concerning dodge dakato ball joint failures, we took our 1999 dodge dakota, with 52,000 total miles on it, to our local dealer to have the ball joints checked on march 15, 2004. we were informed by their shop that they are bad and ready to fail and should be replaced. their quote to replace them is $775.37!!! this is premature failure and there should be a recall! *jb

While driving at any speed, the consumer can feel a wobble and hear a rattling sound coming from the front of the vehicle. also the front tires began to wear out unevenly. a dealer examined the vehicle and found that all of the ball joints were worn. *nm vehicle has been in and out for repairs for ball joints, and vehicle only had 20,000 miles. *la

While driving consumer heard a loud grinding noise coming from the front driver side of the vehicle. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak

According to the dealer service department, both lower ball joints on my 1999 dakota are failing and need replacement at 35,700 miles. upper left ball joint failed and was replaced in december, 2003 when i had new tires put on and the tire dealer was unable to do an allignment due to the poor condition of the ball joint.*ak

Oil pressure light goes to 0 and back to 40 then stays at 0. numerous other people having same problems with oil pump and oil sending unit, screens and etc. obviously a defect from the manufacturer. should be recalled and fixed for free. *jb

While driving vehicle became uncontrollable and hard to maintain. also, the ride was very bumpy due to defective upper and lower ball joints. consumer took the vehicle to dealer for repairs at 80,000 miles. *ak

Within the past 2 weeks, i saw a news story on either the today or early show regarding the safety problems with ball joints on dodge durangos and dakotas. i started noticing a problem with my 1999 dakota last year and fortunately had it checked out before it caused an accident. i ended up having both the left and right upper ball joints replaced.

While turning consumer heard a loud noise coming from the front ball joints. *ak

During routine oil change mechanic determined that front upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. *ak

I along with everyone else that owns a late model (1998-2002) dodge dakota or durango have been told i need to replace my ball joints. since damler chrysler is being flooded with complaints about the weak material used in these model years i feel it is their responcability to fix the weak componants.*ak

My 1999 dodge dakota has about 31,000 miles on it. the ball joints are bad. can't be properly aligned without new ones. ruining brand new tires. chrysler not doing anything about this problem. lots of complaints on internet web sites. safety is at stake. *jb

While driving a rattling noise was heard coming from the front driver side wheel. consumer noticed that both front wheels were loose. driver side tire had stress marks inside and outside. consumer took vehicle to dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that both upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. *ak

Consumer complained about a ball joint problem. consumer heard a clicking sound when turning the vehicle in either direction. tires wearing out prematurely due to ball joint failure. *ak

While driving 55 mph a loud knocking noise was heard coming from the front. the consumer was able drive the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and the mechanic determined that the upper and lower ball joints needed replacement due to worn out parts. *ak *sc

I have a 1999 dodge dakaota with 50,000 miles and the dealership said i needed my ball joints replace. i think this is rediculus. i need to get this fix, but i will not pay for something that is defective. do i keep driving? and risk my life. i would gladly pay for it if chrysler will reimburse me later with a promise.

Upper control arm and ball joints had been replaced twice within 22,000 miles. *ak

I have had to replace the shocks three times within the first year and two other times since. the bolts kept breaking off of them, upper and lower ball joints, inner and outer tie rods and the steering box. i have spent aprx $5,000.00 taking care of these problems and they are still not correct.

Upper and lower ball-joints need to be replaced. *jb

The vehicle was taken to the dealer after the consumer saw a tv report about ball joint failure. the consumer had no indication that there was a problem with the ball joints before the news report. the dealer mechanic determined that the lower ball joints were worn out and the vehicle cannot be driven in this condition. also the mechanic informed the consumer that the ball joints are on back order. please provide further details.

While driving a loud rattling noise was heard coming from the driver side. consumer contacted a mechanic about the problem. driver stated that he would bring the vehicle in for analysis in the near future. *ak

Dealership informed consumer that front ball joints were worn out. consumer was not having any problems at this time. *ak

Front ball joints went bad on my 1999 dodge dakota. it was caught because my tires which were 6 months old were wearing on a slant.*ak

I had been noticing for some time a loud rattling from the front end of my dodge dakota pickup truck. as the steering got worse, i took it to the local dealer, and the service manager said that the control arms on the steering were shot and needed to be replaced. this cost me more than $1,000.00 to repair. i have sinceheard that several people have been having problems with the front ends of their dodge vehicles. i would like to know if this is a common problem and if there is a recall.

I had been noticing for some time a loud rattling from the front end of my dodge dakota pickup truck. as the steering got worse, i took it to the local dealer, and the service manager said that the control arms on the steering were shot and needed to be replaced. this cost me more than $1,000.00 to repair. i have sinceheard that several people have been having problems with the front ends of their dodge vehicles. i would like to know if this is a common problem and if there is a recall.

While rotating tires, an excessive amount of play was observed in the upper ball joint. mileage at 50,123. the cost of repairs at dodge 1,924.00 parts and labor,on oem parts.these are the same ball joints that originally failed. need to be replaced with ball joints with grease fittings, which i am having done for 565.00 parts and labor.

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.*ak

Upper ball joints were replaced at 29256 miles because they were on the verge of failing. *ph *mr

Unsafe ball joints required costly repair just after warranty expired

I just had my 1999 dodge dakota r/t's upper ball joints replaced. i was surfing the internet just to see if other people have been having the same problems as me. it is strange that a 1999 vehicle with 70,000 miles on it the upper ball joints are bad. this seems to be an ongoing problem with dodge, i am not the only person that this is happening to it seems that a lot of people are having to fork out money for a problem that could have been prevented in the first place. all dodge will have to do is recall all the vehicles with no grases fittings in the bal joints and replace them with ones that do. i mean after all you have metal rubbing on metal with no grease it is going to wear out without any lubrication. i wanted to make you aware of this problem , it could possible lead to malfunction of the vehicle and cause serious injury or even death.*ak

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!!*ak

Ball joint replacement. i am on my third set of ball joint on 1999 dodge dakota 4 by 4. with the 5.2 liter v8. last year at annual insection and again this year at annual inspection. *ak

Consumer noticed that the tires were wearing out faster than normal. vehicle was taken to the dealer, who examined it and found that the upper and lower ball joints needed replacement.*ak

Faulty ball joints in my 1999 dodge dakota at 34,000 miles and 74,000 miles

Consumer was driving approximately 45-50 mph and noticed that front wheels were loose and were not responding well. also, there was noise when wheels hit bumps or cracks in the road. took vehicle to independent mechanic, and had the front upper ball joints replaced. another independent mechanic determined that lower ball joints also needed replacement. *ak *la

Had to replace upper and lower ball joints on a 1999 dodge ram 4 x 4 pickup with only 29,000 miles on it

When making sharp turn a popping noise was coming from the steering wheel. took vehicle to mechanic who determined that ball joints needed to be replaced.*ak the reports were made when the vehicle had relatively low miles. visual inspection of the ball joints indicated they needed to be replaced. the consumer received a quote to replace the upper ball joint but they have not been repaired yet. the lower ball joint also needs to be replaced. the consumer also heard a rattling noise under the vehicle. the technician determined that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced due to excessive wear. while driving 40 mph or higher the consumer complained of wind noise. the technician replaced the right front door weather strip. *nm

Pulsating, shaking in brake. i have had to replace the rotors and pads numerous times. pads and rotors never seem to last as long as they should. i have replaced my stock rotors with cross drilled rotors, and that seemed to help for a little while. eventually they warped as well. *ak

Consumer complained about a ball joint problem. the mechanic determined that the rubber bushings wore out. *ak 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. *sc *jb

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.*ak

Failing/lose ball joints on 1999 dodge dakota. *la

Excessive engine knock.pper ball joint failure.nadequate headlight projection on low beam. *ak

Ball joint failure and needed to be replaced. *la

Three of the four upper and lower ball joints on my '99 dakota r/t have prematurely failed causing two control arm bushings and the front two tires to wear to the point of replacement.

Consumer took vehicle to dealership for inspection, and mechanic informed consumer that the upper ball joints failed. *ak *mr

I have a 1999 dodge dakota with bad ball joints. the problem occurred with only 52,000 miles on the truck. it is driven on paved roads 98% of the time and never off road. this is a safety problem. the truck was built without a way to grease the joints.. a major error. something needs to be done.

The lower ball joint on my 1999 dodge dakota failed. this caused the driver's side of vehicle to slam violently to the ground. the rack and pinion was damaged as a result. steering alignment was greatly affected as well. front bumper was also damaged. i understand that these ball joints are a growing concern with dakotas and durangos and would like to see some action taken by the manufacturer. *la

My 1999 dodge dakota needed ball joints and numerous other front end and steering components at only 30000 miles. in my opinion, this was due to a lack of lubrication because there are no grease fittings on my truck's ball joints. if i had not caught this in time, i could have been killed when my wheels fell off. i am concerned that as my truck ages, this problem will reoccur because the replacement parts used were identical to the original part that failed. i have met numerous other dodge dakota owners who have had similar problems. please help us.*ak

While driving consumer heard a loud noise coming from rear. took vehicle to the dealer for analysis, and mechanic noticed that both upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to corrosion. *ak

The early wear out of the ball joints on my 1999 dodge dakota. it was noticed three years after i bought the 4x4 truck when i had new tires put on it. the sears mechanic said he could not align the tires because the ball joints were so bad they needed relplaced. i took it to the dodge dealer to have the seat belt recall fixed and he told me the same thing and it was not covered under the warranty at that time. there was a time when the steering locked up in a parking lot doing a full right turn. i took it to the dealer and he couldn't find anything wrong. so i thought i'd file a complaint because this is long over due. thank you ..... dan. *ak

Following a news report documenting upper ball joint failure in dodge products, we had our 1999 dodge dakota inspected. it has been found that the lower ball joints were completely eroded and needed immediate replacement.

