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BlackDog
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
01:07:29
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 Subject: Balljoint Recall!!
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The government has ordered DaimlerChrysler to recall more than 600,000 Durango and Dakota vehicles that might have faulty ball joint assemblies
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AmsoilSponsor
DakotaEnthusiast
 
12/10/2004
06:11:02
|  RE: Balljoint Recall!!
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FOR THE RECORD ...
Feds urge recall of 600,000 Dodge trucks
From Jennifer Westhoven -- CNN
Friday, December 10, 2004 Posted: 5:12 AM EST (1012 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Federal safety regulators Thursday demanded that DaimlerChrysler recall up to 600,000 vehicles from two of the most popular lines on the road, the 4x4 Dodge Durango and the four-wheel drive Dodge Dakota pickup, due to problems with front-end ball joints.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's recommended recall covers Durangos and Dakotas built from 2000 to 2003, a spokesman confirmed.
CBS News has reported that some Durango drivers were put in dangerous driving situations when ball joints failed.
Ball joints are part of an automobile's front-end suspension system, attaching the trucks' wheel assemblies to the vehicle. CBS reported that NHTSA found defective ball joints in nearly a third of the vehicles it investigated, and almost all were made at a plant in Indiana.
Recalls are very expensive for car companies, and the costs could rise if DaimlerChrysler is hit with lawsuits as a result of the vehicle problems. The company has until Monday to respond to the government's recall request.
An NHTSA spokesman said that some companies do not comply with its requests for recalls. If that is the case, he said, the agency would fight for a recall.
__________________________________________________
Steven Roark , Amsoil Dealer , Proud Sponsor of www.DodgeDakotas.com
AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils, Lubricants, Filtration, and Truck Care Products
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Dex
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
07:15:11
|  RE: Balljoint Recall!!
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A news story I heard said the driver can hear when when the ball joints are going bad. What do bad ball joints sound like?
txs
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QuickSand
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
07:46:57
| Easy Balljoint Check Procedure
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You may hear or feel a popping from the front end, usually when the wheel is turned at slow speeds,like pulling into your driveway, etc. You may also notice unusual wear in your front tires (mostly the outside edge wearing faster than the rest of the tire's tread). All these symptoms could indicate bad ball joints, but they could also point to other front end problems, so the best way to verify is to physically check them yourself. You'll need a jack, a jack stand, and a level place to park. Follow all the normal safety precautions (set emergency brake, truck in park if Auto, in gear if manual, etc.). Jack up the side you want to check, until the wheel is off the ground. Place the jack stand, and then move the jack under the lower control arm to raise it a few inches. This relieves the spring pressure on the suspension components. Now, grab the top and bottom of the tire and try to move it in and out. If you have any play at all, repeat the process while looking behind the wheel (or have an assistant look) while you continue wiggling the tire. You'll be able to see which ball joint is flexing... usually the upper one, but often bottom, or both. Remove jack and jack stand, and repeat for the other side. You can probably check both sides in about 10 minutes, total.
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Dragon
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
07:55:00
| RE: Balljoint Recall!!
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How will this affect those of us that have already had our balljoints replaced under warranty? Will they replace them again, or will they reimburse us for our warranty deductible?
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Dex
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
08:05:30
| RE: Balljoint Recall!!
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QuickSand
Great info - txs
Another question: IF the ball joints are replaced is a wheel alignment required or does this replacement affect anything else?
I have a 2000 QC 4x4 with 37K highway miles and the truck is a solid driver - I'll check for sounds.
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Izzy
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
08:25:52
| RE: Balljoint Recall!!
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I have a 2003 Durango with only 12k (thats 12 thousand) miles on it and the ball joints are already popping & clunking when we make slow turns and it is starting to wander more when driving.
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garwood
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
08:31:09
| RE: Balljoint Recall!!
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I recently inspected mine and found the top cover of the ball joint extremely rusted with a layered scale. Removing this and tapping on the disk, it sounded like paper thin metal. Perhaps this problem is associated with rust through and water getting into the ball joint causing accelerated repair. Also noticed excessive rust on the brake line transition. All of these parts I cleaned and coated. The rest of the vehicle is rust free. Just something else you should check.
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daksprtpls02
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
09:04:45
| RE: Balljoint Recall!!
