We found the following complaints for DODGE DAKOTA (1997)
Read complaints for DODGE DAKOTA (1997)
No deployment of air bags in accident, injuries resulted.
Airbag sensor weakly illuminates while vehicle is in motion.dealer has inspectedvehicle.
While driving approximately 30 mph and trying to avoid a deer consumer swerved and vehicle ending up crashing into a fence. Upon im[pact, air bags did not deploy. The cause was undetermined.
The air bag light illuminated for no apparent reason and the speedometer was acting erratically, te vehicle was taken to the dealer where they replace 3 computer modules (center timer module, printed circuit board module and airbag module), the consumer discovered through the internet that there was a recall for his vehicle but was told that the current recall did not fit the mechanical symptoms his truck was experiencing.*jg*nlm
My husband and i were in a wreck 01/02/06 with his 97 dodge dakota slt club cab, we hit 2 deer at 50-55 mph head on.our airbags did not deploy.we notified chrysler about this matter.they sent out a special investigator to go over the truck to see why they did not deploy, we were advised by my husbands insurance company to be present at the time of inspection, we told this to chryslers special investigator.my husband went to the dealership the truck was to be taken to the si didn't show up my husband came home, i called the body shop that had the truck and they informed me that the si had come and looked at the truck there and then was wanting it taken to a local dealership.i told the body shop not to allow the truck to be moved without us present, they went ahead and did it anyway.along with contact over the airbags with chrysler i was made aware of 1 recall, that we had not been notified of.now in my research i have found 5 recalls that we were not notified of.i was injured in the accident because of the airbags not deploying, i am still having problems.we have no vehicle at all, chrysler is dragging their feet about doing anything as far as telling us any details of the investigation.we are thinking about possibly repairing the truck, this will take money that we do not have to fix, the truck had liability only insurance.we live on a fixed income, my husband is disabled, i am currently not working and if i were i would have been fired for not being able to get to work.due to all the recalls on this truck that we have just found out about and the airbags not deploying and this being our only transportation, we would just like to see the vehicle replaced, but not with chrysler with a competitor, we are not asking for a brand new vehicle and also to have my medical bills paid.
No deployment of air bag during collision resulting in injury to face and body when hitting steering wheel.(attorney for consumer)
When driving airbag light illuminate and then go out without any warning.also, air bag light will turnoff if turn signals are engaged.
Air bags: nhtsa recall #97v080, received recall notice in july. Has taken vehicle in 6 times since receiving the notice, and it has not been repaired yet. Each time they give a different reason why they have'nt fixed it.
While driving on the road the truck hit a bump and the air bags deployed, there is a recall on air bags, 97v-080.
While driving 65-70 mph both airbags deployed.
While driving about 5 mph over a steel plate defective airbag system (driver and passenger ) deployed unexpectedly which may have caused a loss of vehicle control and sustained injuries.dealer said there was an under carriage impact which caused the air bag to deploy. Consumer indicated there was no undercarriage impact.*ml
Sitting at a stop sign another vehicle made a wide turn and hit consumer's vehicle ondriver'sside. Upon impact,driver side airbag didn't deploy.vehicle was towed to body shop for repairs.didn't contactdealer nor manufacturer.
While driving another vehicle veered into consumer'svehicle lane, driver applied the brakes, they did not work andconsumer's vehicle crashed into the other vehicle. The left side seat belt came apart. Upon impact,both air bags did not deploy.driver sustained head and neck, and knee injuries, and was transported by ambulance to a hospital. Vehicle was towed and totaledby insurance company....daimlerchrysler corporation notified consumer that they could not verify any type of seat belt buckle failure and denied consumer's claim. A police report was on file.
In a rear end collison none of the air bags deployed on impact. Impact was sosevere that it cracked radiator.
During frontal impact at speeds of 30mph, the driver's and passenger's side air bags did not deploy.
Vehicle was in collision at a 1:00 angle at 30mph and airbags did not deploy. Dealer has not seen vehicle.
Vehicle was involved in an accident on an icy road condition, causing the vehicle to impact at apost at approximately 35 mph, and both air bags failed to deploy. Dealer/manufacturer were not notified at this time.
Was driving on interstate 485 at charlotte, nc and airbags deployed with absolutely no collsion. Went to dealer and all they wanted to do was charge me 2700.00 to fix the airbags
Consumer was traveling about 35mph on highway and withoutout prior warning a deer ran across the street and was hit by consumer's vehicle. Upon impact,dual airbags didn't deploy.dealership was aware ofproblem.
Vehicle was travling about 45mph when it hit another vehicle in the side, the vehicle'sairbag didn't deploy.
While driving the truck driver hit a bump and the air bags deployed without any warning. The truck had dual air bags. There is a recall on the air bags, 97v- 080.
When traveling 35 mph consumer was involved in a head-on collsion in which neither driver's side nor passenger's side air bags deployed. Consumer has contacted the manufacturer, manufacturer statedthis was normal operation.*ml
Vehicle was involved in a front end collision at 25 mph, driver'sand passenger 's side airbags did not deploy.consumer received minor chest injuries from hitting the steering wheel after impact.
Consumerwas at an intersection waiting forlight to change and another vehicle ranred light to switch lanes without looking, and ran intoconsumer's vehicle. Upon impact, airbags didn't deploy. Dealership is aware of problem.
While traveling approximately 65 mph both frontal air bags deployed unexpectedly when vehicle did not hit any object(s).dealership examinedvehicle and could not determine cause of problem.*consumer informed his vehicle was not affected by recall campaign 97v080000.
Consumer was involved in a 50 mph frontal collision in which the driver's or passenger's air bags did not deploy.please give further details.
While driving 45 mph in the rain driver lost control ofvehicle and hit a utility pole head on. Frontal air bags did not deploy.both driver andpassenger were wearing seat belts.the drivers nose was bruised.passenger's head hit the windshield. Passenger's face was bruised andwindshield cracked.
Was in a direct frontal impact and there was no deployment of driver's/passenger's side airbags. Also brakes locked up.
Air bags deployed causing driver to slam on brakes.this resulted in the suspension crossmember of the vehicle to bend upon impact with the dirt road from the sudden stop.
While traveling at 50 mph the consumer's vehicle hit another vehicle that was at a deadstop.the vehicle was totaled, and none of the air bags deployed.*scc
Airbag deployed with no cause, injuring passenger with up to 2nd degree burns and cracking windshield.tempe dodge, tempe az was contacted and technicians ran diagnostic and found no cause for deployment.dodge however is not accepting responsibility for repair.
Consumer stated that the air bag module had popped, causing the air bag light to stay on. Ts
Air bag light would come on/off, also windshield wipers would fall offwhen the wiper arm was used due to a defect in glass.
Can not get conformation from dodge for airbage recall for 1997 dodge dakota vin #[xxx]airbag light is on which was typical of dakotas airbag recalls, but have not been advice of recall. Updated 07/25/2012 information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)
Was driving on interstate 485 at charlotte, nc and airbags deployed with absolutely no collsion. Went to dealer and all they wanted to do was charge me 2700.00 to fix the airbags
When driving the air bag light comes on,called dealer and he said tjat it was normal .
Child safety seat does not fit in rear section - need on/off airbag switch
Passenger's air bag needs an on/off switch.small children will have to be transported in front seat from time to time. Dealer said switch was available, but i needed a permit from nhtsa to have installed.
Headlights keep failing. Have changed headlight switch several times, but fails again. Transmission won't shift into overdrive. Cruise control is difficult to activate. Sometimes transmission won't shift from 2nd to 3rd gear
Three computer modules were replaced.*jg
The electrical system (wiring harness) and battery malfunctioned.(attorney for client)yh
Transmission acting sluggish. Was not shifting into gear properly. Would buck severely. Prior to this happening, vehicle would stall out for no reason. Has happened at least 4-5 times. At dealership, mechanic changed battery, map sensor & the computer chip. Problem was not solved. Finally indicated transmission was worn out & needed to be replaced with a rebuilt one.
Battery failed.mjs
While parked in garage turned onignition switch, within second a loud explosion came from underhood.after openinghood noticedtop ofbattery was shattered, andengine compartment was covered with acid. Dealer / manufacturer were not notified at this time. Provide any further details on this matter.
On april 20,1999 regulator,oil pan,idle air control and window belt faild.(attorney for client)yh
Due to amalfunction in the electronic system ofthe ignition control unit, the vehicle surges/bucks/a noise in the driveline and shifts too hard, which may cause loss ofcontrol.there is a tsb on the surging.please provide further information and vin#.
Transmission acting sluggish. Was not shifting into gear properly. Would buck severely. Prior to this happening, vehicle would stall out for no reason. Has happened at least 4-5 times. At dealership, mechanic changed battery, map sensor & the computer chip. Problem was not solved. Finally indicated transmission was worn out & needed to be replaced with a rebuilt one.
Car stall due to computer failure.yh
Consumer had turned off ignition with key still in switch.vehicle failed to turn off. Would idle 2600-3200 when vehicle first turned on. Would keep stalling out if not high idling. Would keep pressing accelerator pedal to slow it down. Been to dealer at least 5 times for problem that's not solvable.
While parked in garage turned onignition switch, within second a loud explosion came from underhood.after openinghood noticedtop ofbattery was shattered, andengine compartment was covered with acid. Dealer / manufacturer were not notified at this time. Provide any further details on this matter.
Rear wiring harness is pinched betweenframe and the bed assembly which has caused an electrical problem. Consumer has contacted dealer. The dealer soldered the three broken wires.
Broken wires in the steering column, causing the lights to become inoperable.dealer has been notified.owner has had the wiring fixed by a private mechanic. *ml
Abs light stays on due to failure of the engine wiring harness.
The electrical system (wiring harness) and battery malfunctioned.(attorney for client)yh
When turning off bright lights headlights go out. Took vehicle to dealer numerous times, cannot remedy because they cannot duplicate problem.
While driving there was a fire in the engine compartment. A couple of days before the fire,engine check light came on.after the ignition was turned off,on a couple of times, a code 12 was displayed on the instrument panel.a mechanic from the dealership stated that the code meant the battery was disconnected.vehicle has been totalled. Please provide any further information.
Instrument panel goes to zero,/completely out, including speedometer. Driver cannot tell how fast vehicle is traveling. Potential for crash, vehicle with dealer for inspection/repair.
When turning on the truck or driving down the road the instrument cluster goes dead.dodge dealer has replaced the instument cluster, dash wiring harness and an engine controll module. I have also had to replace the battery because the problem burned it out twice.$2000.00 and mounting.another part on order.5th time to dealer.
The wire harness that plugs the headlights into the dashboard melted.also the parking light and the high beams didn't work. *sc
3 days after we bought this vehicle the fuel system went down. Replaced the fuel pump and still wants to stall and act like its clogged in the fuel lines. Its been flushed. When driving it bogs down and chugs. It wants to die and shut off while your driving the truck. The brakes only work half the time. Most of the time i can't even stop until i'm halfway through the intersection. Replaced all the sensors and still doesn't want to start and stay running. Fuel pump kicks on, but has to run extra hard to try and keep the engine running.
The contact owned a 1997 dodge dakota. While driving 50 mph, the vehicle began to overheat without warning. The contact pulled over and opened the hood of the vehicle. The contact discovered that the engine was on fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. A fire report was filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage and vin were unavailable.
Vehicle is misfireing and losing power. Dealer has no solution to problem.
Replaced rusted radiator.
Replace rusted radiator.
60,000 miles to and from work no abuse ball joints failed and ac has leak in dash,timing chain and idler pulley makes noise. Radiator leaks transmission fluid plastic tanks on radiator.
Air conditioning--still works but at times it shuts of the upper air ducts and i have to shut it off on restart it to make it work right.engine--- makes a noise ( started at 20,000 miles) took it to a dealer they could not figure out what it was. After warranty was up told its the timing chain.at 92,000 still makes the same noisepower window-- passenger side does not workother--1. Radio (tape deck) tape deck turns the wind and rewind on by itself. Have to turn the motor off and restart to get it to quite. 2.have all kinds of wire problems, all the plastic coating comes off and wires break 3.tail light plugs won't stay plugged inpaint-- chips easily
Upper andlower ball joints failed at 77,000 miles.the vehicle started squeaking over slight bumps and worsened to squeaking all of the time, the steering wheel began to make unusual noises when turning, and coolant leaked from the engine. *sc
Engine stalls.
This truck is a lemon!!!! help! no safety defect mentioned in the summary.
I have two recurring problems. 1) i had the truck in 3 separate times for rattling noise in the engine compartment. The dealer, so far, replaced the timing chain and fan clutch, both under warranty. Once again, the engine is making the same rattling noise. This noise started around 58,000 miles. Also, my engine currently has an oil leak. The dealer claims it is the front seal. The dealer broke this seal when the timing chain was replaced. The dealer refuses to pay for the seal repair. 2) i had the truck in 3 times for another rattling noise in the a/c (interior). The dealer claimed the noise was normal. The fourth visit and conversation with manager proved that the noise, in fact, was not normal. The dealer replaced the compressor. At the current mileage, the a/c is once again making the same noise.in summary, the engine is producing a rattling noise. The a/c is also producing a rattling noise (both items are separate noises as validated by the dealership).
When going 55 or faster and let off the gas, when reaccelerating the transmission "bucks".the transmission temperature light comes on and the thermostat has been replaced to try to fix the problem but it has not worked.
When driving at any speedvehicle is backfiring/stalling/vibrating, andvehicle dies out. Consumer had to get a new clutch and this is the third transmission that has been replaced withinvehicle. There is a problem with the gears, anddealer can't determine the problem.
Consumer was replacing upper and lower ball joints every 35,000 miles. Also, consumer replaced the idler arm. Consumer contacted the dealer, who informed consumer that they will not warranty the suspension parts.provide further details. The consumer stated the manifold plenum gasket was leaking oil into the intake. The consumer replaced the gasket himself.
Abslight illuminated on several occaisions. Brake light also illuminates.abs pulsation even on dry roads.front pads and rotors replaced at apprx. 40000 miles. Service technician advised that "dodge rotors do not last very long."engine rattle began about 30000 miles. Diagnosed as a heat shield ratteling.subsequently diagnosed and a loose timing chain.
On april 20,1999 regulator,oil pan,idle air control and window belt faild.(attorney for client)yh
I have two recurring problems. 1) i had the truck in 3 separate times for rattling noise in the engine compartment. The dealer, so far, replaced the timing chain and fan clutch, both under warranty. Once again, the engine is making the same rattling noise. This noise started around 58,000 miles. Also, my engine currently has an oil leak. The dealer claims it is the front seal. The dealer broke this seal when the timing chain was replaced. The dealer refuses to pay for the seal repair. 2) i had the truck in 3 times for another rattling noise in the a/c (interior). The dealer claimed the noise was normal. The fourth visit and conversation with manager proved that the noise, in fact, was not normal. The dealer replaced the compressor. At the current mileage, the a/c is once again making the same noise.in summary, the engine is producing a rattling noise. The a/c is also producing a rattling noise (both items are separate noises as validated by the dealership).
Engine is causing a "pinging" noise when accelerator pedal is pressed, causing a loss of power. Dealership examinedvehicle and determined thatpan gasket was sucking air and causing excessive burning of oil.please provide any additional information/attachments.
Power steering assist failed during cold weather.was sluggish during slow idle.mopar mechanic said that complete replacement would cost over $1000 and may still not solve problem.
When starting vehicle engine lifters would tap. Had lifters replaced twice . Problem still exists.dealer contacted.
Don't know if any particular speed involved. See chrysler's technical service bulletin number 9/7/97 issued june 97 entitled timing chain noise.
Dt*:the contact stated while driving 35 mph a knocking and pinging sound was heard coming from the engine.the vehicle was driven to an independent repair shop for inspection.the mechanic determined the engine needed replaced due to oil sludge.the vehicle was properly maintained.the manufacturer has been alerted.updated 6/12/2006 -
Loose timing chain.
Two freeze plugs were not replaced in the back of the block, chryslers resolution was stop leak, however an independent mechanic pulled the transmission to replace the freeze plugs and found stop leak all over the fly wheel area, even though chrysler stated that they had remedied the problem.
Low oil pressure at idle speeds. According to dealer, this is a common problem with the 5.2l v8 engine. Fix is to replace the oil pump and oil sending unitat a cost of over $800.00.
Consumer started hearing a squeaking noise coming frombrakes, alsorear seal oil pan was leaking oil.
Our 1997 dodge dakota truck's engine failed this past february due to the lack of oil pressure. We then had to have the truck towed to the mechanic.our mechanic told us we needed to get a new engine put in since our engine was full of sludge and he said it was due to the lack of changing our oil. My wife and i knew this was not the case at all since we always had the oil changed every 3,000 miles and we could not figure out how this could have happened. After paying $5,000 for a new engine, we were outraged and did our own research online about the chrysler engines and found that this is actually a huge problem with the chrysler engines everywhere. The only thing we've noticed in our research is that the complaints are stemming from the smaller 2.7 liter engines, but we have a 3.9 liter engine with the same exact problem. There is clearly a defect with the chrysler engines regardless of the size of the engine. Chrysler should have to pay for this since they are the ones that are putting out the defective engines that are causing all of the sludge to build up in their engines!!
The vehicle stall while driving.(attorney for client)yh
No summary listed for above vehiclw.
Engine hesitates/backfires, also gas mixes with oil.