While driving a noise was heard coming from the front end of the vehicle, and the steering became difficult. dealer determined the upper ball joints were worn out and replaced them. *ak

I recently had my truck in for pre-winter maintenance check, my mechanic said three out of the four ball joints are bad and need replacing. also, when i do have them replaced i may as well do all four because he has seen "a lot" of dakotas with ball joints going bad. i was told that it would cost $490 to have them replaced. with just over 58k miles, rarely driven off of blacktop, and given the recently publicity by the news media, it's obvious that there is a problem here. i find this to be justification for a recall or at the very least a manufacturers re-imbersement for the cost of the parts.

I have a 1999 dodge dakota with 29,985 miles. i bought it new. the ball joints are in bad shape. the dealer (russell dodge - now under new ownership) says they expect a recall to occur on this as this is a common problem. but they keep telling me to wait. i am very concerned about my safety. i have emailed chrysler twice, but all they say is that there is no current recall. are they waiting for injuries or deaths? i see numerous complaints on the web about these ball joints breaking. is nhtsa doing anything about this? is chrysler doing anything about it? also, i just bought 4 new michelin tires to replace the dangerous goodyear tires that came with this vehicle. not replacing all the ball joints could ruin these expensive tires and void their warrantee. in the "incident date" box below, i have entered todays date, but this has been an ongoing problem over many months. please help.*ak

Brake pedal broke when the suv applied his brake hard to stop for the pickup in front of him. i was behind him about 4 to 5 car lengths going between 40 to 45 mph, i hit the brakes they worked for a split second and the pedal went to the floor. i rear ended the suv. the accident caused about $3500 damage to the suv, $2500. to the pickup in front of it and $6500 to $7000. damage to my 19999 dodge dakota. the point that the brake linkage connects to the brake pedal broke off the brake pedal. *cb

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.*ak

I was driving my 1999 2wd dodge dakota about 5mph when the drive pinion gear shaft that goes into the rear end snapped clean into two pieces. it caused the driveline to fall and spin hitting the underside of the truck including the gas tank and caused the rear wheels to lockup and stop turning. (good thing i was only going 5mph)*ak

On 11/21/01 i took my dakota in to cumberland ave. garage for inspection. i usually go to lee auto mall. i was in a hurry to get the truck inspected so i went to cumberland garage. i came upon a repair order from cumberland ave. garage. aside from some minor repairs they had listed both upper ball joints as needing repair. at $298.74. i ended up taking my truck to lee auto mall in westbrook (me.) they never mentioned the ball joints had a problem. note the date of the repair order from cumberland garage as being 2001. this means lee dodge let me drive a vehicle that wasn't safe since 2001! i brought my truck in to lee dodge this past summer. i was told both my ball joints and upper control arms needed to be replaced!the cost was $900.00. i mentioned i knew at just46k mls. it was unusual for a vehicle to have ball joints that needed replacement. i said this type of problem usually didn't occur until about 100k miles. i was told this was untrue. also note when cumberland garage noticed my truck needed ball joints repaired my truck had only about 37k miles. 11/04/03 i had a minor accident.the short of it : i lost control of my tires. my wheel would turn but my front tires would not respond and my rear tires were stuck/spinning on piles of wet leaves. i stepped on the gas while trying to turn my vehicle and the gas did not respond. my break went to the floor and then all of a sudden my truck thrust forward and hit my brothers car. i have had a lot of trouble sleeping just thinking about what could have happened to me, someone i love or someone else just because lee dodge wanted to squeeze money out of me. or because chrysler did not want to tell their customers they had put faulty parts in their trucks. i suppose i should contact a lawyer with regards to this matter. i am very upset i have been driving a vehicle that may have caused an accident at any time! do you have any advice for me? *ak

The upper suspension arm on my 1999 dodge dakota sport (5.2l manual transmission) rapt a hole in the front left brake hose, causing total braking failure. this failure happened in a parking lot on the georgia institute of technology campus. *la

While driving a noise was heard. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined the lower right ball joints and stabilizer bushings were worn out and needed to replaced. *ak *jb

I noticed a slight squeak coming from the front left wheel on or around the first of december. as the squeak began to get more pronounced i figured i should check for worn or damaged suspention parts. not long after this thought i saw the report on cbs reguarding the investigation of the upper ball joints on the dodge durangos and dakotas. guess what...i drive a 1999 dodge dakota with very worn out upper ball joints at just over 37,000 miles. i will replace them and keep them for the impending recall that you will order. after all with out you the manufactures would continue to cut costs and cost lives.*ak

While driving, the consumer heard popping sounds coming from the wheel area. during an inspection, the mechanic found that the upper ball joints were severely worn. *ak *sc *jb

While traveling consumer heard noise coming from the front of the truck. consumer took vehicle to dealer to have it serviced. consumer was told that the ball joints needed to be replaced. *ak

While driving vehicle pulled to the right. dealer determined that the upper and lower ball joints wore out. *ak

I have a 1999 dodge dakota club cab 4x4 that had 32,000 miles on it when the lower front tie rod went out while i was driving down the road. i had to get the inner and outer tie rods and lower ball joints replaced. the vehicle is out of warranty by time but not the mileage. with this incident, it's the mileage that puts the wear on this particular problem not time. i have notified chrysler about the problem and that i wanted to be reimbursed for the cost of the repair. i was told no. the bottom line is that this particular problem shouldn't be happening at such a low mileage rate. i want chrysler to stand behind their product, not line their pockets with unnecessary repair costs. *nlm

Dealer replaced twice both upper and lower ball joints, also, the transfer case was replaced. dealer notified. please provide further information. *ph 1999 dodge dakota has had the following repairs peformed: replacement of transfer case, upper and lower ball joints, wheel bearings, right hub assembly, right rotor, right axle assembly, and front shocks.*mr

I recently had to have the lower ball joints on both side of truck replaced. one of the ball joints was completely disintegrated. the other was well on its way to the same. i bought the truck new and have a documented record of regular maintenance that i have had performed. i am reporting this to you because i recently found out that several other customers have had the same issue. i love my truck, but, if there are issues that need to be resolved i feel dodge should take the initiative before people are hurt or killed. please do the right thing and get these vehicles repaired.

Upper and lower ball joint premature wear

I own a 1999 dodge dakota sport 4x4 and i needed to have the ball joints (upper and lower) and tie rods replaced at 67,000 miles. i found out that they needed to be replaced because i was having brand new tires installed, and when new tires are installed i figured it would be good to get an alignment as well. the mechanice said he couldn't give the truck an alignment because the ball joints were too loose - and this is a very reputable mechanic here in town, so i knew i wasn't getting taken for a ride. so, for a cost of $1,052 i had to have the ball joints and tie rods replaced. the mechanic did say it was not a safety issue as of yet, but after seeing in the news recently with all the other dakotas/durangos having this problem, i wonder how much longer i could have gone before it was a safety issue, so i'm glad i had them replaced, but am thinking the truck should be recalled and the joints replaced not with the same joints, but with a better designed one.*ak

Consumer took vehicle to an independent repair shop for regular maintenance, and the technician indicated the need to be replace the catalytic converter and the lower ball joint. *ak

Wanted to let you know that according to abc news and my personal experience that dodge dakota owners are also experiencing premature ball joint failures.*ak

The water pump stopped operating, for the third time, while driving. the thermostat had broke and caused the seal to the pump to break. taking vehicle to dealer. mechanic will check on cause of broken water pump. please provide further details. *jb

The ball joints in my 1999 dodge dakota, upper and lower both sides, are worn out and need to be replaced. the truck has 70,000 miles and should not need this approximately $1,000.00 repair. the reason they wear out so fast is that there are not grease fittings, and the part can't be properly lubricated. the daimler chrysler corporation representative i spoke to said i can't get any relief unless there is a recall. please recall these parts. *ak

Premature wear of ball joints in my 1999 dodge dakota. vehicle has less that 48000 on it and was told when i went for an alignment that my ball joints were wearing out. shouldn't be wearing out so soon. have not replaced yet, dealer mechanic claims he has seen quite a few of these.*ak

I own a 1999 dodge dakota. i recently had new tires put on. the dealer said he couldn't align the front end because the ball joints (upper and lower) were too worn. the truck has 85000 mostly highway miles. considering the tv story on dakotas and durangos, thought i'd let you know. *la

Left front control arm defective before 30,000 miles. now at 115,000 miles both right and left upper and lower ball joints are bad. dodge fixed this to replace all control arms with new. $1800.oo repair. is this going to be a recall like the other durango's? *la

Northtown dodge of tonawanda ,2020 niagara falls blvd, tonawanda,ny tel#7166927200, told me the squeak in my '99 dodge dakota (53,372 miles) was the failure of both upper and lower ball joints. they charged me a total of $1,870.00 for the job in july '03. $1,048 was for parts alone. they insisted that the ball joint connecting arms are one piece with each ball joint. since then i called the same dealer's parts dept. requesting information on replacement parts costs. that dept. told me that daimler chrysler has produced replacement parts at the cost of $100.00 each because they realize that the ball joints in both the dakota and durangos have a frequent failure record. northtown dodge service dept. did not inform me of those parts availability or even existence and did not afford me the opportunity to save over $640.00 in parts alone. i feel that they lied and cheated me and probably others with no warranty. *la

