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KERRIE
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/10/2004
14:16:15
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 Subject: RE: Ball Joints
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FYI- I FOUND THIS ON THE NHTSA SITE- ITS THE REPLY FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER TO THE NHTSA DATED 9/5/2003 LENGTHY, BUT WORTH IT
"DCC HAS CONDUCTED A REVIEW OF ALL COMPLAINTS RECEIVED REGARDING THE SUBJUCT BALL JOINTS, INCLUDING THOSE WHICH INDICATE NO ALLEGATION OF ANY SAFETY CONCERN. THIS REIEW HAS FOUND THAT THE CLEAR MAJORITY OF ALL COMPLAINTS RECIEVED(99.7%)ARE RELATED TO THE COST OF REPLACEMENT PARTS FOLLOWING A DIAGNOSIS OF A WORN SUBJECT BALL JOINT, OR OTHER ISSUES WHICH ARE NOT RELATED TO BALL JOINT SEPARATION, OR ANY OTHER SAFETY CONCERN. IT IS CLEAR FROM REVIEWING THESE COMPLAINTS THAT THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE IS PRSENTED WITH SUBSTANTIAL AND SUFFICIENT WARNING LONG PRIOR RO ANY RISK IN SEVERAL WAYS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, INCREASING AND NOTICABLE LOOSENESS IN THE VEHICLE STEERING, THE FRONT SUSPENSION EMITTING UNUSUAL AND LOUD CLUNKING OR POPPING NOISES DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION, UNUSUAL AND PREMATURE TIRE WEAR, AND AN INABILITY TO ALIGN THE VEHICLES FRONT SUSPENSION. MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SUBJECT BALL JOINT INDICATED KNOWLEDGE OF THE NEED FOR BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT FOR VERY LONG PERIODS OF TIME, OFTEN APPROACHING OR EXCEEDING ONE YEAR. DCC BELIEVES FROM THE PREPONDERANCE OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REVIEWED, THAT OPERATORS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES RECEIVE SUFFICIENT WARNING WHEN SERVICE OF THE SUBJECT BALL JOINTS IS REQUIRED. ONLY THE VERY FOEW VEHICLES WHERE OPERATORS IGNORED THESE WARNINGS MAY RISK EVENTUAL SEPARTION OF A BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY. FURTHER, IF THE OWNERS MANUAL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES REGARDING THE SERVICE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINTS HAD BEEN FOLLOWED, IT IS VIRTUALLY ASSURED THAT THIS SITUATION WOULD BE AVOIDED.
IN ADDITION, DCC HAS TAKEN STEPS TO ADDRESS CUSTOMER DISSATISFACTION AS TO THE COST OF REPLACING THE UPPER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES, SHOULD IT BECOME NECESSARY. PRIOR TO AUGUST 2003, THE UPPER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY WAS RIVETED TO THE UPPER CONTROL ARM, IN BOTH PRODUCTION AND SERVICE APPLICATIONS. AS A RESULT, REPLACEMENT OF UPPER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES BEFORE AUGUST 2003 ALSO REQUIRED UPPER CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENT AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT, WHICH IN MANY CASES RESULTED IN INCREASED SERVICE COST. IN AUGUST 2003, CDD RELEASED FOR SERVICE AN UPPER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY THAT COULD BE BOLTED ONTO THE EXISTING UPPER CONTROL ARM, ELIMINTATING CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENT AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE RECENT AVAILABILITY OF THEIS PART IS EXPECTED TO ADDRESS MOST COMPLAINTS REGARDING SERVICE COST OF THE SUBJECT BALL JOINTS.
NICE TO KNOW THEY CARE!!!!!!
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KERRIE
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/10/2004
14:46:38
|  RE: Ball Joints
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OH, I ALMOST FORGOT!!!! SO, IF I READ IT CORRECTLY( THE LAST PARAGRAPH OF DCC LETTER TO NHTSA) DCC SAYS IF YOU REPLACE THE UPPER CONTROL ARM YOU WILL NEED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND THAT THEIR NEW ASSEMBLY WOULD ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR UPPER CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENT AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT. WELL, MY DIAGNOSIS WAS "BALL JOINTS HAVE EXCESSIVE PLAY" SO THEY REPLACED ALL FOUR CONTROL ARMS AND DIDN'T DO A FRONT END ALIGNMENT BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WELL, DIDN'T THEY JUST ADMIT IT IS PART OF THE REPAIR NECESSARY WHEN YOU REPLACE AN UPPER CONTROL ARM? AND WHY DIDN'T THEY, THE DODGE DEALERSHIP USE THIS "NEW ASSEMBLY"? IF ITS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE OLDER MODELS,MEANING THE 98-2002'S, THEN THEY SHOULD COVER THE COST OF THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT AFTER UPPER CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENT. ANY COMMENTS???????????????
