1998 Dodge Dakota Suspension Problems

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

CANT GET INFO...HOW TOO MAKE ANY ONE FIX RECALLED PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10627458

Incident

Aug 15, 2012

Mileage

10,000 mi

MY TIRES HAVE BEEN WEARING ON THE OUTSIDE FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, I HAD THE TRUCK LOOKED AT AND ALL BALL JOINT UPPERS AND LOWERS ARE BAD. THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 90,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN TO AND FROM WORK FOR THE LAST 5 1/2 YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED IT. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE IS READY TO GIVE WAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10210965

Incident

Dec 5, 2007

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. THE BALL JOINTS HAVE COMPLETELY WORN OUT AND ALSO HAS A VERY NOISY LIFTER IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DRIFTS IN AND OUT OF LANES AT ANY SPEED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. HE WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL ON THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S MODEL, BUT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 03/14/08. *LJ THE SHIFTER DIDN OT STAY IN PARK

NHTSA ID

10209566

Incident

May 1, 2007

Mileage

82,000 mi

I WAS ADVISED TODAY THAT MY 1998 DAKOTA IS PLAGUED WITH THE SAME ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE A WHILE. THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ARE GARBAGE AT ABOUT 75,000. FORTUNATELY I DROVE MY WIFE'S CAR BY A STROKE OF LUCK AND THEY GAVE ME A LOT OF NOISE. SO I CAUGHT IT BEFORE A WHEEL FELL OFF. DODGE SHOULD BE RECALLING OR AT LEAST REPLACING FREE OF CHARGE ALL BALL JOINTS THAT FAILED. NOT JUST THE 2000-2003 MODEL NUMBERS.*JB

NHTSA ID

10178773

Incident

Jan 15, 2007

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA, WHOSE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BROKE OFF DUE TO DEFECTIVE WELDING. THE CONTACT'S DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND NOT REPAIRABLE. PER THE CONTACT, THE LOWER SUSPENSION BOLTS FELL OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THERE WAS NO COLLISION AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. *AK UPDATED 2/2/2007 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10178343

Incident

Dec 10, 2006

Mileage

106,657 mi

BALL JOINTS SEPERATED...COSTING ME OVER $1000 IN REPAIRS...AND NOW THEY HAVE FAILED AGAIN....ALSO CONTROL ARM BUSHING IS FAILING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10159259

Incident

Aug 7, 2005

Mileage

62,000 mi

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURES @ 58,500 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10157504

Incident

May 9, 2006

Mileage

58,500 mi

WE OWN A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT 4X4. IT CURRENTLY HAS 144K KILOMETERS. WE JUST INSTALLED OUR 3RD SET OF UPPER BALL JOINTS, AND HAVE REPLACED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS TWICE. WE EXPECT TO REPLACE THE LOWERS AGAIN BEFORE NEXT YEAR. WE KNOW WHEN THE JOINTS NEED REPLACING, WHEN THE VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO KEEP WITHIN A LANE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, DUE TO EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING. I SEE FROM THE INTERNET THAT CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR 2000 AND LATER MODELS. THIS IS INSUFFICIENT, AS MANY PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE IN MODELS AS LATE AS 1996. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE IS WELL KNOWN IN THE INDUSTRY, ONE PERSON OR FAMILY GETTING KILLED BY THIS DEFECT FOR THERE TO BE AN OFFICIAL RECALL IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. OUR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE IS PAID BY OUR COMPANY, HOWEVER A FAMILY THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD SUCH EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT ON A REGULAR BASIS, MAY BE PUTTING THEMSELVES IN JEOPARDY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10152467

Incident

Jan 23, 2006

DT: THE CONTACT STATES EVERY YEAR WHEN HE TAKES VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED THEY INFORM HIM THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE REPLACEMENT TAKES PLACE APPROXIMATELY EVERY 20, 000-25,000 MILES. A LOCAL MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE DESIGN OF THE BALL JOINTS THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10143429

Incident

Oct 15, 2005

Mileage

112,000 mi

WALKING BACK TO MY PARKED "98 DODGE DAKOTA, AFTER DINING OUT WITH FAMILY, I NOTICED THAT MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS COCK-EYED WHILE THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS POINTING STRAIGHT. I HAD THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER/SERVICE DEPARTMENT CHECK IT OUT AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT 3 OUT OF 4 BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I WAS APPALLED TO HEAR THAT SINCE I HAD NO INDICATION THAT I OR MY PASSENGERS WERE IN ANY DANGER: THE TRUCK NEVER PULLED TO ONE SIDE, AND IT DIDN'T STEER FUNNY, OR GIVE ME ANY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING WAS SO TERRIBLY WRONG. THE SERVICE MANAGER URGED ME TO REPLACE ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS, WHICH I DID AT A COST OF OVER $773.81. I THINK DODGE NEEDS TO RECALL THE '98 DAKOTAS' BALL JOINTS. THERE'S NO REASON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 73,000 MILES ON IT SHOULD HAVE 3 OUT OF FOUR BALL JOINTS GO BAD TO THE POINT THAT THE WHEELS ARE COMING OFF. *NM