I have two recurring problems. 1) i had the truck in 3 separate times for rattling noise in the engine compartment. The dealer, so far, replaced the timing chain and fan clutch, both under warranty. Once again, the engine is making the same rattling noise. This noise started around 58,000 miles. Also, my engine currently has an oil leak. The dealer claims it is the front seal. The dealer broke this seal when the timing chain was replaced. The dealer refuses to pay for the seal repair. 2) i had the truck in 3 times for another rattling noise in the a/c (interior). The dealer claimed the noise was normal. The fourth visit and conversation with manager proved that the noise, in fact, was not normal. The dealer replaced the compressor. At the current mileage, the a/c is once again making the same noise.in summary, the engine is producing a rattling noise. The a/c is also producing a rattling noise (both items are separate noises as validated by the dealership).
Windshield wash indicator came on.
Low windshield wash indicator came on.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Timing chain broke. It caused damage to valves and head.
Vehicle vibrated when driving from 35 to 55mph. Tires were changed. Dealer discovered it was in the engine . Problem started when vehicle' s mileage was at 365 miles.
We discovered a defective engine assembly ticket #311914 stuffed next to the engine.the ticket information is build. No 107, shift 2, h/t punch g , reject 1 date 3/5/97 nature of defect #5 m/f inspector 64274, nature of repair 03052654 ndf.we contacted chrysler and were told they do not sell trucks with defective engines.can you help us find out why our dakota pickup would have the inspection copy of a defective engine ticket roled up and tied with tie wire ticket on the engine?
Engine fire.
I own a 1997 dodge dakota slt. The engine is a 5.2 v8 with only 45,000 miles my complaint started around 40,000 miles. I am getting a severe spark knock and a tremendous oil consumption 2.5 quarts every two hundred miles.they installed faulty engine intake manifold plenum pan gaskets. Through my extensive research there have been countless complaints on this. I was driving down the highway and my check engine light came on and checked my gauges i had a complete loss of oil pressure. Luckily no one was behind me because my engine stalled!!! the dodge dealer told me this is very common, so why are they not taking responsibility?
When pulling a trailerit causes vehicle to lose power/stall; vehicle been in dealer shop on three occasiones, and problem still reoccurring. Feel free to provide further details.
The vehicle stalls everytime the vehicle is not moving, and when the owner takes her foot off the gas pedal.dealer couldn't find the problem.
Vehicle makes a pinging noise which dealer has not been able to diagnose or repair, vehicle experiencing hard start mostly when the vehicle is cold but sometimes when it is not, it takes more time than is necessary to start.*et
While traveling noticed a burning smell coming from under the hood. Consumer pulled vehicle over and saw insulation of engine was burning..
The vehicle's fan belt squealed the day i drove it off of the showroom floor.it has been for repairs to the belt six timesit is clos to the end of the warranty and chrysler refuses to commit to continued repair until the problem is solved.the belt is a concern for me because if it fails while i am called to the hospital in the middle of the night, i could be stranded in a very bad neighborhood and could be dealt great bodily harm or death if the indiviual needs drug money desperately!!i also do not feel the vehicle is a reliable form of transportation.the first two times it was in the dealer, they repalced clutch parts, the third time they claimed there was nothing wrong.the fourth time they took my suggestion and sprayed the belt with water and it squealed.they replaced the belt.the fifth time, it was squealing all of the time.they replaced the belt and the belt idler.the sixth time, another dealer adjusted the idler and reassembled with the same belt.that was today.tonight, the belt squealed at home when i put water on the belt.the michigan attorney general's office is where i got to this site.i just want to go ahead with the michigan lemon law at this point.could you offer any suggestions?thank you.beth davis
52000 miles and i have replaced these items: belt tensioner, a/c compressor, 3 sets of front tires(the tires are wearing on the outside edge-the truck has been aligned each time the tires were replaced), 2 sets of rotors, 2 brake calipers, 4 sets of brake pads, the steering knuckle that broke into three (3) pieces while the truck was going 65 mph, and now i have to take it to a transmission shop because the truck jumps from drive to neutral while the truck is in motion.all of these repair cost have been paid by myself.dealer said there has been no other complaints about the dodge dakotai find that hard to believe.( dot number: tire size: lt21575r15 )
Two driver side exhaust manifold bolts broke off. These two bolts where holding on the heat shield. The heat shield drop down and wedged it self between the engine and steering shaft. The steering shaft is now scored. The only reason i found this was that i know what an exhaust leak sounds like and went searching. If i didn't i would have never found it until my steering shaft separated.
Exhaust pipe underneath the truck
Engine sensor failed. Mjs
Poor gas mileage.
Transmission acting sluggish. Was not shifting into gear properly. Would buck severely. Prior to this happening, vehicle would stall out for no reason. Has happened at least 4-5 times. At dealership, mechanic changed battery, map sensor & the computer chip. Problem was not solved. Finally indicated transmission was worn out & needed to be replaced with a rebuilt one.
Ball jointsfailed.
After parking vehicle noticed fuel leaking from vehicle , fuel line needed to be replaced. Fuel sprayed wheel well area adjacent to the fuel fill area, the large crack in the line allowed large amounts of gas to saturate truck and ground under truck.catalytic converter replaced.
Catalytic converter inspection.there is a recall out for 1996 jeep cherokee with a 4.0 liter engine and 1997 dodge dakota with a 2.5 liter engine.i have a 1997 dodge dakota with a 3.9 engine and has the same problems that are in the 2 models described above.the check engine light will not come on and the catalytic converter rattles.
Catalytic converter failed.
There was a ball joint problem.they made a clanking sound along with a squeal.the problem was discovered when the vehicle was taken to dealer for a catalytic converter problem. *sc
Head of a boltbroke frombaseofengine manifold. Consumer noticed this while drying some parts onengine.broken piecewere not leaking anything yet. Contacted dealer, anddealerwas not willing to do anything because itwas not under warranty.
60,000 miles to and from work no abuse ball joints failed and ac has leak in dash,timing chain and idler pulley makes noise. Radiator leaks transmission fluid plastic tanks on radiator.
Consumercomplained about having transmission fluid problem.since owning the vehicleconsumerhad to changetransmission fluid every year. Also, air conditioning problem.vehicle was taken to a repair shop, and consumerwas told thatair conditioner compressor failed to work and vehicle did not have air conditioning. Manufacturer was not contacted at the time of this call.
Air conditioner--tested by dealer but could not find problem.dye placed in system and freon refilled.in one week's time, ac was warm again.dealer inspected again and replaced condensor, refilled freon.same problem again in about 10 days time.presently having checked again.
When traveling at highway speed in a head wind ( using full gas pedal at time the center a/c vent switchs to defrost nothing you do will re switch to center vent (you can turn off the a/c system, and when you turn it back on, it still is in defrost. No control will return a/c back to center vent) until you let off gas pedal and slow down, when this happens front windshield fogs up, blinding the drivers view of the highway. The dealers had to check the vacuum system and found no problem with the vacuum system, this is a off and on problem it will not do it all of the time, but when it starts there is no warning, i nearly had a accident while traveling back from miami to tampa.
The air conditioning systemleaked water onto the passenger cabin floor board. *ph
Air conditioner failed. Mjs
52000 miles and i have replaced these items: belt tensioner, a/c compressor, 3 sets of front tires(the tires are wearing on the outside edge-the truck has been aligned each time the tires were replaced), 2 sets of rotors, 2 brake calipers, 4 sets of brake pads, the steering knuckle that broke into three (3) pieces while the truck was going 65 mph, and now i have to take it to a transmission shop because the truck jumps from drive to neutral while the truck is in motion.all of these repair cost have been paid by myself.dealer said there has been no other complaints about the dodge dakotai find that hard to believe.( dot number: tire size: lt21575r15 )
Headlights keep failing. Have changed headlight switch several times, but fails again. Transmission won't shift into overdrive. Cruise control is difficult to activate. Sometimes transmission won't shift from 2nd to 3rd gear
Daytime running lights replaced, rewired due to smell of electrical burning. Mjs
While driving at night, the vehicles' headlight goes out without warning. The dealership has replaced the headlight switch 3 times, but the problem recurs.please provide more details. Ts
The headlight switch handle came off, which resulted in the tail lights not working.
Headlight switch broke internally and started to spark while turning it on. Dealer was notified.consumer stated that switch would sometimes turn lights on by itself when driving.
When driving airbag light illuminate and then go out without any warning.also, air bag light will turnoff if turn signals are engaged.
The contact owns a 1997 dodge dakota.the contact stated that fuel was leaking from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to nhtsa recall number 00v199000 (fuel system, gasoline).the manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated they had no knowledge of recall.the approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
Second recall that has been serviced. After every serviceproblem gets worse. Consumer states this is second time problem occurs.
While driving the vehicle the vapor lock malfunctionsand the vehicle cuts off when approaching a stop sign or stop light, the manufacturer cannot duplicate the problem.
Fuel quantity/ sending unit failed.
The contact owns a 1997dodge dakota. Upon starting the vehicle, the contact noticed a strong fuel odor. The contact shut the vehicle off and discovered fuel leaking under the vehicle. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The current and failure mileages were approximately 120,000.updated 02/03/11*ljupdated 03/17/11
The contact owns a 1997 dodge dakota. The contact stated that there was a fuel odor emitting outside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel line needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 00v199000 (fuel system, gasoline). The failure mileage was 121,000. The vin was not available.
After parking vehicle noticed fuel leaking from vehicle , fuel line needed to be replaced. Fuel sprayed wheel well area adjacent to the fuel fill area, the large crack in the line allowed large amounts of gas to saturate truck and ground under truck.catalytic converter replaced.
There is a fuel leakage under the bottom of the vehicle cabdue tothe fuel line rubbing against the bottom of the cab.
Fuel was leaking from vehicle.dealer saidfuel lineswere leaking and needed to be replaced. Therewas recall 00v199000, but this vehiclewas not affected due to vin.
Consumer smelt gas fumes.vehicle was leaking gasoline.tookvehicle to dealer, and dealer stated gas line was improperly routed.contacted chrysler, and they did nothing.
This truck is a lemon!!!! help! no safety defect mentioned in the summary.
Factory fuel lines rubbed against the bottom of the truck cab, resulting in wearing through of fuel lines and massive loss of fuel near hot exhaust components.clearly a factory defect.lines were restrained in their original brackets in original positions along the frame of truck.you can see where the lines rubbed the underside of the truck as well as the failed line themselves.these were metal lines.truck was immediately taken to dealer.they say there are no recalls or service bulletins for this problem and have agreed to pay for parts but i must pay for labor.truck is out of warranty, and i will be out of pocket over $130 dollars.i feel this really is a factory problem, a serious safety issue and they should not only take care of the full cost of repair, but should inspect other similar vehicles as well..truck is currently at carlin dodge in colorado springs, co.service advisor kirk crist, claim check number 989.phone # is (719)475-8550.it is an extended cab model used primarily for highway commuting (hence the hi mileage for the year).this particular dealer was very helpful as they were the 2nd one i went to.the first one, perkins dodge in colo. Spgs, wouldn't even see us at the time of the failure, even though the truck was pouring fuel out of it.truck was purchased (leased) under the name rebecca kessler (my wife) from castle dodge in castle rock, colorado.i can give you the vin at a later time as i do not have it with me.thank you for your help, i hope to help others avoid a particularly dangerous problem. As a quick side note, i did see another complaint that i though might be the same problem, odi#836892, thank you.ryan and becky kercher
I received a safety recall notice from daimler-chrysler for the fuel line (recall number 892).the problem was that the fuel line was contacting the body of the vehicle, and could eventually wear through.i took the vehicle to the dealer, and they installed an "isolator" on the fuel line.about a week later, i happend to be looking underneath the vehicle, and noted that the "isolator" amounted to nothing more than a small cyllinder of rubber that was wrapped around the fuel line to separate it from the body of the truck.unfortunately, the isolator has slipped down and the fuel line is again contacting the body of the vehicle.i noted that there was significant abrasion on the fuel line, although it is not leaking.i shoved the rubber piece back into place.however, it is unlikely to stay there.this is a 4x4 pickup, and it is used off road on a regular basis.however, the isolator had slipped when the vehicle only had been driven on city streets and highways.this is an inadequate fix.daimler-chrysler should be replacing the entire fuel line with a new one that is pre-formed to clear the body of the truck at all points.
Fuel pump failed.
I feel that wheel bearing/ fuel pumps and brake rotors should not have to all be replaced at cost to me in the first 2 years/38,000 miles on my vehicle.several of these parts could cause a safety hazard such as a crash.
Consumerreceivedrecall notice 00-v-199-000. In oct. Of last year. Dealer has not gottenparts in.
Consumer received a recall (00v-199) notice on fuel line. Regarding to the recall consumer went to the dealer and the local dealership was closed and he do not know who would even be called.
When driving at 35 mph fuel from the fuel line is spraying onto the catalytic converter system, andconsumer can smell the fuel burning.
After recall repair 00v-199 of the fuel line fitting the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle began bucking like the fuel was not responding to the accelerator pedal, it was found that the upstream and downstream oxygen sensors failed, vehicle ran perfectly before recall work.nlm
Recall 00v199000/fuel line / cab underbody :dealer tied off fuel line with electrical straps instead of of following corrective action mention in recall. Seeking help from nhtsa in this matter; dealer is kelly sales & service, springfield, vt phone # 802/885-2186.please feel free to provide further details:
While driving consumer noticed a gas odor inpassenger's compartment. Pulled off toside ofroad, and noticed vehicle had lost a large amount of fuel. Consumer had vehicle towed todealer. Dealer noticedfront fuel line had comeapart, causingproblem, part number 52127657. Please provide any further details.
Fuel line leaks.consumer is concerned that vehicle will catch on fire. A recall was issued. However, this vehicle was not included in the recall due to vin.
My 1997 dodge dakota caught fire under the hood, with the only warning being the strong smell of gasoline, while being driven down the road.
Gasoline odorwhile the vehicle was running. Found fuel leaking from the fuel line running under the body ondriver's side. Dealer was notified, and informed the consumer that the vehicle was not covered under a recall.*tc
Recall # oov199000 daimler chrysler/fuel line/cab underbody:dealership (owner)refused to honor recall campaign because truck was not purchased from dealership. Owner very nasty and abrupt to customers.
Began smelling fuel while at idle or immediately after shutting engine off. If vehicle was left shut off for 30 minutes or so the smell would subside and cease. Vehicle then began taking several seconds of cranking to start which added to the case that fuel was escaping from the pressurized fuel line while sitting. I observed fluid leaking from under truck on driver side of vehicle in the cab region and upon closer inspection found the metal fuel line showed evidence of rubbing against under side of cab body and was spraying fuel toward center of truck and had the under side of truck cab wet in about a 2 foot square.fuel line shows no evidence of being impacted and is still held in routing and securing clamps underneath vehicle. This appears to be the original routing of fuel lines.
Dt*: the contact stated that there was a fuel leakage in the vehicle which started in the beginning of june 2006. There was recall #00v199000 regarding fuel leakage however the dealer and manufacturer determined the vin of the vehicle was not included in the recall.
While driving a fuel odor emanated from inside of the vents. Consumer noticed thatvehicle was leaking gasoline from underneath. Consumer took vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the fuel line connectorneeded to be replaced.
The first problem happened in arizona on i-40,i had just passed an 18 wheeler and pulled back in his lane when i ran out of fuel, my fuel gauge indicated i had a quater of a tank left. Inotified the dealer on my return home. I just had a second fuel failure at home.again the fuel gauge shows a quater of a tank of fuel . I haven't been to the dealer to report this failure.
Nhtsarecalls campaign 00v199000 and 00v193000; daimler issued two recalls on the fuel tank and the brake hoses. This vehicle was not included in the recalls due to vin,but it leaked fuel and had trouble braking.
While driving vehicle would jerk like not getting enough fuel. Vehicle was checked & water was found in gasoline.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving the contact smelled gasoline.the contact noticed there was gas coming from the top of the plastic fuel tank.there was a crack located at the right rear top corner of the tank.the dealership has been informed.
The filler neck assembly fell under my truck while i was putting gasoline in the tank.it is only held by 4 screws which had fallen out and there is no flange to keep the filler line from falling beneath the truck.this could have been a disaster if it had happened while i was driving down the highway and it could have caused my truck to catch on fire.i called the dealer and they had no "fix" for it other than to put new sheet-metal screws back on it.
Consumer complained about a steering box problem.also, dealer replaced the ball joints andidler arm.consumer is keeping an eye on the fuel filler tube because it seemed to be rusted.also, brake line is also rusted.*la
Vehicle would run out of gas withgas guage registering 1/4 tank full; also vehicle is equipped with an indicator light and a sound device that lights up and sounds off when vehicle gets down to low fuel. Dealer notified, and informed consumer that vehicle was out of warranty. Consumer seeking nhtsa help in this matter.
On november 17,1997 gas gauge malfunctioned,new brake makes noise and the console lid strap broke.(attorney for client)yh
Consumer statesof having problemswith the gas nozle. Dealer was contacted. Ts
3 days after we bought this vehicle the fuel system went down. Replaced the fuel pump and still wants to stall and act like its clogged in the fuel lines. Its been flushed. When driving it bogs down and chugs. It wants to die and shut off while your driving the truck. The brakes only work half the time. Most of the time i can't even stop until i'm halfway through the intersection. Replaced all the sensors and still doesn't want to start and stay running. Fuel pump kicks on, but has to run extra hard to try and keep the engine running.
Emergency brake handle fell apart, assembly fell on the floor. Mjs
Emergency brake cables froze due to rusting. Mjs
Loud whining between 45 to 50 mph, replaced differental ring and pinion gear, to no avail.
Speedometor and cruise control quit working replaced speed sensor per dealer and still not working.also seat doesn't lock in upright position on drivers side.transfer case seal went out and had to replace transfer case.i hate this truck and i couldn't give it away.
