1998 Dodge Dakota Steering Problems

I FOUND A LIST OF RECALLS ON PEP BOYS WEBSITE

NHTSA ID

11119297

Incident

Aug 6, 2018

Mileage

162,000 mi

THIS CAR HAS BEEN A SAFETY NIGHTMARE. FROM STEEL BRAKE LINES RUSTING THROUGH (AND THE VEHICLE LOSING IT BRAKES), TO UPPER BALL JOINTS ALMOST SEPARATING TO STEERING WHEEL DRIVE SHAFTS WHERE THE U-JOINTS ALMOST SEPARATED. THESE ARE NOT ITEMS THAT SHOULD FAIL LIKE THIS. I SPENT PART OF MY CAREER LOOKING AFTER GLOBAL PRODUCT LIABILITY FOR CUMMINS ENGINE AND I AM STUNNED AT THE POOR QUALITY CHRYSLER HAS USED IN CRITICAL COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ID

11053577

Incident

Jun 1, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

LOWER STEERING SHAFT U JOINTS ARE UNPROTECTED AND RUSTED OUT CAUSING STICKY STEERING AND DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE IN A TURN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10416997

Incident

Jun 29, 2011

Mileage

144,000 mi

STEERING SHAFT ON OUR DODGE DAKOTA WENT BAD.....GOING TO FIX IT BUT HOW MANY ARE ON THE ROAD WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE FIX COSTS A SMALL FORTUNE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10389656

Incident

Dec 1, 2010

Mileage

65,000 mi

I OWN A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING. THE STEERING WAS LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC WHO SHOWED ME THAT MY INTERMEDIATE STEERING LINKAGE WAS FAILING AND COULD COME APART, CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN DAKOTAS AND DURANGOS. I CHECKED WITH THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. AND WAS TOLD THAT IT HAPPENED SO OFTEN THAT THEY COULDN'T KEEP THE PART IN STOCK. SALVAGE YARDS DON'T EVEN LIKE TO SELL THIS PART USED BECAUSE THEY FAIL. I CHECKED WITH CHRYSLER/DODGE AND THERE IS NO RECALL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. DODGE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I'VE READ STORIES ON THE NET FROM OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

10274564

Incident

May 8, 2009

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE FELT A LOT OF PLAY IN HIS STEERING WHEEL AND IT WOULD NOT LOCK IN PLACE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. HE ALSO HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE NOISE COULD ALSO BE HEARD WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MOVED BACK AND FORTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW STEERING COLUMN/ARMATURE DUE TO THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10248704

Incident

Sep 10, 2008

Mileage

80,000 mi

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. WHEN I BROUGHT IN THIS VEHICLE FOR THE MANDATORY SAFETY INSPECTION IN 2006 I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE MANIFOLD BOLTS HAD BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE VEHICLE TO PASS THE SAFETY INSPECTION. WITHOUT REPLACING THE BOLTS IT WOULD BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. COST TO ME WAS $561.18. I HAD THE REQUIRED SAFETY WORK COMPLETED. THIS YEAR I BROUGHT THE SAME VEHICLE IN FOR THE REQUIRED SAFETY INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE WARN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS THE SAFETY INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE HAS 63,736 MILES ON IT. I TALKED WITH SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT BALL JOINTS SHOULD BE WARN OUT AT THIS LOW MILEAGE. I ALSO WENT TO THE CONSUMERS AFFAIRS COMMISSION WEB SITE AND THERE WAS NUMEROUS ARTICLES REGARDING THE PROBLEMS WITH THE DODGE DAKOTAS SUSPENSION AND STEERING ASSEMBLIES. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE DEFECTS WITH THESE PARTS. ANY HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10183811

Incident

Feb 27, 2007

Mileage

63,734 mi

STEERING WON'T TURN AT ALL WHEN COLD, UNTIL IT WARMS FULLY IT'S HARD TO TURN. I'VE NOTICED THIS ON 2 OTHER 98 DODGE DAKOTAS I LOOKED AT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10151439

Incident

Feb 28, 2006

Mileage

74,000 mi

STEERING COLUMN STARTED MAKING A CLICKING NOISE AS THE WHEEL WAS TURNED. DEALER STATED THAT THE LOCKING MECHANISM WAS FAILING AND COULD EASILY LEAD TO A CATASTROPHIC AND SUDDEN LOCKING OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10141993

