1999 dodge dakota we bought it new rotors have been replaced 4 times for cracking tie rod ends are bad the first set of tires lasted 14000 miles. Front tires are impossible to keep.
1999 Dodge Dakota steering complaints
Page 3 of 4: complaints 41 to 70 of 72, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I have a 1999 dodge dakota 4x4. At 50,000 I installed new tires and took my truck to a mechanic for a wheel alignment. I recently moved and the mechanic was new, but had good reports. He told me that he could not do the alignment because of bad ball joints and tie rod ends. I was outraged, thinking that he might be trying to rip me off. I told him at 50,000 miles I should not have to get new steering parts, but the mechanic said that he has replaced ball joints and tie rod parts on several dakotas and durangos at that mileage. I told him to replace the parts and do the alignment. When I picked up my dakota, he showed me the parts, they were bad. I have worked for two large agricultural machinery manufacturers and have seen them cut costs by installing cheap chinese parts. The cost to produce the product goes down and the consumer price of the product goes up increasing the margins and lining the pockets of mr. Ceo and other higher ups without a concern to the consumer. It happens everywhere. This on the other hand is serious involving cheap parts on the steering components on a highway vehicle. This is a safety concern and I pray that dodge does not have blood on their hands if someone gets in an accident because of their neglegence. I have also had brake issues with my dakota. The dakota with the 5.2 goes like a bat out of hell, but the handling components such as steering and brakes are less than to be desired.
Ball joints on 1999 dodge dakota excessive tire replacement(3)sets of tires on front vehicle has only 65000 miles also had to replace rotors and brakes I don't beliee this is typical for this amount of miles.
Upper, lower and inner tie rods were worn at 92k miles.
I had been noticing for some time a loud rattling from the front end of my dodge dakota pickup truck. As the steering got worse, I took it to the local dealer, and the service manager said that the control arms on the steering were shot and needed to be replaced. This cost me more than $1,000.00 to repair. I have sinceheard that several people have been having problems with the front ends of their dodge vehicles. I would like to know if this is a common problem and if there is a recall.
I had been noticing for some time a loud rattling from the front end of my dodge dakota pickup truck. As the steering got worse, I took it to the local dealer, and the service manager said that the control arms on the steering were shot and needed to be replaced. This cost me more than $1,000.00 to repair. I have sinceheard that several people have been having problems with the front ends of their dodge vehicles. I would like to know if this is a common problem and if there is a recall.
I have had to replace the shocks three times within the first year and two other times since. The bolts kept breaking off of them, upper and lower ball joints, inner and outer tie rods and the steering box. I have spent aprx $5,000.00 taking care of these problems and they are still not correct.
Ball joint replacement. I am on my third set of ball joint on 1999 dodge dakota 4 by 4. With the 5.2 liter v8. Last year at annual insection and again this year at annual inspection.
Excessive engine knock.pper ball joint failure.nadequate headlight projection on low beam.
Every time I used the lighter the fuse would blow, my radio would fail and I would have troubles with my wipers. I checked all fuses and didn't find a problem. All of a sudden my headlights will go out and once in a while if I click my high beams on and off the driving headlights will eventually come back on. I was in northern maine and I lost my power steering. I had to walk through the woods to a cabin I could see had its house light on and knock on the door for help. Once my truck was freed from being stuck I had to drive 3 miles back to the mountain w/no power steering. When I brought it to the local dealer they showed me that there was some long silver rod like thing, which had just broken in half!! I didn't think anything of it because it was still covered under warranty. A while later, my brake system had to be replaced at a cost of $800. I said I just didn't have the money at that time. Lee dodge of westbrook maine called and said they could fix the problem for $150! I had an accident about january 2001 and my airbag did not go off. I was run off the road in a snowstorm and hit a tree. This past june my truck went in to be inspected and I was told my upper control arms and ball joints needed to be replaced!! Even I knew that at 44k or so miles it was far too soon for me to need those parts replaced. I live on a fixed income because I am disabled. When I went to pick up my truck my passenger side door would no longer close correctly, my hood would no longer open and the headlight problem became much worse. Before I had the chance to have the car looked at, I had an accident. I had pulled out of my drive and my boyfriend pulled out after me in my brother?s car. When he pulled out of a drive, I went to pull up along side him, my tires were spinning on piles of wet leaves, my wheel would not respond, my gas and my brake would not respond. I had both feet on the floor not either gas or brake... The truck then thrust forward and hit my brother?s car!
