Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Dodge Dakota submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 142 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 142, in the owner's own words
PREMATURE WEAR AND FAILURE OF UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. TRUCK WAS MAKING POPPING NOISES WHEN YOU TURNED THE WHEEL OR WENT OVER BUMPS. TOOK TO LOCAL MECHANIC; MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE SCARY BAD. MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT IF I HAD NOT BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN THE FRONT WHEELS COULD HAVE BROKEN OFF CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO WRECK. *JS
DUE TO POOR CHOICE OF MATERIALS (I ASSUME) THE FRONT HUB AND SPINDLE ASSEMBLY WEARS. LEAVING FRONT BRAKE SLIDER PINS UNATTACHED TO CALIPER MOUNTING PLATE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE FRONT CALIPER WOBBLES IN IT'S PLACE, POSSIBLY EJECTING THE SLIDEPINS BECAUSE THEY "WOBBLE" IN THE KNUCKLE HOLES DESIGNED TO RETAIN THEM. THIS CAUSES EXCESS WEAR ON THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY, INCREASED WEAR IN BRAKES, AND STRESS ON THE HUB BEARINGS. HAVING READ THE "ALLDATA" DATA BASE, THERE IS A REDESIGNED KNUCKLE WITH IMPROVED SLIDE PIN SUPPORTS. THERE ALSO IS A REPAIR KIT INVOLVING THE USAGE OF "HELI-COIL" INSERTS TO SECURE BRAKE PAD CARRIER TO SPINDLE ASSEMBLY. (SLIDE PINS) I FEEL TOTALLY UNSAFE WITH THIS ARRANGEMENT. I PREFER TO HAVE THE RE-DESIGNED SPINDLE ASSEMBLIES INSTALLED FOR FREE BY DEALER WITH UP-DATED PART NUMBERS. THE DEALER WANTS $1000 PER SIDE FOR THE REDESIGNED UNITS. I THINK THIS IS ABSURD. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL. THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE BRAKE ASSEMBLIES IN PLACE IS THE WHEEL, ITSELF!! *TR
THE BALL JOINTS ON MY 97 DODGE DAKOTA ARE WORN OUT. APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND SUPPOSEDLY THERE IS A RECALL IN EFFECT FOR NEWER DAKOTAS AS THOUGH THE PROBLEM DIDN'T START UNTIL AFTER 1997. THIS IS A FAULTY PART FROM THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND ITS REPAIR (AMONGST THE MANY OTHER MANUFACTURING FAULT REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE) IS RUINING ME FINANCIALLY IN THIS ECONOMY. I SHOULD NOT BE HELD FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR A CAR MAKERS INEPT MANUFACTURING. *TR
MY BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS WERE GOING BAD AT 54,000 MILES. DODGE WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. ALSO, MY TRANSMISSION STARTED TO GO BAD AT 74,000 MILES. 2ND GEAR WENT OUT, THEN IT WENT COMPLETELY OUT AT 91,000 MILES. OBVIOUSLY DODGE WASN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I WONT BUY ANOTHER DODGE AGAIN. *TR
BALL JOINT FAILURES: TRUCK FAILED STATE INSPECTION DUE TO DEFECTIVE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS OR BALL JOINT AND LOWER CONTROL ARM. ANOTHER BALL JOINT HAD BEEN REPLACED THE PREVIOUS YEAR. ALL DEFECTS OCCURRED AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES. THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH DODGE DAKOTA AND CHRYSLER WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIRS. PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON DOZENS OF INTERNET SITES, BLOGS, ETC AND ALL MECHANICS AND STATE INSPECTORS ALL NOD KNOWINGLY ABOUT THE DODGE PICKUP. THIS IS SAFETY ISSUE AND FAILURE OF BALL JOINTS IS NOT A PROBLEM IN ALMOST ANY CAR EXCEPT CHRYSLER PRODUCTS. HOW DO THEY GET AWAY WITH THIS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND CRASHES AND AT UNDER 50,000 MILES. IT IS TIME NHTSA FORCES DODGE TO RECALL AND REIMBURSE ALL COSTS TO THOSE ALREADY HAVING PAID FOR SUCH REPAIRS. THIS SHOULD BE APPLICABLE FOR ANY YEAR VEHICLE UP TO AT LEAST 100,000. I HAVE OWNED OVER A DOZEN VEHICLES AND MOST DRIVEN OVER 100,000 AND ONE AT 145,000 AND ONE 200,000 AND HAVE NEVER REPLACE BUT ONE BALL JOINT ON A 1970 CUTLASS. ONLY ONE HIGH MILEAGE VEHICLE WITH CV JOINTS BUT MAYBE NO BALL JOINTS HAD TO HAVE A CV JOINT REPLACED. THIS DOES NOT SPEAK WELL OF CHRYSLER/DODGE. *TR