Bottom of the transmission pan filled with metal flakes resulting in failure of the entire transmission. Mjs
The speedometer is operatiing erratically.*jg
Vehicle showsrpms but doesn't accelerate as far as moving up to speed.dealerwas contacted &it may be the transmission.transmission repairs are notnot covered underthe warranty.
Transmission shifting problems.
The transmission will not engauge after being in reverse for a period ofa miniute or more this has happened 14 + times. The dealer said they could find nothing wrong. I took a vidio tape to the service manager at gurley leep that clearly shows it in drive with the shift in drive with the tackometer rising and falling then slaming into gear. The service manager said it was out of his hands because chrysler would not pay for it . It was between me and chrysler. I personally wonder if the district representitive isnt waiting for it to fail under the extended warrenty so someone else can pick up the repair tab. It violently slams into gear when put in drive throwing you back in the seat and slamming the powertrain in engaugement. A certified letter was sent to chrysler# z2576351464/14/199 signed for by kyle c and the dealer gurley leep atten mike leep z2576351474/12/1999 signed for by kristy roberts both letters were ignored withno telephone call or letter returned. This has been the worst vechicle i have ever owned with the highest number of repairs the factory has been totally indifferent to my problem as well as the dealer.
Transmission failed, would not go in reverse. Mjs
Was driving when transmission became hard to shift into gears. Would down shift into 3rd from overdrive on its own. Took to transmission mechanic. Was informed that gears were made of plasticand were stripped,breaking gear teeth off.
While driving at approximately 55 mph vehicle shifted out of 5th gear and remained in neutral.dealership informedconsumer that"gear was cracked."please provide any additional information/attachments.
My ball joints and tie rods were going bad at 54,000 miles. Dodge would not do anything about the problem. Also, my transmission started to go bad at 74,000 miles. 2nd gear went out, then it went completely out at 91,000 miles. Obviously dodge wasn't going to do anything about it. I wont buy another dodge again.
Vehicle jerks forward, with a clunking sound, when shifting from first to second gear.
52000 miles and i have replaced these items: belt tensioner, a/c compressor, 3 sets of front tires(the tires are wearing on the outside edge-the truck has been aligned each time the tires were replaced), 2 sets of rotors, 2 brake calipers, 4 sets of brake pads, the steering knuckle that broke into three (3) pieces while the truck was going 65 mph, and now i have to take it to a transmission shop because the truck jumps from drive to neutral while the truck is in motion.all of these repair cost have been paid by myself.dealer said there has been no other complaints about the dodge dakotai find that hard to believe.( dot number: tire size: lt21575r15 )
Transmission acting sluggish. Was not shifting into gear properly. Would buck severely. Prior to this happening, vehicle would stall out for no reason. Has happened at least 4-5 times. At dealership, mechanic changed battery, map sensor & the computer chip. Problem was not solved. Finally indicated transmission was worn out & needed to be replaced with a rebuilt one.
Unable to shift into any gear at highway speed on freeway.
When driving at any speedvehicle is backfiring/stalling/vibrating, andvehicle dies out. Consumer had to get a new clutch and this is the third transmission that has been replaced withinvehicle. There is a problem with the gears, anddealer can't determine the problem.
When going 55 or faster and let off the gas, when reaccelerating the transmission "bucks".the transmission temperature light comes on and the thermostat has been replaced to try to fix the problem but it has not worked.
Transmission failure at 50,000 miles. Transmission began to bog down while driving about 40 mph. After about 5 minutes it would only go about 5 mph while reving about 3500 rpm. Paid for tow to dodge dealer in hampton va for analysis and repair.tow operator remarked almost all dodge dakotas towed for tranny work ended up costing $2300-$2900 for a replacement. I was lucky and only had to replace all pressure regulating valves for about $670 (funny how they all went bad at the same time but i would not argue the point since the parts were cheap compared to doing it over in a few months).dealerindicated this was a years old problem which was common to replace these transmissions and that my $600 repair was not guaranteed to prevent total failure. Dodge has not agreed to any recall to fix but should do this. Therefore, i will never own another dodge or chrysler of any sort. Upper and lower ball joints also failed at under 50,000 miles and no repair recall on this long standing problem as well. Subject on another complaint.
My two year old successfully placed keys into ignition and turned to on.then without the requirement of depressing the brake he was able to place transmission into neutral.my truck rolled backward approximately 150 yards and crashed into tree.total damage of $3500, luckily no one seriously injured.
We purchased a 1997 dodge truck in oct. 1996. Thhe transmission failed at 42000 miles. We were told by both our local south carolina dealer and by ed murdock where we bought the vehicle that chrysler would not stand behind the transmission due to our warranty being up at 36000 miles.we called the 800 # to chryslers complaint line and were told the same thing.we had our truck repaired at a local independent garageand only then did we discover that our truck had a 1998 prototype transmission in it.parts were ordered from atlanta that would not fit our 1997 dodge dakota because of the prototype transmission and had to be returned and reordered from detroit.ala in all we were without our truck for 29 days while this mess was sorted out.we would have never purchased a truck with a prototype asian transmission in it if we had been told.thhe ed murdock dealership refuses to reimburse us for our expences, chrysler says that they will not because it is out of warranty.someone should have to make this right because not only were we misled in our purchase but any transmission should be expected to perform longer than 42000 miles.we want to be reimbursed for the work done and our expense for a rental car during the length of time that we weresorting this mess out and still having to go on with our daily routine. No one seems to want to stand behind thhe chrysler products from the manufacturer to the one who sells them.thank you in advance for your help , i have sent several other letters and if you can tell me of someone else to write i would appreciate it.thanks, renee mcabee.
Transmission drags.
On 2/27/2000 i filed a complaint with nhtsa. My problem being my transmissiom will not engage properly. When it is shifted from park to drive the vechicle may hesitate and not move then violently slam into gear. On one occasion my neice setting in the back seat head was slammed into the rear window glass as the vechicle lurched forward.i have a video tape of the transmission failing to properly engauge. I was able to reach in the back seat take the camera out of the case insert the battery film and shoot a video of the truck setting in gear then violently lurching forward. The dealer service manager said on the service order "cannot duplicate sitition. I showed him the video and he admitted i have a problembut he couldnt help me because chrysler would not reimburse him.
Transmission slips when put vehicle in gear.
Truck was in park, with the parking brake engaged, and refused to start. After twenty minutes it finally started. I stepped out too close the hood,and the vehicle started moving in reverse. It struck a part of the parking stucture, bending the hinges and missaligning the drivers door. From that point on the truck will not start in park, and you must "find the neutral starting point, somewhere between neutral and reverse. Today, 12-15-98 i had to have it towed to the dealerto be repaired because apparently the problem has gotten worse, and now there is no neutralto start the truck in !
Design of vehicle is shifting very hard, found pieces of metal in the transmission fluid.
Transmission failure at 50,000 miles. Transmission began to bog down while driving about 40 mph. After about 5 minutes it would only go about 5 mph while reving about 3500 rpm. Paid for tow to dodge dealer in hampton va for analysis and repair.tow operator remarked almost all dodge dakotas towed for tranny work ended up costing $2300-$2900 for a replacement. I was lucky and only had to replace all pressure regulating valves for about $670 (funny how they all went bad at the same time but i would not argue the point since the parts were cheap compared to doing it over in a few months).dealerindicated this was a years old problem which was common to replace these transmissions and that my $600 repair was not guaranteed to prevent total failure. Dodge has not agreed to any recall to fix but should do this. Therefore, i will never own another dodge or chrysler of any sort. Upper and lower ball joints also failed at under 50,000 miles and no repair recall on this long standing problem as well. Subject on another complaint.
Consumercomplained about having transmission fluid problem.since owning the vehicleconsumerhad to changetransmission fluid every year. Also, air conditioning problem.vehicle was taken to a repair shop, and consumerwas told thatair conditioner compressor failed to work and vehicle did not have air conditioning. Manufacturer was not contacted at the time of this call.
Transmission began to leak oil from front seal.
Auto matic transmission lack of fluid caused by check valve and trans coolant line.
Shifter cable broke whendriver was shiftinggear. He conplained that vehicle shifter was pulling hard.tookvehicle todealership,andmechanictold him thatshifter was okay.
Due to defective driveshaft which wasout of balance by 31/2 ounce, differential andtransfer case malfunctioned.please provide further information.
Front end seal came out of the transfer case, causing a loss of oil.
Speedometor and cruise control quit working replaced speed sensor per dealer and still not working.also seat doesn't lock in upright position on drivers side.transfer case seal went out and had to replace transfer case.i hate this truck and i couldn't give it away.
Vehicle vibrates when driving between 35-55 mph. Dealer claimed vibration due to a design flaw which causes torque converter to lock up.
Car lost power and locked up while driving.check engine light came on.scanner showed code p0740; torque converter problem.had to overhaul transmission and replace the torque converter.
I feel that wheel bearing/ fuel pumps and brake rotors should not have to all be replaced at cost to me in the first 2 years/38,000 miles on my vehicle.several of these parts could cause a safety hazard such as a crash.
I have two recurring problems. 1) i had the truck in 3 separate times for rattling noise in the engine compartment. The dealer, so far, replaced the timing chain and fan clutch, both under warranty. Once again, the engine is making the same rattling noise. This noise started around 58,000 miles. Also, my engine currently has an oil leak. The dealer claims it is the front seal. The dealer broke this seal when the timing chain was replaced. The dealer refuses to pay for the seal repair. 2) i had the truck in 3 times for another rattling noise in the a/c (interior). The dealer claimed the noise was normal. The fourth visit and conversation with manager proved that the noise, in fact, was not normal. The dealer replaced the compressor. At the current mileage, the a/c is once again making the same noise.in summary, the engine is producing a rattling noise. The a/c is also producing a rattling noise (both items are separate noises as validated by the dealership).
Clanking noise in right front wheel. Axle seal broke, replaced, 3 weeks later noise again ball joints needed to be replaced. Ph
Whenconsumer applies the clutch, clutch doesn't engage.
Hydraulic clutch assembly failure caused unsafe conditions. Vehicle was in gear and running at time of failure; lifting foot from brake pedal while clutch pedal was depressed resulted in vehicle lurching forward.
The universal joint on the steering column totally failed causing the steering wheel to "free-wheel"the vehicle veered out of control sideswiping two parked cars.this is a critical failure;if it ocurred at highway speed it could have caused several fatalities!!.
Premature failure of ball joints & lower steering column u-joints.upper ball joints need to be replaced again.
Going down the road at 55 mph and all of a sudden i hit a pothole and the passenger side tire came right off , it is the same problem as the 2000 - 2003's have. We have pictures of it to prove it . The upper and lower ball joints let loose the cv shaft pulled outand the shock got bent. The tire turned on its side while the truck was sliding down the road sideways and i was unable to control how the truck was going.the only thing holding the tire on the truck was the brake line. The tire rim had chunks taken out of it and the tire had wear from being on its sideunder the frame of the truck while it was sliding. We had to get it flatbedded to the repair shop . We had a certified repair shop do all the necessary repairs to the truck to which included new upper and lower ball joints,new cv shaft, new rim adn tire , new shock , axle assembly,brake hose , steering gear and linkage,inner and outer tie rods and a front end alignment.this truck had just been through a nys inspection in december 2003 and passed. This accident happened on october 25, 2004 which left us without this vehicle because it was not able to be repairedimmediately we got the truck back on november 10 , 2004. We feel that chrysler should be responsible for the repair bill for this vehicle because they are admitting there is a problem the same as this to the newer models.
Front differential failed resulting in vehicle fire.
Due to defective driveshaft which wasout of balance by 31/2 ounce, differential andtransfer case malfunctioned.please provide further information.
Without warning, just after exiting a freeway, the rear wheels of my 1997 dodge dakota truck, locked up. I was stuck in traffic and was not able to move. Tow truck arrived , and advised that the rear axle had locked-up. This truck has only 52,423 miles.
Due to defective driveshaft which wasout of balance by 31/2 ounce, differential andtransfer case malfunctioned.please provide further information.
Knocking at left front cv joint.
Fifth gear came apart ar 65mph causing the vehicle to loose power and the driver was unable to shift into another gear.
While driving 70 mph transfer case locked up and broke into three pieces.vehiclecould not be driven.
Consumer's son had a rear end collision andseat belt did not hold him.sustained leg and chest injuries.
The front passenger side restraint is inoperable. The dealer has been notified.
The seat belt catch for both the driver and passenger is too short, causing difficulty finding, especially when center console is down.
Seatbelt did not hook...this part has been replaced two times (with the dealer picking up the cost)since the purchase of the vehicle brand new in dec 1996. It seams to happen about every 30,000 miles.
Driver side seat belt locks when pulling acrossbody to hook and once released not recoiling properly, 2 service visits.
While driving another vehicle veered into consumer'svehicle lane, driver applied the brakes, they did not work andconsumer's vehicle crashed into the other vehicle. The left side seat belt came apart. Upon impact,both air bags did not deploy.driver sustained head and neck, and knee injuries, and was transported by ambulance to a hospital. Vehicle was towed and totaledby insurance company....daimlerchrysler corporation notified consumer that they could not verify any type of seat belt buckle failure and denied consumer's claim. A police report was on file.
I am in victoria, bc canada, but this vehicle is built in the us.the female portion of the seat belt uses the sheath as a guide.this is held in place by a weak plastic clip.eventually this clip deteriotates and the sheath slips down, no longer functioning properly as a quide and one is able to insert the seatbelt between the mechanism and the guide thinking it is done up, which it isn't.i believe this is a major safety issue which needs to be addressed immediately.the replacement part is exactly the same as the original.both the driver's and passenger's have failed on my vehicle.luckily, i have not been involved in an accident.
I was involved in an accident where the other vehicle pulled out in front of me.i hit the brakes and also hit the side of the other vehicle.both air bags deployed, but the driver seat belt broke.
Consumer's son had a rear end accident andseat belt did not hold him.sustained leg and chest injuries.
Driver's side seat will not lock in place after it has been reclined.
Recline seat latch does not positively latch after use.concerned that children in rear seat will be injured in minor rear end collision when front seat collapsing on them.after seat is reclined forward to access rear seat, recline latch does not positively latch.seat can be reclined by driver/passenger pushing back without releasing latch.
Speedometor and cruise control quit working replaced speed sensor per dealer and still not working.also seat doesn't lock in upright position on drivers side.transfer case seal went out and had to replace transfer case.i hate this truck and i couldn't give it away.
The driver seat fell backwards while driving up a hill, causing momentarily loss of control.(attorney for client)yh
Driver seat reclines backwards, but failed to return to original position. Would sometimes become stuck and then slams driver forwards.
The contact owns a 1997 dodge dakota. The contact stated that the driver front seat was unstable. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure could not be diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure and no repairs were made. The failure mileage was 125,000 and the current mileage was 150,000. The vin was unavailable.
While driving an d while stopping in trafficvehicle was rear ended ,and the front driver's seat collapsed.
A part inside the front seat broke easily in rear end crash, front seat was occupied. Driver was going 12 mph when hit in the rear of the truck by a vehicle hit by a vehicle going 40 mph. The difference is only 28 mph and the seat broke, the driver fell straight back and was unconscious, sliding under the seatbelt towards the floor. The part of the seat that broke was defective.
The seat back of the drivers seat will not remain in an upright position. If the driver leans back to hard or when a small bump in the road is encountered the seatrecliningmechinism will not holdand the back will be released to a 45 degree angle.
While accelerating from a stop both front seats randomly fall almost flat, causing several near rear end collisions from losing control of steering wheel.on occasions the driver seat has fallen and striking our 2 year oldin the face.not only does it collapse from stops, as does it happen when hitting a small bump, speed bumps, or other small rough patches in the road.i have found no way to keep them upright and i fully believe this is a manufacture defect and i should not have to foot the $700+ bill to replace/repair these seats. *nlm
For a period of a year front driver and passenger set backcollapsed.this happened over fifty times andwhile driving. Consumer tried cleaning the recliner handle and surrounding area, but the problem still occurs.
While vehicle was stopped it was rearended. Had child in extended cab bench seat. The seat collapsed backwards & child's head hit side of cab. The front seats collapsed backwards onto child seated in rear. Child sustained serious injuries from the seat.both seats fell backwards upon impact.vehicle was totaled.
Seat backs randomly collapses, never sure if it's locked.
I have a 1997 dodge dakota extra cab. It constanly leaks water onto the floorboards,soaking the carpet.many other owners report this problem too.also the drivers seatback will not lock. When i put on the brake,the back of the seat reclines. This is a very dangerous defect.
In a rear end collisiondriver's seatback broke, causing the driver to fall back,and strike the rear window with his head, breaking the window. *ml
The latch mechanism on both of the front bucket seats, that allow either the driver's or passenger's seat to recline forward, does not lock when returned to the upright position, resulting in the seats moving forward when stopping in a emergency situation. Please give any further details.
Both passenger & driver back rest collapsed while the vehicle was in motion. Dealer has been notified.
Drivers seat back adjuster is stripped. Upon acceleration, seatback will collapse into an almost flat position. I have lost control on several occasions. Dealer,manufacturer,and vehicle extended warranty company all refuse to repair. What prompted me was a report on tv about this same problem where a guy died from a minor rearend collision,he was also driving an extended cab pickup and his seatback failed, he hit his head on the back window frame and died! repair part cost is $700 not including labor.
Consumer states when vehicle was rear ended, the driver side seat back recline backwards into the rear driver side seat and the seat frame twisted. Which could of caused serious injuries it rear seat was occupied at time of accident.dealer contacted.nlm
Replace both sides of upper and lower ball joints at 60k and 120k despite using the best grease in them synthetic.i've complained about the seat back before since new it falls back. Front bucket.
