2000 Dodge Dakota: pulls to one side

Filed Jan 11, 2007 · Steering · 115,000 miles · UT

Truck started to pull to right upon mid-level braking. Was told brakes ok, tie rod ends bad/replaced, no change. Then told rack & pinion bad/replaced, slight change, still pulls to right, getting worse. Now 3 months later and after $400.00 in repairs, I go with a different shop, I was told brakes caliper bolts are stripping out. This causes the brake shoes to move when braking, binding, then pulling the steering wheel out of hands. Has also caused right tie-rod end to go bad again. The biggest danger is that upon braking the steering wheel turns to the right and I could lose control of the truck. Have been trying to find a good used steering knuckle and all the ones found have the same problem. The fix is, if caught soon enough, heli-coil new threads or replacing the steering knuckle ($415.00 part alone).

Filed Aug 12, 2005 · Suspension · FL

Dt: the contact owns a 2000 dodge dakota. The consumer stated that he had the recall work done for the upper ball joints and that after the recall work was done the vehicle pulled to the right. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who indicated the vehicle needed a front end alignment which would cost $60. The consumer indicated that he did not have a problem with the vehicle's alignment before the recall work was done. *nm

Filed Apr 13, 2005 · Suspension · 85,000 miles · TX

2000 dodoge dakota - immediate, catastophic failue of upper ball joint. Vehicle operated fine just days before then suddenly loud clunkomg and steering pull to the right. Tandard auto parts houses do not carry the proper parts - citing dodge says you must replace the entire lower control arm.

Filed Apr 13, 2005 · Steering · 88,500 miles · OK · crash

While driving at highway speed steering rack and pinion failed, causing the vehicle to pull to the left, and resulting in a collision. Consumer had the vehicle towed. Dealership will be notified.

Filed Dec 10, 2004 · Suspension · 42,000 miles · MO

I bought a 2000 dakota 4x4 used, with 42,000 mi. In oct. 03. Went to get a missouri state inspection certificate, I was told upper & lower balljoints were "going bad". July 04, truck started to pull to the right.it"s an expensive repair that I cannot afford right now. I saw a news story on this issue and realized I am not alone. I belive dodge makes a great truck. They should stand behind there name, as well as product.

Filed Dec 4, 2004 · Suspension · 35,000 miles · FL

Subject vehicle: 2000 dodge dakota r/t, iles: 49000; usage: daily driver-city/hwy only; complaint: excessive upper ball joint play early failure. *ak at approximately 35,000 miles I noticed a slight clicking sound coming from the front right suspension. I lubed the front end using the appropriate tool and grease nipples but found that there was no fitting on the upper ball joint. The clicking sound progressed to clunking over the next 10000 miles and on inspection I found excessive play in the upper front suspension on both sides of the vehicle. The left side being the most egregious. In addition I started to notice wandering in the steering track of the vehicle at higher speeds. I focused my attention on the upper ball joint assembly's and have since replaced both. The symptom has cleared. I have had an assortment of problems with this vehicle this having the most potential for catastrophic failure. Your attention to this problem would be appreciated james daly

Filed Nov 6, 2004 · Suspension · CA

I noticed that my dodge dakota 2000 4 x4 with 39,000 miles was pulling to the right. I took it in to have the alignment adjusted and was told that it could not be performed because the lower ball joint on the front driver side was failing. Seems to me that no part of the ball joint should be failing at 39,000 miles. From what little research I've done, there seems to be a widespread problem with dodge dakota/durango ball joint failures.

Filed Oct 4, 2004 · Suspension · 50,000 miles · IL

There were no warning signs leading up to the upper ball joint failing, and the front left tire folding over, causing the truck slow quickly and pull to the right. So far the dealership has not called with any repair prices.

Filed Aug 27, 2004 · Suspension · 30,000 miles · TX

8/18/04: my son was driving west bound on 2nd ave (tx hwy 22). Just prior to turning left from 15th st (also hwy 22), he heard a popping noise in the front end of the truck. After traveling approximately 2 blocks, his front driver side wheel fell off, causing him to lose control and pull to the left across three lanes of traffic. Fortunately, he did not hit a car and came to rest in a parking lot for an A/C company. Although the damage is being fixed under an extended warranty, chrysler and the dealership (berry chrysler/jeep/dodge, corsicana, tx) are refusing to replace the tire that was dragged on its sidewall approximately 200ft; the tire was pinned under the truck. The cause of the accident was two broken ball joints on that wheel. I orignally believed this problem to be faulty craftsmanship on the dealership which had repaired another problem on that wheel a year ago; the brake caliper fell off. I now believe this to be the manufacturer as many dakotas and durangos have been reported with the same problem and often similar consequences.l.

Filed Jun 28, 2004 · Suspension · DC

2000 dodge dakota steering problems.*mr the consumer's vehicle made strange noises, shook excessively and pulled to the right. The consumer suspects that the ball joints are the cause of the problem. The consumer would like to know the status of the investigation in progress on the dodge dakota's.

Filed May 19, 2004 · Suspension · 57,001 miles · TX

Normal, regular duty use of a 2000 dodge dakota quad cab v8 requiring regular maintenance, needed a front end alignment at 57,000 miles. The local dodge dealer (mike brown @ granbury) performed the alignment, conducted two (2) test drives while I was there and returned the vehicle to me with a comment that it was pulling to the right. I took the vehicle back with the 'pulling to the right' problem and the dervice manager said to bring it back the next am and they would make it right. They called to notify me that the right lower control arm bushing was deteriorated and that they couldn't align it to specifications. They had a replacement lower control arm and bushing (comes as one part) for $280.00 and 4 hours labor ($65/hr) would fix it. My response was 'pull it out front and park it'. My discussion with the service technician when I arrived at the dealer was about how in 31 years of new and used vehicle ownership I have never had a front end go bad in 57,000 miles.he brought out that the v8 left exhaust manifiold heats up the bushing and deteriorated it faster that one would expect. We agreed that it was a design problem and therefore a manufacturer engineering issue. I will go back to collect my initial alignment fee charged on a job that could not be performed to factoory specs due to failing front end parts.

Filed Apr 5, 2004 · Brakes, Fuel system · 15,000 miles · CT

At approx. 8k miles, pulsing and shimmy started in front end. Had to resurface rotors. Had to do again later at about 35k. Not normal. At 15k reported front end creaks/groans dealer found no problem. At 35k more of the same, dealer replaced front stabilizer/sway bushing. At 38k miles, replaced lower steering column. Helped some but still creaking when steering at low speed. At 53k asked again about steering groan. Dealer says he could fix for about $1000 (of course out of warranty now! And I've been asking about this since 15k miles). Also at 53k, replaced lower ball joints left side and fuel pump. At 59k back in the shop today to replace right ball joints which cause vehicle steering to "wander" and have badly worn inside right tire. Quality of vehicle is lousy and they won't admit it or stand behind it. The rotor and front end problems could be very dangerous because they impair the drivers control of the vehicle.