Problems · by component

2000 Dodge Dakota suspension problems

287 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2000 Dodge Dakota cite suspension, 35% of all 830 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
287
35% of all complaints
Crashes
12
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the suspension

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2000 DODGE DAKOTA EQUIPPED WITH COOPER TIRES, TIRE LINE: FUTURA, TIRE SIZE: 275/75/R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE VERY LOUD WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED HE TOOK THE TIRES TO PEPBOYS (7725 W NEWBERRY RD, GAINESVILLE, FL 32606, (352)332-6003) TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 235,100.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 23, 2021SuspensionODI 11404428
“BAD RUST ISSUE TO AREAS INCLUDING FRONT AND REAR BUMBER, THE ENTIRE BED INCLUDING MOUNTING POINTS, FENDERS, CAB CORNERS AND FRAME. LOST FENDER FLARE TWICE DUE TO RUST AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT THE ENTIRE BED SLID BACK AND ALMOST FELL OFF AND FENDERS AND BUMBERS ARE BASICALLY RUST AND NEED REPLACED, WHEEL WELLS ON BED ARE FALLING APART CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE IF I HAUL ANYTHING”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 16, 2018Suspension, Power train, StructureODI 11129717
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE CONTACT BEGAN TO HEAR A SQUEAKING NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY INFORMED THAT THE THE STEERING WHEEL FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE DEFECTIVE UPPER BALL JOINTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V596000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 9, 2011SuspensionODI 10399531
“THE BALL JOINTS IN 2000 DAKOTAS WERE RECALLED ON ONLY THE 4X4 MODELS. I HAVE A 2000 WITH 2 WHEELS DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT OUT A LETTER SAYING IT WAS RECALLED, INSPECTED IT AND SAID THEY WERE FINE. THAT WAS AT 50,000 MILES. NOW AT 99,000 THE BALL JOINT DISCONNECTED FROM ITS UNIT, CAUSING ME TO ALMOST CRASH INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT PAY FOR TOWING TO GET SEEN, AND WILL ONLY REPLACE THE BALL JOINT. MOST OF THE SUSPENSION PARTS ON THE SIDE OF THE DEFECTIVE BALL JOINT WERE DAMAGED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 24, 2009SuspensionODI 10266583
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE POPS. SHE ALSO HEARS A CLANKING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V596000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 4, 2008SuspensionODI 10240941
“PREMATURE FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE: REPLACED LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING AT 72,026 MILES; NEEDS REPLACEMENT AGAIN AT 79,505 MILES; 15 MONTHS LATER. (2000 DODGE DAKOTA: P/N: 52009528AE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 25, 2008Suspension, EquipmentODI 10219104

Showing 6 of 287 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Suspension: hub

Free remedy

SKF IS RECALLING 2,805 HUB UNITS, PART NO. BR930361, SOLD AS A SERVICE PART FOR 1997-2004 DODGE DAKOTA VEHICLES AND 1999-2003 DODGE DURANGO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2-WHEEL DRIVE & REAR AXLE ABS. DUE TO A SPECIFICATION ERROR, THE ROTOR PILOT FOR THE HUB UNIT MAY BE TOO LONG. THIS RESULTS IN THE WHEEL TO NOT BE SEATED FULLY AGAINST THE HUB FLANGE FACE DURING MOUNTING.

SuspensionReported Oct 20, 2008NHTSA 08E064000

Suspension: upper ball joint

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4X4), IF MOISTURE LEAKS INTO THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINT, EVACUATION OF THE LUBRICANT AND CORROSION OF THE JOINT MAY CAUSE THE JOINT TO WEAR OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THIS COULD CAUSE A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION, WHICH MAY NOT ALWAYS BE HEARD BY THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

SuspensionReported Dec 21, 2004NHTSA 04V596000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.