Starter shorted and caused a fire on the wiring from battery to starter

Unsafe "goodyear wrangler st" tires. this morning in a light drizzle with the road getting wet but not puddled, my son and i while driving with in the speed limit and making a 90 degree turn slid into the opposite lane, luckly no one was coming in that lane. this was the twelfth time that i have slid on a slightly wet road. the first time i was stopping for a red light and i began to fish tail, we went two more blocks to the next red light , put on my brakes and we began to fish tail again. these tires do not have any traction on a wet road, even at a slow speed. i now have 11,000 miles on these tires and from day one they have been unsafe on wet roads, i have had twelve close calls with these tires and i believe it is time for me to file a complaint. would you please check the history record on these "goodyear wrangler st" tires and see if there are any more complaints. i am 69 years old , driving since i was 16 and never had an accident, and i don't want one now over these tires that have no traction. i think that goodyear should take these five tires back and give me safe tires that have traction on wet roads. these tires were on the brand new dodge dakota pick up truck that i purchased. thank you, john e. brislin. *ak

Dodge dakota top paint wearing off and back windshield leaking 1999 club cab

I had my catalytic converter go out. took out the muffler and burned out the clutch platewell after that the trucks went to hell then the oil pump went out now about 8 months later my truck lost all oil pressure now they say if i dont prove enough oil changes over the last 4 years they arent going to warrenty it even though im pretty sure that the cataylac converter stopped up and the oil pump going out has ruint that motor there fault but they want to say sludge my ass there selling lemons and lies ive looked up on internet and there is alot of people thousands with the same problem somebody needs to correct them its there mistake not mine and honor there warranty. *ak

Own a 1999 dodge dakota 4wd. ball joints and idler arm going bad. vehicle has 56,000 miles. noticed noise arising from front suspension and loosening at around 40,000 miles, but did not know till around 53,000 miles when a mechanic brought it to my attention while it was at an alignment shop. these parts, i was advised, should not be wearing till around 130,000 miles. two people at my work also own these vehicles, one person owns a 2wd dakota, another owns a 4wd durango. both persons are having the same problems with ball joints as well. *la

Consumer stated while driving on the highway, the power steering failed, which almost caused an accident . after the power steering malfunctioned, the vehicle was hard to steer. also, the consumer found out that gear box had a hole in it. there was a 2 inch piece of a bolt that was knocked out with forced pressure. the dealer did not want to help the consumer.*ak the steering box leaked and contained excessive play. the rotors and windshield wipes needed to be replaced. *jb *nm

While driving at any speed consumer heard a loud knocking sound from under the vehicle when turning corners. vehicle was taken to a repair shop. the mechanic informed the consumer, that upper ball joints were worn out. *ak

Consumer had ball joints replaced at least 6 times. when vehicle was taken to the dealership mechanic did not tell consumer why ball joints continually failed. *ak 1999 dodge dakota has had ball joints replaced six times since purchase. consumer was never told the reason why the ball joints continuously fail.*mr

During a vehicle inspection, the mechanic found that the upper ball joints were defective and had to be replaced. *ak *scc *jb

1999 dodge dakota slt 4wd. routine state inspection revealed front ball joints excessive wear and play. failed new hampshire inspection[safety related item:control] only 54k miles. ball joints replaced and alignment completed at sullivan tire inc. manager revealed he had done another dakota and a durango that same day for ball joints also. frequent item for dodge so he now keeps them in stock in house.*ak

1999 dodge dakota upper ball joints failed. *ak

Multiple failures of vehicle's catalytic converter.*mr *ph *jb the engine light had come on, the oil pressure gauge had become inoperative and the vehicle had trouble climbing steep hills. *sc

'99 dodge dakota, club cab, 4wd, just turned 100,000 miles, had to have the ball joints replaced twice since i have owned it. ball joints were first replaced at 60,000 miles with oem parts, ball joints were replaced a second time at 90,000 with aftermarket parts. vehicle is used only on paved roads and not subject to abuse...prematurely failing ball joints are a safety concern and causing premature tire wear.*ak

Upper right ball joint failed. vehicle had 65684 miles.*ak

1999 dodge dakota 4wd 71500 miles. notified by mechanic that i need both upper ball joints, both lower ball joints and both tie rod ends replaced. took it in for unusual tire wear that has occurred since 40,000 miles. mechanic was very familiar with this problem with dakotas. said he has seen many like it.*ak

Oil pressure gauge drops to zero, when coming to a stop, after running at highway speed. this problem has been addressed by the dealer(4) times : replaced oil sending unit 4-9-01/24,305 mi. ; replaced oil pump 8-24-01/28,730 mi. ; checked oil pressure gauge 2-7-03/ 45,478 mi. ; replaced oil pump and connecting rod bearings 8-29-03/ 50,903 mi. this problem continues to occur. *jb

Exhaust manifold bolts and studs broken off. from what i read on the internet, this is a common occurrence. *la

Lost of steering in a 1999 dodge dakota 4x4, steering box exploded. came within inches of having an accident. *la

1999 dodge dakota wiring problem. my 1999 dodge dakota has a wiring problem that causes the cruise control to be stuck in the on position and causes the turn signal to freeze while at a long light. the cruise control is a dangerous situation since it can not be disengaged with the brake, you must manually turn the system off. superior dodge in nicholasville, ky has already charged me for 2 hours labor to try and find the problem but have had no luck finding the shorted out wire yet. *la

While driving at 65 mph and with no warning left rear tire tread separated, causing the tire to blowout. consumer had to pull over. michelin , pilot ltx, size# p/255/55r17 dot# unknown. dealer had been notified. *ak

Had just started vehicle and it was moving when another vehicle hit the right center of consumer's vehicle. upon impact, dual air bags failed to deploy. had contacted dealership to have mechanic check air bags non-deployment.*ak

Consumer applied brakes when approaching a stop sign. the pedal went all the way to the floor and vehicle keep rolling. consumer pump brakes several times, then the "anti-lock" and "brake" warning lights illuminated. the functionality of front brakes was partially restored. dealer diagnosed and replaced front brake pads and turned rotors. *ph

The vehicles frontal air bags failed to deploy during and accident. *mr *cb *nlm

Conumeer heard a noise while traveling. vehicle was serviced, technician noticed ball joints needed to be replaced. *ak

I took my truck in because the oil pressure was intermittently dropping to 0 then back up to 40. the dealer performed multiple electrical tests before going to the problem. i don't feel i should have to pay for the tests done when the oil pump has a known problem posted all over the consumer affairs and nhtsa websites. they should have checked that first.*ak

The consumer stated the upper and lower ball joints experienced premature failure. *ak *ts *jb

The consumer stated the engine started to knock on acceleration, then he noticed the oil consumption started to go up. it was confirmed the plenum seal leaked. *ak *jb

The upper and lower ball joints loosened and needed to be replaced. *ak

Upper ball joints failed at 28,000,front bearings and hub assembly failed 47,000.now surging in cruise control. *ak

There was a noise from the rear end of the vehicle. it was determined that the rear end bolts and other components came apart. the dealer replaced the gears and differential. the abs system also failed. *ak *nlm

1999 doge dakota. only 44,000 miles. needs both front upper ball joints replaced with alignment. been told numerous dakotas have this "problem"

I own a 1999 dodge dakota.( same suspension as durango).i was advised by my mechanic that the upper control arms, lower ball joints and the idler arm were severly warn and needed to be replaced. while diassembling all joints did come apart. at the time the vehicle had 73,778 miles on it. 99 percent of these miles are highway miles, and i was surprised and irritated that they had worn out so soon, also god only knows what would have happened if i had not caught it prior to the ball joint separating. *ak

Had to replace defective ball joints at approximately 48,000 miles

Vehicle front upper ball joint has a failure, that cause the" vehicle to bounce" while driving per consumer.

I notice today an investigation by nhtsa of complaints on dodge durango upper ball joints. i own a 1999 dodge dakota and have replaced same at 48,000 miles (at my own expense). this truck is the pickup version of the durango. the truck still exhibits negative characteristics such as loss of tracking and control when negotiating turns on bumpy roads. example is the on-ramp to the verrazzano narrows bridge (i-278), brooklyn side. the truck will jump lanes at speeds over 40 mph. not good.

1999 dodge dakota p/u left upper ball joint failed at 34000 miles. on removal and inspection the part contained lube which had broken down and solidified.the ball and socket were badly worn almost to the point of separation. this is a sealed and lifetime lubed part with no provisions for relube.

The seat belt latching mechanism stopped working, it will not latch anymore. upon contacting the local dealerships parts department to order new oem seat belt latch assemblies i learned that this part for this truck is on a "national back-order" with no expected ship date. this seems to infer that this part is in high demand, thus meaning there is most likely a problem that originates at the manufacturer. this latch assembly has been inoperable on my truck for almost (1) year now, and i have been unable to get the oem part for the same amount of time. *nlm

Seems like that the problem with the dakota's and brake rotors is a never ending battle. i replaced my myself back in march after the dealer didn't want to admit that their is a problem with the front disc rotors on the dakota's. i also had the rotors turned 6 months prior before i replaced them. even the guy that turned the rotors told me that the stock rotors on the dakota's were junk.now 4 months after replacing them they are acting like thet are warped again. someone needs to get chrysler (dodge) to own up that their is a problem with the dodge rotors on their dakota's. also after reading some other forums i find that i'm not the only person that has had this problem.*ak

The vehicle was involved in a frontal accident and none of the air bags deployed. the dealer was notified. *ak *scc *jb

On wet or slippery roads, when brakes are applied {rear abs] the fromt brakes lock up and the vehicle becomes uncontrollable,with the rear brakes providing no assistance. vehicle taken to dealer twice and told brakes were working to spec.

