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eddy
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
12:25:26
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 Subject: DC dont care if ur wheel falls off
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"Gates said a vehicle owner would hear noise coming from the vehicle well before the upper ball joint failed. Mechanics also will find out if an upper ball joint needs to be repaired during routine maintenance"
YEah, these same routine maintenance procedures where from what I hear most of the techs don't even know how to check the ball joint wear propery? The same kind of procedures where I had to go back twice and fight them to notice my warped rotors causing the steering wheel to vibrate wildly? These same procedures where I had to make them drive it twice before they admitted that my wheels were out of balance? And I should just assume I'll go in for an oil change one day and my mechanic will figure out I have no worn ball joints with no prodding from me?
"Gates said if the upper ball joint fails, it is most likely to happen at low speeds and during turns."
Great, so your wheels could very possibly fall off the truck while it is in motion, but because it probably won't happen on the highway, we see no reason for a safety recall.
Regardless of what the truth is, DC should never have allowed this jackass to be quoted for the story as he makes them come off sounding like they genuinely do not give a damn about their customers' safety.
It's a shame, that it will take severe loss of life or permanent injury followed by a multi-million or multi-billion dollar lawsuit before they'll do anything about this. This will probably be my last Dodge, as I cannot imagine ever again buying a vehicle from a company that shows such a blatant disregard for my safety.
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GraphiteDak
GenIII
12/10/2004
12:37:39
| RE: DC dont care if ur wheel falls off
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You got that form here http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6692076/
I just happened to read it and just KNEW I'd see a comment about that article over here.
However, it does make me curious how serious we should take this problem.
Should be wait for us to HOPEFULLY notice a noise before it falls apart and take it in to the dealer (to then FIGHT for FULL warranty repair) or demand an upgrade now?
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eddy
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
12:39:15
|  RE: DC dont care if ur wheel falls off
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So these are the facts. DC knows there is a problem with the part. DC knows it could cause the wheels to fall off. DC continued to manufacture trucks with these faulty parts and then counted on customers to catch any problems before they caused an accident rather than building the trucks with a better part. What a fine way to thank me for my 25 thousand dollars.
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ThanxCBS
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
12:40:43
| RE: DC dont care if ur wheel falls off
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With all the bad press they are getting on this I'm sure some sort of recall is coming....I bet at this very moment they are on the phone with the manufacturer of those BJ's arranging some sort of payment or agreement to cover at least part of the cost. It would cost DC more in sales due to all the bad press and loss of consumer confidence at this point then to replace these BJ's.
Thanks to CBS News!
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eddy
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
12:41:25
| RE: DC dont care if ur wheel falls off
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I've seen no mention of 04 Dakotas so Im not really sure what to think. Good luck gettign an upgrade now. Seems like the company is hoping to avoid spending money giving you a better part until it deteriorates enough to put you right in that window between excessive wear and unsafe to drive.
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Hmmm
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
12:42:27
| RE: DC dont care if ur wheel falls off
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Agency seeks recall of 600,000 Dodge trucks
Suspension problem seen with Durango, Dakota pickups
The Associated Press
Updated: 9:03 a.m. ET Dec. 10, 2004
WASHINGTON - Federal safety regulators want 600,000 Dodge Durangos and Dakota trucks recalled because their wheels could fall off, but the auto maker doesn’t believe the defect is dangerous, a company spokesman said.
Federal safety regulators have asked DaimlerChrysler AG to recall Durango sport utility vehicles and Dakota pickups from the 2000 to 2003 model years, Chrysler spokesman Max Gates confirmed. He stressed the models haven’t been recalled.
The company is planning to respond to the government’s request early next week, he said Thursday.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration made the recommendation, first reported by CBS News, after investigating reports of upper ball joint separation on dozens of vehicles. When the upper ball joint separates, the suspension can collapse and the wheel can fall off.
There are reports of several crashes but no injuries due to the issue in NHTSA’s investigation file.
Gates said Chrysler recognizes there is a problem with the upper ball joints, but “we do not think it rises to the level of a safety defect.”
