2004 Dodge Dakota: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Jul 23, 2018 · 87,000 miles · IN

Shifter will move without key in ignition. Will role in any direction in any position but park. Can remove key from ignition while running. While it's still running with key out can shift and drive. Other times when I go to start engine the key won't turn. I have to hit the end of the key with the palm of one hand while the other turns it. Replaced the ball joints the first of this year and vehicle only had 87000 miles at the time. Changed brakes and had to have rotor turned. Driver side brake caliper plunger had multiple pieces break off getting stuck between break pad and remaining pieces of plunger casting the vehicle to pull left while driving. When applying the break it pull so hard it caused me to start going into another lane barely missing the side of another vehicle.

Filed Aug 10, 2015 · Suspension · 130,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 dodge dakota. While accelerating at a low speed, the contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. In addition, while a stop, the vehicle overheated and the temperature gauge increased. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to multiple independent mechanics, who diagnosed that the front, upper and lower ball joints, struts, control arms, idle arms, control arm bushings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.

Filed Feb 1, 2015 · Steering · 86,000 miles · MN

Got in vehicle and started to drive when I noticed making a turn the steering wheel would not return to center. The steering was real heavy like the power steering was failing. Checked power steering fluid-it was okay,tire pressure was ok. As I continued to drive the steering got better. Since that incident the problem with the steering comes and goes. I went on the web and found out how many more 2004 dodge dakota truck owners are having the same problem. The steering problem seems to be in the intermediate shaft and/or the steering rack. There should be a recall for this safety problem or a class action. Also the 2004 dakota ball joints went out at 60000 miles at my expense. There was a recall for 2003 dakota ball joints being bad but not 2004. I had bought a 1993 dakota brand new and bought the 2004 dakota brand new but I might have to reconsider going to another make if the steering does not get remedied by dodge.

Filed May 13, 2014 · Steering · 110,600 miles · PA

Noticed a problem with the power steering on my 2004 dodge dakota at the beginning of april. The steering is stiff and hard to turn. It requires assistance to bring the steering wheel back to center. It doesn't matter what speed you are going. It seems to get better after about 30 minutes of driving but after sitting for a while the problem is back. I bought the truck last year as a second vehicle and now regret doing so. I have had the truck to the dealership twice. 4/14/14 they replaced the lower ball joints, front rotors and power steering pump. That did not fix the problem. 4/24/14 they replaced the steering rack. $2,300.00 later the problem still exists. It is going back to the dealership 5/14/14 but I have my doubts the problem will be fixed after reading other complaints online. I have contacted chrysler about this and have been assigned a case manager. I am waiting to hear what they have to say. I do not wish to spend anymore money trying to fix a design flaw in their steering components. The steering poses a safety issue and I do not feel comfortable driving it very far.

Filed May 31, 2013 · Suspension · 94,480 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 dodge dakota. The contact stated that while driving 15 MPH over a railroad track, the front driver's side dropped abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 94,480.

Filed Oct 19, 2012 · Steering, Suspension · 166,650 miles · CT

A good friend of mine has the exact same truck and his whole tire fell off going down the highway. He thank god did not get hurt or hurt anyone else in the prosess. He told me that in 2004 their was a recall on the ball joints of this vehicle. I bought my truck from a private owner and do not have a recall notice of my own, is there a way now that I am the 2nd owner of this vehicle that I can still have this recall be taken care of at a dealership being that it is under 10 years within the recall time limit. I don't want to have what happened to my friend happen to me. Thank you.

Filed Aug 2, 2012 · Suspension · 100,000 miles · NY · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 dodge dakota 4x4. While driving approximately 10 MPH, the contact attempted to make a turn then unexpectedly the front driver's side wheel collapsed due to a fractured ball joint. The vehicle crashed into a cement post in a parking lot. There were no personal injuries. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. There was a recall associated with the federal safety agency campaign id number 04v596000 (suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint); however the VIN was not included. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Dec 31, 2010 · Suspension · 85,000 miles · IL

Steering on my 2004 dodge dakota became hard to steer won't retract have to do it by hand. About six months before this started happening I had went to get a alignment and was told my upper and lower ball joints needed replaced. We bought this truck new and it has worn out every front tire that has ever been on it. 4 sets by 100,000 miles this began to happen at 25,000 miles there should be a recall on the front end, no vehicle should have bad ball joints at 85,000 miles or sooner because I thought it was wearing tires out because it needed a alignment!!!! I have not repaired it , we only drive it around town, I am waiting for chrysler to recall this. I see on this site that several others are having the same problem. I would hope chrysler don't wait until people are killed or injured like toyota did!!!!

Filed Aug 2, 2010 · Suspension · 85,000 miles · WA

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 dodge dakota. The contact stated the vehicle was taken to a local repair facility for an alignment when the contact was informed that the lower ball joints were severely worn to the point where they were unable to perform an alignment. The lower ball joints were causing the tires to wear unevenly. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000 and the current mileage was approximately 97,700.

Filed Dec 11, 2009 · Suspension · PA

I purchased a new 2004 dodge dakota pickup in 2004. Every year for inspection, I have needed several ball joints replaced. I was told this past year that I was really close to having the ball joints completely break off, which obviously is a major safety concern for me, especially since they have needed replaced every year.

Filed Sep 21, 2009 · Brakes, Steering · 71,000 miles · IN

I own a 2004 dakota quad 4x4 with 78k miles on it. I bought the truck new and have taken care of it. Most of the miles are highway and it has not been driven off road. Since its no longer under warranty I got online to research a diy solution. I found that many of the problems I have had and are having are not just being experienced by myself but other dakota owners. 1) steering issues the steering wheel becomes extremely hard to turn at times both going into and coming out of a turn. This started happening in feb 2009 with 71k on it. It is much more prevalent in cold weather. I was unable to drive the truck until the weather warmed up. (I have not had this fixed yet.) 2) brake issues 27k I had to have the front rotors and the rear drums turned and new pads and shoes installed and had the brake fluid changed. 46k I had to have new front rotors and pads along with the brake fluid changed 77k rear brakes began making noise. The parking brake pad had fallen off. I now need new rear drums and shoes and parking brake shoe. ( I have not had this fixed yet) 3)suspension 77k I need a front upper ball joint probably due to excess strain from the defective steering. ( I have not had this fixed yet).

Filed May 1, 2009 · Steering · 56,000 miles · PA

While driving normally I noticed a knock in the front end while I just went down the street, thought it might be a ball joint or tie rod. Then one day while driving down the highway the steering became close to impossible. Very jerky and it felt gummy. I had the rack replaced as suggested by the "5-star dealer" and that only fixed the noise, not the steering issue. Read online about it being the intermediate steering shaft and u-joints, so I sprayed them with lubricant and am going to see how the truck runs later. Some of those engineers really need to design greased fittings into the vehicle.