The ball joints in my 1999 dodge dakota, upper and lower both sides, are worn out and need to be replaced. The truck has 70,000 miles and should not need this approximately $1,000.00 repair. The reason they wear out so fast is that there are not grease fittings, and the part can't be properly lubricated. The daimler chrysler corporation representative I spoke to said I can't get any relief unless there is a recall. Please recall these parts.
I own a 1999 dodge dakota sport 4x4 and I needed to have the ball joints (upper and lower) and tie rods replaced at 67,000 miles. I found out that they needed to be replaced because I was having brand new tires installed, and when new tires are installed I figured it would be good to get an alignment as well. The mechanice said he couldn't give the truck an alignment because the ball joints were too loose - and this is a very reputable mechanic here in town, so I knew I wasn't getting taken for a ride. So, for a cost of $1,052 I had to have the ball joints and tie rods replaced. The mechanic did say it was not a safety issue as of yet, but after seeing in the news recently with all the other dakotas/durangos having this problem, I wonder how much longer I could have gone before it was a safety issue, so I'm glad I had them replaced, but am thinking the truck should be recalled and the joints replaced not with the same joints, but with a better designed one.
I have a 1999 dodge dakota club cab 4x4 that had 32,000 miles on it when the lower front tie rod went out while I was driving down the road. I had to get the inner and outer tie rods and lower ball joints replaced. The vehicle is out of warranty by time but not the mileage. With this incident, it's the mileage that puts the wear on this particular problem not time. I have notified chrysler about the problem and that I wanted to be reimbursed for the cost of the repair. I was told no. The bottom line is that this particular problem shouldn't be happening at such a low mileage rate. I want chrysler to stand behind their product, not line their pockets with unnecessary repair costs.
On 11/21/01 I took my dakota in to cumberland ave. Garage for inspection. I usually go to lee auto mall. I was in a hurry to get the truck inspected so I went to cumberland garage. I came upon a repair order from cumberland ave. Garage. Aside from some minor repairs they had listed both upper ball joints as needing repair. At $298.74. I ended up taking my truck to lee auto mall in westbrook (me.) they never mentioned the ball joints had a problem. Note the date of the repair order from cumberland garage as being 2001. This means lee dodge let me drive a vehicle that wasn't safe since 2001! I brought my truck in to lee dodge this past summer. I was told both my ball joints and upper control arms needed to be replaced!the cost was $900.00. I mentioned I knew at just46k mls. It was unusual for a vehicle to have ball joints that needed replacement. I said this type of problem usually didn't occur until about 100k miles. I was told this was untrue. Also note when cumberland garage noticed my truck needed ball joints repaired my truck had only about 37k miles. 11/04/03 I had a minor accident.the short of it : I lost control of my tires. My wheel would turn but my front tires would not respond and my rear tires were stuck/spinning on piles of wet leaves. I stepped on the gas while trying to turn my vehicle and the gas did not respond. My break went to the floor and then all of a sudden my truck thrust forward and hit my brothers car. I have had a lot of trouble sleeping just thinking about what could have happened to me, someone I love or someone else just because lee dodge wanted to squeeze money out of me. Or because chrysler did not want to tell their customers they had put faulty parts in their trucks. I suppose I should contact a lawyer with regards to this matter. I am very upset I have been driving a vehicle that may have caused an accident at any time! Do you have any advice for me?