NHTSA ID

10143274

Incident

Oct 18, 2005

Mileage

73,561 mi

BALL JOINTS FAILED, PASSENGERS SIDE CAME LOOSE AND THE WHEEL FEEL OFF AND THE TRANSMISSON HAD TO BE REBUILT DUE TO CHEAP INTERNAL PARTS. BUT IF YOU OWN A 98 DODGE DAKOTA HAVE YOUR BALL JOINTS CHECKED THEY ARE A HAZARD AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED, IF THEY ALREADY HAVE NOT.... *NM

NHTSA ID

10142475

Incident

Sep 30, 2005

Mileage

102,950 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

I TOOK MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 IN FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND FOUND OUT THAT ALL FOUR FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. ONE SIDE WAS VERY LOOSE AND WAS ALMOST READY TO BREAK. I TALKED TO SEVERAL MECHANICS WHO SAID THIS IS EXPECTED FOR ANY DAKOTA OF THIS ERA. I FOUND OUT THAT THE 2000 AND ABOVE YEARS HAVE BEEN RECALLED. WHY AREN'T THE 98'S INCLUDED IN THIS, THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10127452

Incident

Jun 24, 2005

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

HAD TO REPLACE RACK&PINION AFTER ONLY 35000 MILES

NHTSA ID

10127202

Incident

Jan 10, 2001

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. THE FRONT END UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CHRYSLER SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. *AK ALSO FRONT END WAS ALIGNED AND THE BRAKE FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE TURNED. *TT *NM

NHTSA ID

10124139

Incident

Jun 3, 2005

II HAD NOTED A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND AT OTHER TIMES INVOLVING TURNING OR DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR TURNING UP AN INCLINE, ALSO THE STEERING FEEL HAD BECOME VAGUE. DURING MY ANNUAL STATE INSP. THE MECH STATED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES WERE COMPLELY WORN OUT, AND AS SUCH COULD NOT PASS IT WITHOUT REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

10124947

Incident

Jun 10, 2005

Mileage

84,000 mi

ALL 4 FRONT BALL JOINTS FAILED AT 86,000 MILES

NHTSA ID

10121987

Incident

May 15, 2005

Mileage

86,000 mi

ALL 4 BALL JOINTS IN FRONT OF VEHICLE HAVE FAILED. ADVISED TO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

10121800

Incident

May 19, 2005

Mileage

88,000 mi

1998 DODGE DAKOTA HAS UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILING.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SERVICE CENTER TO HAVE FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE. THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED SEVER FRONT TIRE WEAR AND CONCLUDED THAT THE FRONT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10119144

Incident

Apr 1, 2005

Mileage

83,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA AT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARING FAILED, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE BEARING MAKING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. THE RESULTING DAMAGE REQUIRED THE AXLE, BEARING, WHEEL, CV JOINT, CV BOOT, ROTORS AND PADS TO BE REPACED FOR A COST OF $2036. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 38,500 MILES ON IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10116304

Incident

Feb 6, 2005

Mileage

38,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL FELK OFF. DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS BROKE, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10117213

Incident

Mar 31, 2005

VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE AND MAKE A CLANKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINT ON THE RIGHT SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL. *AK *BF *NM

NHTSA ID

10113666

Incident

Mar 8, 2005

Mileage

88,951 mi

ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA I EXPERIENCED A "KLUNKING" SOUND IN THE FRONT END. FOUND OUT AT 84,000 MILES THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE BAD AND CONTRIBUTED TO WHEEL BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY PROBLEMS. REPAIR BILL WAS $738.95. I HAD THE REPAIR PERFORMED AT MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER "MORGAN DODGE" IN DURHAM, NC. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE REPAIR WAS NECESSARY AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT THE REPAIRS. THE OEM REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE ON NATIONAL BACKORDER AND THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO USE AFTERMARKET PARTS FOR THE BALL JOINTS. I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE AND THEY SAID THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND "IS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY RECALL" SO THEY CAN NOT ASSIST ME.*AK

NHTSA ID

10114531

Incident

Mar 10, 2005

Mileage

83,990 mi