2000 Dodge Dakota steering problems

“IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED. I HAVE RECEIVED A SECOND OPINION AND HAVE BEEN TOLD INTERMEDIATE DRIVE SHAFT NEEDS TO REPLACED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND AM TOTALLY CONFUSED AS TO WHY CHRYSTAL HAS NOT YET ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS FAULTY PART, IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR MANY DODGE OWNERS. ALL NHTSA NEEDS TO DO IS SEARCH IT ONLINE. SO MANY COMPLAINTS AND YET NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN. I HAVE WRITTEN/ EMAILED TO DODGE CORP. AND WAS TOLD THAT RECALLS NEED TO BE PROCESSED THROUGH NHTSA. PLEASE ANYONE ELSE HAVING THIS PROBLEM FILE A COMPLAINT SO DODGE WILL FINALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BRAKE TUBE AND THE POWER STEERING HOSE, WHICH CAUSED THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO BECOME PUNCTURED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V193000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.”

“UNIVERSAL IN THE SHAFT WEARS OUT AND CAUSES EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL,AND COULD BREAK. HAD TO BUY A NEW SHAFT OFF EBAY,THAT DODGE HAS SINCE IMPROVED. *TR”

“I OWNED 2000 DODGE INTREPID 3.2L VEHICLE(MILEAGE-106000). STEERING WHEEL LOF MY VEHICLE LOST ITS CONTROL ON WHEELS,WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON I75(TRYING TO CHANGE LANE).I HEARD CRUNKING SOUND AND SOMEHOW MANGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER.I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO MAINTAINENCE SHOP AND CAME TO KNOW THAT RACK AND PINION SYSTEM GOT BROKE DOWN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.I WAS REALLY LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE SAVED. HOW CAN I TRUST THIS VEHICLE LATER ON,EVEN THOUGH I REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM.I FOUND SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE ON THIS MODEL VEHICLE IN THIS WEBSITE.MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE DEFECTS? IF THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T TAKE NECESSARY ACTION IT WOULD LEADS TO FATAL ACCIDENTS IN FUTURE.”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION, BALL JOINTS, AND TIRE ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC PERFORMED THE REPAIR. APPROXIMATELY FOUR YEARS LATER, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 85,100 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,400.”

“NOISE FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND VIBRATION FROM STEERING WHEEL. SOUNDS AS IF POWER STEERING PUMP WAS LOW ON FLUID. MAKES A LOAD NOISE WHEN STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. DROVE SHORT DISTANCE TO REPAIR FACILITY AND WAS SHOCKED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE HOSES HAD SPLIT. ALSO THE RACK AND PINION STEERING WILL HAVE TO BE REBUILT IF POSSIBLE IF NOT REPLACED. ALSO A BOOT WAS TORN AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. WORK HAS NOT BEEN STARTED AS I FIND IT IS NECESSARY TO GET MORE THAN ONE ESTIMATE. THE LOCAL GARAGE WANTS IN EXCESS OF $1200 FOR THE REPAIRS WHILE THE DEALER WANTS OVER $2000. APPROXIMATELY 12 MONTHS AGO I HAD THE UPPER BALL JOINTS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND HAD TO GET A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AT AN EXTRA CHARGE. NO VISUAL SIGNS OF WEAR WAS NOTICED. *JB”