Consumer stated while driving on the highway, the power steering failed, which almost caused an accident . After the power steering malfunctioned, the vehicle was hard to steer. Also, the consumer found out that gear box had a hole in it. There was a 2 inch piece of a bolt that was knocked out with forced pressure. The dealer did not want to help the consumer.*ak the steering box leaked and contained excessive play. The rotors and windshield wipes needed to be replaced. *jb
1999 dodge dakota slt 4wd. Routine state inspection revealed front ball joints excessive wear and play. Failed new hampshire inspection[safety related item:control] only 54k miles. Ball joints replaced and alignment completed at sullivan tire inc. Manager revealed he had done another dakota and a durango that same day for ball joints also. Frequent item for dodge so he now keeps them in stock in house.
Own a 1999 dodge dakota 4wd. Ball joints and idler arm going bad. Vehicle has 56,000 miles. Noticed noise arising from front suspension and loosening at around 40,000 miles, but did not know till around 53,000 miles when a mechanic brought it to my attention while it was at an alignment shop. These parts, I was advised, should not be wearing till around 130,000 miles. Two people at my work also own these vehicles, one person owns a 2wd dakota, another owns a 4wd durango. Both persons are having the same problems with ball joints as well.
1999 dodge dakota 4wd 71500 miles. Notified by mechanic that I need both upper ball joints, both lower ball joints and both tie rod ends replaced. Took it in for unusual tire wear that has occurred since 40,000 miles. Mechanic was very familiar with this problem with dakotas. Said he has seen many like it.
Lost of steering in a 1999 dodge dakota 4x4, steering box exploded. Came within inches of having an accident.
I own a 1999 dodge dakota.( same suspension as durango).I was advised by my mechanic that the upper control arms, lower ball joints and the idler arm were severly warn and needed to be replaced. While diassembling all joints did come apart. At the time the vehicle had 73,778 miles on it. 99 percent of these miles are highway miles, and I was surprised and irritated that they had worn out so soon, also god only knows what would have happened if I had not caught it prior to the ball joint separating.
I notice today an investigation by the federal safety agency of complaints on dodge durango upper ball joints. I own a 1999 dodge dakota and have replaced same at 48,000 miles (at my own expense). This truck is the pickup version of the durango. The truck still exhibits negative characteristics such as loss of tracking and control when negotiating turns on bumpy roads. Example is the on-ramp to the verrazzano narrows bridge (I-278), brooklyn side. The truck will jump lanes at speeds over 40 MPH. Not good.
While driving upper ball joints failed. They were replaced along with the steering knuckle. Problem recurred.
Consumer received a recall letter from the manufacturer four months ago and dealer still does not have the part. Consumer call every other months and dealer stilldoes not have the part. Please provide further information.
Ball joints and tie rods have prematurely failed at 60,000 miles. Dealer claims they are bad, and need to be replaced. But, parts are on national backorder.
Due to defective steering shaft and pump while driving steering system malfunctioned, causing no power steering, which may result in vehicle crashing over an embankment. *ak the cause for power steering problem was discovered to be power steering pump failure.
Engine stalled, check engine light - on, odometer read "no bus" lost power steering and power brakes, would not restart and had towed, problem traced to 20amp fuse and computer module.
Vehcile wanders left to right on dry road. Front end vibrates intermitently. Consumer has been waiting for the district representative to call but no contact.*ak engine valve failed five times. Steering failed three times. Rear oil seal is leaking.
Noise coming from rear of steering mechanism. Has been in shop several times for repair and replacement of shocks, how2ever the dealer doesn't know what the problem is.
Intermittently when there are other keys on the ring the other keys will get jammed in the steering wheel due to a hole in the back of the housing. The dealer has inspected the vehicle.
At a stop or slow rate of speed,and turning steering wheel all the way to left/to right ,it will hang up in the postion ,will not retract back. Dealer has replaced rack and pinion and steering column. Dealer cannot fix defect.
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