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Todd
Dodge Dakota
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3/10/2004
18:06:31
|  RE: Ball Joints
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I own a 2001 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab, and have been in regular contact with NHTSA on this issue. The lead investigator on the ball joint investigation is 'peter.kivett@nhtsa.dot.gov'& the investigation is Engineering Analysis EA03-023. Send him an email and help us all get this issue resolved once and for all!
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Lowell
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/23/2004
12:34:38
| RE: Ball Joints
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Purchased 2001 Dakota from Dodge dealer with 90 day
warr.
Is there any ball joint repairs avail. under warr. ?
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MY H3RO
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/23/2004
15:01:39
| RE: Ball Joints
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Go to the NHTSA website (you can do it on Google) I can't believe the number of balljoint complaints and DC isn't doing anything about it. I wouldn't cost them a lot of money (just drill and tap for a zerk fitting). But would help customer confidence a lot!!!!
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jay
Dodge Dakota
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3/24/2004
10:33:34
| RE: Ball Joints
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i have a 98 Dakota and have already replaced the uppers and i'm about to do the lowers. do not get the dealer to do them because they are more expensive and there just as bad as the originals
.Get aftermarket because you can grease them.dodges ball joints are junk.
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Doug4.7
Dodge Dakota
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3/27/2004
21:20:55
|  RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
Did you actually READ that response from DC? What it seems to say is DC is attempting to prove that this is NOT a 'safety issue'. That is a critical point as a company is required to issue a recall ONLY if it is a 'safety issue'. Any other problem is a ‘voluntary’ recall, meaning they don’t have to do it if they don’t want to. Sounds like DC is trying for a legal out on this one. So they are going to 'help' us by making the replacement parts less expensive. They did NOT say anything about paying for it if the truck is out of warranty. It really sounds like DC is attempting to get out of a recall. Now maybe I am just being a pessimist, but...
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Kerrie
Dodge Dakota
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3/28/2004
08:59:03
|  RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
They stated that the new assembly would reduce service cost, for them maybe since they are refusing to pay/ cover the front end alignment as part of the upper control arm repair. According to DC, the new assembly put into service Aug of 2003 would eliminate the need for a front end alignment. I'd like to know how??? My upper control arms were recently replaced and the truck was returned pulling to the right. Prior to the repair, it was not pulling. We asked about an alignment being necessary prior to the repair and was told by the service manager it would not be needed. Then when the truck was returned pulling to the right( where bad ball joint found) he changes his tune and said it needs an alignment but it's not covered under warranty. We took it elsewhere for the alignment and I was told front right was " way out of whack".... big surprise. Has anyone else had to pay for the front end aligment after upper control arm replacement????
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Kerrie
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/29/2004
13:06:50
|  RE: Ball Joints
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Have any of you been injured or know of someone who has been injured because of these ball joint failures???? If you could let me know, it's important!!!!!! Thanks
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CWatsonJr
Dodge Dakota
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3/31/2004
10:39:33
| RE: Ball Joints
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After reading all these horror stories on the ball joints I took my 2K1 CC (83K miles) in because I thought they were failing... all of the noises and problems (tire wear, alignment, clunking, etc.) were occuring.
Turns out the ball joints are fine (upper and lower). My shocks were bad and that is what caused my mis-alignment and tire wear. The clunking was once again the steering stops hitting the A-Arms. Put some grease on the backside of the steering stop and some on the groove that is being made on the lower A-Arm and that stopped it.