I cannot rest properly against the seat back it will recline on its own.reaching into pocket at drive-thru restaurants applying moderate pressure against seat back it falls all the way back.if i accelerate swiftly the seat back will drop from behind me.in event of accident i'm sure i will have no support to prevent whiplash.
Took vehicle to dodge dealer (bryden motors beloit) for inspection of fuel line and brakes (fuel line is not right and rear brake line is leaking affecting braking) fuel line part was ordered nut brakes were not inspected and ignored. I am supposed to return wednesday afternoon to have ordered fuel line part(s)installed.
Locked vehicle in four wheel drive high, started going through flat pasture, either brakes locked up or front pumkin turned up and locked front wheels up, lost control and rolled onto driver side.
3 days after we bought this vehicle the fuel system went down. Replaced the fuel pump and still wants to stall and act like its clogged in the fuel lines. Its been flushed. When driving it bogs down and chugs. It wants to die and shut off while your driving the truck. The brakes only work half the time. Most of the time i can't even stop until i'm halfway through the intersection. Replaced all the sensors and still doesn't want to start and stay running. Fuel pump kicks on, but has to run extra hard to try and keep the engine running.
Brake line crodded, loss of brakes in motion in driveway
The vehicle's ball joints were bad.the vehicle's front brakes also had to be replaced.the consumer learned of a recall for balljoints.the consumer was told by a servce rep that his vehicle was not included in the recall due to the model year.
Two months after purchase, the brakes failed and the cruise control failed to turn off forcing driver to run off of road and crash.
Brake lines rusted through.burst while driving on expressway. Replaced all brake lines.
Abs braking system pulsateswhen applying brakes.this problemis due to a disc which is corroded from the inside andoutsidewith visible blisters whichhas caused a hole in the plate. Please give any further details.
Abs brakes failed.in addition, replaced warped front brake rotors.
-the contact' owns 1997 dodge dakota. The contact complained that brake warning light turned on.the contacttookthe vehicle to two different brake repair facilities, andboth stated that the brake warning lightstayed ondue to the sensor, which meant that the abs were turnedoff.the sensor was located on the master cylinder.the contact stated that the repair facilities didn't know why the sensor was failing.when they inspected the brakes they couldn't find anything wrong with the vehicle.also,the contactstated that while applying the brakes in wet conditions the vehicle had adifficulty stopping, causing it to slide.
Less than 2,000 miles and brakes were squealing.returned 3 times before it was determined that the brake drums were warped.replaced drums, pads, rotors, calipers.first 2 times, all that was done was to spray the pads.
While driving brakes suddenly stopped, did not work. No accidents and no injuries.chrysler could not duplivate problem, but dodge bought vehicle back from owner.*ml
Abslight illuminated on several occaisions. Brake light also illuminates.abs pulsation even on dry roads.front pads and rotors replaced at apprx. 40000 miles. Service technician advised that "dodge rotors do not last very long."engine rattle began about 30000 miles. Diagnosed as a heat shield ratteling.subsequently diagnosed and a loose timing chain.
Abs and brake light on instrument panel came on.returned to dealer for service.returned or remained at service 5 times for repair.added brake fluid, reset computer, replaced abs valves, replaced computer.all this over a 2 1/2 month period.
Grinding noise when brakes are applied.when brakes are pressed they bounce back and forth.the spindle is out and is the caliber.the rotors have been replaced because the spindle is not right.
Vehicle was manufactured withoutbacking plate.whenbrakeswere applied andgoing over a puddle of water , pedal became soft, andvehicle experienced extended stopping distance. Dealer has been notified.
My abs and brake light come on while driving. It has been into the dealer 6 times and has not been repaired.i do not feel safe driving this vehicle .i have tried to get it replaced from the manufacturer,but with no luck
Abs; first accident occurredwhile driving between 5-10 mph applied brakes and hit person in front car. Second time, vehicle impacted at 12:00 position, speed 15mph, applied brakes , experienced extended stopping distance, resulting in loss of control/crash.
No summary listed for this vehicle.
Abs light illuminates while vehicle is in motion.
At 40 mph a deer crossed consumers path, consumerhit brakes and pedal went to the floor.then,consumer hit a tree.cause was unknown. Please provide any further information.
Consumer started hearing a squeaking noise coming frombrakes, alsorear seal oil pan was leaking oil.
While going 55mph another car pulled out in front. Consumer went to apply brakes, but did not stop in a reasonable amount of time.this happened onany road condition.brakes locked up.
Anti lock brakes failed.lm
Whenever stopping on loose gravel or mainly in reverse, the abs system does not activate properly. Consumer has taken vehiclein four times for same repairs. Dealership, diablo chrysler plymouth--510-676-6800.
Brake pedal very hard then very soft (pushed to floorboard), abs & brake light stayed on.dealer said replace right front wheel speed sensor & brake module @ cost of $1425 + tax.got 2nd opinion @ independent shop: cable broke near sensor.spliced break/tested system for $56.system ok.
My brake system works fine except on wet pavement.then all wheels lock up and the truck begins to skid.i exercise extra cautionon wet pavement but i am not really in control during wet weatherr.
While driving at 5mph and the consumer went to applythe brakes, and the brakes went straight to the floorboard.by the consumer driving at a low drive, the vehicle stopped.the consumer had the vehicle in the shop twice due tothe abs light coming on, the abs sensor shorting out, causing the brakes to fail.
Brakes failed resulting in a collision.
Brakes failed resulting in a collision.
Was in a direct frontal impact and there was no deployment of driver's/passenger's side airbags. Also brakes locked up.
The braking system malfunctioned, causing extended stopping distance which may cause an accident.cause unknown.please provide further information.
Brakes lock up on occasion.
On november 17,1997 gas gauge malfunctioned,new brake makes noise and the console lid strap broke.(attorney for client)yh
Brake do not function as designed, to apply equal pressure on both pads, resulting in (uneven) wear of both rotors and pads.nlm
Brakes worn out prematurely.(attorney for client)yh
I had new front rotors put on my truck at 72,116 miles per dodge's request.noticed rubbing when applied brake when going up and down hills.dodge said they need to break in that condition would improve.august 5, 2000 burning smell coming in through vents as i approached a stop sign the vehicle would not stop and then vehicle veered to one side.left front was smoking and very hot.i was out of state at the time and the service person said that the brakes weren't installed correctly that the front left was warped and needed replacing.norwood dodge inspected it and said all was ok.received a safety recall 891or892 regarding fuel and brake lines rubbing on chasis.brought vehicle in to get fixed.brakes did not work correctly since then.while doing 65mph and on the gas all of a sudden the brakes locked up out of the blue and i skidded about 40'.heard a loud noise and something break under the truck.i think the sudden stop destroyed the transmission or differential (which was worked on the day before) had to have vehicle towed.the brake system is an ongoing problem i have had the vehicle in for brake problems on 12 different occurances and counting.at present vehicle is out of commission and i will not drive even if they say they fixed it. I almost killed myself and others not once but twice due to brakes not working and brakes locking up while on the gas.dealer has no clue what is wrong.
The brake rotors/pads and shoes failed at 15,000 miles. Had to have them replaced. Took vehicle to dealer & had mechanic check the brakes.
52000 miles and i have replaced these items: belt tensioner, a/c compressor, 3 sets of front tires(the tires are wearing on the outside edge-the truck has been aligned each time the tires were replaced), 2 sets of rotors, 2 brake calipers, 4 sets of brake pads, the steering knuckle that broke into three (3) pieces while the truck was going 65 mph, and now i have to take it to a transmission shop because the truck jumps from drive to neutral while the truck is in motion.all of these repair cost have been paid by myself.dealer said there has been no other complaints about the dodge dakotai find that hard to believe.( dot number: tire size: lt21575r15 )
No summary listed for abov evehicle.
Brakes make metallic noise---had rotors turned and new pads installed, no change--mechanic can find no reason for noise. Happens only after vehicle driven for a few miles. When brake is disengaged a small jolt is felt moments after.
The vehicle is at 40,000 miles and had 4 sets of brake rotors and calipers replaced on the front wheels, caused extended stopping distance.dealer cannot determineproblem.
No summary listed for this vehicle.
I am a canadian dodge truck owner that feels that your organization may wish to keep tabs on a possible problem with the front disc brakes on the 1997, dakota. I've had 3 sets of rotors and pads intalled now and still get squealing grinding and grabbing. I think there is more toproblem than chrysler leads me to believe.
I am a canadian dodge truck owner that feels that your organization may wish to keep tabs on a possible problem with the front disc brakes on the 1997, dakota. I've had 3 sets of rotors and pads intalled now and still get squealing grinding and grabbing. I think there is more toproblem than chrysler leads me to believe.
Owner has to change pads and rotors too many times with barely any mileage on the vehicle.
Brake calipiers will freeze and get stuck, causing damage to pads. Please provide further information.
The piston inside the brake caliper on the driver's side got stuck, which locked the caliper and the brake pad against the rotor. This happened all of sudden while driving about 30-35- mph when driver applied the brakes.the dealer stated that the slides on the caliper became unseated whick became stuck causing the brake pad to lock against the rotor causing extensive damage to the rotor and wheel.
The front brake caliper bolts to the steering knuckle ona 1997 dodge dakota, 4wd. Due to the nature of the design, the threads that hold the brake caliper mounting studs can strip out, thereby leaving the caliper to float on the knuckle. Under prolonged use, these studs can back out, letting the caliper fall off, which could lead to a crash. On my particular vehicle, this has happened for the third time now, once on the driver's side and twice on the passenger side. The threads strip out, and the mounting boss section is so small that a larger thread cannot be retapped without danger of breaking the hole out. Auto parts suppliers sell slightly oversize, self tapping studs, but these do not last long. The steering knuckle is a very pricey part (on the order of $600 just for the part) and continuing replacement is cost prohibitive. My vehicle is apparently not the only one with this problem, as a search of salvage yards revealed numerous stripped out threads on vehicles where the steering knuckle was actually available.
I took my truck to 4 different brake shops and all 4 told me that the front driver side caliper had failed and that my rotor was ruined. A couple of the shops actually said that dodge has a history of having bad calipers. I asked the gm at chapman dodge what he knew about the question of "bad" calipers and he admitted that there were problems 2 years ago. My truck is 2 years old.
Brake pads & rotors failed.
The brake pad on the right front wheel prematurely disintegrated, cause unknown.also, both wheels fell off.
Front and the rear brakes are prematurely wearingout or feathering which causes the vehicle to veer to the right.also, the vehicle constantly needs alignment.please give any further details,add all vehicle vin#. 8ak
Abs brakes failed.in addition, replaced warped front brake rotors.
Vehicle experienced failure of the recall component (00v-136) prior to recall notification, consumer is requesting reimbursement. *mjs
I feel that wheel bearing/ fuel pumps and brake rotors should not have to all be replaced at cost to me in the first 2 years/38,000 miles on my vehicle.several of these parts could cause a safety hazard such as a crash.
After 6,000 miles the truck developed a very bad shake in the front end. Rotors were turned in june of 97 and dec of 97 with about 20,000 miles. Consumer is experiencing the same problem with 29,000 miles on truck.a technicianatdealershipstated that this problem is common.
Abslight illuminated on several occaisions. Brake light also illuminates.abs pulsation even on dry roads.front pads and rotors replaced at apprx. 40000 miles. Service technician advised that "dodge rotors do not last very long."engine rattle began about 30000 miles. Diagnosed as a heat shield ratteling.subsequently diagnosed and a loose timing chain.
Grinding noise when brakes are applied.when brakes are pressed they bounce back and forth.the spindle is out and is the caliber.the rotors have been replaced because the spindle is not right.
Front brake rotors are prematurely wearing which causes the vehicle to jerk when applying the brakes.please give any further details.
Brake pads & rotors failed.
At approximately 18000 miles the truck would shudder/vibrate when braking.the dealer concluded that the brake rotors were warped, which they claim was caused when the rotors got wet!!! they would not cover the repair under the warranty. The repair consisted of machining or turning the rotors, cost $90.00. Iauthorized the repairs after the warranty expired @36,000 miles, the shuddering/vibration started to occur when braking. Since it was out of warranty i took it to meineke mufflers & brakes. They also concluded that the brake rotors were warped and could not be turned or machined.iauthorized them to replace the rotors , cost $300.00. All other brake components, including the brake pads were in good shape and did not need replacement. I beleive that the rotors or the brake system are defective. The rotors should not warp under normal use which includes getting wet and heating up when braking.
Tires - excessive tire wear over 20,000 miles, especially at the outer edges.also,brake rotor failure (pitting) at 20.000 miles.( dot number: tire size: glp215/75r )
While driving vehicle about 20 mph from time to time and stopping vehicle, the rear brakes locked when the vehicle stopped.the consumer could feel the brakes.
Drums & rotors replaced twice
Dt*:the contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the brake pedal went three quarters of way to the floor.the vehicle was then driven down the driveway and fluid was on the ground.the vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop, where it was determined the brake lines that go to the rear of the vehicle corroded.the vehicle is located in a salt belt state.the mechanic installed new piping.
Consumer received recall 00v193000 in 12/01. However the dealer stated the parts were not available.
Consumer received 00v198000 recall letter.called dealer, dealer told consumer to come in.once there, dealer told consumer that they did not have parts for that particular vehicle, when partswould come in,they would contact consumer.consumer has called, andstill waiting on partsthat were ordered in october of 2000.
Nhtsarecalls campaign 00v199000 and 00v193000; daimler issued two recalls on the fuel tank and the brake hoses. This vehicle was not included in the recalls due to vin,but it leaked fuel and had trouble braking.
- the contact owns a 1997 dodge dakota. While leaving his driveway at 5 mph in an attempt to engage the brakes, the pedal went to the floor and the vehicle did not stop.the contact used the emergency brake to slow the vehicle down. The contact observed brake fluid on the engine and under the vehicle.the vehicle was towed to the repair shop and the shop mechanic stated the driver side brake linerusted which caused the failure. The repair order stated that all the brake lines were rusty and any one of them could have failed.updated 2/13/2007 -
Consumer complained about a steering box problem.also, dealer replaced the ball joints andidler arm.consumer is keeping an eye on the fuel filler tube because it seemed to be rusted.also, brake line is also rusted.*la
When applying the brake at30 mphbrake pedal went to the floor. Consumer was able to pump the brakes and coast the vehicle off the road. Vehicle was towed to a repairs shop, and mechanic determinedthat the main brake line, which leads to the rear brakes, rusted, and needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified.
1997 dodge dakota pickup with 18,000 miles. Never driven off road.both front brack lines completely rusted.one burst while driving.
Consumer's son severely injured in an accident where the right rear wheel completely broke off and landed in the field.*phshortly after the accident, the consumer received a recall in the mail possibly related to the brakes.
Consumer was refused recall repair 00v-198 at the dealer because technician found an open invoice on the cosumers vehicle.nlm
Consumer is not satisfied with the amount of time that the dealership will take for the recall (00v-193) repair. *mjs
Believe this a lemon truck, 6 owners in 3 yrs.why isn't my truck included in recalls?help! master cylinders empty after 1 month.
When traveling at highway speed in a head wind ( using full gas pedal at time the center a/c vent switchs to defrost nothing you do will re switch to center vent (you can turn off the a/c system, and when you turn it back on, it still is in defrost. No control will return a/c back to center vent) until you let off gas pedal and slow down, when this happens front windshield fogs up, blinding the drivers view of the highway. The dealers had to check the vacuum system and found no problem with the vacuum system, this is a off and on problem it will not do it all of the time, but when it starts there is no warning, i nearly had a accident while traveling back from miami to tampa.
The contact owns a 1997 dodge dakota.the contact stated that the vehicle shifts out of gear when the 4 wheel drive feature is activated.the failure began since the time the vehicle was purchased.he called the dealer, but became ill and was unable to return the vehicle for repair before the thirty day warranty expired.the vehicle received a new state inspection in spite of the brake and ball joint issues.the contact stated that the 4 wheel drive feature disengages while driving and the upper and lower ball joints were completely worn, making the vehicle difficult to steer.the wheel hub was replaced and there was no brake lining on the rear axle.the brake cables were replaced as well.the vin, engine size, and purchase date were unknown.the current mileage is 116,000 and failure mileage was 108,000.
Locked vehicle in four wheel drive high, started going through flat pasture, either brakes locked up or front pumkin turned up and locked front wheels up, lost control and rolled onto driver side.
While driving steering wheel locked/bound-up, resulting in a accident.
Due to poor choice of materials (i assume) the front hub and spindle assembly wears. Leaving front brake slider pins unattached to caliper mounting plate. When this happens, the front caliper wobbles in it's place, possibly ejecting the slidepins because they "wobble" in the knuckle holes designed to retain them. This causes excess wear on the front hub assembly, increased wear in brakes, and stress on the hub bearings. Having read the "alldata" data base, there is a redesigned knuckle with improved slide pin supports. There also is a repair kit involving the usage of "heli-coil" inserts to secure brake pad carrier to spindle assembly. (slide pins)i feel totally unsafe with this arrangement. I prefer to have the re-designed spindle assemblies installed for free by dealer with up-dated part numbers. The dealer wants $1000 per side for the redesigned units. I think this is absurd. This is a safety hazard and could cause loss of life due to loss of control. The only thing holding the brake assemblies in place is the wheel, itself!!
While driving the vehicles steering wheel shakes. Consumer states' when applying the brakes it fill like the brake pedal is kicking back. Cause is unknown. Please provide any further information. Ts
Nhtsa# 13411-01-v-153-000: clock spring material, could interfere with the clockspringribbon and cause an open circuit the driver air bag system will become disabled and the air bag warning light will be on. Consumer states has the same problem his vehicle. Please provide any further information.ts
The steering wheel locked up while traveling at approximately 52 miles per hour.
