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.
1997 Dodge Dakota: rotors or pads wearing out early
9 of the 444 complaints about the 1997 Dodge Dakota describe rotors or pads wearing out early.
- owner complaints
- 9
- of this car's complaints
- 2%
- recalls
- 2
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls and 1 service bulletin for this area of the car. See below
Rotors or pads wearing out early by model year
What owners say
1997 dodge dakota - ball joint problems - premature wear. Also causing tires to prematurely wear and scalp.
We had to replace the ball joints on our '97 dodge dakota after 49,000 miles because it became dangerous to drive our truck. This also affected the wear of our tires which we had to replace at the same time. Also, the brakes have never worked right, they were replaced at just over 30,000 miles. We would like to be reimbursed for the defective ball joints we had replaced. Ideally, we'd like to also be compensated for the premature wear on the tires, but realize that might be asking too much. How do we find out how to become part of the class action suit against daimler-chrysler? (it was still dodge when we bought the dakota) fortunately, my husband was aware of the danger the ball joints created and we had them replaced before an accident occurred. Help! Thanks for your time.
The upper and lower ball joints experienced premature wear. As a result, the ball joints produced a grinding noise. Please provide additional information. *jb
Premature wear of lower ball joints. Dealer has been notified.
Front upper and lower control arms broke, causing premature wear of the tires. Please give any further details.
Premature wear of the ball joints. Please provide further detail.
Front brake rotors are prematurely wearing which causes the vehicle to jerk when applying the brakes. Please give any further details.
Front and the rear brakes are prematurely wearing out or feathering which causes the vehicle to veer to the right. Also, the vehicle constantly needs alignment. Please give any further details, add all vehicle VIN#. 8ak
Service bulletins that may apply
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: pickup trucks built with 2.5l engines. Some vehicles may have been built with inadequate clearance between the left front brake tube and the power steering hose.
- Risk
- A puncture of the left front brake tube can result in a loss of braking force at the front wheels, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the brake tube and power steering hose for wear. If wear is evident, the brake tube and/or power steering hose will be replaced. A power steering standoff bracket will be installed on all vehicles to ensure that adequate clearance between the brake tube and power steering hose is maintained.
Recall number 00V193000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Some vehicles may have been built with inadequate clearance between the rear axle vent hose and the brake hose.
- Risk
- A puncture in the rear brake hose will result in a loss of braking force at the rear wheels.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the rear brake hose for evidence of wear. Worn brake hoses will be replaced. The rear vent hose will be shortened by 3 inches and a clip will be installed to assure clearance between the axle vent line and brake hose is maintained.
Recall number 00V198000 · Recall details
Questions about the 1997 Dodge Dakota premature wear
Is rotors or pads wearing out early a common problem on the 1997 Dodge Dakota?
9 of 444 owner complaints about the 1997 Dodge Dakota (2%) mention rotors or pads wearing out early. The model year with the most reports is 2000.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 1997 Dodge Dakota?
There are 2 recalls and 1 service bulletin for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 1997 Dodge Dakota
Ball joint 118Grinding brakes 15No deployment 13ABS 12Brake failure 10Fuel leak 10Stalling 8Airbag light 7Fuel smell 7Headlights 7Adaptive cruise 6Fire or smoke 6Power steering loss 6Harsh shifting 5Jerking 5
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