Groaning occurs whenever the vehicle moves in reverse and the wheel is turned one rotation left. Also recently, a loud squeal has occurred on forward vehicle movement. I am concerned with similar complaints of ball joint failure and vehicle safety.
2004 Dodge Dakota suspension complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 45, newest first, as owners wrote them.
From the very beginning I kept hearing noises from the brakes and front end. This was going into the 2nd year of ownership. My dodge dakota has been in the shop at least 15 times for the same thing. They have replaced the steering parts, sway bar, brakes rotors, caliber and still make a a moaning groaning noise when ever I turn or go over bumps.
While having my tires rotated at sears, the tech informed me that the ball joints on my 2004 dodge dakota were very badly worn, both upper and lower. The vehicle has only 54,000 miles and is driven almost exclusively on pavement. I contacted the dealer, lithia dodge of roseburg oregon, I spoke with service manager phil tyler and lot manager wayne knowles, and dodge corporate, but both refused to discuss the issue further.
Can hear a popping noise from right front end when going into driveways or making right turns. On 6/4/08 took vehicle into dealer and they stated the upper control arms were worn out as well as the shocks. 1500$ later they replaced the upper control arms, shocks, and a full alignment. All of this at only 37k miles! As soon as I got the vehicle home the noise is still there albeit less noticeable. Took vehicle back to same dealer on 6/6/08 and noise could not be heard and dealers mechanic stated it was safe to drive and to bring it back if the noise is reproducible. Be reading other complaints and suspect that the lower control arms are bad or going but dealer said they were ok. Something is wrong when so many people are having their front ends go out at such low miles. Please contact me so we can get this fixed through a recall. Dealer said he kept the broken parts.
Our truck is a 2004 dodge dakota with 40,000 miles on it. My husband was pulling out of a parking space, getting ready to get onto I-95 and the front passenger side wheel fell off. These same vehicles were recalled for 2000-2003 but not 2004. If the wheel had fallen off once on I-95 at 75 MPH my husband or someone else could have been seriously injured or worse. This was a ball joint problem. $1300 later both sides are replaced. Chrysler says there is no recall and if there is a future recall then we may be reimbursed. We will never buy a chrysler product again.
When braking for a stop, with the gas tank between half and full, there is a loud "thumping" noise a few seconds after begin stopped. The original gas tank has been replaced but the noise still exists. Per the dealer, 2005 and later models this problem has been corrected. Why can this not be corrected on the 2004 models? *tr the consumer stated it is to his understanding that this is an ongoing problem with the gas tank on 2004 dodge dakota's. The consumer is questioning why the later models were corrected and not the model he possess which has the same defect? The dealer stated knocking noise on floor the vehicle was placed on a lift and the axle nuts were re-torqued. Water leaked over the accelerator pedal, and the hole was sealed. The dealer stated clicking noise came from the rear when coming to a stop. Updated 09/05/07 *tr updated 09/06/07.
Vibrating at speeds greater than 50 MPH. Spoke to dodge reference #15238936 the vehicle continues to vibrate after multiple attempts to repair truck at dealers. Tires balanced and rotated, then tires replaced, brakes replaced, shocks replaced. Swapped rims. Serviced transmission, replaced driveshaft and u joints. Pressure balance the tires. Replaced axel bearings and possibly the axel. Replaced ring gear and pinion and all bearings. Multiple alignments.
Excessive movement in front suspension of 2004 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4, side to side lateral movement and steering difficulty. Dodge service department found excessive play in lower ball joints on both right and left wheels and steering rack coming apart at tie rod. Failure of ball joints can cause wheel to detach from vehicle without warning. Previous model years have been recalled for upper ball joints with same issue. Parts must be replaced.
My 2004 dodge dakota club cab has popping noises emitting from the front suspension when maneuvering at low speeds. I've had this checked at 2 different dealers. The first visit resulted in a "could not duplicate" answer. The second visit I was told the noises were perfectly normal noises coming from the steering rack as the fluid moves through the system. The noises happen when I steer at low speeds and the weight of the truck shifts form side to side. The front end alignment has altered and the tires are wearing unevenly.
Squealing sound coming from left front wheel. Jacked up vehicle to inspect and wheel was wobbling back and forth. Took it to dealer and learned that the bearings needed to be replaced on both front wheels. Vehicle has 38,000 miles and has been driven almost entirely on paved roads.
My truck had been making the notorious squeaking sounds from the font end that the dodge dakota has been known for over the past few years. I knew nothing of the ball joint problems with this vehicle until my fiance was in an accident with the truck. The accident that occurred was faulted to my fiance's fault. When speaking with her, she stated that she was unable to steer the truck and therefore struck the other car 'while going around the corner'. When she stopped the vehicle after the accident, she found the truck lowered to the ground on the front drivers side due to the wheel assembly popping off the truck. By 'popping off' I mean that the lower ball joint popped out of its location and the rivets holding the top of the spindle popped out of there position. Yes I said popped. There were no ripping of parts etc, the assembly just popped off the truck. This accident occurred at a low speed going through a turn. This is the exact enactment that chrysler has stated that the wheel would fall off if the part full malfunctioned. Chrysler has been using the same parts in the 04 dakota truck as that used in the 00-03. Why is the part not being corrected? Why is chrysler not taking control of this issue and resolving the issue with a recall? Chrysler is putting lives at risk everyday that they are not recalling this part and correcting the issue. Is it going to take the death of an individual caused by this failing part for them to step up and admit they have messed up? We cant wait for this. Start saving the lives at risk now by getting this recall started and getting all of the dakota fixed. If it is not done now, each individual that has the power to get it done, is putting many lives at risk. What should we as dodge dakota owners do to get this issue resolved and protect our families?