Vehicle has been to the dealer 3 times for the same problem, loud clunking noise in steering column while turning or going over bumps, dealer replaced a steering linkage in the engine compartment and the entire steering column, the technician noted loose steering, and advised not to drive until column is replaced.*et
3 of 4 mounting bolts failed causing almost complete loss in steering. Fortunately, was going slow but had just gotten off freeway, whew.
When started to turn there was a popping sound.a few days later, popping stopped, but there was a 2 to 3 inch play insteering before car would even start to turn in that direction.felt likesteering column was going to fall on ground, and consumer felt unsafe.
Premature failure of ball joints & lower steering column u-joints.upper ball joints need to be replaced again.
Ball jointsfailed.
Consumer complained about a steering box problem.also, dealer replaced the ball joints andidler arm.consumer is keeping an eye on the fuel filler tube because it seemed to be rusted.also, brake line is also rusted.*la
Steering is unresponsive in certain spots. No movement in certain turns causes wheels to float.dealer foundjoints corroded, and had to be replaced.intermediate steering shaft.
While changing lanes on a highwaypower steering failed with no warning.shaft broke behind the pulley due to fluid not passing through the system, resulting in the steering wheel stffening.please describe details.ak
Power steering assist failed during cold weather.was sluggish during slow idle.mopar mechanic said that complete replacement would cost over $1000 and may still not solve problem.
Power steering malfunctioned at first and completely failed.(attorney for client)yh
The power steering pump shaft sheared during a low speed turn.
Power steering failed.pump shaft sheared internally.power steering pump, tensioner and belt had to be replaced.one week later, the replacement tensioner failed and had to be replaced again.
Power steering pump shaft sheared, causing loss of control. Replaced steering belt tensioner which has failed twice.
Power steering failed when attempting to make a turn.
Prior to exp. Of warranty, (36000 miles) vehicle was brought into an independent shop for a complete inspection.was informed ball joints and idler arm were completely worn out.previous owner, (a personal friend) and myself never '4 wheeled' the truck.normal city/highway use.viewed internet bulletin boards on dakota maint problems, and found others have had the same problem with earlyball joint/idler arm failures.36,000 miles under normal use is far to early for this type of problem.i fear there are many dakota's out there with the same problem.
Consumer complained about a steering box problem.also, dealer replaced the ball joints andidler arm.consumer is keeping an eye on the fuel filler tube because it seemed to be rusted.also, brake line is also rusted.*la
Consumer was replacing upper and lower ball joints every 35,000 miles. Also, consumer replaced the idler arm. Consumer contacted the dealer, who informed consumer that they will not warranty the suspension parts.provide further details. The consumer stated the manifold plenum gasket was leaking oil into the intake. The consumer replaced the gasket himself.
52000 miles and i have replaced these items: belt tensioner, a/c compressor, 3 sets of front tires(the tires are wearing on the outside edge-the truck has been aligned each time the tires were replaced), 2 sets of rotors, 2 brake calipers, 4 sets of brake pads, the steering knuckle that broke into three (3) pieces while the truck was going 65 mph, and now i have to take it to a transmission shop because the truck jumps from drive to neutral while the truck is in motion.all of these repair cost have been paid by myself.dealer said there has been no other complaints about the dodge dakotai find that hard to believe.( dot number: tire size: lt21575r15 )
Steering knuckle spindle assembly failed causing caliper to come loose .hub bearings on bothfrontwheel assemblys wore out.was told that this could result in wheel coming off of vehicle.
I have a 1997 dodge dakota sport with four wheel drive, a v8 engine and automatic transmission. I noticed my front tires wearing on the inside. I took the truck to the dealer on 12-20-01. I was told it needed lower ball joint and upper control arms. On 1-31-03 i returned to the dealer complaining of a vibration in the front end, again i was told it needed lower ball joints and upper control arms. Now i am noticing the tires wearing on the inside again and the dealer tells me it again needs upper ball joints but that the new redesigned parts are on backorder from the manufacturer.these failures have happened at ten thousand mile intervals, the first repair was at 46,261 the second at 56,125 and now it has 67,261 miles on it.this truck has never been off road and is used as a daily commuter vehicle.the problem at 46,261 miles is early for this type of failure but i guess it could happen however two more times in 21,000 miles is premature failure.i've worked in the automotive repair business for twenty five years and this is the first time i've had this type of problem on my own vehicles which are meticulusly maintained. This is definately a saftey issue as this can cause separation of the control arm from the steering knuckle.
The front brake caliper bolts to the steering knuckle ona 1997 dodge dakota, 4wd. Due to the nature of the design, the threads that hold the brake caliper mounting studs can strip out, thereby leaving the caliper to float on the knuckle. Under prolonged use, these studs can back out, letting the caliper fall off, which could lead to a crash. On my particular vehicle, this has happened for the third time now, once on the driver's side and twice on the passenger side. The threads strip out, and the mounting boss section is so small that a larger thread cannot be retapped without danger of breaking the hole out. Auto parts suppliers sell slightly oversize, self tapping studs, but these do not last long. The steering knuckle is a very pricey part (on the order of $600 just for the part) and continuing replacement is cost prohibitive. My vehicle is apparently not the only one with this problem, as a search of salvage yards revealed numerous stripped out threads on vehicles where the steering knuckle was actually available.
Threads on spindle were corroded and stripped.*mrthe consumerrequested a reimbursement for repairs made on his vehicle.
Defective driver's side tie rod end broke, causing a loss of vehicle control.also, ball joints looked worn out.please provide further information.
Front end suspension failed, and caused the thread on the tie rod to become weak. The threads appeared corroded which almost caused an accident.dealer notified.
While driving less than 5 mph driver's side of vehicle dropped, tie rod had broken and gone through rim of wheel. Dealer replaced tie rod.
Front endfailed. Consumer statedfront end was on the verge of collapsing. Consumer also stated that ball joints, inner and outer tie rods failed.*la
My 1997 dodge dakota-with 48ooo miles failed safety inspection, due to bad ball joints and unsafe steernig. During repair process i discovered that this is a common and even expected event with these vehicles (with low mileage) and also durangos. It is so commonplace that dodgerepair people expect it. Obviouosly tis is a sfatey defect and should be remedied at no cost to consumer. It willonly be a matter of time until the parts fail; and a catastrophe happens to some un suspectig driver,unless there is a recall andpermanent quality replacment of the parts.
The upper and lower ball joints and tie rod endswore out completely.consumer was concerned that the wheels will fall off while driving.
While accelerating from a red light, vehicle went backards, consumer restarted and vehicle went forward.consumer states there is a problem with transmission.consumer states that the transmission mount broke, causing the accident.
Loose bedliner.
Consumer stated there was a leak in the cab of the vehicle, of which the dealer claimed to have repaired by placing a small amount of tar around a wire entering the firewall, however after several rainfalls, consumer doscovered that the problem had not been fixed and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer on 2 occasions, water has been continuously seeping into the cab of the vehicle, and now water flows into the cab when raining the dealer pulled the dahsboard to repair the leak, but did not stop the leak, and found that the rear window was also leaking and would make no further repairs.
Alldata has provided me with informayion on my 1997 dodge dakota c/ cab, it shows a general recall with a tba # 727 for paint chipping. I also have information that the same year and factory vin # has a recall on the same condition of the paint but only for red trucks, mine happens to be green. But the paint on my truck is peeling like a 30 year old house. The primer is fine, which from talking to other professionals in the auto painting business have informed me that if the primer is not cleaned or dried properly before the paint is laid down, it would cause the paint to later chip and peel, like mine does.i have been unsuccessful in having dodge look at the problem.
Paint began bubbling about a year ago on the roof of the cab. Since then every single panel on the vehicle(hood, roof, front 1/4 panels, doors, cab body, and rear fenders) all have at least one spot where paint has bubbled and peeled. Some spots as big as a foot in diameter and growing.this is not random. I mean every body part has paint just "letting go". This is an obvious case of poor painting procedures and is seen in many other makes and models from dodge in this same time frame.
Locked vehicle in four wheel drive high, started going through flat pasture, either brakes locked up or front pumkin turned up and locked front wheels up, lost control and rolled onto driver side.
On november 17,1997 gas gauge malfunctioned,new brake makes noise and the console lid strap broke.(attorney for client)yh
I noticed anothercomplaint dated 3/1/2004 as the fail date and an internal use date of 7/6/2005 of this same problem. The paint on the roof of the cab stared peeling off and paint on various other areas of the truck. The bumper was the first to go. I would say this started about after the truck was 4-5 years old. I once had this happen on a two year old nissan truck and nissan repainted the entire truck an said it was defectively painted.
Authorized dodge dealer inspected with employee of chrysler/ stated there was no defect with manufacturer although i don't feel that it cannot be because this peeling/flaking has not occurred elsewhere on the body of the truck.
Paint on front bumper chipped. Dealer repainted instead of replaced. Chipping again and rusting. Dealer and chrysler refused to replace.
The front bumper's paint is chipping.when dealer was contacted they blamed the incident on "road salt" though there was no salt on the roads at the time the incident occured.the paint is currently bubbleing up and peeling as this complaint is submitted.
Door panel screws are too short causing them to come out. Mjs
Manufacturer's defect in frame weld caused the frame to break. Dealer indicated that chrysler was aware, and that several others around the country have been found with similar problem.
While driving approximately 5 mph on a dirt road consumer heard a grinding noise.consumer stopped the vehicle, and found that the frame had a large crack on the passenger's side.vehicle was towed to a dealer, who informed consumer that frame must be replaced. On that same day consumer heard a radio report about dodge dakotas 1995-1996 having a problem with cracked frames. During that report it was mentioned that there was a repair kit that could be obtained at dodge dealerships to fix the frame.consumer contacted the dealer andmanufacturer, the had no knowledge of this repair kit.
Suspension system problems, causing excessive tire wear.
The vehicle's ball joints were bad.the vehicle's front brakes also had to be replaced.the consumer learned of a recall for balljoints.the consumer was told by a servce rep that his vehicle was not included in the recall due to the model year.
Ball joints defective-taken to dealer parts not available-vehicle unsafe according to dealer-no re-call issued yet - may re-call later-various accidents were reported nation wide-of front wheels falling off!!!!!!!
Dealer unable to correct alignment problems after numerous attempts.
New tires couldn't be aligned because the ball joint were so bad. *ph
Upper and lower balljoints needed replacement. *ph (nar)the vehicle was taken to a tire service facility for a front end alignment due to noticeable right front tire wear.once the technician looked at the vehicle he determined that the vehicles upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.the vehicle wa taken to the dealerwho indicated that the ball joints were within specs.the consumer had the ball joints replaced despite the dealer findings.the consumer request reimbursement from the manufacturer.
Upper andlower ball joints failed at 77,000 miles.the vehicle started squeaking over slight bumps and worsened to squeaking all of the time, the steering wheel began to make unusual noises when turning, and coolant leaked from the engine. *sc
My ball joints and tie rods were going bad at 54,000 miles. Dodge would not do anything about the problem. Also, my transmission started to go bad at 74,000 miles. 2nd gear went out, then it went completely out at 91,000 miles. Obviously dodge wasn't going to do anything about it. I wont buy another dodge again.
At 54k miles, the ball joints had to be replaced. *ph *sc
Theupper and lower ball joints experienced premature wear. As a result, the ball joints produced a grinding noise. Please provide additional information.*mr
The consumer replaced the upper/lower ball joint and front wheel bearing.the consumer questioned whether or nor daimler chrysler would be taking the fault. *ph the consumer requested to be reimbursed. *sc
Front end shakes intermittently and often times cause a loss of vehicle control.the dealer has alligned the vehicle several times.
Front suspension rattles when driving on rough road after hitting sharp objects.
Consumer is experiencing an array of front suspension problems.*la *sc
Loud noise is coming from front end. Dealer cannot determine cause of defect.
Truck was purchased new/no off road to speak of and well maintained. No defect (s) listed in summary.
Consumerhad to replace front end suspensions three times due to wear.
52000 miles and i have replaced these items: belt tensioner, a/c compressor, 3 sets of front tires(the tires are wearing on the outside edge-the truck has been aligned each time the tires were replaced), 2 sets of rotors, 2 brake calipers, 4 sets of brake pads, the steering knuckle that broke into three (3) pieces while the truck was going 65 mph, and now i have to take it to a transmission shop because the truck jumps from drive to neutral while the truck is in motion.all of these repair cost have been paid by myself.dealer said there has been no other complaints about the dodge dakotai find that hard to believe.( dot number: tire size: lt21575r15 )
Front end suspension failed, and caused the thread on the tie rod to become weak. The threads appeared corroded which almost caused an accident.dealer notified.
Due to poor choice of materials (i assume) the front hub and spindle assembly wears. Leaving front brake slider pins unattached to caliper mounting plate. When this happens, the front caliper wobbles in it's place, possibly ejecting the slidepins because they "wobble" in the knuckle holes designed to retain them. This causes excess wear on the front hub assembly, increased wear in brakes, and stress on the hub bearings. Having read the "alldata" data base, there is a redesigned knuckle with improved slide pin supports. There also is a repair kit involving the usage of "heli-coil" inserts to secure brake pad carrier to spindle assembly. (slide pins)i feel totally unsafe with this arrangement. I prefer to have the re-designed spindle assemblies installed for free by dealer with up-dated part numbers. The dealer wants $1000 per side for the redesigned units. I think this is absurd. This is a safety hazard and could cause loss of life due to loss of control. The only thing holding the brake assemblies in place is the wheel, itself!!
Third set of tires due to inner wear from front end problems.the truck is being sent back again for front end problem. These problems are all listed in your service bulletins database and also confirmed in the complaints database. As my vehicle is nearing the end of the extended warranty phase these front end problems are going to be very expensive since there dosen't seem to be a fix.
There is a loud noise in the front of the vehicle when turning or going over a small bump. Dealer contacted.*la
Front and the rear brakes are prematurely wearingout or feathering which causes the vehicle to veer to the right.also, the vehicle constantly needs alignment.please give any further details,add all vehicle vin#. 8ak
The ball joints on my 97 dodge dakota are worn out.apparently this is a very common problem and supposedly there is a recall in effect for newer dakotas as though the problem didn't start until after 1997.this is a faulty part from the manufacturing process and its repair (amongst the many other manufacturing fault repairs on this vehicle) is ruining me financially in this economy.i should not be held financially responsible for a car makers inept manufacturing.
Front endfailed. Consumer statedfront end was on the verge of collapsing. Consumer also stated that ball joints, inner and outer tie rods failed.*la
Strange noise is coming from front end . Dealer cannot determine cause. Please provide further information.
Front upper and lower control arms broke, causing premature wear of the tires. Please give any further details.
1997 dodge dakota club cab 2 wd pickup had excessive tire wear at 25,000 miles so all tires replaced.tires had been rotated every 7,000 mi.after tire replaced took to dodge dealer for front end alignment.dealer refused because they said front ball joints needed replaced costing $900.when asked if this was unusual dealer said no and that ball joints could wear out in 10,000 miles.i called daimler chrysler to complain and they refused my request for assistance saying no problems of this type have been reported.the truck was never driven off road, never involved in an accident, only driven to work and home within 40 miles of my home.truck was never abused and i feel the ball joints (and tires) should not have worn out in this small amount of time.i am an engineer and believe there is a design or manufacturing problem that led to this premature failure.i have continued to drive the truck without replacing the ball joints yet since no one has told me there is any safety reason not to.the truck drives fine, straight, and easy. *nlm
Defective driver's side tie rod end broke, causing a loss of vehicle control.also, ball joints looked worn out.please provide further information.
Excessive tire wear aligned at 12000 still had wear took to an alignment specialist and found a bad ball joint.
While drivingvehicle would be hard to control.vehicle would jump to left or right suddenly. Dealer has replaced ball joints 9 times, and problem still exists.
Excessive tire wear aligned at 12000 still had wear took to an alignment specialist and found a bad ball joint.
Ball joint failures: truck failed state inspection due to defective upper and lower ball joints or ball joint and lower control arm. Another ball joint had been replaced the previous year. All defects occurred at about 50,000 miles. This is common problem with dodge dakota and chrysler will not pay for repairs. Problem is well documented on dozens of internet sites, blogs, etc and all mechanics and state inspectors all nod knowingly about the dodge pickup. This is safety issue and failure of ball joints is not a problem in almost any car except chrysler products. How do they get away with this safety issue which can cause loss of control and crashes and at under 50,000 miles. It is time nhtsa forces dodge to recall and reimburse all costs to those already having paid for such repairs. This should be applicable for any year vehicle up to at least 100,000. I have owned over a dozen vehicles and most driven over 100,000 and one at 145,000 and one 200,000 and have never replace but oneball joint on a 1970 cutlass. Only one high mileage vehicle with cv joints but maybe no ball joints had to have a cv joint replaced. This does not speak well of chrysler/dodge.
Left hand upper ball joint is coming apart from steering tie rod which could cause complete loss of steering capability.consumer has contacted the dealer. Please provide any further details.
Prior to exp. Of warranty, (36000 miles) vehicle was brought into an independent shop for a complete inspection.was informed ball joints and idler arm were completely worn out.previous owner, (a personal friend) and myself never '4 wheeled' the truck.normal city/highway use.viewed internet bulletin boards on dakota maint problems, and found others have had the same problem with earlyball joint/idler arm failures.36,000 miles under normal use is far to early for this type of problem.i fear there are many dakota's out there with the same problem.
Premature wear of the ball joints.please provide further detail.