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 50,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO BOG DOWN WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES IT WOULD ONLY GO ABOUT 5 MPH WHILE REVING ABOUT 3500 RPM. PAID FOR TOW TO DODGE DEALER IN HAMPTON VA FOR ANALYSIS AND REPAIR. TOW OPERATOR REMARKED ALMOST ALL DODGE DAKOTAS TOWED FOR TRANNY WORK ENDED UP COSTING $2300-$2900 FOR A REPLACEMENT. I WAS LUCKY AND ONLY HAD TO REPLACE ALL PRESSURE REGULATING VALVES FOR ABOUT $670 (FUNNY HOW THEY ALL WENT BAD AT THE SAME TIME BUT I WOULD NOT ARGUE THE POINT SINCE THE PARTS WERE CHEAP COMPARED TO DOING IT OVER IN A FEW MONTHS). DEALER INDICATED THIS WAS A YEARS OLD PROBLEM WHICH WAS COMMON TO REPLACE THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND THAT MY $600 REPAIR WAS NOT GUARANTEED TO PREVENT TOTAL FAILURE. DODGE HAS NOT AGREED TO ANY RECALL TO FIX BUT SHOULD DO THIS. THEREFORE, I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER DODGE OR CHRYSLER OF ANY SORT. UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ALSO FAILED AT UNDER 50,000 MILES AND NO REPAIR RECALL ON THIS LONG STANDING PROBLEM AS WELL. SUBJECT ON ANOTHER COMPLAINT. *TR
BALL JOINT FAILURE.........HAD TO REPLACE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS IN MARCH 2005, AND NOW IN DECEMBER 2007, I AM HAVING TO REPLACE UPPER BALL JOINTS AGAIN. BALL JOINTS IN 1997 DODGE DAKOTA ARE A DEFECTIVE DESIGN, AND WEAR OUT TOO QUICKLY. *TR
DURING 200, SQUEAK IN FRONT END BECAME LOUDER AND LOUDER. HAD TO HAVE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT. TRUCK HAD 95,000 MILES. 2 YEARS LATE SAME PROBLEM WITH SQUEAK IN FRONT END BECAME LOUDER AND LOUDER. NEEDED TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED AGAIN. ONLY ABOUT 10,000 MILES ON TRUCK THIS TIME. *AK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTS OUT OF GEAR WHEN THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE FEATURE IS ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE BEGAN SINCE THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. HE CALLED THE DEALER, BUT BECAME ILL AND WAS UNABLE TO RETURN THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR BEFORE THE THIRTY DAY WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE RECEIVED A NEW STATE INSPECTION IN SPITE OF THE BRAKE AND BALL JOINT ISSUES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE FEATURE DISENGAGES WHILE DRIVING AND THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE COMPLETELY WORN, MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE WHEEL HUB WAS REPLACED AND THERE WAS NO BRAKE LINING ON THE REAR AXLE. THE BRAKE CABLES WERE REPLACED AS WELL. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 116,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
I BOUGHT A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA PICK/UP THAT HAD 52,303 MILES SHOWING ON THE SPEEDOMETER, THE DEALER SAID AND SHOWED ME A "SAFETY CHECK" SEAL ON THE WINDSHIELD AND TOLD ME THEY SAFETY CHECK ALL THEIR USED CARS AND TRUCKS, AFTER FINALLY PUTTING 1,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK I NOTICED IT WAS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO STEER AND CONTROL, I ALSO STARTED HEARING A LOUD NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING. I FINALLY TOOK THE TRUCK TO A GARAGE AND ASKED TO CHECK THE FRONT END, THE DEALER HAD SUPPOSEDLY ALIGNED THE FRONT END AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. TO MY SURPRISE AND THE MECHANICS, WHEN HE JACKED UP THE VEHICLE AND WENT TO CHECK THE BALL JOINTS, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL STARTED TO FALL OFF, THE BALL JOINT WAS SO WORN OUT. THIS VEHICLE HAS 53,324 MILES ON IT AT PRESENT, THESE ARE ACTUAL MILES, THERE IS ONLY 3 TITLES BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS VEHICLE, THE ORIGINAL BUYER (NEW), THE DEALER AND MY SELF. APPARENTLY THE DEALER KNEW THE FRONT END BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT, A TRUE SAFETY CHECK AND THE SUPPOSEDLY FRONT END ALIGNMENT THEY CLAIM THEY DID WOULD HAVE SHOWN THAT. ALSO THE SAFETY CHECK THEY CLAIM THEY DO, SHOULD HAVE SHOWN THE BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. IF WE HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF, I DREAD THINKING HOW MANY CARS WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE WRECK. THE COST OF REPLACING ALL 4 BALL JOINTS COST ME $237.00, I AM POSITIVE A DEALER WOULD HAVE PAID LESS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO GUARANTEEING THAT IT WAS A SAFE VEHICLE. IN HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE DODGE TRUCKS HAVE A HISTORY OF BALL JOINT FAILURE, ESPECIALLY OLDER MODELS. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING AN OIL CHANGE PERFORMED BY THE DEALER, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AND LUBRICATED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V596000, REGARDING THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 6/1/2006 - *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME HARD TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V596000, REGARDING THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V596000 CONCERNING UPPER BALL JOINTS. THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE MODEL YEAR OF VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB
