2004 Dodge Dakota suspension problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE ACCELERATING AT A LOW SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, WHILE A STOP, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, STRUTS, CONTROL ARMS, IDLE ARMS, CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH OVER A RAILROAD TRACK, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DROPPED ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,480.”

“A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE HAS THE EXACT SAME TRUCK AND HIS WHOLE TIRE FELL OFF GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. HE THANK GOD DID NOT GET HURT OR HURT ANYONE ELSE IN THE PROSESS. HE TOLD ME THAT IN 2004 THEIR WAS A RECALL ON THE BALL JOINTS OF THIS VEHICLE. I BOUGHT MY TRUCK FROM A PRIVATE OWNER AND DO NOT HAVE A RECALL NOTICE OF MY OWN, IS THERE A WAY NOW THAT I AM THE 2ND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE THAT I CAN STILL HAVE THIS RECALL BE TAKEN CARE OF AT A DEALERSHIP BEING THAT IT IS UNDER 10 YEARS WITHIN THE RECALL TIME LIMIT. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE WHAT HAPPENED TO MY FRIEND HAPPEN TO ME. THANK YOU. *TR”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN THEN UNEXPECTEDLY THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL COLLAPSED DUE TO A FRACTURED BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CEMENT POST IN A PARKING LOT. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V596000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT); HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”

“STEERING ON MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA BECAME HARD TO STEER WON'T RETRACT HAVE TO DO IT BY HAND. ABOUT SIX MONTHS BEFORE THIS STARTED HAPPENING I HAD WENT TO GET A ALIGNMENT AND WAS TOLD MY UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACED. WE BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW AND IT HAS WORN OUT EVERY FRONT TIRE THAT HAS EVER BEEN ON IT. 4 SETS BY 100,000 MILES THIS BEGAN TO HAPPEN AT 25,000 MILES THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE FRONT END, NO VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BAD BALL JOINTS AT 85,000 MILES OR SOONER BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS WEARING TIRES OUT BECAUSE IT NEEDED A ALIGNMENT!!!! I HAVE NOT REPAIRED IT , WE ONLY DRIVE IT AROUND TOWN, I AM WAITING FOR CHRYSLER TO RECALL THIS. I SEE ON THIS SITE THAT SEVERAL OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD HOPE CHRYSLER DON'T WAIT UNTIL PEOPLE ARE KILLED OR INJURED LIKE TOYOTA DID!!!! *TR”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY FOR AN ALIGNMENT WHEN THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE SEVERELY WORN TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO PERFORM AN ALIGNMENT. THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE CAUSING THE TIRES TO WEAR UNEVENLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,700.”