Problems with 1999 Dodge Dakota SUSPENSION

Upper ball joints were replaced at 29256 miles because they were on the verge of failing. *ph *mr

The upper suspension arm on my 1999 dodge dakota sport (5.2l manual transmission) rapt a hole in the front left brake hose, causing total braking failure. this failure happened in a parking lot on the georgia institute of technology campus. *la

Dodge dealer advised me that upper ball joints on my 1999 dodge dakota 4wd were dry and needed replacement. the truck had 18562 miles. having already seen the cbs special , i knew there would eventually be a recall. the recall is for 2000-2003. my 1999 has the same problem. it now has 23505 miles, with the same dry ball joints in need of replacement.*jb

Wanted to let you know that according to abc news and my personal experience that dodge dakota owners are also experiencing premature ball joint failures.*ak

Upper ball joints are very loose and could separate from control arm. i believe the ball joint recall should include my 1999 2 wheel drive dodge dakota because it also is in great danger of the front suspension collapsing whle driving. *jb

Consumer took vehicle to dealership for inspection, and mechanic informed consumer that the upper ball joints failed. *ak *mr

Consumer took vehicle to an independent repair shop for regular maintenance, and the technician indicated the need to be replace the catalytic converter and the lower ball joint. *ak

The steering felt loose when driving over bumps in the road. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who determined the lower ball joints were worn and needed to be replaced. *jb the mechanic contacted the consumer's insurance company and received authorization to replace the left and right lower ball joints. prior to the ball joints being replaced the vehicle was taken to the dealer twice for loose steering, but they could not duplicate the problem. *nm

The lower ball joint on my 1999 dodge dakota failed. this caused the driver's side of vehicle to slam violently to the ground. the rack and pinion was damaged as a result. steering alignment was greatly affected as well. front bumper was also damaged. i understand that these ball joints are a growing concern with dakotas and durangos and would like to see some action taken by the manufacturer. *la

Upper and lower ball joint premature wear

I noticed a slight squeak coming from the front left wheel on or around the first of december. as the squeak began to get more pronounced i figured i should check for worn or damaged suspention parts. not long after this thought i saw the report on cbs reguarding the investigation of the upper ball joints on the dodge durangos and dakotas. guess what...i drive a 1999 dodge dakota with very worn out upper ball joints at just over 37,000 miles. i will replace them and keep them for the impending recall that you will order. after all with out you the manufactures would continue to cut costs and cost lives.*ak

I own a 1999 dodge dakota with 55,000 miles. i recently had to have nearly the entire front end fixed due to inferior parts. at two different auto shops i was told that i am extremely lucky that my wheels did not fall off while driving. i needed 4 new shocks, two new tie rod ends, and my ball joints were totally shot.*ak

While driving a noise was heard. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined the lower right ball joints and stabilizer bushings were worn out and needed to replaced. *ak *jb

While driving at any speed and when making a turn heard a knocking noise coming from the front end. consumer could pull the steering wheel with his hands and hear a knocking sound in the steering column. dealer examined the vehicle twice and found nothing wrong. an alignment shop while attempting to realign the tires found that the upper ball joints were worn out. *ak

I recently had my truck in for pre-winter maintenance check, my mechanic said three out of the four ball joints are bad and need replacing. also, when i do have them replaced i may as well do all four because he has seen "a lot" of dakotas with ball joints going bad. i was told that it would cost $490 to have them replaced. with just over 58k miles, rarely driven off of blacktop, and given the recently publicity by the news media, it's obvious that there is a problem here. i find this to be justification for a recall or at the very least a manufacturers re-imbersement for the cost of the parts.

I recently had to have the lower ball joints on both side of truck replaced. one of the ball joints was completely disintegrated. the other was well on its way to the same. i bought the truck new and have a documented record of regular maintenance that i have had performed. i am reporting this to you because i recently found out that several other customers have had the same issue. i love my truck, but, if there are issues that need to be resolved i feel dodge should take the initiative before people are hurt or killed. please do the right thing and get these vehicles repaired.