SUSPENSION, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED AND SHOCKS REPLACED - 60K MILES. RECALL ON 2000 AND UP BUT PROBLEM WITH 97 AND UP. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT STATED DEALER REPLACED BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS IN 2003. UPON INSPECTION THIS YEAR IT WAS DISCOVERED THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY ACCUMULATED 16,500 MILES SINCE THEY WERE LAST REPLACED. THE FIRST REPLACEMENT WAS COMPLETED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CURRENT REPLACEMENT OF THE BALL JOINT WILL BE DONE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. HE FELT THEY WERE DEFECTIVE BASED ON THE LIMITED MILEAGE.*AK
AFTER READING ABOUT BALL JOINT FAILURE ON DAKOTAS AND DURANGO'S I CHECKED MY 1997 DAKOTA WITH 43000 MILES AND FOUND ALL UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT SEALS TORN OPEN AND NO GREASE IN THE IN THE BALL JOINT SOCKET. THERE IS NO SIGN OF ANY GREASE EVER IN OR AROUND THE BALL JOINTS. THE JOINTS ARE STARTING TO RATTLE. *JB
OCT. '04 BROUGHT TRUCK IN FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND WAS TOLD THE CONTROL ARM AND UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACING AT A COST OF $1,000. FOR SAFETY I HAD THE FRONT END FIXED. YOU HAVE ORDERED RECALLS FOR SIMILAR FAILURES IN THE 2000-03 DAKOTAS. THE 1997'S HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM
THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON MY 1997 DODGE DAKOTA FAILED WITH ONLY 28,000 MILES ON THEM. I REPLACED THEM MYSELF WITH MOOG GREASABLE BALL JOINTS. I STILL HAVE THE OLD PARTS. *NM
BADBALL JOINTS ON 1997 DODGE DAKOTA
THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR IN FOR STATE INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO CORROSION. *NM UPPER BALL JOINTS REPLACED BY DEALER AT 34,000 MILE. AT STATE INSPECTION IN 2004 THE UPPER AND LOWER JOINTS WERE REPLACED. MANUFACTURER RECALLED THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE BUT ONLY MODEL YEAR 2000. *BF *NM
ON FEB. 21, 2005, WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WITH INFANT DAUGHTER. REALIZED SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT AND SLOWED TO 2 MPH IN 1ST GEAR. CAME UP ON 9% GRADE WITH 4 S-TYPE CURVES. ENTERED 1ST CURVE AT 2 MPH, TRUCK RAN OFF ROAD, COULD NOT KEEP IT ON ROAD. GOT IT BACK ON ROAD ONLY TO COMPLETELY LOSE CONTROL AND ENDED UP ON OTHER SIDE OF ROAD IN A PARKING AREA (STOPED SIDEWAYS). TRUCK WAS PUT ON ROLLBACK AND SENT TO RAMEY DODGE (PRINCETON, WV) THE NEXT MORNING. THEY KEPT TRUCK UNTIL THAT EVENING, COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. PARKED TRUCK UNTIL FRIDAY 2/25/05, FATHER TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC TO HAVE FRONT END ALIGNMENT. WAS INFORMED THE WHEELS WERE READY TO FALL OFF AND TRUCK NEEDED TO BE TAKEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP ON WRECKER. MY FATHER DROVE THE TRUCK TO PRINCETON WHERE HE WAS TOLD IT NEEDED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES. THEY KEPT MY TRUCK FOR ALMOST A WEEK. TOTAL REPAIR BILL $811.00. DAD DID NOT GET BALL JOINTS THAT WERE TAKEN OFF. I CALLED BACK TO GET THEM AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD DISPOSED OF THEM.
THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD ENDS WORE OUT COMPLETELY. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE WHEELS WILL FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING. *AK *NM
CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE FRONT END SUSPENSIONS THREE TIMES DUE TO WEAR.*AK
AT 28000 MILES, BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WEAR. RECENTLY AT 48000 WHEN TAKEN TO GET ALIGNED, THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS DUE TO WEARING ON THE LEFT SIDE AND A BROKEN RIGHT SIDE BALL JOINT. *JB
A KNOCKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DROVE TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *JB *SC
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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