Upper and lower ball joints have failed at 50,000 miles which could cause other damages. Tsb was sent out by manufacturer, but only covered 4 wheel drive vehicles.
A weld that secured the lower right suspension failed on my 1997 dodge dakota due to "hard" braking. This failure could have resulted in a serious accident and significant property damage. I believe that such a failure should never occur due to normal use.i believe that this weld should be inspected on all vehicles with this particular suspension system.my phone call to chrysler customer service did not indicate any interest in follow up on this potentially dangerous manufacturing defect.
Consumer states that the lower control arms failed prematurely, this caused wear on the front tires.
Suspension, upper and lower ball joints replaced and shocks replaced- 60k miles.recall on 2000 and up but problem with 97 and up.
Dealer replaced upper control arm and ball joints at 35000 miles, again was replaced at 80000. Dealer knew about the problems of the ball joints, but claimed theywerestillgood and consumer could still drive although the ball jointswere worn out prematurely.
I've had to have the front end aligned twice now & upon having it in for the 3rd time, i was told that the lower right ball joint was out.this is why i've gone throw 2 sets of tires already, needing the 3rd set.i've had problems trying to find the ball joint.this is just one of the many problems i have had with my truck.the transmission still does not shift right.i've been told by 2 different dealers that i am in the computer so if anything does happen, it will be taken care of.i ran across a web site that discusses the problems other dakota owners are experiencing & i know what they are going through.this is the 1st brand new vehicle i have ever owned & i've had more problems with it than i ever had any ot the others i have owned. ( dot number: tire size: p215/75r15 )
Upper and lower ball joints on the right and left sides of the vehicle were defective. While driving consumer heard a popping noise when ever making a right or left turn. Tookvehicle to the mechanic, and was told to park the vehicle because it was very dangerous.
While having vehicle serviced technician determined upper and lower ball joints needed replacement.
A knocking noise was coming from the front of the vehicle.the consumer drove to the dealer andthe mechanic informed the consumer that the left and right upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to corrosion.*sc
1997 dodge dakota upper and lower balljoints have failed pre-maturely.i currently am experiencing loud noises from the front of the vehicle when riding over small bumps.my mechanic stated that the upper and lower balljoints need to be replace on both sides of the vehicle.i am the orginal owner of this vehicle and it has never been used off paved roads.
Premature wear and failure of upper and lower ball joints.truck was making popping noises when you turned the wheel or went over bumps.took to local mechanic; mechanic stated that the ball joints were scary bad.mechanic also stated that if i had not brought the vehicle in the front wheels could have broken off causing the vehicle to wreck.
I have a 1997 dodge dakota sport with four wheel drive, a v8 engine and automatic transmission. I noticed my front tires wearing on the inside. I took the truck to the dealer on 12-20-01. I was told it needed lower ball joint and upper control arms. On 1-31-03 i returned to the dealer complaining of a vibration in the front end, again i was told it needed lower ball joints and upper control arms. Now i am noticing the tires wearing on the inside again and the dealer tells me it again needs upper ball joints but that the new redesigned parts are on backorder from the manufacturer.these failures have happened at ten thousand mile intervals, the first repair was at 46,261 the second at 56,125 and now it has 67,261 miles on it.this truck has never been off road and is used as a daily commuter vehicle.the problem at 46,261 miles is early for this type of failure but i guess it could happen however two more times in 21,000 miles is premature failure.i've worked in the automotive repair business for twenty five years and this is the first time i've had this type of problem on my own vehicles which are meticulusly maintained. This is definately a saftey issue as this can cause separation of the control arm from the steering knuckle.
The contact owns a 1997 dodge dakota.the contact stated that the vehicle shifts out of gear when the 4 wheel drive feature is activated.the failure began since the time the vehicle was purchased.he called the dealer, but became ill and was unable to return the vehicle for repair before the thirty day warranty expired.the vehicle received a new state inspection in spite of the brake and ball joint issues.the contact stated that the 4 wheel drive feature disengages while driving and the upper and lower ball joints were completely worn, making the vehicle difficult to steer.the wheel hub was replaced and there was no brake lining on the rear axle.the brake cables were replaced as well.the vin, engine size, and purchase date were unknown.the current mileage is 116,000 and failure mileage was 108,000.
I own a 1997 dodge dakota sport pickup.it is a 4x4 with a 318cid engine and auto. Trans.at about 35,000 miles, during a front end alignment, i had to replace the left upper ball joint.having 25 years auto experience myself, this part was definitely bad and i replaced the whole upper control arm, as the ball joint alone was not available.currently, at 84,000 miles, both lower ball joints are bad and have been replaced.this vehicle is not used much in off road conditions and then only on paved roads.this is premature part failure and a serious safety issue, as i drive at or above the poisted speed limits in my travels.total failure of these parts would result in loss of control and an accident.
Upper ball joint woreout prematurely and needed replacement, per dealership.vehicle was kept in the garage with only 50k miles and the consumer didn't understand why he had expensive failures. *ph
While driving 45 mph steering wheel vibrated. The mechanic determined that the problem was due to thefront ball joints being worn out. The faulty ball joints resulted in bad alignmentand caused the tires to wear improperly. *sc
While driving 55 mph vehicle pulled to the right. Vehicle was taken to a repair shop, andmechanic determined that the entire upper and the lower ball joints needed to be replaced. Also, the parts were available for analysis. Dealer was contacted.
While driving 4 mph front left end ball joint collapsed. Vehicle was towed to a garage for inspection, andmechanic determined that the front lower ball joint needed to be replaced.
97 dakota serviced every 3000 miles.ball joints worn out and need to be replaced.truck has 87000 miles.i have never owned a vehicle where this has happened.
Ball joint failures: truck failed state inspection due to defective upper and lower ball joints or ball joint and lower control arm. Another ball joint had been replaced the previous year. All defects occurred at about 50,000 miles. This is common problem with dodge dakota and chrysler will not pay for repairs. Problem is well documented on dozens of internet sites, blogs, etc and all mechanics and state inspectors all nod knowingly about the dodge pickup. This is safety issue and failure of ball joints is not a problem in almost any car except chrysler products. How do they get away with this safety issue which can cause loss of control and crashes and at under 50,000 miles. It is time nhtsa forces dodge to recall and reimburse all costs to those already having paid for such repairs. This should be applicable for any year vehicle up to at least 100,000. I have owned over a dozen vehicles and most driven over 100,000 and one at 145,000 and one 200,000 and have never replace but oneball joint on a 1970 cutlass. Only one high mileage vehicle with cv joints but maybe no ball joints had to have a cv joint replaced. This does not speak well of chrysler/dodge.
At 27,000 miles the lower joints have been replaced five times cause unknown.please give any further details.
Consumer was replacing upper and lower ball joints every 35,000 miles. Also, consumer replaced the idler arm. Consumer contacted the dealer, who informed consumer that they will not warranty the suspension parts.provide further details. The consumer stated the manifold plenum gasket was leaking oil into the intake. The consumer replaced the gasket himself.
After reading about ball joint failure on dakotas and durango's i checked my 1997 dakota with 43000 miles and found all upper and lower ball joint seals torn open and no grease in the in the ball joint socket. There is no sign of any grease everin or around the ball joints. The joints are starting to rattle.
Three incidents of lower ball joint failure.1st failure at 16-17k miles, 2nd at 36k mi.these were covered under warranty by dodge after some denial that there was a problem at all.3rd failure at 60k mi.dealer denies there is a problem with lower ball joints.two independant repair shops have varified lower joints require replacement with one stating "vehicle should not be driven because of very worn condition of one ball joint!"upper ball joints are also worn and require replacement.
Have a 1997 dodge dakota 4 wheel drive, 5.2l v8.heard knocking sporadic noises in front suspension.took it to dodge dealership who informed me that ball joints need to be replaced.in doing some research this seems to be a serious and dangerous problem with dakotas.if i wouldn't have taken mine in to be looked at, it could have resulted in a serious accident.i have ask dodge for my old ball joints so that i can have them as evidence.dodge is charging about $600 for the repair.it doesn't seem fair that dodge is making money of the repair of a ball joint that shouldn't have needed it in the first place.dodge should issue a service advisory and this type of repair should be handled free of charge. *la
At 28000 miles, both lower ball joints had to be replaced due to wear. Recently at 48000 when taken to get aligned, the consumer had to replace both upper ball joints due to wearing on the left side and a broken right side ball joint.
Lower ball joints had to be reply at 40000 miles also all rubber seals on top and on all steering arms are gone, truck had extended warranty but they would only reply the lower joints because they were ready to fail, warranty company would not replace upper ball joints or any of the steering assembly even though they are dry and will probably fail with-inthe next 5000 miles/ truck had only 100 miles left on warranty... Also have had to have the catalitic converter repl 3 times.
The consumer took the vehicle in for routine maintenance.the mechanic noticed both front upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to corrosion.please fill in additional information.
Dt*:the contact stated while traveling 60 mph, the steering became hard to control.the vehicle was driven to the dealership where it was determined the lower and upper ball joints needed to be replaced.there is a nhtsa recall, # 04v596000, regarding the upper ball joints.the vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however, it is not included in the recall due to the vin.
Failure of upper and lower ball joints.
Badball joints on 1997 dodge dakota
Suspension lower ball joint failure.
Oct. '04 brought truck in for a wheel alignment and was told the control arm and upper and lower ball joints need replacing at a cost of $1,000.for safety i had the front end fixed.you have ordered recalls for similar failures in the 2000-03 dakotas.the 1997's have the same problem.
Suspension ball joint failure.
While driving at any speedconsumer heard a clanking sound coming from the front end. Dealer examined the vehicle, and found that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.
Upper and lower ball joints have worn prematurely (36000 miles) and are very expensive to fix. Unfortunately, it's not safe to continue driving without replacing them. Dodge needs to get a handle on this before any accidents occur.*la
Mechanic noticed thatupper and lower ball joints were bad, and needed to be replaced while performing a front end alignment.
The dealership refused to perform a front end alignment because the truck's upper and lower ball joints were worn.
My 1997 dodge dakota-with 48ooo miles failed safety inspection, due to bad ball joints and unsafe steernig. During repair process i discovered that this is a common and even expected event with these vehicles (with low mileage) and also durangos. It is so commonplace that dodgerepair people expect it. Obviouosly tis is a sfatey defect and should be remedied at no cost to consumer. It willonly be a matter of time until the parts fail; and a catastrophe happens to some un suspectig driver,unless there is a recall andpermanent quality replacment of the parts.
The vehicle was taken to a independent shopfor a routine general maintenance,and the mechanicnoticed that all four ball jointsfelled worn out prematurely.independent shop charge $1,200. Please provide further information.
I bought a 1997 dodge dakota pick/up that had 52,303 miles showing on the speedometer, the dealer said and showed me a "safety check" seal on the windshield and told me they safety check all their used cars and trucks, after finally putting 1,000 miles on the truck i noticed it was getting harder and harder to steer and control, i also started hearing a loud noise in the front end when turning. I finally took the truck to a garage and asked to check the front end, the dealer had supposedly aligned the front end at the time of purchase. To my surprise and the mechanics, when he jacked up the vehicle and went to check the ball joints, the left front wheel started to fall off, the ball joint was so worn out. This vehicle has 53,324 miles on it at present, these are actual miles, there is only 3 titles been issued for this vehicle, the original buyer (new), the dealer and my self.apparently the dealer knew the front end ball joints were worn out, a true safety check and the supposedly front end alignment they claim they did would have shown that. Also the safety check they claim they do, should have shown the ball joints were worn out. If we had been driving on the interstate and the left front wheel fell off, i dread thinking how many cars would have been involved in the wreck.the cost of replacing all 4 ball joints cost me $237.00, i am positive a dealer would have paid less to repair the vehicle prior to guaranteeing that it was a safe vehicle.in having the vehicle repaired i have found out that the dodge trucks have a history of ball joint failure, especially older models.
Upper and lower ball joints wore out prematurely. ......consumer claimed that he had a valid request after seeing notification of a recall on 2000-2003 dodge dakota trucks to replace ball joints. Asked for a reimbursement of $663.60 for replacing upper and lower ball joints.cedar rapids dodge told consumer he had replace the ball joints. They said it was a safety issue and quoted $1,126.50 to make the repair. Howeverbartosh automotive charded $663.60 to perform same work.
While driving at any speed, the consumer heard a squeaking sound coming from the front end.the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, who examined the front end.the dealer determined that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. *sc
I have a 1997 dodge dakota 2 wheel drive. All four balljoints on the front end are very prone to failure.they wear prematurely as there is no way to lubricate the parts.my wheel has not yet fell off, although the balljoints rattle and clunk because they are worn out prematurely.
Noticed improper tire wear on the front end.took for an inspection and all ball joints were found to be in need of replacement.mechanic stated that the they could have failed at any time.
Replace both sides of upper and lower ball joints at 60k and 120k despite using the best grease in them synthetic.i've complained about the seat back before since new it falls back. Front bucket.
The front tires experienced uneven tread wear.dealership was unable to perform a front end alignment because all 4 ball joints wore out prematurely.
The upper and lower ball joints and tie rod endswore out completely.consumer was concerned that the wheels will fall off while driving.
The consumer took the vehicle for in for state inspection and the mechanic informed the driver that the left and right upper and lower ball joints needed replacement due to corrosion.upper ball joints replaced by dealer at 34,000 mile.at state inspection in 2004 the upper and lower joints were replaced.manufacturer recalled this type of vehicle but only model year 2000.
Consumer complained about a steering box problem.also, dealer replaced the ball joints andidler arm.consumer is keeping an eye on the fuel filler tube because it seemed to be rusted.also, brake line is also rusted.*la
I pulled into my driveway, ran in the house to pick up some paperwork, got back in the truck and back out of the driveway.the lower control arm broke away from the frame.one weld is broken and the other is ripped.no company will fix this vehicle because of the liability issues.i never hit anything that would break this arm.i was told by three different companies that they have never seen this happen.the ball joint was in tact and had not broken.now i have to pay for a truck which is just a piece of junk.
Upper ball joints wore out prematurly.
We had to replace the ball joints on our '97 dodge dakota after 49,000 miles because it became dangerous to drive our truck.this also affected the wear of our tires which we had to replace at the same time.also, the brakes have never worked right, they were replaced at just over 30,000 miles.we would like to be reimbursed for the defective ball joints we had replaced.ideally, we'd like to also be compensated for the premature wear on the tires, but realize that might be asking too much.how do we find out how to become part of the class action suit against daimler-chrysler?(it was still dodge when we bought the dakota)fortunately, my husband was aware of the danger the ball joints created and we had them replaced before an accident occurred.help!thanks for your time.*la
Transmission failure at 50,000 miles. Transmission began to bog down while driving about 40 mph. After about 5 minutes it would only go about 5 mph while reving about 3500 rpm. Paid for tow to dodge dealer in hampton va for analysis and repair.tow operator remarked almost all dodge dakotas towed for tranny work ended up costing $2300-$2900 for a replacement. I was lucky and only had to replace all pressure regulating valves for about $670 (funny how they all went bad at the same time but i would not argue the point since the parts were cheap compared to doing it over in a few months).dealerindicated this was a years old problem which was common to replace these transmissions and that my $600 repair was not guaranteed to prevent total failure. Dodge has not agreed to any recall to fix but should do this. Therefore, i will never own another dodge or chrysler of any sort. Upper and lower ball joints also failed at under 50,000 miles and no repair recall on this long standing problem as well. Subject on another complaint.
Clanking noise in right front wheel. Axle seal broke, replaced, 3 weeks later noise again ball joints needed to be replaced. Ph
The consumer's vehicle had the same ball joint problem as described in the ball joint recall for the 2000-2003 model years. The consumer wants to knowwhy the 1997 model was excluded from the ball joint recall. *sc *tc
Consumer took vehicle forand inspection andit failed. Failure was due to excessive upper and lower ball joint wear.*mr
1997 dodge dakota- ball joint problems - premature wear.also causing tires to prematurely wear and scalp.
There was a ball joint problem.they made a clanking sound along with a squeal.the problem was discovered when the vehicle was taken to dealer for a catalytic converter problem. *sc
On feb. 21, 2005, was driving home from work with infant daughter.realized something was not right and slowed to 2 mph in 1st gear.came up on 9% grade with 4 s-type curves.entered 1st curve at 2 mph, truck ran off road, could not keep it on road.got it back on road only to completely lose control and ended up on other side of road in a parking area (stoped sideways).truck was put on rollback and sent to ramey dodge (princeton, wv) the next morning.they kept truck until that evening, could not find anything wrong. Parked truck until friday 2/25/05, father took vehicle to another mechanic to have front end alignment.was informed the wheels were ready to fall off and truck needed to be taken back to dealership on wrecker.my father drove the truck to princeton where he was told it needed upper and lower ball joints replaced on both sides. They kept my truck for almost a week.total repair bill $811.00.dad did not get ball joints that were taken off.i called back to get them and was told they had disposed of them.
I own a 1997 dodge dakota, v8 and for several months when i was turning, i experienced the terrible grinding sound from my front driver side wheel. I took it in to firestone today where they diagnosis upper and lower ball joints for all four wheels at a cost of over $1,000. The technician informed me this was common in dodge dakota's and durango's and that they are really bad. He states i could continue to drive it but worst case scenario is i'll be driving some day and the wheel could come off or lose control of the steering. I've researched the issue and found that there are thousands of complaints and daimler chrysler as yet has done nothing to correct the problem. I also note that your agency is supposed to be investigating this issue. I am waiting on your report before i pay to replace the joints although this may lead to a serious consequences on my part. When will daimler chrysler address this issue?
Premature wear oflower ball joints. Dealer has been notified.