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BDB
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/03/2004
01:21:43
|  RE: Ball Joints
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Shocks causing mis-alignment,,, That's fishy to me,
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blk98dakota
Dodge Dakota
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4/03/2004
20:24:23
| RE: Ball Joints
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I can't believe they told BDB that his/her shocks were causing misalignment. I called the dealer service dept here in NC and they said that its impossible for that to be the case. The shocks have nothing to do with allowing or not allowing a vehicle to align properly. I STRONGLY SUGGEST GETTING ANOTHER TECH TO LOOK INTO IT!
http://www.dodgedakota.net/userpics/Philip/Lowered.jpg
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ChasW
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/03/2004
20:31:49
|  RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
I'm outta place here but my 2003 Durango is on the same platform as the Dakota.. at 17,000 miles right front ball joints failed.. tire came completely off at 65mph.. hit guard rail on interstate.. 13,300 in damage my insurance company paid.. (except deductable) Dodge refuses to talk to me anymore saying it was a "wreck" and not failure. Go see for yourself.. http://www.wellston.net/durango.htm
my apology for barging in on the Dakota gang.. good luck yawl
Chas from Georgia
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.
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/08/2004
12:39:32
| RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
.
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T. Abernathy
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/28/2004
00:11:35
| RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
Just went for a State (MO) safety inspection today and was told that my front right upper ball joint was bad and my front left lower ball joint. The dealer wants $670.52 for the two and will charge about $900 to have all four replaced on my '00, 4.7, 4X4, club cab Dakota with 62K miles on her. I'm thinking, I will do all four at the same time, to save money in the long run. Any thoughts on that? Otherwise, thanks for having this site and posting good info. I guess I'll look into "Moogs" and use an independent shop for the repair. God Bless.
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yes
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/29/2004
22:41:49
| RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
I bought my own ball joints (Moog) and had a shop install them for $300 total. You can do it yourself if you have a grinder/torch or whatever to get the rivets off the ball joints. Forget the dealer.
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ebailey
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/11/2004
15:14:33
| RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
To whom it may concern,
I own a '99 Dakota Sport CC 4x4 with a 318 and auto trans. I replaced both upper ball joint at 18,000 miles and the bottoms at 22,000. Since then I have had no problem with the bottom (knock on wood). The tops on the other hand are a different story.I replace them every 20,000 to 25,000 mile. I currently have 148,000 miles on the truck so that means a replacement is coming up shortly. I have never been able to find greaseable upper MOOG joints, if anyone has the part number I would love to have it. I think the TRW joint I have been getting are the same thing Dodge uses. By the way besides the ball joints if anyone is keeping score: Power steering gearbox at 55,000; pitman arm and idler at 62,000; inner and outer tierod ends at 80,000 and just rebuilt the transmission at 147,000. And for the guy that said the dakota gets crappy mileage, I have a 150 mile round trip commute daily, half stop and go and half highway. I consistantly get 16-16.5 MPG even with 148,000 on it, and I even have 33x10.5x15 BFG Mud Terrains on it. And yes the speedo has been recalibrated. So not all dodge V8's get bad mileage. I have read so many of these posts I thought I would put in my two cents. I am actually considering a solid axle front end swap.
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natlalka
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/19/2004
12:58:38
| RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
I have a 00 QC 4X4 and just had the upper ball joints replaced @ 65,000 and it cost me $350.
I think that it is terrible that DC is stating that the ball joints are not a safety concern. This joint connects the frame to the knuckle and then the wheel. So, if it fails then the wheel is going to fall off. I would think that is a safety issue. The dealership that diagnosed the problem told me to keep my reciept because if there is a recall, I would get reinbursed.
I would suggest that everyone visit the NHTSA web site and file a complaint.
www.nhtsa.dot.gov
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Doug4,7
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/20/2004
11:12:36
| RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
The way I read it (I am no lawyer) is the ball joints go bad slowly, so people complain about them long before they are a safety issue. Therefore, the owner will have them replaced (at his/her expense) long before they fail.
What we need are about 50 or so owners to IGNORE the popping noises, weird tire wear, etc. and let the wheel fall off and kill someone. Say something like, “I never knew there was a problem, I thought they were suppose to make that noise...” It sounds cynical, but that seems to be the only way to get a recall. Oh yea, and don't talk about them on this site. I can see DC use this site as an example: "See, Dakota owners KNEW of the problem. We (DC) don't need a safety recall."
Note that it looks like I will get my wiper motor replaced as a recall. The idea is the thing could fail without warning. Since the ball joints warn you of their failure (all the sounds, etc.), it is not a safety issue: no recall.
Don't you just love capitalism?
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Sunshine
Dodge Dakota
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6/16/2004
18:11:43
| RE: Ball Joints
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Message:
I never heard any strange noises before my left ball joint busted. I was lucky enough not to be the one driving it because it pushed the whole wheeel out and it could have been fatal if I was in route when it happened. I am surely going to voice my complaint to www.nhtsa.dot.gov
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