Brake have service twice and rotors have been turned twice. now going on the third time. brake make to much noise and vibrate. *nlm

The consumer's vehicle didn't pass an emission test. the dealer inspected the vehicle but could not duplicate or correct the problem. *ak *cb *nlm

Catalytic converter has been replace twice. now waiting for third which is on back order. *nlm

Intake manifold is leaking fluid.*ak

While driving upper ball joints failed. they were replaced along with the steering knuckle. problem recurred.*ak

It seems that by reading numerous online bbs about dodge dakota's, the problems with the braking problems are very prevalent. i have had problems with my front rotors warping since almost day one with no satisfactory accommodations by the manufacturer or dealer where i bought my new truck. there needs to be a recall because this is certainly a widespread safety problem with this particular make and model. please help the consumer. *nlm

Water pump failure, after replacement of catalytic converter exhaust leak detected, slow speed from 2nd to 3rd gear, gear sticks from 3rd to 4th gear, rough idling, odometer reading failure, abs light stays on, check engine light remains lit, gas tank sensor failure (reads empty when tank is full), when driving approx. 10 - 20 mph engine stalls / shuts off, coming to stop engine shuts off, vehicle vibration when brakes applied to come to a stop or slowing down (rear brakes), engine pings / knocks in normal operation at speeds from 30 to 70+ mph, after the engine warms up, anti-lock / abs sensor out, fuel gauge - sending unit malfunction, intake manifold gasket leaking, gasket cracked / leaking, thermostat gasket leaking, drive belt cracking / deteriorating, fuel induction system failing. problems with this vehicle since date of purchase. purchased from honda north dealer.*jb

While highway driving , the "check engine" light came on and my acceleration dropped 20 mph while still pressing on the pedal. hesitation also while climbing hills. *jb

There was a loud noise coming from the front passenger side wheel. the dealership indicated the problem was caused by the rubber booth on the control arm which had disintegrated. *jb

Front suspension, ball joints.*jb

The driver's seat collapsed backwards, which caused the consumer to lose control of the vehicle. *dt *jb

I had to replace the heater core , $650.00, in my 1999 dodge dakota sport 4x4. this is absurd since the vehicle mileage is only 54834 miles. i contacted daimler chrysler they stated the failure was unfortunate and that they will log-in my complaint.

I have replaced the serpentine belt five times since purchasing my dakota (54,000 miles) as a new vehicle from a dodge dealership in '98. i have not received any reason for the constant wearing of this item. it has become a very expensive maintenance item.

E-brake rubbing against frame. informed dealer who put a rubber hose over cable. hose fell off 20 miles later. e-brake will eventually wear through and fail. *jb *nlm ****dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis*****755550

Recall repairs of fuel tube. fuel tube misaligned due to isolator clip not positioned properly. *ak *jb

Engine pings over 30 mph, speed control sensor had to be replaced, suspension (sway bar, rack bushings, and control arm) need to be replaced to the tune of $700.00. *jb

Consumer states that the mirrors on vehicle have a major blind spot. *nlm

1999 dodge dakota r/t pickup rear brakes are defective. they do not hold adequately. when the truck is jacked up off the ground and put in gear the rear brakes will fail to hold the wheels stopped once the engine reaches approximately 1000 rpm. they should hold the wheels up to 2600 rpm. this causes unsafe braking, excess wear and warping of the front rotors. i am aware of other r/t owners having the same problem and at least one has had their truck bought back by dodge rather than deal with fixing the problem. my local dealer refuses to do anything.

Consumer advised that engine has failed twice while driving. dealer diagnosed both incidents as the oil pump clogging due to oil being turned to sludge. first incident was in 09/01. 2nd incident in 12/02. ts

While driving the vehicles' automactic transmission started slipping gears. this resulted in other parts in the transmission burning out.(parts unknown). the dealership indicated this was caused by the rubber seals going bad. there is a tis bulletin for this problem. ts

Transmission is slipping. the truck has 47,078 miles. too it in and they told me that i need an entire new transmission or they could repair it for $100.00 less then a factory rebuilt transmission. i don't feel as though a transmission should be slipping with only 47,000 miles on it. the service man told me that it was the front clutch piston was what was the problem. have you had any other complaints? i feel as though this is unacceptable due to the low miles. i feel as though it is a factory defect.

Vehicle rear ended another at 35-40 mph, neither air bag deployed. driver suffered bruises. damage to vehicle unknown at this time. ts

While driving consumer heard a squeaking noise from the front end of the vehicle. consumer took the vehicle to the dealership to have serviced. the dealership indicated that the upper driver side control arm bushing was going out. the dealership replaces the parts, problem reaccured 1000 miles later on the both lower control arm bushing. consumer feels theirs a defect in this part. please provide more information. ts

Vehicle was parked with engine running, consumer shifted to drive instead of reverse and hit a tree. upon impact, neither airbag deployed. no injury, damage to vehicle was $ 5777.00.*ak

Consumer received a recall letter from the manufacturer four months ago and dealer still does not have the part. consumer call every other months and dealer stilldoes not have the part. please provide further information. *mr

While driving transmission would not shift up to fourth gear. consumer checked fluids and found transmission fluid low, also hot and brown. after adding fluid the transmission shifted properly. the dealer stated transmission needed to be rebuilt. mr the failure was in the one way valve which was reversed in the transmission oil cooler line, and failed to shift to fourth gear while driving. the transmission was rebuilt. scc

Consumer's vehicle has same problem with seat belts as stated in recall # 01 v 119 000. but this vehicle was not included in recall due to vin. *ak

While traveling about 50mph on highway vehicle shutdown. also, without prior warning steering wheel will lock up. dealership is aware of problem.*ak

While driving 55 mph and without warning vehicle stalled. dealer has been notified; however, recommended to service the vehicle.*ak

Vehicle intermittently stalls, and may not start back up. problem is assumed to be fuel pump. diagnostic test had no readings. *ak consumer stated sometimes after sitting for an hour it may start, problem may be fuel injector, powertrain control module or automatic shutdown relay. *yh

Both rear axles locked up while driving 25 mph. dealer and manufacturer were notified. . feel free to provide any further information.*ak

Left rear spring is loose, causing consumerto have problems with axle. could cause an accident. cause unknown. dealer notified.*ak

Has a blind spot on the passenger side of the vehicle that caused a vehicle crash.*ak there is also a blind spot on the drivers side. the mirrors are too large and cause a blind spot. this is the second time an accident has occured due to this blind spot. *jg

Starting the ignition without warning there was an explosion under the hood. mechanic stated battery exploded, and needed to be replaced; however, could not explain why problem occurred.*ak

Vehicle vibrates and trembles without prior warning when accelerating. dealership is aware of problem. *ak *yh

There is premature wear of intake manifold. dealer has replaced manifold 5 times. manufacturer will be notified.*ak

While driving 50 mph vehicle hit a farm wagon head-on. upon impact, neither airbag deployed. no injuries, vehicle was totalled.*ak

When turning left or right or hitting a bump there's a little bump in steering. consumer can pull in and out on front wheels with bare hands. please provide any further information.*ak

While traveling on highway abs braking light came on dashboard. also, cruise control and airbags are not operable. dealership is aware of problem.*ak

When applying brakes vehicle bounced and vibrated, also there was extended stopping distance. dealer determined that front brake rotors were warped, and needed to be replaced, front caliper was sticking and that was also replaced. *ak *yd

Consumer was traveling about 25mph on a residential street. she was bending down to pick up something from the floor while vehicle was still traveling and hit a brick fence. upon impact, front airbags didn't go off.*ak when the consumer was traveling about 25-30 mph on residential street. the truck in front of consumer lost object from back of his truck. consumer swerved to miss and hit a parked car. upon impact airbags didn't go off. consumer stated that a/c was inoperative, transmission was not shifting correctly, engine leaks oil from oil pan area, thermostat leaks, the intake manifold gasket was leaking. *yh

I had handling issues with my 1999 dodge dakota. also, my front tires were wearing out on the inside. i thought i had a alignment problem and took my truck in for repairs. i was informed and shown that my ball joints (upper and lower) and tie rods were severely worn out and needed repair. today, on the news, i heard about a recall for 2000-2003 dakotas for this defect. is there anything in the works to include 1999 dakota's?*jb

The steering felt loose when driving over bumps in the road. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who determined the lower ball joints were worn and needed to be replaced. *jb the mechanic contacted the consumer's insurance company and received authorization to replace the left and right lower ball joints. prior to the ball joints being replaced the vehicle was taken to the dealer twice for loose steering, but they could not duplicate the problem. *nm

Requesting further info on doge "durango/ dakota" investigation on upper ball joint problem. i own a 1999 dodge dakota and experience front end squeaking, excessive abnormal front tire wear, and banging when going over a bump or turning a sharp corner{going on a year now}. i have presented this problem to the dodge dealership and they have, demeaningly, only determined the issue to be tires unbalanced and rotated the tires to attempt to resolve the issue. ( quick fix and get out!! )yet the tire wear continues and noises of metal clanking occurs. i had seen the report on cbs news on october 27, 2003 and now have a higher concern of this issue, as desribed above. what sort of resolutions are being performed and what should i do????*ak

When driving at an undetermined speed oil light appeared on the dashboard. consumer took the vehicle to the dealership for inspection, and mechanic determined that the intake manifold failed.*ak

Vehicle has been through 5 transmissions within last 10,000 miles. once a brand new transmission is put in it burns right out. cause is unknown. please provide furthr information.*ak

Upper ball joints are prematurely wearing which has caused a problem with steering control. also, vehicle has developed a very loud noise, cause unknown. *ak

Vehicle failed inspection 2 years in a row because upper and lower ball joints were worn out. consumer had an appointment at dealer to find out the cause.