2004 dodge dakota pickup 4x4 had clunking from front suspension. Replaced upper ball joint.
I am looking for all people that are willing to speak to my attorney about problems they are having with their 04 dakota's. I have had clunking noise coming from front end, whirling noise at idling gets louder when blinker on, windows make clunking noise while rolling up or down, sever e shaking while braking ( warped rotors), transmission leaking, and the list goes on. I am in the middle of lemon law and it took me a long time to be able to find an attorney. This one is excellent.
Dt: the consumer stated that there was a shimmy/vibration in the front suspension. The vehicle was taken to the dealer three separate times for inspection and repair. The rack and pinion, front shocks and all four tires had been changed. The problem still exist. The consumer had been in contact with the manufacturer. *ak (12/05/05) the vehicle had been to three different dealers with no results.
Dt: 2004 dodge, dakota. The consumer stated steering has been replaced three times and it was still defective. The idler arms were replaced once. The consumer stated that a month after purchase the vehicle made a clicking noise on the front passenger side. She repeatedly took the vehicle to dealer, and had the idler arms replaced. The vehicle would click when the steering wheel was turned, it was replaced three times and problem recurred. The consumer filed a complaint with the manufacturer. Also, power steering pump, the radio, and the knee panel has been replaced twice. In addition, the rear shocks and springs/ the rear window regulator/driver's side seat/the clock driver's side door handle, roof joint molding were replaced. The vehicle was purchased new with 800 miles on it.
Vehicle was leaning to the right, and when driving at any speed it pulled to the right. Vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to resolve this problem.
Recall campaign : the vehicle's ball joints failed prior to recall notification 04v‑596. *nm the vehicle' s ball joints, rack and pinion steering and outer tire rods also had to be replaced. The consumer request reimbursement.
The consumer owns a 2004 dakota 4x4. The consumer's vehicle has the same ball joint problem as described in the recall for the 2000-2003 models. The consumer wants to know why the manufacturer excluded 2004 dakota . *bf *nm *sc *tc
Consumer wants to know why are the 2004 models being excluding when the problem existed in the 2004, dodge dakota they have the same ball joints problems.
A knocking noise was coming from the front of the vehicle. Consumer drove the vehicle to the dealer, and mechanic determined that the left and right upper ball joints needed to be replaced.
Bought dakota new jan,04 at 10000,15000,and 18000rotors were replaced for shake in tk when braking still has problem front hubs and bearings replaced has popping noise in front end when turning sometimes when applying brakes truck pulls to left front driveshaft and driver window regulater has been replaced also 2 sensors in trans replaced.temperature guage went all the way to hot 1 time when truck was started. Wish dodge would just buy it back.my first and last dodge ever.
I bought a 2004 dodge dakota 3/20/04 and ever since it was new it has made a "popping" or a "scraping" noise when I turn. I made complaints to the dealer at the 3,000 mi and 7,000 mi oil changes but the dealer tells me they can't find anything. Now I see that 2003 and previous dakota's have been recalled for ball joint service I am wondering. I have not drove my dakota since october cause I don't feel safe driving it.
I own a 2002 dodge dakota [xxx]. I now have 40,000 miles on it. My front brakes (disc) needed to be replaced three times due to pulsating. This pulsating is attributed to rotors warping. The rotor warping is caused by too much heat friction in the front braking system. As a result, the rotors warp causing a substantial loss in braking power. The ball joints and control arms were also replaced under warranty because they were 'loose' and they made a clunking sound often. Since the parts were replaced, the same sound still occurs leading me to believe that the oem parts are faulty. I do not use this vehicle for medium or heavy loads at any time; I do, however, use this vehicle under normal driving conditions in the capacity of a passenger vehicle.*ak updated 07/24/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)
I am concerned the 2004 dodge durango and dakota are not being investigated. They have the same ball-joints!!. Also dodge know about the ball joint problem in 2003 but continue installing the ball-joints during the 2004 production run.
Steering shook severely while driving at 62 MPH, and the vehicle vibrated when going up a slight incline. Vehicle had been to the dealer on several occasions, and they are unable to locate the cause of the problem.
Consumer was making a right turn a loud knocking noise was heard coming from the front. Consumer drove vehicle to the dealer, and mechanic determined that the rack and pinion,and both front driver's side and passenger's side upper ball joints needed to be replaced.
Transmission slips, rattling in the front suspension of the vehicle. Took this truck back to outten county chrysler numerous times and they would not fix any of the problems.
2004 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4, purchased 8/16/04. Currently 2,200 miles on the vehicle. Within the first week of ownership, the vehicle developed rattling or clunking noises in the front end when traveling over bumps. Additionally, the vehicle is out of alignment, and pulls to the left when braking. Tire wear (although very slight @ 2,200 miles in not symmetrical between lh front to rh front tire). I will be taking the truck into the dealership @ 3,000 miles to have them look at the front end, as well as the alignment.
I have a 2004 dodge dakota crew cab with about 6,000 miles on it. For several months it has been making a crunching sound from the front end on tight turns. I am aware of widespread upper ball joint problems on other dakotas. The dodge dealer says there is nothing wrong, but the noise is persistent, and there must be something wrong.
On 10/22/03 I had upper and lower left side ball joints replaced due to noise and vibration with mileage under 32100 miles. On 7/20/04 the rear universal joint had to be replaced at 37821 miles. All repairs 100% my cost. Here we are again at 38340 miles; noise, clunking, and vibration in the front suspension. Back to the dealer.
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