I have experienced clanking and front end jumping when making turns in the front end of my 1999 dodge dakota. this was presented, which was adressed by rotating and balancing the front and back tires come to find out it was my upper ball joints in my suspension !!!!!!!! due to the milage put on my front tires, abnormal wear has occured due to the suspension. i must also replace the damaged tires caused by a dodge defect!!!!!!! i am also suspecting excessive brake wear in the front end due to this.

Dealer replaced twice both upper and lower ball joints, also, the transfer case was replaced. dealer notified. please provide further information. *ph 1999 dodge dakota has had the following repairs peformed: replacement of transfer case, upper and lower ball joints, wheel bearings, right hub assembly, right rotor, right axle assembly, and front shocks.*mr

Ball joints on 1999 dodge dakota. i have already replaced one and need to replace the other. my model year is not being recalled despite the fact that the exact same manufacturer of the ball joint and the same design was used on it, as it is on the 2000-2004 that is included in the recall. in addition, you have recommended only recalling the 4x4 models, but 4x2 models also suffer from this problem. who paid you guys to not include our model year. you are a disgrace. i am outraged. *jb

During a routein tire rotation at my chrysler dearer it was discovered that after only 44,529 miles the ball joints were ready to fail on my 1999 dakota sport cc pickup. before i left the dealer he replaced the upper and lower ball joints both sides and the left and right inner tie rod ends. i was lucky i went in for a tire rotation. *ak

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? *ak

I own a 1999 dodge dakota. i recently had new tires put on. the dealer said he couldn't align the front end because the ball joints (upper and lower) were too worn. the truck has 85000 mostly highway miles. considering the tv story on dakotas and durangos, thought i'd let you know. *la

During a vehicle inspection, the mechanic found that the upper ball joints were defective and had to be replaced. *ak *scc *jb

While driving at any speed consumer heard a loud knocking sound from under the vehicle when turning corners. vehicle was taken to a repair shop. the mechanic informed the consumer, that upper ball joints were worn out. *ak

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. *la

Requesting further info on doge "durango/ dakota" investigation on upper ball joint problem. i own a 1999 dodge dakota and experience front end squeaking, excessive abnormal front tire wear, and banging when going over a bump or turning a sharp corner{going on a year now}. i have presented this problem to the dodge dealership and they have, demeaningly, only determined the issue to be tires unbalanced and rotated the tires to attempt to resolve the issue. ( quick fix and get out!! )yet the tire wear continues and noises of metal clanking occurs. i had seen the report on cbs news on october 27, 2003 and now have a higher concern of this issue, as desribed above. what sort of resolutions are being performed and what should i do????*ak

Faulty ball joints in my 1999 dodge dakota at 34,000 miles and 74,000 miles

Premature wear of ball joints in my 1999 dodge dakota. vehicle has less that 48000 on it and was told when i went for an alignment that my ball joints were wearing out. shouldn't be wearing out so soon. have not replaced yet, dealer mechanic claims he has seen quite a few of these.*ak

In september of 2003 the right front suspension began making creaking sounds anytime the truck went over a bump. when the vehicle was turned fully to the left, the right front suspension make a loud clunch sound just prior to hitting the wheel turn stop. the vehicle was looked at by an independent mechanic and he determined that the upper and lower ball joints on the right front were failing. he also noted that the left upper ball joint also had some movement. the vehicle was then looked at by the local dodge dealership, and they determined that only the right side upper and lower control arms and ball joints neeeded to be replaced and repairs were made. two weeks later i returned the vehicle to the dealership and showed them the movement on the left side. that side was then replaced.

