This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Brakes came apart when applied, no brake. Rattle on rotors, pad damage. Bolts that go through caliper stripped threads from spindle freeing caliper to bounce on rotor I have replaced with used part once hoping for recall, bad news dude!!!
Nouse coming from the front of the truck every time you hit a bump. Mechanic said all the ball joints were bad.he said they should be recalled, there was no place to grease them causing them to rust and wear out.bad cheap way Dodge makes there vehicles. What happen to the days when Dodge made good safe cars and trucks.
The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the lower ball joints for the front suspension fractured without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed by the dealer. The contact stated that the parts to repair the vehicle were no longer available. The vehicle was not able to be repaired. The contact purchased a lower control arm to repair the vehicle; however, it did not correct the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.
Pulled out of driveway and started down street could not control vehicle. The 1999 Dodge Dakota R/T started screeching. I immediately applied the brake to see what was problem and the vehicle veered to the right. I was able to stop the vehicle in the middle of the street but could not turn the vehicle's wheel except on one side. I got out of vehicle and noticed that the front passenger wheel was turned towards the right while the left wheel was straight. I looked underneath vehicle and observed the lower control arm on right side of vehicle was broke from the frame or weld. The control arm was hanging from the frame of the vehicle broken away from the weld. I also have pics of the lower control arm break.
I got the '99 Dakota about 7 months ago and liked it drove pretty good even through the week when it was all single digits no problem. Then once it started to warm up into the mid to high teens and up to then 60S and 70 it would shake at least twice a week. It always seemed to start at about 45 then once the engine warmed up it would stop. That stopped now that its in the 80S and 90S. Now I barely have power steering and looking at it, it seems to be the intermediate steering column shaft which looking at all the complaints I'm surprised you haven't looked into it for it to be recalled by now along with the tie rods, ball joints, etc. These things seem to be falling apart at the front. I just hope nobody dies before this is fixed.
- Ulster, PA, USA
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Faulty weld at front lower control arm[rt side] control arm weld failed from inadequate penetration nearly resulting in loss of wheel and crash. No evidence of any damage to any other part of vehicle to cause weld failure.
Premature ball joint failure resulting in extensive repair costs, premature transmission failure resulting in replacement of transmission, excessive oil sludge build up causing loss of oil pressure, possible damage to engine.
Caliper bolts separating from spindle causing caliper to fall on to brake rotor. Loss of braking to wheel, difficulty steering vehicle. Spindle (steering knuckle) had to be drilled out and re tapped and threaded. Heli coils (9M) installed to hold caliper bolts. New calipers and rotors installed. Further inspection determined that upper ball joint failed. All ball joints will be replaced since the upper ones are not serviceable and I do not trust the lower ones. There has been no recalls for model year 1999 Dakota however there are several tsb's #050399, 0200600 and several thousand complaints on the internet. Why hasn't this safety issue been addressed by the NHTSA?
The Dodge Dakota, 1999 model, has a recall given to the ball joints that were installed during the manufacturing process. I own the Dodge Dakota, 1999 model. Also my ball joints have gone bad leading to uneven tire wear. These original ball joints also have no grease fittings for regular greasing. I have already spent countless hours replacing faulty parts going bad on my Dodge Dakota. I will not continue. I expect to get some kind of reply back on how we can work something out to replace the faulty ball joints on my Dodge Dakota. Especially when there is a recall on them. Thank you christopher perrone
Ball joints failed on vehicle. One ball joint broke and took out the brakes. Was on freeway when heard clunking noise. Got off freeway and had the vehicle towed. Dealer said that I could have been killed if I would have continued driving.
Front and rear suspension- all 4 ball joints worn and causing the suspension to shift when driving. When the suspension shifted, it was pulling/pinching the brakeline causing erractic brake function.
The front end started making popping and other metallic sounding noises at slow speeds. When I raised it up and looked, the rubber boots on the ball joints were in tatters! I went to replace them and have been told that they are a "dealer item" and that daimler-Chrysler only provides a whole upper and lower control arms with ball joint for replacement as a whole unit. While I have nearly 45 years of automotive service background this is a travisty of the N'th degree!. you produce a defective unit and then screw the poor slob who bought one by making him pay an arm and a leg to replace a whole control arm that only has a bad ball joint on the end of it.
Vehicle was brought to a mechanic for intermittent brake noise. While checking vehicle brakes, mechanic noticed both lower ball joints nearly pulled through spindle. Upper joints were visibly loose with excessive movement (factory spec is.060"; mechanic found.125"). vehicle had steered and driven normally but could have had major suspension failure without giving any sign to operator that there is a potentially dangerous issue. Vehicle has 'low' (65K) miles for seven year old vehicle and is well maintained. Failed joints are not serviceable-sealed for life- a very short life, and cannot be lubricated. Design of suspension components' is poor resulting in wear that is excessive. No warning that failure is imminent causing potentially catastrophic results. All four ball joints were replaced.
Dodge Dakota 1999 numerous problems with vehicle ball joint and steering mechanisms. There were also problems with the rear end, transmission, engine malfunction lights, poor engine performance which consisted of hesitation and loss of power especially when under a load-going up and hill and seemed to get worse as the gas level in the tank lowered, hard abrupt shifting when in reverse and park to reverse, loud rubbing which was intermittent when making left turns and when stopping, the front would shake, the four wheel drive light was not visible on the dash when activated and would only show when the all wheel drive was activated, and there was a wobble, flexing and or vibration that would be present when braking along with a loose feeling or wobble when turning the front wheels.
Vehicle encountered failure of right front ball joint which resulted in failure of wheel bearing and brake rotor. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who indicated that the ball joint had failed as a result of the failure of the wheel bearing. The consumer does believe that the technicians account of the failures was accurate.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Schuylerville, NY, USA