While driving consumerheard a loud noise coming throughthe front end.dealership informedconsumer thatfront lower arm ball joint wore out.
Ball jointsfailed.
While driving steering wheel is very loose. When riding over bumps in the road there is a rattling noise in the front end.mechanic says there is excessive wear in the ball joints.the rubber boot on top of the ball joints were busted.*sc
Need to replace upper and lower ball joints on dakota with 173,000 miles.this will be the 7th set of ball joints on this vehicle.dealer states "no other customer complaints.
Dt: the contact stateddealer replaced both the upper and lower front control arm ball joints in 2003. Upon inspection this year it was discovered the ball jointsneeded to be replaced again. The vehicle had only accumulated 16,500 miles since they were last replaced. The first replacement was completed under warranty. The currentreplacement of the ball jointwill be doneat the contact'sexpense. He felttheywere defective based on the limited mileage.
Lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to permature wear. *mr
Failure of upper ball joints at approx. 80000 miles.failure identified because ofsevere front tire wear.had upper ball joints replaced, but this did not correct tire wear.took truck to another dealer, and they explained that i had to have the lower ball joints replaced also because "you never just replace the upper, you have to replace the lower one's also"this corrected the tire wear problems.the dates are estimates, i would have to search thru my records or the records of the dodge dealers for exact dates.i keep all the paper work, so a search is available if needed.vin is available, i just don't have it here at work.
Popping, grinding noise while turning and over bumps. Dodge inspected and replaced one upper ball joint and both lower ball joints and both inner tie rod ends.
Driving down i-55 by wilmington truck started to pull real bad to the left got off the highway next exit went straight to garage the mechanic put on the lift was able to remove the balljoint with his hand.
Front ball joints failed at 48,000 miles. *ph
Front endfailed. Consumer statedfront end was on the verge of collapsing. Consumer also stated that ball joints, inner and outer tie rods failed.*la
I have replaced the upper and lower ball joints about six months ago and my left front already started squeaking again.i will have to replace them once more.i believe dodge should recall these vehicles for this purpose. It has caused my tires to wear unevenly and i have to replace them prematurely.
There is a loud popping noise when backing up, found right upper control arm failed and was replaced.*yd
Front ball joints failed at 48,000 miles. *ph
There is a loud popping noise when backing up, found right upper control arm failed and was replaced.*yd
Dealer replaced upper control arm and ball joints at 35000 miles, again was replaced at 80000. Dealer knew about the problems of the ball joints, but claimed theywerestillgood and consumer could still drive although the ball jointswere worn out prematurely.
I have a 1997 dodge dakota sport with four wheel drive, a v8 engine and automatic transmission. I noticed my front tires wearing on the inside. I took the truck to the dealer on 12-20-01. I was told it needed lower ball joint and upper control arms. On 1-31-03 i returned to the dealer complaining of a vibration in the front end, again i was told it needed lower ball joints and upper control arms. Now i am noticing the tires wearing on the inside again and the dealer tells me it again needs upper ball joints but that the new redesigned parts are on backorder from the manufacturer.these failures have happened at ten thousand mile intervals, the first repair was at 46,261 the second at 56,125 and now it has 67,261 miles on it.this truck has never been off road and is used as a daily commuter vehicle.the problem at 46,261 miles is early for this type of failure but i guess it could happen however two more times in 21,000 miles is premature failure.i've worked in the automotive repair business for twenty five years and this is the first time i've had this type of problem on my own vehicles which are meticulusly maintained. This is definately a saftey issue as this can cause separation of the control arm from the steering knuckle.
1997 dodge dakota- ball joint problems - premature wear.also causing tires to prematurely wear and scalp.
I own a 1997 dodge dakota sport pickup.it is a 4x4 with a 318cid engine and auto. Trans.at about 35,000 miles, during a front end alignment, i had to replace the left upper ball joint.having 25 years auto experience myself, this part was definitely bad and i replaced the whole upper control arm, as the ball joint alone was not available.currently, at 84,000 miles, both lower ball joints are bad and have been replaced.this vehicle is not used much in off road conditions and then only on paved roads.this is premature part failure and a serious safety issue, as i drive at or above the poisted speed limits in my travels.total failure of these parts would result in loss of control and an accident.
Upper ball joint woreout prematurely and needed replacement, per dealership.vehicle was kept in the garage with only 50k miles and the consumer didn't understand why he had expensive failures. *ph
The upper and lower ball joints and tie rod endswore out completely.consumer was concerned that the wheels will fall off while driving.
While having vehicle serviced technician determined upper and lower ball joints needed replacement.
While driving at any speedconsumer heard a clanking sound coming from the front end. Dealer examined the vehicle, and found that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.
While driving steering wheel is very loose. When riding over bumps in the road there is a rattling noise in the front end.mechanic says there is excessive wear in the ball joints.the rubber boot on top of the ball joints were busted.*sc
Replace both sides of upper and lower ball joints at 60k and 120k despite using the best grease in them synthetic.i've complained about the seat back before since new it falls back. Front bucket.
Popping, grinding noise while turning and over bumps. Dodge inspected and replaced one upper ball joint and both lower ball joints and both inner tie rod ends.
1997-99dodge dakotahassame problem as 2000-2003.upper ball joint problems. Consumer wants to know why are you excluding 1997-99when the problemexisted in the 1997-99.
Transmission failure at 50,000 miles. Transmission began to bog down while driving about 40 mph. After about 5 minutes it would only go about 5 mph while reving about 3500 rpm. Paid for tow to dodge dealer in hampton va for analysis and repair.tow operator remarked almost all dodge dakotas towed for tranny work ended up costing $2300-$2900 for a replacement. I was lucky and only had to replace all pressure regulating valves for about $670 (funny how they all went bad at the same time but i would not argue the point since the parts were cheap compared to doing it over in a few months).dealerindicated this was a years old problem which was common to replace these transmissions and that my $600 repair was not guaranteed to prevent total failure. Dodge has not agreed to any recall to fix but should do this. Therefore, i will never own another dodge or chrysler of any sort. Upper and lower ball joints also failed at under 50,000 miles and no repair recall on this long standing problem as well. Subject on another complaint.
Dt: the contact states therenhtsa recall campaign 04v596000 concerning upper ball joints.the consumer is experienced the same problemsas indicated in the recall, but his vehicle was not included in the recall due to the model year ofvehicle.the contact has not repaired the vehicle.updated 12/27/05.
Upper and lower ball joints on the right and left sides of the vehicle were defective. While driving consumer heard a popping noise when ever making a right or left turn. Tookvehicle to the mechanic, and was told to park the vehicle because it was very dangerous.
The upper ball joints on my 1997 dodge dakota failed with only 28,000 miles on them. I replaced them myself with moog greasable ball joints. I still have the old parts.
Driving down i-55 by wilmington truck started to pull real bad to the left got off the highway next exit went straight to garage the mechanic put on the lift was able to remove the balljoint with his hand.
My 1997 dodge dakota-with 48ooo miles failed safety inspection, due to bad ball joints and unsafe steernig. During repair process i discovered that this is a common and even expected event with these vehicles (with low mileage) and also durangos. It is so commonplace that dodgerepair people expect it. Obviouosly tis is a sfatey defect and should be remedied at no cost to consumer. It willonly be a matter of time until the parts fail; and a catastrophe happens to some un suspectig driver,unless there is a recall andpermanent quality replacment of the parts.
I had to replace the lower ball joints in my 1997 dodge dakota @ 72,000 miles.i believe this failure was premature.
On feb. 21, 2005, was driving home from work with infant daughter.realized something was not right and slowed to 2 mph in 1st gear.came up on 9% grade with 4 s-type curves.entered 1st curve at 2 mph, truck ran off road, could not keep it on road.got it back on road only to completely lose control and ended up on other side of road in a parking area (stoped sideways).truck was put on rollback and sent to ramey dodge (princeton, wv) the next morning.they kept truck until that evening, could not find anything wrong. Parked truck until friday 2/25/05, father took vehicle to another mechanic to have front end alignment.was informed the wheels were ready to fall off and truck needed to be taken back to dealership on wrecker.my father drove the truck to princeton where he was told it needed upper and lower ball joints replaced on both sides. They kept my truck for almost a week.total repair bill $811.00.dad did not get ball joints that were taken off.i called back to get them and was told they had disposed of them.
While driving at any speed, the consumer heard a squeaking sound coming from the front end.the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, who examined the front end.the dealer determined that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. *sc
The consumer's vehicle had the same ball joint problem as described in the ball joint recall for the 2000-2003 model years. The consumer wants to knowwhy the 1997 model was excluded from the ball joint recall. *sc *tc
Dealer replaced upper control arm and ball joints at 35000 miles, again was replaced at 80000. Dealer knew about the problems of the ball joints, but claimed theywerestillgood and consumer could still drive although the ball jointswere worn out prematurely.
We had to replace the ball joints on our '97 dodge dakota after 49,000 miles because it became dangerous to drive our truck.this also affected the wear of our tires which we had to replace at the same time.also, the brakes have never worked right, they were replaced at just over 30,000 miles.we would like to be reimbursed for the defective ball joints we had replaced.ideally, we'd like to also be compensated for the premature wear on the tires, but realize that might be asking too much.how do we find out how to become part of the class action suit against daimler-chrysler?(it was still dodge when we bought the dakota)fortunately, my husband was aware of the danger the ball joints created and we had them replaced before an accident occurred.help!thanks for your time.*la
Badball joints on 1997 dodge dakota
I own a 1997 dodge dakota, v8 and for several months when i was turning, i experienced the terrible grinding sound from my front driver side wheel. I took it in to firestone today where they diagnosis upper and lower ball joints for all four wheels at a cost of over $1,000. The technician informed me this was common in dodge dakota's and durango's and that they are really bad. He states i could continue to drive it but worst case scenario is i'll be driving some day and the wheel could come off or lose control of the steering. I've researched the issue and found that there are thousands of complaints and daimler chrysler as yet has done nothing to correct the problem. I also note that your agency is supposed to be investigating this issue. I am waiting on your report before i pay to replace the joints although this may lead to a serious consequences on my part. When will daimler chrysler address this issue?
While driving 50 mph vehilcevibrated and wandered across the road. Vehilce was taken to a repair shop, andmechanicdetermined that both front upper ball joints were worn out and need to be replaced.
Noticed improper tire wear on the front end.took for an inspection and all ball joints were found to be in need of replacement.mechanic stated that the they could have failed at any time.
While driving at low or high speeds, a noise could be heard coming from the front of the vehicle.the dealer determined that the upper ball joints must be replaced.
Failure of upper and lower ball joints.
The front tires experienced uneven tread wear.dealership was unable to perform a front end alignment because all 4 ball joints wore out prematurely.
Consumer complained about a steering box problem.also, dealer replaced the ball joints andidler arm.consumer is keeping an eye on the fuel filler tube because it seemed to be rusted.also, brake line is also rusted.*la
I was pulling in a driveway with a slight incline at a slow speedwhen the right front wheel fell off. The lower control arm landed on the wheel keeping the truck from hitting the ground. It was theupper ball joints which failed. New upper and lower ball joints were replaced all around as all of them bad.
The vehicle is making a clicking noise and tends to shake while making turns and is at low speeds. Taken to dealer for check up, and results showed that the front upper ball joints needed to be replaced.
While driving, the consumer heard a noise coming from the front end of the vehicle.the consumer took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who replaced the upper ball joints due to deterioration.the ball joints were worn. *sc
Suspension, upper and lower ball joints replaced and shocks replaced- 60k miles.recall on 2000 and up but problem with 97 and up.
Consumer was replacing upper and lower ball joints every 35,000 miles. Also, consumer replaced the idler arm. Consumer contacted the dealer, who informed consumer that they will not warranty the suspension parts.provide further details. The consumer stated the manifold plenum gasket was leaking oil into the intake. The consumer replaced the gasket himself.
The dealership refused to perform a front end alignment because the truck's upper and lower ball joints were worn.
Upper ball joints wore out prematurly.
Upper and lower ball joints have worn prematurely (36000 miles) and are very expensive to fix. Unfortunately, it's not safe to continue driving without replacing them. Dodge needs to get a handle on this before any accidents occur.*la
Ball jointsfailed.
The contact owns a 1997 dodge dakota.the contact stated that the vehicle shifts out of gear when the 4 wheel drive feature is activated.the failure began since the time the vehicle was purchased.he called the dealer, but became ill and was unable to return the vehicle for repair before the thirty day warranty expired.the vehicle received a new state inspection in spite of the brake and ball joint issues.the contact stated that the 4 wheel drive feature disengages while driving and the upper and lower ball joints were completely worn, making the vehicle difficult to steer.the wheel hub was replaced and there was no brake lining on the rear axle.the brake cables were replaced as well.the vin, engine size, and purchase date were unknown.the current mileage is 116,000 and failure mileage was 108,000.
The consumer took the vehicle in for routine maintenance.the mechanic noticed both front upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced due to corrosion.please fill in additional information.
Dt*:the contact stated while traveling 60 mph, the steering became hard to control.the vehicle was driven to the dealership where it was determined the lower and upper ball joints needed to be replaced.there is a nhtsa recall, # 04v596000, regarding the upper ball joints.the vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however, it is not included in the recall due to the vin.
Ball joints bad on 97 dodge dakota 4x4.
I own a 1997' dodge dakota v8 long bed standard cab pick-up with only 32000 origional miles.the ball joints are bad and i have to have them replaced.i went to look up how to replace them and discovered the problem is wide spread.sears mechanics were suprised that the ball joints were so worn with so few miles on the vehicle.
There was a ball joint problem.they made a clanking sound along with a squeal.the problem was discovered when the vehicle was taken to dealer for a catalytic converter problem. *sc
While drivingvehicle would be hard to control.vehicle would jump to left or right suddenly. Dealer has replaced ball joints 9 times, and problem still exists.
Lower ball joints had to be reply at 40000 miles also all rubber seals on top and on all steering arms are gone, truck had extended warranty but they would only reply the lower joints because they were ready to fail, warranty company would not replace upper ball joints or any of the steering assembly even though they are dry and will probably fail with-inthe next 5000 miles/ truck had only 100 miles left on warranty... Also have had to have the catalitic converter repl 3 times.
While driving 55 mph vehicle pulled to the right. Vehicle was taken to a repair shop, andmechanic determined that the entire upper and the lower ball joints needed to be replaced. Also, the parts were available for analysis. Dealer was contacted.
Front endfailed. Consumer statedfront end was on the verge of collapsing. Consumer also stated that ball joints, inner and outer tie rods failed.*la
The consumer took the vehicle for in for state inspection and the mechanic informed the driver that the left and right upper and lower ball joints needed replacement due to corrosion.upper ball joints replaced by dealer at 34,000 mile.at state inspection in 2004 the upper and lower joints were replaced.manufacturer recalled this type of vehicle but only model year 2000.
Vehicle vibrated while driving.dealer replaced the left upper ball joint twice.
After reading about ball joint failure on dakotas and durango's i checked my 1997 dakota with 43000 miles and found all upper and lower ball joint seals torn open and no grease in the in the ball joint socket. There is no sign of any grease everin or around the ball joints. The joints are starting to rattle.
Dt*:the contact stated while the vehicle was having an oil change performed by the dealer, the service department determined the upper ball joints needed to be replaced.the upper ball joints were replaced and lubricated.there is a nhtsa recall, # 04v596000, regarding the upper ball joints.the vin was not included in the recall.updated 6/1/2006 -
I have a 1997 dodge dakota 2 wheel drive. All four balljoints on the front end are very prone to failure.they wear prematurely as there is no way to lubricate the parts.my wheel has not yet fell off, although the balljoints rattle and clunk because they are worn out prematurely.
My truck started to squeak up front over any bumps.my tires were also starting to go bad, even as i rotated them every 3000 miles.soon the squeak was really bad so i took it to tuffy auto.they gave me an alignment for the tire wear and said that my ball joints were causing the squeak.i replaced the upper ball joints.then about 1000 miles later i heard a horrible grinding in the front, took it to the dealer.it was a bad wheel bearing, caused by bad ball joints as described by the dealer.replaced lower ball joints, wheel bearing, and now all 4 tires as they wore badly due to the ball joint problem.total cost of 800 plus 4 tires at 130 each.i am in college with a baby as well.these costs killed my budget, and now i find out there is a recall on 2000 and up models.what a deal, seems to me the parts were the same on the 97, but no recall on them?why, and what is the reason for not including the 97?i also work at a body shop and we had a 99 dakota in a few months ago which had the brake pedal snap off, causing a total wreckage to the dakota, but he ended up fixing it as dodge stood behind the pedal.why can they not stand behind my truck?i am concerned with my parts on my truck now, are they the same ones being recalled on the 2000 and up, even though they are not being recalled on the 97?what gives?
At 28000 miles, both lower ball joints had to be replaced due to wear. Recently at 48000 when taken to get aligned, the consumer had to replace both upper ball joints due to wearing on the left side and a broken right side ball joint.
Consumer tookvehicle to an independent service dealer to have the brakes checked and the front end aligned.upon performing the front end alignment the service dealer determined that the upper ball joints were bad and needed to be replaced.the consumer was informed that the lower ball joints would need to be replaced in a year. *sc
Premature failure of ball joints & lower steering column u-joints.upper ball joints need to be replaced again.
Mechanic noticed thatupper and lower ball joints were bad, and needed to be replaced while performing a front end alignment.
1997 dodge dakota upper and lower balljoints have failed pre-maturely.i currently am experiencing loud noises from the front of the vehicle when riding over small bumps.my mechanic stated that the upper and lower balljoints need to be replace on both sides of the vehicle.i am the orginal owner of this vehicle and it has never been used off paved roads.
