13 of the 250 complaints about the 1996 Dodge Dakota are about the suspension — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 45,000 miles.
13
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TIRE SHOP TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED AND TO GET A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WEARING PREMATURELY. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10067196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
THERE IS A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. MECHANIC RFEPLACED SHOCK ABSORBERS.
NHTSA complaint #10061511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
1996 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP FRONT BALL JOINT FAILURES. BOTH BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED DURING INSPECTIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10060366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
1996 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP FRONT BALL JOINT FAILURES. BOTH BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED DURING INSPECTIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10060366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE BUSHINGS ON THE VEHICLE WAS LOOSE.
NHTSA complaint #10006867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
WELD SPLITTING AT RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM. DEALER SAID NOT UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THE WELD SHOULD BE THE STRONGEST PART.I WAS ASLO TOLD THEY HAD SEEN ONE OR TWO OTHER TRUCKS WITH THIS PROBLEM.THIS ALSO CAUSED RIGHT FRONT BRAKE PAD/ROTOR TO FREEZE UP AS IN METAL TO METAL WITH NO WARNING REQUIRING ME TO REPLACE ROTOR AND PADS.
NHTSA complaint #746777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
BUSHINGS ON FRONT RIGHT OF VEHICLE WERE BECOMING WORN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP, WHO EXAMINED IT AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK LOCATED ON LOWER RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL AREA OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #888192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN REAR END OF TRUCK STARTED TO BOUNCE UP AND DOWN AND SHAKING FOR A BLOCK. THE UNIVERSAL JOINT BROKE, AND SOUNDED LIKE GOING UP AND DOWN. CONSUMER HAD TO COAST THROUGH TRAFFIC, NEARLY CAUSING NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS. CONSUMER WASTOLD BY DEALER THAT DRIVESHAFT FAILED, AND DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE WHOLE DRIVESHAFT ASSEMBLY. CONSUMER CONTINUED TO DRIVE AFTER REPLACEMENT OF DRIVESHAFT, AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO VIBRATE. AFTER CHRYSLER IN GA. STATED THAT ONE OF THE HUBS ON THE LEFT REAR AXLE WAS NOT STRAIGHT, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO TIRE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A BADLY BENT RIM. PUT VEHICLE ON THE BALANCE MACHINE AND THERE WAS A WALP. WENT BACK TO DEALER WHERE EVEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT BECAUSE THE 36,000 MILE FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED. ALSO, THEY DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECTS.
NHTSA complaint #838505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
SHOCKS FAILED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #545523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
VEHICLE OUT OF ALIGNMENT RESULTING IN PULLING.
NHTSA complaint #605310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT END ALIGNMENT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #604989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
TRUCK LEANS SHARPLY WHEN BRAKING.
NHTSA complaint #517466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
ONE SIDE OF VEHICLE WAS 13 INCHES LONGER THAN OTHER SIDE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF BALANCE.
NHTSA complaint #803800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.