Tire center indicates that tow end throws alignment out and wears the tire tread out. the consumer has gone through 4 sets of tires in 40,000 miles. tire technician says problem is inherent with dakota trucks.*ak

Ball joints and tie rods have prematurely failed at 60,000 miles. dealer claims they are bad, and need to be replaced. but, parts are on national backorder.*ak

A few minutes after vehicle was parked it jumped out of park into drive and rolled forward, causing damages to garage. cause unknown. please give any further details.*ak

While having vehicle out side of dealer ship technician stated all four ball joints needed to be replaced . consumer let manufacturer's dealer look at ball joints. technician stated that ball joints needed to be replaced at consumer's expense. *ak *slc

Without warning engine blew while driving. prior to incident, vehicle was inspected by dealer. dealer changed the guage. please provide further details. *ak

While in a head-on collision, air bags did not deploy at any time. please provide further information.*ak

Intermittently when driving motor will speed up and then come back down. dealer has inspected vehicle and could not duplicate the problem. *ak consumer states dealer installed a throttle positioning sensor.*jb

Exhaust manifold bolts cracked, causing exhaust fumes to come inside vehicle. please give any further details.*ak

When starting vehicle brake light came on. after releasing parking brake, light stayed on. consumer states after a couple of minutes abs,engine check light, and emrgency brake light was on, then, vehicle died. consumer has not contacted dealer. please provide any further information.*ak

All four tires that were factory installed on 1999, dodge, dakota are splitting right on seam of sidewall near the rim. these tires have approximately 31,000 miles on them, and consumer noticed splitting right before 30,000 miles. tire size is p215/75r15, dot # is m6hffkwr258. goodyear center said that defect was a result of flow cracking. *ak *slc

Vehicle was parked on a hill without parking brake on, car was running, consumer accidently hit gear shift, and consumer 's body was not all the way in truck when vehicle rolled backwards, trapping consumer between truck and door, and rear shoulder was ran over. consumer stated there was no shift interlocking system.*ak *jb

Consumer hit brickwall at 60 mph, airbags did not deploy. dodge co said it was at a 30 degree angle, airbags should not have deployed, damage to vehicle was $11,000. *ak consumer states air bag sensor is located under driver's seat it takes 17 degrees of force to trip sensor and must be hit directly on driver's side, the car also hit rear end as it spun on ice, also not deploying air bag. *jb

Consumer went to dealership for recall 00v198000/ brake hose repairs, and was denied service. please provide any additional information. *ak

At 4,000 mile dealer replaced differential. within a year dealer replaced parts in differential on two occasions, and problem still reoccurred. manufacturer notified, and sent a representative. informed that vehicle did have a defect, and should be turned back in. but, consumer wanted to keep vehicle. *ak

Consumer complained regarding brake system operation. consumer has to pump brake pedal several times before braking system will activate and slow vehicle down. please provide any additional information/attachments.*ak

While driving vehicle back fired and noticed a lot of racket, and a lot of oil consumption. consumer stated it was manifold gasket. *ak

Brakes failed while approching oncoming traffic, applied brakes and vehicle continued on until it rear ended another vehicle. dealer/manufacturer were not notified at this time. please feel free to provide any further details on this matter. *ak

Engine has stalled while driving at 30mph, and right before engine also stalled. engine started making some noises like knocking. contacted dealer, and dealer accused consumer of not taking care off vehicle even though consumer has all paper work on service checkups. ak

Consumer has a 1999, dodge, dakota. tires were originals with only 50% of tread left on them. goodyear to consumer they were sport performance tires that didn't really belong on a pick up truck. tires had 13,000 miles on them.*ak the tires were goodyear eagle ls (p255 65 r15). *slc

Due to defective steering shaft and pump while driving steering system malfunctioned, causing no power steering, which may result in vehicle crashing over an embankment. *ak the cause for power steering problem was discovered to be power steering pump failure. *yh

Was shifting from drive into reverse and was turning steering wheel, and vehicle stalled. it could happen in the reverse order. took to dealership & service manager drove vehicle with owner and problem happened. was informed that dodge knew about problem.however, regional manager indicated there was no problem. *ak

Front ball joints broke which may have caused a crash at 50,000 miles. dealer cannot determine the cause. please provide further information.*ak

Lower ball joint had to be replaced. other one was worn, it will need to be replaced also.*ak

Vehicle is on third catalytic converter since purchase, makes a loud clanking sound. also, does not shift properly. *ak

Whenever braking can feel brakes pulsating through out truck. took to dealer and mechanic indicated problem was brake rotors and drums which were warped, & needed to be turned. problem was resolved for awhile and then returned. rotors were warped again. *ak abs light comes on while driving due to rear wheel speed sensor failure. *yh

While traveling intermittently overdrive indicator light would flash on and stay on without consumer turning button on. dealer has been contacted. please provide further information.*ak

Vehcile wanders left to right on dry road. front end vibrates intermitently. consumer has been waiting for the district representative to call but no contact.*ak engine valve failed five times. steering failed three times. rear oil seal is leaking. *yh

When brakes are applied vehicle vibrates and pulls. dealer has inspected vehicle.*ak

When brakes are applied vehicle vibrates. dealer has inspected vehicle.*ak vehicle surges/oscillates when braking from approx. 45 mph to 0 mph. *yh

Front disc brakes will heat up and separate in half and half of the brakes will fall out due to the separation causing complete failure of brakes.dlr claims it is glue that separates due to the heat. consumer replaced front disc brakes but defect will reoccur. so far consumer has replaced it 3 times and it will only last about 3 months.

While applying brakes at 15 mph rear wheels locked up and caused vehicle to skid and rear ended into another vehicle in front. dealer/manufacturer were not notified at this time. please feel free to provide any further details. *ak

While traveling at 55 mph an anminal ran in front of vehicle, consumer flipped over, air bags did not deploy. please provide further information.*ak

Spark plug has cracked twice. the dealer has been notified.*ak

Consumer was traveling about 20mph on a residential street and sun was bright and blinded her. consumer hit a trailer which was parked on the right side of the road. upon impact, driver's side airbag didn't deploy.*ak

While traveling noticed engine check light flashing soon after vehicle stalled. dealer has repaired veicle, but problem returned. *ak the vehicle also stalls during idle. *yh

When manual transmission is in 1st gear it will roll backwards, cause unknown. please give any further details. *ak

Intermittently vehicle will stall out and die without warning. dealer has not been able to duplicate the problem.*ak

While driving heard noise in the front end of vehicle. right/left ball joints and upper control arm have been replaced, which did not correct the problem. please give any further details. *ak

While driving vehicle caught on fire in the engine compartment on the driver's side, cause unknown. please give any further details. *ak

While traveling 35-40 mph and as a result of an accident, air bags did not deploy. please provide further information. *ak

Engine check light remains illuminated, indicating a malfunction within the system. cause unknown. please give any further details. *ak

While traveling at 40 mph and as a result of vheicle hiting a tree, air bags did not depoly without indication. please provide further information. *ak

Pulling out of a parking space at 10-15 mph while raining windows fogged up, causing poor visibility. consumer was making a turn and hit a pole, and air bags did not deploy. please provide further information. *ak

While driving vehicle pulls to the right all the time, consumer fears that car may lose control, and there may be an accident. took to dealer, and they said it was normal. *ak *ml

While driving on road had to apply brakes suddenly to avoid hitting another vehicle. abs lights came on, wheels locked up, and driver was not able to control vehicle. contacted dealer, and was told that the brakes should fluctuate to maintain steering control. *ak

Noise coming from rear of steering mechanism. has been in shop several times for repair and replacement of shocks, how2ever the dealer doesn't know what the problem is. *ak

There is a crack/pop and shimmy from the front end at highway speeds . dealer cannot determine cause.*ak

At a stop or slow rate of speed,and turning steering wheel all the way to left/to right ,it will hang up in the postion ,will not retract back. dealer has replaced rack and pinion and steering column. dealer cannot fix defect. *ak

While driving between 50-60 mph and accelerating , going up hill, all service lights will come on, and for about 20 seconds all brake/hazard/directional headlights etc., will become inoperative. but engine will still run. dealer cannot determine cause of defect. *ak

Vehicle been experiencing ongoing problem with vibration. also, whenever vehicle runs over a rough surface or a bump, it causes erratic operation of power steering. dealer notified and correction still unresolved. can nhtsa help in this matter. *ak

Driver hit another vehicle at 35 mph. upon impact, dual airbags did not deploy, causing chest injuries, even with seatbelt worn. *ak

While makeing a sudden stop when the roads were wet front brakes would lock up, causing the vehicle to continue traveling, resulting in extended stopping distance. please provide further informaton. *ak

Ongoing problem with speed control; whenever speed control is engaged while going up an incline or wet surface, it causes sudden acceleration. vehicle been in / out of dealer shop on five occasios. repairs / replacement of throttle cable & transmission made, and problem is still reoccurring. can nhtsa help in this matter.*ak

The structure is bleeding through the paint. vehicle showing black/brown spots that look like beginning of rust. been in contact with dealer & manfacturer. offered to buff vehicle. was also informed general manager will be in touch & so far has not. *ak

Intermittently when there are other keys on the ring the other keys will get jammed in the steering wheel due to a hole in the back of the housing. the dealer has inspected the vehicle. *ak

Was in a front end collision. upon impact, driver's side and passenger's side air bags didn't deploy. *ak

Transmission was incorrectly installed at factory, causing sprockets and transmission to wear down. dealer will replaced transmission under warranty. *ak

While driving at 60 mph and without prior warning vehicle shut down. consumer had no brakes/ no power steering. consumer pulled over to the side of the road, and saw black smoke coming from under the hood. *ak

The rear end is making noise at 40mph, unable to rectify rear end noise. *ak brake rotors warped before 12,000 miles causing brake pulsation. *mjs

When foot is on gas pedal the motor races, but the vehicle does not move. dealer says it's normal. *ak

In wet pavement and panic stops, the braking system malfunctioned, causing extended stopping distance which may cause a crash. please provide further information and vin#. *ak

Driver's side door locks, lock automatically when the door is closed, but vehicle does not have power locks. the dealer has been notified. *ak

