1998 Dodge Dakota steering problems

“THIS CAR HAS BEEN A SAFETY NIGHTMARE. FROM STEEL BRAKE LINES RUSTING THROUGH (AND THE VEHICLE LOSING IT BRAKES), TO UPPER BALL JOINTS ALMOST SEPARATING TO STEERING WHEEL DRIVE SHAFTS WHERE THE U-JOINTS ALMOST SEPARATED. THESE ARE NOT ITEMS THAT SHOULD FAIL LIKE THIS. I SPENT PART OF MY CAREER LOOKING AFTER GLOBAL PRODUCT LIABILITY FOR CUMMINS ENGINE AND I AM STUNNED AT THE POOR QUALITY CHRYSLER HAS USED IN CRITICAL COMPONENTS.”

“I OWN A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING. THE STEERING WAS LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC WHO SHOWED ME THAT MY INTERMEDIATE STEERING LINKAGE WAS FAILING AND COULD COME APART, CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN DAKOTAS AND DURANGOS. I CHECKED WITH THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. AND WAS TOLD THAT IT HAPPENED SO OFTEN THAT THEY COULDN'T KEEP THE PART IN STOCK. SALVAGE YARDS DON'T EVEN LIKE TO SELL THIS PART USED BECAUSE THEY FAIL. I CHECKED WITH CHRYSLER/DODGE AND THERE IS NO RECALL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. DODGE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I'VE READ STORIES ON THE NET FROM OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR THANK YOU”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE FELT A LOT OF PLAY IN HIS STEERING WHEEL AND IT WOULD NOT LOCK IN PLACE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. HE ALSO HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE NOISE COULD ALSO BE HEARD WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MOVED BACK AND FORTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW STEERING COLUMN/ARMATURE DUE TO THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 80,000.”

“I AM THE OWNER OF A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. WHEN I BROUGHT IN THIS VEHICLE FOR THE MANDATORY SAFETY INSPECTION IN 2006 I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE MANIFOLD BOLTS HAD BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE VEHICLE TO PASS THE SAFETY INSPECTION. WITHOUT REPLACING THE BOLTS IT WOULD BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. COST TO ME WAS $561.18. I HAD THE REQUIRED SAFETY WORK COMPLETED. THIS YEAR I BROUGHT THE SAME VEHICLE IN FOR THE REQUIRED SAFETY INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE WARN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS THE SAFETY INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE HAS 63,736 MILES ON IT. I TALKED WITH SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT BALL JOINTS SHOULD BE WARN OUT AT THIS LOW MILEAGE. I ALSO WENT TO THE CONSUMERS AFFAIRS COMMISSION WEB SITE AND THERE WAS NUMEROUS ARTICLES REGARDING THE PROBLEMS WITH THE DODGE DAKOTAS SUSPENSION AND STEERING ASSEMBLIES. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE DEFECTS WITH THESE PARTS. ANY HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED. *NM”

“STEERING COLUMN STARTED MAKING A CLICKING NOISE AS THE WHEEL WAS TURNED. DEALER STATED THAT THE LOCKING MECHANISM WAS FAILING AND COULD EASILY LEAD TO A CATASTROPHIC AND SUDDEN LOCKING OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED. *NM”

“AFTER READING ABOUT STEERING PROBLEMS IN DODGE VEHICLES, I HAVE HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME. I PURCHASED MY '98 DODGE DAKOTA FROM 5 CORNERS DODGE AT 1292 HIGHWAY 143, CEDARBURG, WISCONSIN 53012. *09 DEC '97 I TOOK MY TRUCK IN FOR "CUSTOMER STATES THAT WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS THERE IS S JARRING THAT COMES THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL" - REPLACE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT - N/C. *23 JULY '99 - "CHECK NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS FROM DRIVE TRAIN" - FRONT PROPELLER SHAFT BALL SOCKET INSUFFICIENT LUBE NOISY 16300100 DRIVELINE/PROPELLER SHAFTS, REMOVE INSPECT WHEELS, BRAKES, UNIVERSOLA, REPAIR/LUBE FRONT SHAFT BALL SOCKET JOINT AND REINSTALL -N/C. *07 JULY 2003 - "GRINDING NOISE FROM DRIVERS SIDE FRONT END AREA" - 2200 REPLACE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING/HUB ASSY, 219 REPLACE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS-BOTH SIDES, 2WT 2 WHEEL TRUCK ALIGNMENT, 52165 TEST DRIVE AND INSP REPLACE FAILED LF BEARING ASSY REPLACE BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS REPLACE BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS 2WHEEL TRUCK ALIGN - $1095.12!!!! I BROUGHT ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM FROM THE BEGINNING AND BY THE TIME IT WAS FINALLY FIXED, IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. CAN YOU HELP ME, IN ANY WAY? THANK YOU, DON GRUELL. *JB”