2008 Dodge Dakota: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Jun 24, 2016 · Airbags, Suspension · OH

I was driving home on highway and heard a pop like sound found out in morning the pinion was the issue and neighbor found nut was lose and I got another and he is a mechanic so he installed it and a week later was making noise so I took it to a garage and they found it lose and installed another one and just the other day I took it back and found it was lose some so he ordered another one and he put some retainer or not sure but he will put the new nut on when it comes in and I see 44,000 trucks from 2009 to 2010 and trucks from 2005 have pinion problems so I am amazed that 2008 has same issue and I see so many post ball joints I did one side already and for god to and now air bag I see and had fords and chevy and all I repaired on the were normal things

Filed Mar 29, 2016 · Seat belts, Suspension · 112,000 miles · MI

2008 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4 is the biggest piece of junk I have had 3 trans done and trans lines 3 times all front end tie rods struts sway bars wheel barrings rotors radio air bags seat belts and more replaced on this rolling wheeled piece of junk ive had people say nice truck and I say thanks but dont buy one they are a junk only 116k miles on it and will be lots more to spend on this junk dealer asked me if I ever drove it down a drit road and I said why he said the tie rods are wore out on it and I said how this is when I had 10k miles on it they said they that you should not go on any dirt roads come on now where are no dirt roads I laughed at them and said I had not went on one yet. Now how do anybody get this thing right on get rid of it what a lemon.

Filed May 27, 2015 · Suspension · 25,000 miles · IL

Tie rods failed under 25k miles loss of control violent shaking 26 thousand miles water pump bearings failed leaking seal possible belt slippage from leak repair shop also noticed rack n pinion seals leaking fluid that was replaced now I hear a clunking when I turn. Ball joints?? That you cannot lubricate they were replaced for free on my 2002 dakota for my ownership free they should be free for this one too before it kills someone.

Filed Dec 10, 2014 · Steering · 100,000 miles · NC

My husband was driving his 08 dodge dakota less than 2 miles from our home. We live in a very rural area. He was not going more than 35-40 MPH. He lost control of the vehicle due to an incredible amount of shaking in the front end of the truck. Luckily, he was close to a rarely used road and pulled over. It was unusable and had to be towed to the mechanic's shop. Both tie rods had broken along with other parts that were severely worn. We had just had a baby less than two weeks before and we had all ridden in the truck together days before this happened. Thank the good lord my husband did not wreck and the baby and myself were not with him. The chrysler company needs to fix this problem!!! It was expensive to fix for a family with a new baby and very, very dangerous!!

Filed Nov 20, 2014 · Suspension · 68,342 miles · VA

Vehicle failed state safety test due to need for lower ball joints at <70k miles.

Filed Nov 18, 2014 · Lights, Steering · 55,623 miles · ID

While driving the outer tie rod failed and the vehicle was unusable, the dealer stated there was no warranty. The vehicle would have crashed if I had not been lucky and brought it to the side of the road quickly. Both tie rod ends were found to be defective as well as the sway bar mounts. In addition this vehicle has routinely had a turn signal problem, when you turn on the left signal the right signal illuminates about 25 percent of the time.

Filed Nov 20, 2013 · Brakes, Steering · 30,000 miles · MI

Repair shop said I needed new front brake pads & rotors, tie rods were about to fall off, said it was danger to drive. Chrysler dealer said it was out warranty.

Filed Jul 29, 2013 · Airbags, Brakes · 620,000 miles · MI · crash · 2 injuries

This truck is the 4 and the last dodge I will ever buy the trailer light pack is junk the break sys is junk its a two sensor ABS 1 one the driver front and one on the rear end and they say its all wheel ABS trans 2 times rebuilt rotors and brakes replace at every 3 months tie rods struts rack and pump replaced them 3 times seat belts in the rear are not kid rated when they latch but don't lock even when you do get in a crash radio don't work air bags don't work tire low light is always on even when you air them up and new sensors on every time you use the brakes you lose the heater A/C they shut off then you let of the brakes it turns again.

Filed May 19, 2013 · Steering · 96,507 miles · WA

Drove vehicle home last night just fine. Went to leave this morning and front right tire wouldn't roll. Upon inspection, tie rod is not attached. It just fell off. This is a commuter vehicle and has never been used off-road.

Filed Aug 25, 2011 · Steering · 63,000 miles · WI

Our 2008 dodge dakota had two tie rods fail in two months. The truck was fresh out of warranty with approx 63,000 miles. First one tie rod broke, then within two months, the other. No warning, when first tie rod end was replaced, other tie rod was checked,looked ok. New tie rod ends were installed. Both presented dramatic safety issues. The tie rod broke and fell so that there was absolutely no control of the front wheels. By sheer luck, we were not driving 65 MPH down the highway, but in a rural town setting, so we did not crash the truck. The mechanics on the second breakdown of the tie rod end told us something had to be wrong with the second one going. This doesn't just happen twice on one truck. Chrysler "customer service" offered to pay for the parts. Customer service representative did not understand english and we could not understand the representative, who spoke with a heavy accent, making it difficult, no, impossible to understand the representative. From the responses we got from our mechanics and chrysler, it is obvious to us that this was not the first truck that came in with the very same problem. The tie rod ends failing is not the same as the heater or air conditioner quitting. It is a major safety issue, and we got no satisfaction and were treated as though it was some irritation that they were bothered with. We believe they know about the problem, and their (customer service) know about it and only wanted to get us off their back by giving us the lowest possible quality of customer service. Like most good customer service representatives, they would not commit any of their comments to writing, but, I am sure, recorded everything, where it may or may not be available.

Filed Aug 2, 2011 · Steering · 23,153 miles · MI

The steering linkage ball joint broke on my 2008 dodge dakota with only 23,153 miles.

Filed Feb 11, 2011 · Steering · 39,295 miles · WI

Had the brakes checked on the vehicle during a routine oil change. Was informed that the tie rod end was loose and would have to be replaced, or else the possibility of losing steering control of the vehicle would be eminent. Was informed that the tie rod ends were designed for cars, and these same tie rod ends were also used in the trucks. I asked if the parts had been upgraded and was told no they had not been upgraded, and that the same parts would be used to replace the old worn ones. Why are parts designed for a car being used in a truck, especially in such a critical area? Luckily, this was caught before a disaster happened.