While traveling at 35mph another vehicle pulled out in front. was broadsided by dodge. upon impact, the dodge's air bags did not deploy. both driver & passenger were slightly injured. police report filed. vehicle was towed to shop for repairs. *ak

Accelerator pedal got stuck in open position, causing the vehicle to suddenly accelerate. brakes did not stop vehicle, resulting in an accident. dealer cannot determine the problem. please provide further information. *ak

When crashing into a tree, mostly on the left front side of truck, the seat belt did not hold the driver and there was no deployment of air bags. owner not sure if truck was totalled. *ak

Vehicle was involved in a head-on collision at approximately 40 mph. upon impact, both air bags failed to deploy. no injuries reported. dealer/manufacturer were not contacted at this time. *ak

Manufacturer who sold vehicle, and also owner's manual state that vehicle can pull up to 6000 towing pounds, but it can actually pull only 2000 pounds . *ak

Defective bolts fell off rack and pinion causing rack and pinion to move up and down, resulting in steering wheel getting stuck, and causing a crash. please provide further information and vin#. *ak

While traveling at various speeds vehicle would shut down for no reason. would have no warning. had been to dealer numerous times for problem, but mechanic was unable to find the problem or duplicate it. *ak

While driving about 40 mph a deer jumped in front of the vehicle, causing a frontal impact, and serious damages to the front end. driver's and passenger's airbags did not deploy which did not protect the occupant in this crash. an inspector said a shield was over the airbag sensor which wont trigger the sensor if there was a frontal impact. please provide further information. *ak

The abs braking system malfunction ed, causing the brake pedal to go the floor and no braking ability, resulting in an accident. dealer inspected the vehicle prior to accident, and said it was not driveable until a part was available. please provide further information. *ak

The goodyear tires (eagle ls p25569r15), the treads were wearing excessively. had noticed the tread wear after having the tires rotated 3 different times. had called the manufacturer & the dealer of the tires & both refused to do anything. *ak

Vehicle is pulling to the right. dealer has done an alignment, but defect is still occurring and it has gotten worse, causing the tire to wear out on right side, which could result in loss of vehicle control. *ak

The brake lights and the reverse lights do not work at all. the only rear lights that work are the head lights. dealer has not seen. *ak

Headlights are unstable, causing poor visibility, consumer also having problem with engine valves knocking. consumer has contacted the dealer. please provide any further details.*ak

Noise in the clutch, dealer made revision but problem still exists. *slc

We have been told by mckinney dodge in mckinney, texas that we have an intake leak on our manifold. we have made arrangements with our mechanic to have this fixed. i went to the west loop dodge in ft. worth and picked up the manifold gasket kit from the parts department. upon reading the insert it stated that the new bolts are now 1/2 inch longer and that the gasket itself is now thicker as well. also with speaking with our mechanic, he informed us that we are the second truck in the past two weeks that has had the same problem. he was even able to tell us exactly where our leak was before inspecting it. this seems to me that dodge has been aware of this problem and instead of recalling their defect in their product, they made changes to the gaskets and bolt sizes and are now charging over $600 to have this repaired. i feel that this should be considered a defect in their product and dodge should be responsible for paying the bill and not the consumer that has purchased their product.*jb

Catalytic converter rattling, making noise. dealer repaired under federal emmissions warranty, 8 years or 80,000 miles.*ak

Got an abs warning lamp (stayed lit) on the instrument panel when i started the car. when i drove down the road, the speedometer didn't work. i troubleshot the problem myself and corrected it. the speed sensor, mounted in the rear end, was bad (read "open" with an ohmmeter). i purchased a new sensor ($42) from the dealer and installed it. car works ok now.*ak

Manufactor date of the tire is 2400, all tires failing at the outside one quarter away from the bead and it looks like dry rot and the crack is about one eight inch deep. *ak

The $11,000 in damage was all front-end damage and air bag did not deploy.*ak

It seems my front brake rotors and rear drums are warped causing severe pulsating, shaking and vibration when brakes are applied with normal pressure. the problem is getting more severe now each month. this problem has progrssed to a point now that i noticed the quality and performance of the abs braking is suffering. the abs system locked up my brakes during a light rain at a stop system causing my dakota to slide halfway through an intersection. i am afraid the sensors are getting bad information due to the already pulsating brakes by the apparant drum and rotor warpage. i have a 1969 chevy impala with the original drums and 110,000 miles, these brakes still work fine.*ak

Vehilce has been taken back 3 times. dealer advised on purchase date that engine light represented minor problem that they fixed. *ak

Repeated attempts to have chrysler fix the problem with dakota brake rotors have failed. *ak

Engine block had to be replaced due to defective cylinder heads. manufacturer declines any responsibility because no extended warrenty was purchased.*ak

Not sure if rear wheel drive. manufacturer contacted. very lucky leaking brake cyliders caught by mechanics during routine tire rotation. safety issue. *ak

Fortunetly there were no other parties involved. there was a terrible grinding noise in the transmission when operated at 5 mph or 55 mph. brought to motorquest of wellesley, ma and they diagnossed the vehicle with a dead transmission. the vehicle is used primarily for transportation to and from work at an average of 60- 70 miles /day. we have not used it for off roading and have regular oil changes and servicing done. isn't it unusual for a vehicle with 45000-46000 miles to need a new transmission?*ak

Vehicle was taken to a chrysler dealership to diagnose the problem. the mechanic there said he had seen this problem a few times with this same model. that it was a defect in the oil pump. repair would cost around $4,000. vehicle was well cared for and we have complete journal of oil changes and all other care and repairs.*ak

Premature failure of ball join during inspection by dealer. *ak

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

All four ball joints prematurely need replacement., excessive play. the dealer stated that the ball joints have 60 thousands of an inch play from the factory. i had an independent front end specialist inspect my brakes and doing so he found the ball joints in the front end no good (excessive play). he said that this is a known problem throughout the industry and dodge has not corrected this problem.*ak

Rotors have been replaced 5 times and turned 4 times , back replaced three times. have filed complaints with chrysler, nhtsa, and 3 dealerships. no one can fix or replace this truck. chrysler said they would sent an enginner down to look at it, it has been 3 months, nothing yet. the dealership who sold this truck , should replace this truck.*ak

Rotors have been replaced 4 times and turned 5 times in a year, rear hubs relaced 3 times in a year and i still do not have brakes. dealt with chrysler and speedway dodge. no one can fix the problem. chrysler needs to replace this vechicle. the dealerships, 3 of them say that is just a dodge. if that is just a dodge, why are they allowed to sell them. having no brakes is a very serious problem. i have filed complaints with the better business bureau, the dealerships nhtsa and still no answers or luck in getting this vechicle fixed.*ak (tiresize: 255/65/r15)

Upper ball joint wore out on a 2 year old vehicle ,replacement parts not aveilable. *ak

All four tires have been replaced twice due to unusual wear. transmission sensor has goen out twice, ball joints & levers are bad.*ak

Dealer said our intake manifold gasket was blown at 34000 miles now a place is telling us our thermostat is gone, does not seem right for only a 2 year old vehicle. *ak

The sidewalls of all 4 of my wrangler st tires are failing at the seams, and at the same time. the service manager at my goodyear store called it "flow cracking" and said "that is not good". the tires are original to the truck installed during it's production. the following is additional information found on the tires: dot m6hf fkwr 258, there is a number and letter, e13 enclosed by a circle, another number located on tire is t302962-gpf-95-mms , there is a number 100s and the letters bs, another number is 026951 m+s, goodyear is replacing the tires under the warranty on a prorated basis as a result of this defect in the tire. the local goodyear store is edwards auto service center 13936 jeff-davis hwy woodbridge va 22191, 703 494-7181. fax 703 494-5140, they said it'd be a week before the replacements arrive. i submit this as the start of any paper trail should this goodyear tire defect, be a prelude to a situation as occurred with firestone and the ford explorer.*ak (dot number: m6hf tiresize: p215/75r15)

This will be my seventh time to the garage at 40000 mile i can't seem to get any response from the manufacturer. i feel that they need to know about all the problems that i had with their product. can you help? thank you. rlg ohio p.s i have 7 different problems..no safety defect. *ak

Rear end has been replaced 3 times, but still have whine, dodge tells dealer will not do anything else until they find problem, and that has been a 1yr ago

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

Rotors & pads have been replaced once. the new rotors have been turned once and are vibrating again.*ak

I applied my brakes to slow the truck going down a hill. the brake pedal went to the floor and the engine shut off. by applying extreme pressure i was able to slow the truck and eventually stop it by driving off the road into the grass. looking at the truck the next morning showed a worn rubber hose in the brake line. the rim of the right front wheel had rubbed a hole in the line. it appeared there was a bent bracket that supports the brake line and that's what allowed the line to "get into" the wheel. i haven't run over any debris that could cause the bracket to bend and the truck hasn't been in any accidents. it's my opinion, that if a brake line is to be mounted that close to the wheel, it should be well shielded or secured with hardware that could not be so easily deformed and allowing the brake line to move toward the wheel. the wheel only touches the line when the wheel is turned all the way to the left. the left front brake line is about an inch or inch and a half from the left wheel and is not worn. this is a serious safety defect in my opinion, as i was driving on mountain roads the day before the incident. the sharp curves on the mountain roads is probably where the damage occurred as there were many sharp curves where i had to turn the wheel as far left and right as i could to make the curves.*ak

Rear end gears are trashed. *ak

The tire failed on the inside side wall with a sudden blow out leaving a 4" vertical hole. the goodyear dealer blamed it on a road hazard although i never hit anything in the road, the failure appeared to be on a seam of the tire.to date the manufacturer or dealer haven't resolved the issue.. *ak (tiresize: 31x15)( dot number: tire size: 31x15 )

No summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak

I have had problems with the right front brakes, there is a clicking noise and i have had to have the brakes cleaned and serviced, and rotors turned. now a new rotor on the front left. i have had this to the dealer from the first week i had the truck, dodge cannot fix the problem and say there is nothing wrong. however i feel there is a problem when i have to have brake work done 4 times in 4 months. the brakes are extremely important on an automobile, and i feel that there is a problem and can eventually cause a serious and life threatining accident.*ak

A tire blew up which was oem at only 14,000 miles at highway speed under no weight load in the bed. i'm in a truck club of fellow dakota owners. at least 6 others have stated problems with the stock eagle ls tires exploding at 14,000 miles. while i only sustained damage of a blown tire and damaged rim, others have had multiple accidents with different eagle ls tires blowing at differnet times. i've contacted goodyear and dodge directly. unfortunately i didn't have the presence of mind to save the blown tire and rim for inspection. i don't expect anything personally from this but it would be nice if someone could look into this specific brand of tire. thank you. (tiresize: 255/65/15)( dot number: tire size: 255/65/15 )

Right front ball joint were falling out. left front ball joint in disrepair.dealer notified on 4/10/00.mileage5536 .catalytic converter replacedat20445. thermostat housing replaced at 13478.

