1998 Dodge Dakota Other / unspecified Problems

I FOUND A LIST OF RECALLS ON PEP BOYS WEBSITE

NHTSA ID

11119297

Incident

Aug 6, 2018

Mileage

162,000 mi

ME AND A FRIEND WERE IN A CAR ACCIDENT .WHEN WE LOST CONTROL OF MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA AND HIT THE SIDE OF A BUILDING AT 40-45 MPH WHEN WE HIT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK UP LIKE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO IN RESULT WE BOUNCED OR FACES AND HEADS OFF OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND DASH BOARD AND NOW HAVING HEAD NECK AND BACK PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10256998

Incident

Jan 26, 2009

Mileage

134,000 mi

NOISES IN FRONT END, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA 4-WHEEL DRIVE DEFECTIVE. LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 34,853 MILES. REPLACED LOWER JOINTS AGAIN AND UPPER BALL JOINTS AT 59,629 AT A COST OF $1123.55. LUCKILY IT WAS CAUGHT BEFORE ANY SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURRED. YOUR RECALL INDICATES YEAR 2000-2003 BUT PROBLEM WAS THERE PRIOR TO THAT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10102948

Incident

Oct 2, 2003

Mileage

59,629 mi

1998 DODGE DAKOTA, CURRENT MILEAGE:426,000. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL CONTROL ARMS TWICE. BALL JOINTS UNAVAILABLE, REQUIRING ENTIRE A-ARM REPLACEMENT. BUMMER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10102727

Incident

Dec 11, 2004

Mileage

100 mi

1998 DODGE DAKOTA, UPPER ARM BALL JOINT DEFECT. A STORY ON CBS NEWS LAST NIGHT HAS PROMPTED ME TO SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT. SEPTEMBER 2000, NOISE ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF TRUCK PROMPTED ME TO STOP AT A DODGE DEALER TO CHECK IT OUT, FOUND THE RIGHT UPPER ARM BALL JOINT WAS SO BAD THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID I COULD HAVE LOST THE WHEEL ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE SPEED LIMIT CAUSING POTENTIALLY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE ARM WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY (34853 MILES). I RECENTLY PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES FOR THE TRUCK AND ASKED THE DEALER TO DO A FRONT END ALIGNMENT (59423), HE TRIED AND SAID HE COULD NOT BECAUSE THE BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. I HAD NO INDICATION AT THIS TIME THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BALL JOINTS UNTIL I TRIED TO GET AN ALIGNMENT TO PROTECT THE NEW TIRES, I GOT A SECOND OPINION WITH THE SAME RESPONSE. I WENT TO THE DODGE DEALER AND CONFIRMS THAT ALL 4 BALL JOINTS IN THE FRONT END WERE BAD, LOWER AND UPPER. DEALER SAID IT HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY, BUT I HAVE LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK AND IT IS MY THIRD BALL JOINT ON THE UPPER FRONT. THIS TIME THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM AND IT COST ME OVER $1100 TO FIX AS IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY WAS LUCKY SINCE THE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENTS, THE PROBLEM WAS CAUGHT IN TIME. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THE BALL JOINTS USED ON THE DODGE DAKOTA ARE DEFECTIVE AND DO NOT LAST, IN MY CASE THE REPLACED BALL JOINT IN SEPTEMBER 2000 LASTED LESS THAN 24,000 MILES UNDERSTAND THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT IN PROGRESS, CAN YOU PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS, CHRYSLER/DAIMLER NEEDS TO STAND UP AND FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE THERE IS A TRAGEDY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10043784

Incident

Sep 17, 2003

Mileage

59,423 mi

WHEN TIRES WERE BEING ROTATED AT 5,000 MILES, FOUR WHEEL STUDS BROKE OFF DURING NUT REMOVAL. *CJ

NHTSA ID

556890

DODGE INCORRECTLY OR FALSELY ADVERTISED AND INFORMED PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS OF THE DAKOTA R/T THAT THE TOWING CAPACITY WAS 6400#. OVER ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE, THEY SENT A SIMPLE FORM LETTER STATING THAT THE SAFE CAPACITY WAS ACTUALLY 2000#. IN SPITE OF THIS, THEIR WEBSITE AND PRODUCT INFORMATION STILL INDICATES THE CAPACITY TO BE EITHER 6400# OR OVER 8000# DEPENDING ON THE SOURCE. WHILE CONTINUING TO DECEIVE NEW CUSTOMERS, THEY ALSO ARE STONEWALLING CURRENT OWNERS WHO ARE ATTEMPTING TO INDIVIDUALLY DEAL WITH DODGE REGARDING CORRECTIVE ACTION, BUYBACKS, ETC. I AM AWARE OF AT LEAST ONE REPORTED ACCIDENT IN NEW MEXICO ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE INCORRECT CRITICAL INFORMATION NOT BEING DISCLOSED TO OWNERS AND DEALT WITH BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER CORP.

NHTSA ID

710071

Incident

Jun 23, 1999

TOW RATING ADVERTISED AT 6400LBS, REVISED TO 2000LBS, WILL NOT TOW MY BOAT

NHTSA ID

709856

AN EXTRA WHEEL STUD FOUND IN BRAKE SYSTEM CAUSED BRAKES TO ENGAGE AT 25 MILES AN HOUR, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT/INJURY.

NHTSA ID

528584

Incident

Sep 8, 1997