Incident

Sep 13, 2005

Mileage

71,620 mi

AFTER READING ABOUT STEERING PROBLEMS IN DODGE VEHICLES, I HAVE HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME. I PURCHASED MY '98 DODGE DAKOTA FROM 5 CORNERS DODGE AT 1292 HIGHWAY 143, CEDARBURG, WISCONSIN 53012. *09 DEC '97 I TOOK MY TRUCK IN FOR "CUSTOMER STATES THAT WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS THERE IS S JARRING THAT COMES THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL" - REPLACE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT - N/C. *23 JULY '99 - "CHECK NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS FROM DRIVE TRAIN" - FRONT PROPELLER SHAFT BALL SOCKET INSUFFICIENT LUBE NOISY 16300100 DRIVELINE/PROPELLER SHAFTS, REMOVE INSPECT WHEELS, BRAKES, UNIVERSOLA, REPAIR/LUBE FRONT SHAFT BALL SOCKET JOINT AND REINSTALL -N/C. *07 JULY 2003 - "GRINDING NOISE FROM DRIVERS SIDE FRONT END AREA" - 2200 REPLACE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING/HUB ASSY, 219 REPLACE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS-BOTH SIDES, 2WT 2 WHEEL TRUCK ALIGNMENT, 52165 TEST DRIVE AND INSP REPLACE FAILED LF BEARING ASSY REPLACE BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS REPLACE BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS 2WHEEL TRUCK ALIGN - $1095.12!!!! I BROUGHT ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM FROM THE BEGINNING AND BY THE TIME IT WAS FINALLY FIXED, IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. CAN YOU HELP ME, IN ANY WAY? THANK YOU, DON GRUELL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10141593

Incident

Jul 7, 2003

Mileage

196 mi

RECALL 00V193000 FOR THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE HAS BEEN ISSUED AND REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10117768

Incident

Apr 1, 2005

Mileage

98,000 mi

WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH LOOSE STEERING ON OUR 1998 DODGE DAKOTA FOR APPROX. 2 YEARS NOW. WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE ADJUSTMENTS, AND PARTS REPLACED AND FINALLY HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE MANUFACTURING OF THE STEERING COMPONENTS AND IT WILL COST US IN EXCESS OF $1000 TO REPAIR. I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OUT THERE FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT DODGE IS NOT CONCERNED WITH ALL THESE COMPLAINTS BUT I WANTED TO FILE MINE ANYWAY. I WAS TOLD BY MY GARAGE THAT THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE, BUT I READ STORY AFTER STORY OF ACCIDENTS THAT HAVE CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO VEHICLES, INJURY AND EVEN DEATH.

NHTSA ID

10129321

Incident

Jul 19, 2005

Mileage

97,000 mi

DT: THE CONSUMER HAD A 98 DODGE DAKOTA, TOOK TO TIRE SHOP, TRUCK COULD NOT BE ALIGNED BECAUSE IT HAD DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS. CONTACT CALLED THE DAIMLER CHRYSLER, WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE VEHICLE HAD STEERING PROBLEM. THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THEN, AT REPAIR SHOP OWNER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE STEERING GEAR, AND WOULD COST $800. OWNER DID NOT REPAIR STEERING AND VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT/LEFT. TIRE COMPANY STATED THE CROWN OF THE ROAD CAUSED VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT/RIGHT. TIRE SHOP INDICATED THEY COULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM,BUT THERE WERE 500 STEERING GEARS ON BACK ORDER. OWNER FELT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING GEAR OTHERWISE THERE WOULDN'T BE 500 STEERING GEARS ON BACK ORDER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10127243

Incident

Apr 1, 2005

Mileage

49,000 mi

WHILE MAKING A 90-DEGREE RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING LOCKS UP. AFTER A WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE STEERING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE HEAT SHIELD FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FELL DOWN ONTO THE STEERING LINKAGES, WHICH WAS LOCKING UP THE STEERING. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10108636

Incident

Jan 13, 2005

Mileage

103,000 mi

HAD TO REPLACE UPPER AND LOWER BALLJOINTS AND OUTER TIE ROD ENDS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10106155

Incident

Nov 7, 2003

Mileage

67,794 mi

MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT ALL 4 BALL JOINTS AND THE INNER & OUTER TIE ROD ENDS NEED REPLACING ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. SINCE THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL FOR 2000-2003 DAKOTAS & DURANGOS AND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT PENDING FOR 1998 DURANGOS, I WONDER IF THERE IS MERIT TO MY 1998 DAKOTA FAILURE AND THE RESULTING EXPENSE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10102952

