2001 Dodge Dakota steering problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE A GEAR WAS LOOSE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME, WHERE THE TIE ROD AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.”

“STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAS ALOT OF PLAY GETS WORSE ON HIGHER SPEEDS FOUND TO BE THE UNIVERSAL JOINT ON THE SHAFT SHOULD BE A RECALL VERY DANGEROUS CAN CAUSE LOSE OF CONTROL. *TR”

“THE STEERING IN MY 2001 DAKOTA QUAD-CAB HAS BECOME VERY STIFF TO TURN. IT COMES AND GOES, BUT CONCERNS ME SINCE MY WIFE SOMETIMES DRIVES MY TRUCK AND I'M NOT SURE IF SHE COULD TURN THE WHEEL IF SHE NEEDED TO IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IS THE CULPRIT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR”

“LOWER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT HAS A BUSHING THAT FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. TRUCK VEERED INTO A DITCH AT 30MPH. I CALLED DEALERSHIP TO PURCHASE THIS PART AND FOUND OUT THAT IT IS ON A BACKORDER OF OVER 100. WENT TO SEVERAL AUTO RECYCLERS AND USED PARTS STORES AND FOUND THAT EVEN THEY HAVE THE PART BACKORDERED. THIS SHOWS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE IF THERE ARE SEVERAL BACKORDERS AND THE PARTS IS A REQUIRED TO SAFELY OPERATE THE VEHICLE. I AM SURPRISED THAT THERE ARE NO ACTIVE RECALLS ON THIS ITEM. *TR”

“INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ON THE STEERING COLUMN NEAREST THE STEERING BOX HAS UNIVERSAL JOINT THAT FAILED. CAUSED INTERMITTENT STICKINESS IN STEERING, BEFORE JOINT COMPLETELY FAILED. *TR”