2004 Dodge Dakota

WE JUST BOUGHT A NEW 2004 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. WE HAVE JUST OVER 2000 MILES ON IT, MOSTLY EXPRESSWAY MILES GOING TO WORK. A FEW WEEKS AGO MY GIRLFRIEND (WHO IA A DAIMLER-CHRYSLER EMPLOYEE) PULLED OUT OF HER PARKING SPACE AT WORK TO GO HOME AND GOT ABOUT 20 FEET AND THE DRIVERS FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF IN FRONT OF THE OTHER EMPLOYEES GOING HOME. THERE WAS NO NUT ON THE UPPER BALL JOINT, BUT THE PIN WAS STILL IN PLACE. AND THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY AFTER THE INCIDENT SHE FOUND THE NUT (NOT BROKE) LYING ON OUR GARAGE FLOOR, RIGHT WHERE WE PARKED THE TRUCK. SHE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED ON THE EXPRESSWAY GOING TO WORK THAT DAY, OR KILLED SOMEONE ELSE. AFTER THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER GOT THERE AFTER 4 HOURS (HE GOT LOST), HE PULLED THE DAKOTA UP WITH CHAINS ON THE FLATBED TOW TRUCK WHILE THE TRUCK WAS IN PARK. THEN WHEN HE GOT TO ADRIAN DODGE IN ADRIAN MICHIGAN (WHERE WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK) HE BACKED UP TO ANOTHER TOW TRUCK, HOOKED UP THE DAKOTA WITH CHAINS AND PULLED IT OFF WHILE STILL IN PARK. ALSO HE DID SOME DAMAGE TO THE FENDER FLARE. WE TOOK PICTURES OF THE TRUCK BEFORE IT WAS TOWED. THERE WAS NO BODY DAMAGE. WE WANTED A NEW TRUCK, BECAUSE WE ONLY MADE ONE PAYMENT AND IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT, BUT ADRIAN DODGE SAID THAT CHRYSLER SAID NO, THEY WOULD REPAIR THE DAMAGED ONE. THEY SAID IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT, AND BECAUSE WE BOUGHT IT WITH A EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT THEY COULDN''T DO ANYTHING FOR US. WE ARE VERY ANGRY ABOUT THIS. I THINK IT WAS NEGLIGENCE ON THEIR PART, BECAUSE SHE DROVE TO WORK WITHOUT THAT NUT ON THE TRUCK. AND BECAUSE THEY TOWED IT ON AND OFF THE TOWTRUCK, IT COULD POSSIBLY MESS UP THE TRANSMISSION. THEY FIXED OUR TRUCK AND WE HAVE IT BACK. *AK

I HAVE A BRAND NEW 2004 DAKOTA THAT HAS A BALL JOINT SQUEAK STARTING ALREADY AT JUST OVER 4000 MILES. THE LOCAL GARAGE I TOOK IT TO TELLS ME THAT IT IS THE START OF THE BALL JOINT PROBLEMS THAT DAKOTA'S ARE NOTORIOUS FOR. MY SHORT INVESTIGATION ON THE INTERNET TURNED UP ALL KINDS OF DISCUSSION AND EXPENSIVE HORROR STORIES. MY SON HAS A 2002 DAKOTA WHICH HAS HAD THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED 3 TIMES ALSO. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW AND A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE ON CBS, IF THESE AREN'T TAKEN CARE OF, THEY WILL SEPARATE AND THE WHEEL COMES OFF. REPLACEMENT OF THESE PARTS BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER IS NOT ENOUGH. DAIMLERCHRYSLER NEEDS TO REDESIGN THESE AND THE NHTSA NEEDS TO INSIST THAT THEY RECALL THE EFFECTED VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS WITH THE REDESIGNED PARTS. AND SOON, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED THIS PROBLEM IS VERY MUCH THE SAME AS THE FORD TIRE PROBLEM. LET'S NOT WAIT UNTIL ALL THE LOSS OF LIFE THAT WAS EXPERIENCED WITH THAT PROBLEMS BEGINS WITH THE DODGE DAKOTA'S AND DURANGO'S. I DON'T THINK THE NHTSA WANTS THAT ON THEIR CONSCIENCE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOUR INVESTIGATION HAS FOUND AND WHAT RECOMMENDATION THE NHTSA WILL BE MAKING AND IN WHAT TIME FRAME. I WOULD LIKE TO GET MY BALL JOINTS FIXED WITH NON-DEFECTIVE, CORRECTLY DESIGNED PARTS. THANK YOU. GORDON LANKER RE: EA03 - 023. *AK

LOUD THUNKING NOISE COMES FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. REP FROM CHRYSLER STATED THIS WAS COMING FROM THE GAS TANK . THERE IS A VIBRATION BETWEEN 30-45 MPH COMING FROM THE DRIVE TRAIN. REP STATED THIS WAS "NORMAL".THERE IS ALSO A LOUD WHIRRING NOISE COMING FROM THE FUEL PUMP. REP ALSO STATES THIS IS NORMAL.BEARING NOSIE IS COMING FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP. MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA SXT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES AND THE DEALER STILL CANNOT FIX. THE REP FROM CHRYSLER STATED THIS IS THE "BEST" TRUCK DODGE HAS EVER BUILT. I'D HATE TO SEE THE WORST! SO FAR THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE AC CONDENSER, COMPLETE RACK & PINION STEERING SYSTEM, COMPLETE DRIVE SHAFT, REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING, REAR SWAYBAR LINKS, THE BRAKES SHUDDER WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP , LEFT FRONT BRAKE SQUEAL, FRONT END NEEDED ALIGNING AFTER RACK & PINION STEERING REPLACEMENT . TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING FROM TAIL SHAFT SEAL. *AK