Incident

Dec 14, 2004

Mileage

105,000 mi

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN RIGHT THE STEERLING LOCKED UP AND WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO OFF OF THE ROAD AND INTO A FIELD BEFORE STOPPING. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE IF THERE HAD BEEN OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED.*AK MECHANIC HAS RECOMENDED THAT ALL OF THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS BE REPLACED. (4) BALL JOINTS (2) CONTROL ARMS (2) TIE ROD ENDS HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT PREMATURE FAILURES OF THE COMPONENTS ON 97 - 04 DODGE DAKOTA AND DURANGO MODELS. MINE IS A 98 DAKOTA W/ 63665 MILES. CHRYSLER HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL, STATING THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN YOUR STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME. AFTER CONSIDERABLE EFFORT I WAS ABLE TO BREAK THE "LOCKED" CONDITION AND FREE UP THE STEERING. AFTER THIS, THE STEERING WAS STILL STICKING, BUT GOT BETTER AS TIME WENT ON. IT SEEMS TO STICK THE MOST WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 40 DEG. F. I HAVE NOT HAD THE REPAIRS DONE YET.

NHTSA ID

10096378

Incident

Oct 24, 2004

Mileage

63,665 mi

WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE BALL JOINTS ALONG WITH THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE LOOSE. *AK *TC

NHTSA ID

10080149

Incident

Jun 29, 2004

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS DETERIORATING 5-24-2004, 27,675 MILES STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT 6-22-2004. BALL JOINTS, LOWER CONTROL ARM, AND RIGHT WHEEL BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED BY DEALER.*AK STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT FREEHOLD DODGE NJ VERY LOOSE FRONT END, HARD TO CONTROL, BOUNCE. TYPICAL SYMPTOMS OF A FRONT END FALLING APART. DATES ABOVE ARE REPLACEMENT DATES. THIRD MAJOR PROBLEM IS ALL OF THE BOLTS ATTACHING THE CAB ARE DETERIORATED. TAKING TO MY NM DODGE DEALER. CAN NOT EVEN TAKE OFF THE BOTS THEY ARE SO BAD ON THE CAB OF MY TRUCK [XXX] I HAVE BEEN THE OWNER FROM DAY ONE. IN MY PARENTS NAME IN NEW JERSEY FOR INSURANCE RATE REDUCTION. UPDATED 07/24/2012* JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

10083079

Incident

May 24, 2004

Mileage

27,675 mi

CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND INNER TIE RODS AT 42,000 MILES. *AK THE BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD ENDS HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10059192

Incident

Feb 17, 2004

Mileage

42,000 mi

DEFECTIVE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON MY 98 DODGE DAKOTA. I JUST WENT TO LES SCHWAB TO GET NEW TIRES AND AN ALLIGNMENT WHEN THEY TOLD ME ALL OF MY BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS SEEMS WAY TO SOON FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. AND IT COST ME 800 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10062623

Incident

Mar 18, 2004

Mileage

65,000 mi

WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD ENDS WERE LOOSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10063020

BALL JOINTS AND STEERING COLUMN ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK. BOTH WERE WORN OUT AFTER 30,000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10060251

Incident

Sep 15, 2002

Mileage

30,000 mi

HEARD CRACKLING AND POPING FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL, AND TRUCK STARTING TO PULL TO THE LEFT. FOUND NY-LOCK SPINDLE NUT (TORQUED TO 185#, FACTORY SPEC'S) ALMOST OFF. RIGHT HAND THREADED SPINDLE WITH INNER RACE OF BEARING ROTATING IN A COUNTER-CLOCKWISE DIRECTION AGAINST THE NUT. BEARING TRASHED, HAVING TO BUY WHOLE HUB ASSEMBLY @ $163. CHECKED RIGHT WHEEL ASSEMBLY WHILE FRONT END RAISED AND WAS ABLE TO TURN NUT WITH A PAIR OF 10" CHANNEL LOCKS. HAD TO REDO BOTH SIDES AT 52+K ORIGIONAL MILES, NO ONE HAS TAMPERED WITH VEHICLE. WHERE'S THE OLD REPAIRABLE SYSTEM WITH THE COTTER KEY?*AK

NHTSA ID

10060211

Incident

Jan 19, 2004

Mileage

52 mi

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT REQUIRE REPLACEMENTS AS WELL AS TIE RODS. *CB

NHTSA ID

10054280

Incident

Jan 14, 2004