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Why only 4x4? Mine pops everytime I back out of the drive and I am starting to wander too. I have a 2WD. I don't know why mine doesn't apply. I have just under 47k on it right now.
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Janie
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
09:16:22
| RE: Balljoint Recall!!
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This actually happened to my husband and I and our Durango only had 300 miles on it. It was a 2000 Durango and we heard the noise and pulled over on the highway. When we pulled over the complete wheel just fell off!!!! I hate to think what would have happened if we had not pulled over. This happened 4 years ago and they are just now doing something about this. Chysler only wanted to fix the problem but we didnt want this one back finally they issued us a new one and we didnt have problems. I had heard there were law suits going?? Any feedback
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nwf_snake
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
09:22:31
| RE: Balljoint Recall!!
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Guess us '99 Dak owners a screwed again!
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
09:54:03
| RE: Balljoint Recall!!
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not to mention us 4x2 guys also.
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JJ
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
09:55:47
| RE: Balljoint Recall!!
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I am mystified! Everyone I know who have 2wd models have had problems with the balljoints. I had my right upper replaced a year ago on my 2002 quad cab. The left upper boot is cracked allowing moisture inside and it will fail; just a matter of time. Popping, creaking, won't stay in alignment. I am sick of it!!!! Time to get a Toyota. Oh that's right, my quad cab isn't worth a dime because everybody knows the ball joints are crap.
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greg waits
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
10:07:26
| RE: Balljoint Recall!!
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Is the 2004 dakot club cab 4x4 effected by this?
thanks for any replies
greg
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Figols
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
10:13:12
| RE: Balljoint Recall!!
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FINALLY!!!! I just replaced mine on my '00 4x4 QC w/80K miles just as a precaution. I didn't have any unusual noise or looseness when I checked them, BUT when I pulled the old ones out they just about fell apart in my hands!!!! I couldn't believe that I wasn't all over the road with how loose they were! I can see how people are getting caught off gaurd with these things failing.
Usually if you have already paid to fix the parts that are recalled then the manufacturer reimburses the cost to you. I'm not sure if you did the work your self if they will cover the cost of flat rate labor or just the parts. I guess we'll see.
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Zook
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
10:26:43
| RE: Balljoint Recall!!
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What about the 97 98 and 99 Dakota? Isn't this the same front end and balljoint? Are those owners going to be left high and dry in an unsafe truck? Is this all the federal safety regulators are going to fight for? Glad to see something is going to be done ,maybe, but fix all of the problem not just some!!! My 2 cents
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MY H3RO
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
10:45:46
| RE: Balljoint Recall!!
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This is great. Last time I went in to my Forest Lake MN Stealership for my wiper motor recall (still haven't got it replaced yet!) I asked the service manager about ball joints and he acted like a dear/headlights idiot. I told him I felt the boots on them and there was nothing there. Then asked if I used the injection needle for grease and he told me that would void my warranty.Go figure. Never again DC
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Kya
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
12:45:21
| RE: Balljoint Recall!!
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I was wondering. Does the Rancho lift for this truck eliminate the ball joint problem because of the new stearing knuckles? Or, would the same problem exist even with the lift?
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Brutus
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
13:17:07
|  RE: Balljoint Recall!!
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My H3RO,
I also brought my Dakota to the Forest Lake MN stealership for my balljoint problem. The first time I brought it in it was prior to the 36,000 mile warrenty. Of course I received the answer that they couldn't find anything wrong. I brought it back again once the truck was out of the 36,000 warrenty and of course the ball joints were now out of specifications.The service manager admitted that the joints were bad, that they have seen this problem on other dodge vehicles and that he knew of the investigation being completed, but still would not stand behind their product even in an obvious safety issue. I hope DCC is forced to bend over and grab their ankles over this issue.
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kj
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
13:24:35
| RE: Balljoint Recall!!
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I guess that screws me then. I replaced a faulty one with a TRW greaseable unit.
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Bob L
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
13:40:52
| RE: Balljoint Recall!!
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I don't think the recall demand is 4X4 only. It seems to be focused on Dakotas/Durangos with ball joints from the supplier in Indiana.
Mine is popping in slow turns with brakes applied.
DaimlerChrysler has pathetic customer relations. I'm guessing they'll fight this to the end.
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