Have a 1997 dodge dakota 4 wheel drive, 5.2l v8.heard knocking sporadic noises in front suspension.took it to dodge dealership who informed me that ball joints need to be replaced.in doing some research this seems to be a serious and dangerous problem with dakotas.if i wouldn't have taken mine in to be looked at, it could have resulted in a serious accident.i have ask dodge for my old ball joints so that i can have them as evidence.dodge is charging about $600 for the repair.it doesn't seem fair that dodge is making money of the repair of a ball joint that shouldn't have needed it in the first place.dodge should issue a service advisory and this type of repair should be handled free of charge. *la
Dt: the contact stateddealer replaced both the upper and lower front control arm ball joints in 2003. Upon inspection this year it was discovered the ball jointsneeded to be replaced again. The vehicle had only accumulated 16,500 miles since they were last replaced. The first replacement was completed under warranty. The currentreplacement of the ball jointwill be doneat the contact'sexpense. He felttheywere defective based on the limited mileage.
While driving at any speed vehicle vibrated from the front end. Consumer took vehicle to the dealership, and mechanicdetermined that the upper ball jointsfailed.
I have a dodge dakota that is a 1997 model.i have replaced the ball joints at under 30,000 miles and i now have ones my machanic says are bad and need replaced.i was a ware of this problem before.my machanic thought it was very unusual for them to wear out so fast
I bought a 1997 dodge dakota pick/up that had 52,303 miles showing on the speedometer, the dealer said and showed me a "safety check" seal on the windshield and told me they safety check all their used cars and trucks, after finally putting 1,000 miles on the truck i noticed it was getting harder and harder to steer and control, i also started hearing a loud noise in the front end when turning. I finally took the truck to a garage and asked to check the front end, the dealer had supposedly aligned the front end at the time of purchase. To my surprise and the mechanics, when he jacked up the vehicle and went to check the ball joints, the left front wheel started to fall off, the ball joint was so worn out. This vehicle has 53,324 miles on it at present, these are actual miles, there is only 3 titles been issued for this vehicle, the original buyer (new), the dealer and my self.apparently the dealer knew the front end ball joints were worn out, a true safety check and the supposedly front end alignment they claim they did would have shown that. Also the safety check they claim they do, should have shown the ball joints were worn out. If we had been driving on the interstate and the left front wheel fell off, i dread thinking how many cars would have been involved in the wreck.the cost of replacing all 4 ball joints cost me $237.00, i am positive a dealer would have paid less to repair the vehicle prior to guaranteeing that it was a safe vehicle.in having the vehicle repaired i have found out that the dodge trucks have a history of ball joint failure, especially older models.
Need to replace upper and lower ball joints on dakota with 173,000 miles.this will be the 7th set of ball joints on this vehicle.dealer states "no other customer complaints.
Premature wear and failure of upper and lower ball joints.truck was making popping noises when you turned the wheel or went over bumps.took to local mechanic; mechanic stated that the ball joints were scary bad.mechanic also stated that if i had not brought the vehicle in the front wheels could have broken off causing the vehicle to wreck.
60,000 miles to and from work no abuse ball joints failed and ac has leak in dash,timing chain and idler pulley makes noise. Radiator leaks transmission fluid plastic tanks on radiator.
Consumer took vehicle forand inspection andit failed. Failure was due to excessive upper and lower ball joint wear.*mr
Failure of upper ball joints at approx. 80000 miles.failure identified because ofsevere front tire wear.had upper ball joints replaced, but this did not correct tire wear.took truck to another dealer, and they explained that i had to have the lower ball joints replaced also because "you never just replace the upper, you have to replace the lower one's also"this corrected the tire wear problems.the dates are estimates, i would have to search thru my records or the records of the dodge dealers for exact dates.i keep all the paper work, so a search is available if needed.vin is available, i just don't have it here at work.
During a routine inspection dealerships informedconsumer that front upper ball joints were worn out.
Upper and lower ball joints wore out prematurely. ......consumer claimed that he had a valid request after seeing notification of a recall on 2000-2003 dodge dakota trucks to replace ball joints. Asked for a reimbursement of $663.60 for replacing upper and lower ball joints.cedar rapids dodge told consumer he had replace the ball joints. They said it was a safety issue and quoted $1,126.50 to make the repair. Howeverbartosh automotive charded $663.60 to perform same work.
Ball joint failures: truck failed state inspection due to defective upper and lower ball joints or ball joint and lower control arm. Another ball joint had been replaced the previous year. All defects occurred at about 50,000 miles. This is common problem with dodge dakota and chrysler will not pay for repairs. Problem is well documented on dozens of internet sites, blogs, etc and all mechanics and state inspectors all nod knowingly about the dodge pickup. This is safety issue and failure of ball joints is not a problem in almost any car except chrysler products. How do they get away with this safety issue which can cause loss of control and crashes and at under 50,000 miles. It is time nhtsa forces dodge to recall and reimburse all costs to those already having paid for such repairs. This should be applicable for any year vehicle up to at least 100,000. I have owned over a dozen vehicles and most driven over 100,000 and one at 145,000 and one 200,000 and have never replace but oneball joint on a 1970 cutlass. Only one high mileage vehicle with cv joints but maybe no ball joints had to have a cv joint replaced. This does not speak well of chrysler/dodge.
Suspension ball joint failure.
While driving there was a popping noise in the front end, andvibrationin the steering wheel and the rear seat.state inspector noticed thatfront tires had play in them while inspecting the truck, and told the consumer that the upper ball joints needed to be replaced.
While driving at low or high speeds a noise could be heard coming from the front of the vehicle.dealer determined that the upper ball joints must be replaced.
Going down the road at 55 mph and all of a sudden i hit a pothole and the passenger side tire came right off , it is the same problem as the 2000 - 2003's have. We have pictures of it to prove it . The upper and lower ball joints let loose the cv shaft pulled outand the shock got bent. The tire turned on its side while the truck was sliding down the road sideways and i was unable to control how the truck was going.the only thing holding the tire on the truck was the brake line. The tire rim had chunks taken out of it and the tire had wear from being on its sideunder the frame of the truck while it was sliding. We had to get it flatbedded to the repair shop . We had a certified repair shop do all the necessary repairs to the truck to which included new upper and lower ball joints,new cv shaft, new rim adn tire , new shock , axle assembly,brake hose , steering gear and linkage,inner and outer tie rods and a front end alignment.this truck had just been through a nys inspection in december 2003 and passed. This accident happened on october 25, 2004 which left us without this vehicle because it was not able to be repairedimmediately we got the truck back on november 10 , 2004. We feel that chrysler should be responsible for the repair bill for this vehicle because they are admitting there is a problem the same as this to the newer models.
Truck needs heavier shocks.
While driving 45 mph steering wheel vibrated. The mechanic determined that the problem was due to thefront ball joints being worn out. The faulty ball joints resulted in bad alignmentand caused the tires to wear improperly. *sc
Consumer noticed thatfront wheel bearing were separated.bearings were beinga held on by 1 nut & brake rotor. Vehicle was making a thumping sound going 65mph.consumer found out thriugh the manufacturer that t 600,000 were on back order. Consumer purchased 1 through the dealer in stock for $150. Dealer seemed to know that it was a very common problem.
Ball jointsfailed.
While driving at any speed there will be a vibration coming fromfront ofvehicle. Consumer diagnosedproblemas a faulty left/front wheel bearing.dealership has not examinedvehicle for this problem.please provide any additional information / documentation.
Rear axle experiences noise when turning right, unable to rectify. Mjs
Threads on spindle were corroded and stripped.*mrthe consumerrequested a reimbursement for repairs made on his vehicle.
This truck is a lemon!!!! help! no safety defect mentioned in the summary.
Tires replaced due to exessive wear.
Tread came unattached from tire.( dot number: tire size: 215r75 )
Passenger tires wore out at 7,500 miles (goodyear p235/75r15), replaced again at 15000 miles. Mjs
Goodyear invicta gl p215/75r15 tires are wearing badly on the outside, causing misalignment.
Excessive outer tire wear( dot number: tire size: p22515rs )
Tires are wearing faster on the front. Have rotated three time already.( dot number: tire size: p235/70r15 )
Tires wore out excessively.(attorney for client)yh
Tires - excessive tire wear over 20,000 miles, especially at the outer edges.also,brake rotor failure (pitting) at 20.000 miles.( dot number: tire size: glp215/75r )
The cruise control (97 dakota) has proven intermittent on every long trip.four attempts by the dealer to locate and correct the problem have been unsuccessful.the cruise control quits after 1 - 3 hours.shutting the vehicle down and restarting restores normal operation for a while.the oem tires (goodyear wranglers) have poor dry and very poor wet traction and are dangerous.replaced with michelin tires, excellent now.
Uneven, excessivee wear on the outside of the front tires, even though tires were rotated approximately every 6-8,000 miles.only driven on highways.had to replace at 19,000 miles.( dot number: tire size: p215-75r15 )
The front tires experienced uneven tread wear.dealership was unable to perform a front end alignment because all 4 ball joints wore out prematurely.
Front tires excessively worn on outside edges.driver's side front tire also excessively worn on inner edge.passenger side front tire slightly worn on inner edge.all of which may cause a tire blowout.same problem on the 1991 dakota.please provide further information.
Consumer complaining that dodge manufacturer isputting regular vehicle tires on their trucks.consumer confronted dodge manufacturer, but manufacturerrefused to comment. Dealer notified.
1997 dodge dakota club cab 2 wd pickup had excessive tire wear at 25,000 miles so all tires replaced.tires had been rotated every 7,000 mi.after tire replaced took to dodge dealer for front end alignment.dealer refused because they said front ball joints needed replaced costing $900.when asked if this was unusual dealer said no and that ball joints could wear out in 10,000 miles.i called daimler chrysler to complain and they refused my request for assistance saying no problems of this type have been reported.the truck was never driven off road, never involved in an accident, only driven to work and home within 40 miles of my home.truck was never abused and i feel the ball joints (and tires) should not have worn out in this small amount of time.i am an engineer and believe there is a design or manufacturing problem that led to this premature failure.i have continued to drive the truck without replacing the ball joints yet since no one has told me there is any safety reason not to.the truck drives fine, straight, and easy. *nlm
Air conditioning--still works but at times it shuts of the upper air ducts and i have to shut it off on restart it to make it work right.engine--- makes a noise ( started at 20,000 miles) took it to a dealer they could not figure out what it was. After warranty was up told its the timing chain.at 92,000 still makes the same noisepower window-- passenger side does not workother--1. Radio (tape deck) tape deck turns the wind and rewind on by itself. Have to turn the motor off and restart to get it to quite. 2.have all kinds of wire problems, all the plastic coating comes off and wires break 3.tail light plugs won't stay plugged inpaint-- chips easily
Paint delamination
While driving there was a fire in the engine compartment. A couple of days before the fire,engine check light came on.after the ignition was turned off,on a couple of times, a code 12 was displayed on the instrument panel.a mechanic from the dealership stated that the code meant the battery was disconnected.vehicle has been totalled. Please provide any further information.
Driving at 30 mph, vehicle fish tailed, and consumer lost control of the vehicle.which resulted to roll over twice.*la*mr
Paint on roof and hood is disappearing, making the truck look horrible.
No failure described.
Please list all current problems with 1997 dodge dakota 2wd
Instrument panel is not visible when headlightsin use during daylight hours.
Instument panel light dimmer override failure.
Sudden accelerationwhen foot is removed from the brake.
Sometimes the cruise control system will not engage at any speed.then if does engage sometimes it cannot be manually turned off. When bobby gale dodge hooked the scanner up to it they had no reading and my cruise control would'nt turn on.so they replaced it with a new switch. The cruise control worked for about a week.then it started acting up again.and everytime i get ready to take the truck in it works. Thefive times that i have taking it up to the dealer ship they have been unable to solve the problem with my truck.
When car is on the engine revs up and if it is in driveit accelerates. Dealer is still waiting for parts.
The cruise control (97 dakota) has proven intermittent on every long trip.four attempts by the dealer to locate and correct the problem have been unsuccessful.the cruise control quits after 1 - 3 hours.shutting the vehicle down and restarting restores normal operation for a while.the oem tires (goodyear wranglers) have poor dry and very poor wet traction and are dangerous.replaced with michelin tires, excellent now.
On 2/27/2000 i filed a complaint with nhtsa. My problem being my transmissiom will not engage properly. When it is shifted from park to drive the vechicle may hesitate and not move then violently slam into gear. On one occasion my neice setting in the back seat head was slammed into the rear window glass as the vechicle lurched forward.i have a video tape of the transmission failing to properly engauge. I was able to reach in the back seat take the camera out of the case insert the battery film and shoot a video of the truck setting in gear then violently lurching forward. The dealer service manager said on the service order "cannot duplicate sitition. I showed him the video and he admitted i have a problembut he couldnt help me because chrysler would not reimburse him.
Headlights keep failing. Have changed headlight switch several times, but fails again. Transmission won't shift into overdrive. Cruise control is difficult to activate. Sometimes transmission won't shift from 2nd to 3rd gear
Speedometor and cruise control quit working replaced speed sensor per dealer and still not working.also seat doesn't lock in upright position on drivers side.transfer case seal went out and had to replace transfer case.i hate this truck and i couldn't give it away.
Engine is causing a "pinging" noise when accelerator pedal is pressed, causing a loss of power. Dealership examinedvehicle and determined thatpan gasket was sucking air and causing excessive burning of oil.please provide any additional information/attachments.
Two months after purchase, the brakes failed and the cruise control failed to turn off forcing driver to run off of road and crash.
On april 20,1999 regulator,oil pan,idle air control and window belt faild.(attorney for client)yh
Consumer had turned off ignition with key still in switch.vehicle failed to turn off. Would idle 2600-3200 when vehicle first turned on. Would keep stalling out if not high idling. Would keep pressing accelerator pedal to slow it down. Been to dealer at least 5 times for problem that's not solvable.
The cruise control fails after one to four hours of operation and will not re-engage, nor will the acceleration feature work.
The contact owns a 1997 dodge dakota. The contact was driving 30 mph when the heater blower malfunctioned. The contact was unable to heat the vehicle interior or utilize the defroster. The vehicle was taken in for repairs where the heater blower, motor and blower fan were replaced. The technician also added more anti-freeze to the vehicle but none of the repairs remedied the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted to report the failure. The vehicle was not further repaired. The failure mileage was 96,400.updated 3/1/11 updated 07/01/11
Fluttering noise in hvac selector box valv.
Horn is very weak, sound is not loud enough.
On april 20,1999 regulator,oil pan,idle air control and window belt faild.(attorney for client)yh
Air conditioning--still works but at times it shuts of the upper air ducts and i have to shut it off on restart it to make it work right.engine--- makes a noise ( started at 20,000 miles) took it to a dealer they could not figure out what it was. After warranty was up told its the timing chain.at 92,000 still makes the same noisepower window-- passenger side does not workother--1. Radio (tape deck) tape deck turns the wind and rewind on by itself. Have to turn the motor off and restart to get it to quite. 2.have all kinds of wire problems, all the plastic coating comes off and wires break 3.tail light plugs won't stay plugged inpaint-- chips easily
Window motor failed, window switches falling off door panel. Mjs
Glass in rearview mirrors cracked.*la
Exterior rearview mirrors are positioned so that they obstruct a driver's vision of oncoming traffic from the left and right sides. Dealer says it's normal.
The size of the side mirrors are too big and obstruct the view of the driver in the right and left side. .et.
The design of the driver's side door,causing the door to hit the windshield which causes a stress fracture.the windshield was replaced because of this incident.the windshield has cracked again because of the same. Has not been repaired.the service manager is refusing to put in a new windshield because it will not correct problem.
Wiper winter blade is not made to fit vehicle anymore, design flaw.
When traveling at highway speed in a head wind ( using full gas pedal at time the center a/c vent switchs to defrost nothing you do will re switch to center vent (you can turn off the a/c system, and when you turn it back on, it still is in defrost. No control will return a/c back to center vent) until you let off gas pedal and slow down, when this happens front windshield fogs up, blinding the drivers view of the highway. The dealers had to check the vacuum system and found no problem with the vacuum system, this is a off and on problem it will not do it all of the time, but when it starts there is no warning, i nearly had a accident while traveling back from miami to tampa.
Windshield wipers failed.nlm
Air bag light would come on/off, also windshield wipers would fall offwhen the wiper arm was used due to a defect in glass.
Wheel flaps pull away from the body of vehicle.
The contact owns a 1997 dodge dakota.the contact stated that the vehicle shifts out of gear when the 4 wheel drive feature is activated.the failure began since the time the vehicle was purchased.he called the dealer, but became ill and was unable to return the vehicle for repair before the thirty day warranty expired.the vehicle received a new state inspection in spite of the brake and ball joint issues.the contact stated that the 4 wheel drive feature disengages while driving and the upper and lower ball joints were completely worn, making the vehicle difficult to steer.the wheel hub was replaced and there was no brake lining on the rear axle.the brake cables were replaced as well.the vin, engine size, and purchase date were unknown.the current mileage is 116,000 and failure mileage was 108,000.
Right front hub was ready to break.wheel was loose when it can be wiggled. Contacted dealer, and had to replace hub.
Steering knuckle spindle assembly failed causing caliper to come loose .hub bearings on bothfrontwheel assemblys wore out.was told that this could result in wheel coming off of vehicle.
Vehicle rim experiencing hair line cracks along thebase of wheel; causing air to leaks out. Dealer notified and refuse to replace wheel unless cost go to consumer. / also vehicle wheel never was invovled in a accident....... Seeking help or additional information from nhtsa in this matter.
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