While driving 10 mph passenger's wheel broke. vehicle was towed to a garage for inspection, and mechanic determined that both frontal upper ball joints needed to be replaced. *ak

My 1999 dodge dakota had the wheel bearing fail at 65,000 miles. this is the same failure that has occurred in the 2000 to present recall. they should include the 1999 model in their recall. *jb

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.*ak

Unsafe ball joints required costly repair just after warranty expired

Consumer was driving approximately 45-50 mph and noticed that front wheels were loose and were not responding well. also, there was noise when wheels hit bumps or cracks in the road. took vehicle to independent mechanic, and had the front upper ball joints replaced. another independent mechanic determined that lower ball joints also needed replacement. *ak *la

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. *nlm

The upper and lower ball joints loosened and needed to be replaced. *ak

Had to replace upper and lower ball joints on a 1999 dodge ram 4 x 4 pickup with only 29,000 miles on it

Northtown dodge of tonawanda ,2020 niagara falls blvd, tonawanda,ny tel#7166927200, told me the squeak in my '99 dodge dakota (53,372 miles) was the failure of both upper and lower ball joints. they charged me a total of $1,870.00 for the job in july '03. $1,048 was for parts alone. they insisted that the ball joint connecting arms are one piece with each ball joint. since then i called the same dealer's parts dept. requesting information on replacement parts costs. that dept. told me that daimler chrysler has produced replacement parts at the cost of $100.00 each because they realize that the ball joints in both the dakota and durangos have a frequent failure record. northtown dodge service dept. did not inform me of those parts availability or even existence and did not afford me the opportunity to save over $640.00 in parts alone. i feel that they lied and cheated me and probably others with no warranty. *la

The steering of my vehilcle displayed excess movement and made a clicking / loose kind of sound when changing steering direction. it was necessary for me to replace the front end of my 1999 dodge dakota. this consisted of the upper and lower ball joints on both sides. this was not covered by the dealer. i had all work performed by my local mechanic at my expense. i saw the article on line regarding the possible recall and would like to know if my vehicle as well as those of others who have experiencedn this condition and have paid for these repairs themselves can be considered part of this action and possibly receive reinbursment to off set these expenses. *ak

1999 doge dakota. only 44,000 miles. needs both front upper ball joints replaced with alignment. been told numerous dakotas have this "problem"

The consumer experienced problems with the upper ball joints as well as having to replace the upper control arms on both sides. the owner took the vehicle to the dealer and had the services performed. provide further details. *jb

Vehicle experienced problems with the upper and lower ball joints. consumer had the vehicle inspected, and discovered that both the upper and lower ball joints split. both the upper and lower ball joints were replaced. later, consumer contacted the manufacturer, who informed consumer that this vehicle was not recalled due to vin. *ak

'99 dodge dakota, club cab, 4wd, just turned 100,000 miles, had to have the ball joints replaced twice since i have owned it. ball joints were first replaced at 60,000 miles with oem parts, ball joints were replaced a second time at 90,000 with aftermarket parts. vehicle is used only on paved roads and not subject to abuse...prematurely failing ball joints are a safety concern and causing premature tire wear.*ak

Computer controls, loud spark knock under moderate acceleration, updated osftware on pcm exhaust/emission, loud popping sounds (bad converter) suspension, loud popping from right front side upon shifting, braking, exiting and entering vehicle, repl right upper and lower control arms, alignment

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 dodge dakota. while driving 5 mph, the contact heard a clunking noise coming from the front end of the vehicle. the dealer stated that the upper ball joint needed to be replaced and performed the repair. approximately three years later, she experienced the same failure. there is recall # 04v596000 for the upper ball joints for model years 2000-2003. the contact feels that her vehicle should be included. the current mileage is 72,000 and failure mileage was 40,000.

The consumer stated the upper and lower ball joints experienced premature failure. *ak *ts *jb

While driving at any speed driver heard a loud squeaking noise coming from the front. suddenly, the vehicle vibrated uncontrollably. vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that both frontal ball joints needed to be replaced, and replaced them. however, the problem recurred, and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer. after tightening both frontal ball joints the problem recurred. mechanic determined again that the upper ball joints needed to be replaced. *ak

Consumer replaced the upper and lower ball joints. this vehicle was not included in the upper ball joint nhtsa recall 04596000. *ak

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.*ak

Within the past 2 weeks, i saw a news story on either the today or early show regarding the safety problems with ball joints on dodge durangos and dakotas. i started noticing a problem with my 1999 dakota last year and fortunately had it checked out before it caused an accident. i ended up having both the left and right upper ball joints replaced.