1997 Dodge Dakota Tires & wheels Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINENTAL TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TREAD FROM ONE OF THE TIRES BEGAN TO STRIKE THE DOOR AND FRONT FENDER OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE COMPLETELY SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE. THE REMAINDER OF THE TIRES REMAINED INFLATED. THE CONTACT DID NOT DRIVE OR ANY POTHOLES OR OTHER ROAD HAZARDS TO CAUSE THE FAILURE. HE TOOK THE TIRE BACK TO THE STORE FROM WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED FOR FREE. THE TIRE SIZE, TIRE LINE, AND REMAINING TREAD DEPTH WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,408. UPDATED 03/17/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. UPDATED 03/17/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10260028

Incident

Jan 14, 2009

Mileage

90,408 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10194310

Incident

Apr 2, 2007

Mileage

108,000 mi

THE FRONT TIRES EXPERIENCED UNEVEN TREAD WEAR. DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM A FRONT END ALIGNMENT BECAUSE ALL 4 BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10053368

Incident

Jan 2, 2004

Mileage

78,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH TRANSFER CASE LOCKED UP AND BROKE INTO THREE PIECES. VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10038560

1997 DODGE DAKOTA CLUB CAB 2 WD PICKUP HAD EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR AT 25,000 MILES SO ALL TIRES REPLACED. TIRES HAD BEEN ROTATED EVERY 7,000 MI. AFTER TIRE REPLACED TOOK TO DODGE DEALER FOR FRONT END ALIGNMENT. DEALER REFUSED BECAUSE THEY SAID FRONT BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACED COSTING $900. WHEN ASKED IF THIS WAS UNUSUAL DEALER SAID NO AND THAT BALL JOINTS COULD WEAR OUT IN 10,000 MILES. I CALLED DAIMLER CHRYSLER TO COMPLAIN AND THEY REFUSED MY REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE SAYING NO PROBLEMS OF THIS TYPE HAVE BEEN REPORTED. THE TRUCK WAS NEVER DRIVEN OFF ROAD, NEVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, ONLY DRIVEN TO WORK AND HOME WITHIN 40 MILES OF MY HOME. TRUCK WAS NEVER ABUSED AND I FEEL THE BALL JOINTS (AND TIRES) SHOULD NOT HAVE WORN OUT IN THIS SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME. I AM AN ENGINEER AND BELIEVE THERE IS A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING PROBLEM THAT LED TO THIS PREMATURE FAILURE. I HAVE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE TRUCK WITHOUT REPLACING THE BALL JOINTS YET SINCE NO ONE HAS TOLD ME THERE IS ANY SAFETY REASON NOT TO. THE TRUCK DRIVES FINE, STRAIGHT, AND EASY. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10010191

Incident

Nov 10, 2002

Mileage

24,000 mi

TREAD CAME UNATTACHED FROM TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 215R75 )

NHTSA ID

728164

Incident

Aug 15, 2000

THIS TRUCK IS A LEMON!!!! HELP! NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID

725172

Incident

Jan 1, 1998

BRAKES WORN OUT PREMATURELY.(ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)YH

NHTSA ID

551031

Incident

Oct 4, 1997

THE CRUISE CONTROL (97 DAKOTA) HAS PROVEN INTERMITTENT ON EVERY LONG TRIP. FOUR ATTEMPTS BY THE DEALER TO LOCATE AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CRUISE CONTROL QUITS AFTER 1 - 3 HOURS. SHUTTING THE VEHICLE DOWN AND RESTARTING RESTORES NORMAL OPERATION FOR A WHILE. THE OEM TIRES (GOODYEAR WRANGLERS) HAVE POOR DRY AND VERY POOR WET TRACTION AND ARE DANGEROUS. REPLACED WITH MICHELIN TIRES, EXCELLENT NOW. *AK

NHTSA ID

717032

EXCESSIVE OUTER TIRE WEAR( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P22515RS )

NHTSA ID

714360

Incident

Jun 4, 1999

UNEVEN, EXCESSIVEE WEAR ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRONT TIRES, EVEN THOUGH TIRES WERE ROTATED APPROXIMATELY EVERY 6-8,000 MILES. ONLY DRIVEN ON HIGHWAYS. HAD TO REPLACE AT 19,000 MILES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215-75R15 )

NHTSA ID

707674

FRONT TIRES EXCESSIVELY WORN ON OUTSIDE EDGES. DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE ALSO EXCESSIVELY WORN ON INNER EDGE. PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE SLIGHTLY WORN ON INNER EDGE. ALL OF WHICH MAY CAUSE A TIRE BLOWOUT. SAME PROBLEM ON THE 1991 DAKOTA. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

838421

Incident

May 10, 1999

TIRES - EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR OVER 20,000 MILES, ESPECIALLY AT THE OUTER EDGES.ALSO, BRAKE ROTOR FAILURE (PITTING) AT 20.000 MILES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: GLP215/75R )

NHTSA ID

705741

TIRES ARE WEARING FASTER ON THE FRONT. HAVE ROTATED THREE TIME ALREADY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/70R15 )

NHTSA ID

703131

Incident

Feb 9, 1999

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS REPLACED, REWIRED DUE TO SMELL OF ELECTRICAL BURNING. MJS

NHTSA ID

608142

Incident

Jun 10, 1997

TIRES REPLACED DUE TO EXESSIVE WEAR. *YC

NHTSA ID

607081

CONSUMER COMPLAINING THAT DODGE MANUFACTURER IS PUTTING REGULAR VEHICLE TIRES ON THEIR TRUCKS. CONSUMER CONFRONTED DODGE MANUFACTURER, BUT MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO COMMENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

824713

Incident

Jun 23, 1998

GOODYEAR INVICTA GL P215/75R15 TIRES ARE WEARING BADLY ON THE OUTSIDE, CAUSING MISALIGNMENT.

NHTSA ID

524459

Incident

Sep 4, 1997