Gates said a vehicle owner would hear noise coming from the vehicle well before the upper ball joint failed. Mechanics also will find out if an upper ball joint needs to be repaired during routine maintenance, Gates said.
Gates said if the upper ball joint fails, it is most likely to happen at low speeds and during turns.
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tractorfix
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
13:51:45
| RE: DC dont care if ur wheel falls off
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The above pictures are definately worth a thousand words. Most of them, obscene. I hope you fellas that put grease nipples in yours don't get screwed by the DC a$$holes. I was going to do mine, but I'll wait now to see what happens. Good luck to all.
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Steve Hopkins
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
14:02:52
| RE: DC dont care if ur wheel falls off
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OMG!... this is friggin rediculous! Doesn't Dodge/Chrysler realize how rediculous they sound in the news right now???? Millions of people that don't own these vehicles are laughing their way out of dealerships. The propper thing to do would be to recall the units, say they are very sorry for the problem, and be done with it. They will be dragged through the news for this one for a while.
What idiots.
And I want to buy a Dodge, why????
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Izzy
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
14:18:37
| RE: DC dont care if ur wheel falls off
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I just got my MOOGS in last week and was going to do my Dakota but with my wifes 2003 Durango (only 12k miles) already popping and clunking, I think I might donate them to her Durango instead. I know she is still under warranty but if DC replaces the crap ball joints with the same crap then what is the use?
I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 15 month old that my wife drives around in her Durando and the last thing I want is for a tire to fall off while driving down the road.
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Dodge Rulz
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
14:33:13
| RE: DC dont care if ur wheel falls off
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I can't believe this... Why should people have to upgrade parts themselves to get safety and security????
Dodge RULZ!
Or something like that.
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MY H3RO
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
15:30:54
| RE: DC dont care if ur wheel falls off
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I was watching Imus in the Morning on MSNBC and I thought I heard Charles McCord, when reading the news, that when a wheel falls off as D/C states, it's not a defect it's an adventure!!! Somebody back me on this because I was reading the paper at the same time.
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Ted
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
15:47:41
| RE: DC dont care if ur wheel falls off
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Someone asked why have Dodge replace them. I say even if you plan on putting in better parts, have Dodge replace them for free first. That way they will deal with drilling out the rivets on the uppers and just put in bolts. Then you can just unbolt their POS and put in a good part.
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hal
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
16:17:16
| RE: DC dont care if ur wheel falls off
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ok i'm definately installing some moog BJ's on my dakota, but would someone kindly point me in the direction of a thread with instructions on installing upper ball joints?
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
16:17:22
| RE: DC dont care if ur wheel falls off
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If they do a recall and you have already replaced the part, you will be reimbursed - if you have the receipt. The question is, if you put in better parts, will they reimburse the entire amout or just the amount for a factory set?
- Dan M
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JasonB
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
16:29:24
| RE: DC dont care if ur wheel falls off
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They will reimburse any reasonable amount including labor that is atleast close to industry standards (such as Motor Manual).
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Jimmer
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
18:12:50
| RE: DC dont care if ur wheel falls off
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What if you did the install?
The Moog's are about the same price as the OEM's. So that's a wash as far as the parts cost is concerned. I want to be paid for 3hrs on a Sat morning under my truck.
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
19:09:02
| RE: DC dont care if ur wheel falls off
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I'd love to be reimbursed for the OEM price instead of the price I paid for the part. Stealership prices are always about 2 x retail, might as well make a buck off the parts since I doubt they will reimburse me for labor that I didn't actually shell money out for.
Oh, you put them on yourself, thanks for the free labor! Here's your $50 per ball joint.
Does everyone remember when the DC didn't even sell the ball joint seperately, they would only sell it attached to the control arm. I wounder how they are going to reimburse people who purchased 2 new $250 control arms. Here's your $50 for the bad ball joint, we can't reimburse you for the control arm since the control arm hasn't been recalled.
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mikec041
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
19:41:09
|  RE: DC dont care if ur wheel falls off
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I hear D/C is claiming their is no defect the wheel is designed to come off that way to aid in changing a flat tire...
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