Rear end has been replaced two times each time at a different dealership. each time noise reappeared at the same speed, but this time their is also a grind when at a stop and making a right or left turn. a additive has been added to rear end but has not stop grinding. dealership is telling me they contacted chrysler and they said that they were not going to do anything else until they could find a solution. they told wison dodge this the first time i had rear end replaced and that was over a year ago. only difference now they will not do anything and my truck has 35,000 miles on it. it not that i have not tried to get dodge to do something, i have to try to get another dealership to replace rearend. this truck has been in shop a total of about 18 days and that does not include time i have spent at dealership wait to have truck checked for problem. this is not the only problem that i have had with this truck, front suspenison problems for about 8 months, but blackwell dodge is still working on problem. any help will be gladly appreciated. *ak

5.2l engine; 20,418 mi; high oil consumption & spark knock due to faulty intake manifold valley-pan gasket. dealership replaced gasket at no cost (warranty).

Engine stalled, check engine light - on, odometer read "no bus" lost power steering and power brakes, would not restart and had towed, problem traced to 20amp fuse and computer module.*ak

Dodge has denied me compensation for a 69% reduction in towing capacity that was offered to other owners solely because i bought the vehicle used. it was purchased 3 mos. old with 3k miles before the reduction was announced. i have never been offically notified of the defect. i cannot afford to replace the vehicle and continue to tow 2000+ lbs. i believe this is a safety issue. what can the nhtsa do to help dogde understand their responsibilities?*ak

Brakes pulsate during medium application. dealer found rotors warped and required milling and shoe replacement. sounds like a manufacturing defect to me and a posible safety problem but dealer says its a wear item. the shoes still had 75%+ of the pad left. i see several complaints like this one here.*ak

About every 10,000 the brake rotors warp producing vibrations when stopping and longer stopping distances, i don't use two feet to drive, and the truck never leaves the road. *ak

No summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak

Interior water leak@6620mileage,whole interior replaced,2 serpentine belts replaced, 5 times for engine stalling either in idle or while driving , engine light eluminated and vehicle would stall and not start, towed twice for this problem. currently awaiting abitration hearing with ncds through chrysler

Interior water leak@6620milage,2 serpentine belts replaced,5 times engine/interior engine light eluminated caused vehicle to stall while driving

Engine repeatedly breaks #2 spark plug. dealer has no solution.*ak

Noise in rear diff. dealer admits the problem, but cannot fix

5/5/00 milage-24009 engine light on - vehicle stalled (towed) 6/22/00 milage-26743 engine light on-vehicle stalled 6/23/00 milage-26774 engine light on-vehicle stalled6/26/00 milage-26930 engine light on-vehicle stalled 8/10/00 mileage28776 engine light on-vehicle stalled chrysler case#7556187 filed for abitration due to safety issues and burdensome repairs. replaced parts:spark plugs,pcm, sprk plugwire,headgasket, cylinder.

Emergency brake cable rubs on rear leaf spring, dlr says all trucks do it. it is a design flaw and should be recalled. the brake cable will eventually fail when the casing on the cable wears thru and the cable rusts and corrodes.

Sensor for speed controll above 15 miles per hour not working,causing engine check light to stay on.truck hesitates to change into gear when speed above that is trying to be reached.would like to know if there is a recall or factory warranty on this part and to find out where it is located on the vehicle and if it can be put on and reset without being taken to the dealer?*ak

Upon trying to trade in this vehicle, i was informed that it had been repainted. the dealership informs that that it was a factory defect. however, the value of the vehicle has decreased greatly due to this. i was offered $7,000 as a trade in value. the dealer would like to repaint, but i feel they should replace. no safety defect listed in summary. *ak

I complained about a vibration during braking, was told the rotors and pads were warped, i had them resurfaced at 350.00 and less than a month later i am having the same problem... all this at 19,000 miles (all highway miles) chrysler says it's not a warranty item......*ak

The rear abs failed at 6002 miles, it was repaired on 06/16/2000 by don schmid dodge,failed again at 6102 miles, rear brakes dragging to the point of slowing the vehicle down on both failures. odor of hot brake linings and red hot drums on the first failure. *ak

Idling in park on flat land, slipped into reverse and hit parked car. 2 previous incidents of reverse into nuetral while backing out of parking space. 3 incidents of drive into 2nd. several incidents of "settling" sounds while in drive. manufacturer says nothing is wrong and refusing to perform warranty repair.

Right side excessivly wearing tires. *ak( dot number: tire size: p215/30r15 )

Chrysler declared that there was no problem. after three trips to the dealer for service there was an accident because the rear brakes were not working properly. the 9 inch rear drums did not produce enough friction to effectively stop the weight. i replaced the drums with factory 10 inch and the problem was fixed. chrysler then refused to reimburse me, and declared my warranty voided. i have talked to other dakota owners with the same complaint. the front rotors are being warped at 3000 miles after replacement. *ak

I had to brake suddenly for a deer. the driver side seat belt locked properly and held me away from the steering wheel. the passenger side seat belt did not lock and my wife was thrown forward into the dash. i subsequently checked the seat belt and found it would not lock at all. i took the vehicle to the dealer and they ordered and installed a new one from the manufacturer. when i picked up the vehicle the new seat belt did not work either. the service manager tried to convince me that if i first would let the belt go back and then yank on it it would work. i assured him than in a frontal crash a body at rest does not go back and then forward. i reminded him that einstein figured that out a long time ago. he showed me a jeep in the shop whose seat belt also worked the same. i asked him to show me a new dakota and compare the results. upon checking the new dakota he found that the seat belt indeed locked properly each time it is placed under rapid deceleration load. he agreed to order me another seat belt. i am convinced that since i already have a defective belt and they sent me another defective belt that dodge has a large inventory both on the road and in their warehouse of bad and unsafe seat belts for the dodge dakota. *ak

I have had both problems (abs and tire failure) on two seperate occasions. the date on the report was for the most recent. i came around a curve to the right, then turned to the left to straighten out for the road and nothing happened. i started heading for a ditch in someone's yard so i applied the brakes they locked up then released completely. my right front tire went flat causing steering to be nonresponsive. in my first accident, i was following a friend coming from a light that just turned green, and the car in front of him started to slow down to turn, when i applied the brakes, they locked up and would not release so i turned the wheel to avoid the accident and the right front tire went flat causing me to slide on the wheel into the back of another motorist. i have witnesses in both cases that say there was nothing i could do and that i was not breaking any laws. no citation was given in either case because the officers agreed that i did nothing wrong.( dot number: tire size: 255/55/r17 )

Air bags lift and peel. *ak

The front bumper has begun to rust. *ak

Vehicle will accelerate without warning. while in neutral or clutch depressed will rev up to 3800 rpm's without warning. vehickle has been in a chrysler repair shop 6 times for same problem. problem has returned each time. i fear that this vehicle has a design flaw. *ak

Engine knock. dealer has tried to fix twice using tech bulletins and problem persists. only fix i have found was to use highest octane fuel. owners manual states only 87 oct. is required and resulting damage from prolonged spark knock may not be covered by warranty. a service tech. stated to me there is no fix avail. for this problem. *ak

Vehicle was driven to clear lake dodge to diagnose problem, and no problem was detected.next day the owner removed driveshaft and found welded balance weight had come off .owner took driveshaft to the dealership and pointed out problem and no satisfactoy solution was reached.

5.2l engine has a loud knock when warm and accelerating past 2200rpm. the engine also burns 2+ qts of oil between scheduled changes. cortese dodge twice has told me this is normal behavior. problem was reported at 9000 miles, still there at 12000 miles

Tire and rim identification label applied to all 1999 dakota r/t pickup trucks incorrectly states rim size, tire size and tire inflation pressure. this does not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 120

Vehicle gets squirelly when towing trailer 5000 pounds)within rated 6000 when purchased

Tow rating lowered from 6400lbs to 2000lbs

I was involved in a three vehicle collision with myself being in the middle of two other pickup trucks. the truck in front of me had a trailer hitch on the back causing all of the impact to be in the middle of my front end resulting in a u-shaped indentation going back into the engine of my truck. the collision was on an interstate and we were moving at approx. 50mph slowing due to the vehicle in front stopping suddenly. i struck the vehicle in front, bounced backward, then was struck in the rear very hard pushing me back into the front vehicle. neither the drivers or passengers airbags in my vehicle deployed. later speaking with the accident appraiser he stated that the airbag sensors are located on the left and right side of the front bumper and not in the middle. by the impact being in the middle of my front end the sensors were not triggered because the sensors never knew there was a collision. i believe this is a serious defect that should be investigated, there were injuries from moving forward, thankfully no one was very seriously injured but it could have been worse. shouldn't there be sensors in the middle of the front ends also just for this type collision, i.e. all of the impact being in the center of the front end. thank you.

I have had three things wrong with this truck. all have been because the factory did not put the parts togeter right in the first time.i have the truck in the shop for the noises, if it is not fixed to the standards of a new 1999 truck, i will like a different truck. if this is not possible, i will sell this and never buy from dodge again!!!

The engine pings in normal operation at speeds from approximately 30 to 70+ miles per hour after the engine warms-up. the dealer, dispite repeated attempts, has not been able to resolve the problem which, in my estimation is a safety issue as the dealer can not (or will not perhaps) say that the problem will not lead to failure of the engine or some significant component. the dealer advises that they have contacted daimlerchrysler corporation and have not been able to get advise that will resolve the problem.

Tires were installed at the factory. vehicle was purchased for standard - on the road - use. at no time prior to the purchase was it reported that, as equipped, the owners manual prohibited the use of tire chains or traction devices on this vehicle. this severly restricts use of the vehicle. a complaint was filed with the national center for dispute settlement who refused to hear the case as it was not "broken". rather this was something that was limited by design. the inability to use tire chains or traction devices represents a significant safety issue when used on the roads during winter months. daimlerchrysler motors corporation and the dealer of purchase point fingers to each other, advising that each is a for-profit organization and the responsibility rests with the other party. repeated calls to daimlerchrysler motors corporation and the dealer of purchase have failed to discover the reason for the restriction. consequently, i must assume that tire chain use would represent an operational risk.( dot number: tire size: p255/65/15 )

An authorized chrysler legal investigator is to inspect truck today 9/2/99. an engine compartment fire was the result of this incedent. the fire was extinguished by a passing motorist. the was originally reported to nhtsa on 8/30/99 via telephone. *ak

No summary

Manufacturer lowered tow capacity from advertised 6400lbs to 2000lbs

Towing capacity lowered to 2000 pounds without notice to customers.

Truck was advertised to be able to tow 6400lb as equiped, letter was sent stating towing was now max of 2000lb.

I was recently notified that the tow rating of the dodge dakota r/t only was lowered from 6400 lbs to 2000 lbs. i found out on a website. i contacted chrysler and was told this was true, that it was lowered in feb 99 and i would receive a letter in the mail regarding my options. they would not tell me why it was lowered. i asked if it was a safety or performance issue. they would not say. it took 2 months to get the letter and all it was a yellow card to put in my owner's manual saying that the tow capacity was now 2000 lbs. all the literature i have along with my owner's manual says 6400 lbs and apparently, chrysler is still advertising 6400 lbs.

When i purchased this truck (jan. 99) the tow rating was 6400 lbs. recently, diamler chrysler corp. sent me a card to insert into my owners manual that says 2000# is all this vehicle will tow safely. what they don't explain is why the tow rating is decreased! it seems to me if dc is concerned with the safety aspect of this issue than this should have been discovered during their own testing before release to the consumer. this is the second model year that this truck has been in production and they just now realized there is a safety problem with there original advertised towing figure? what's wrong with this truck that dc doesn't want to tell it's loyal customers about? i haven't tried to contact the manufacturer but several people with the same model truck have and dc is being very tight lipped concerning the reduced towing issue, basically they would rather "buyback" the vehicle than say anything about the cause for the weight reduction.

Towing capacity downgraded from 6400 to 2000 lbs. no contact from chrysler

According to reports on the internet, daimlerchrysler has issued a letter reneging on the towing capacity advertised for the dodge dakota r/t \v8 from 6,400 lbs to 2,000 lbs. this reduction announcement letter has not been sent to me or many other new vehicle owners, however i have seen and have a copy of the letter provided to me by others.

Towing issue

When purchased new this vehicle, dakota r/t, was clearly advertised as having a towing capacity of 6400 lbs. daimlerchrysler now announcing a downgrade of that to 2000 lbs.. i have not been contacted by daimlerchrysler of this fact the only reason i know of this is from other dokota r/t oweners. daimlerchrysler will not state why they are reducing this. i think this must be a real saftey hazzard. i did receivie an e-mail that a nother r/t owner lost control while towing and hade a minor wreck. being that daimlerchrysler has not contacted all r/t this must mean that others are towing more than 2000 lbs. i have towed neer to 2000 lbs before i found out. (not from daimlerchrysler) they need to the stand up and let all of us know before somebody gets hurt or killed.

I bought a dodge dakota rt in march of this year. after owning the truck for approximatly 3 months i was made aware of a reduction in towing capacity from 6400 pounds to only 2000 pounds. i called daimler chrysler a number of times and was told that only trucks built after febuary 1st were eligible for a buyback, my truck was built febuary 6. the representitive i spoke with from chrysler told me that i should have had a yellow card placed in my owners manual stating the reduction. i brought the manual to the dealer and had the service manager look through my manual, and he too did not see the yellow card. i was never told of the reduction when i bought the truck and i was not on any mailing list from chrysler to receive a letter stating the reduction.

Towing issue - truck was advertised and sold as having 6000# towing capacity. after delivery the owners manusl was modified to 2000# towing capacity. this causes a loss in the value of the as i paid for a feature that was not on the truck at time of delivery. i feel i was over charged for the truck and the truck has lost resale value.

The factory originaly approved the dakota r/t for 6400 lbs towing capacity, and then suddenly reduced that to 2000 lbs, failing to notify many of the problem, not changing any advertisements, and not telling new buyers.... they refuse to disclose info on why they changed the rating, and do not have a fix for the problem

When i bought the truck, i was told that capacity was 6400lbs. i have been informed that it was changed to 2000lbs with no reason why.

When i originally bought the dakota r/t, i was told that i could tow up to 6400lbs. i just found out from other source that the towing was reduced to 2000lbs. called chrysler sending some letter and a yellow card. is this a safty issue?

Daimlerchrysler has arbitrarily reduced the rated towing capacity to 2000 lbs, although all the product literature for these vehicles states 6400 lbs towing capacity. they have not given a reason and refuse to warranty claims for failures due to towing more than 2000 lbs. *ak( dot number: tire size: 265/55hr17 )

Dodge dakota r/t's were originally said to be at 6400lbs towing capacity properly equipped. it has been downgraded to 2000 lbs max after i bought the vehicle.

Daimler chrysler advertised and sold the dakota r/t vehicles as having a 6400 lb. towing capacity. they have now downgraded this towing capacity to 2000 lbs. many of these vehicles are being used to tow considerably more than 2000 lbs. this appears to be a severe safety hazard. *ak

The manufacturer sent of a change that dropped tow rating from 6400lbs to 2000lbs on the r/t models. they give no reason for the change. think it is important to know this information. *ak

When purchased new this vehicle, dakota r/t, was clearly advertised as having a towing capacity of 6400 lbs. daimlerchrysler now announcing a downgrade of that rating to 2000 lbs, retroactive to all 1999 and 1998 models including those already sold and titled. failure to comply will void warranty.

Reduced the towing capacity without notification of owners.safety issue. *ak

When i originally bought the dakota r/t, i was told that i could tow up to 6400lbs. just recently chrysler has announed that towing more than 2000lbs will void our warranty. the r/t is meant to be a fun truck to drive, but many of us also bought it for the ability to work as well as play. many of us also bought the heavy duty service group and the tow package from dodge as well. that all amounts to nothing now, since it can not tow more than what the bumber can handle. i belong to a mailing list of 300 other r/t drivers and so far all they have heard (after calling chrysler's customer service) is that chrylser may pay us back for the tow package and heavy duty service group. that is truly unacceptable since we bought this truck for working and now it can barely tow a good sized trailer. all the documentation that i have read says that the dakota r/t can tow 6400lbs. i would like to see if there is anything that you guys can do to help us out. thank you very much. [email protected]

No summary

Had been running on cruise control for about 3 miles when vehicle rapidly accelerated to about 70 mph. i depresseded the "coast" button, reducing the speed to 60. i had no further cruise control incidents/failures. *ak

Dealer mechanic found that combination valve/switch on vehicle came apart.

The transmission was destroyed due to an improperly installed check valve. this stopped all flow to and from the transmission and transmission fluid cooler. *jg

Consumer states vehicle pulls to the left at all times. dealer found excessive play in ball joints and had to replace them, also performed a front end alignment. *tt

All four goodyear eagle ls (255 65 15) tires on the vehicle have only 50% wear left with 13,000 miles on the vehicle, complaint on file at goodyear headquarters ref#431367, complaint filed with chrysler's headquarters file #8011321. *mjs

Goodyear wrangler st tire p215 75 r15 experienced blowout damaging the rim, consumer wants reimbursement. *slc

Front bakes locked up and rear brakes did not work when consumer applies the brakes. nlm

Rear seat head rests are constructed on hard plastic and hurt children during sudden braking, consumer replaced plastic with padding to prevent possible injury. mjs

Rear seat head rests are constructed on hard plastic and hurt children during sudden braking, consumer replaced plastic with padding to prevent possible injury. mjs

Design of exterior rear view mirrors are too large causing them to block drivers view.

Truck would not shift into 3rd gear, this did not occur all time. the check engine light came on several times. was told to ignore the light and should only be concerned if the light was flashing. they ajusted the throttle pressure cable. it seemed to take care of the problem for approx 1 week. then the problems started again. this time it still would not shift properly and now it was bogging out. i was attempting to pull out into traffic and as i stepped on the gas the truck just bogged out. it would not shift into the proper gears. i drove back to the dealer, the check the truck and said the something was wrong with the trani, would not let me drive vehicle, given rental.