48 of the 946 complaints about the 2002 Dodge Dakota are about the steering — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 36,200 miles.
48
Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
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THE CAR GOES INTO PARK, BUT PARK DOES NOT ENGAGE. I'M ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY. THE COLUMN SHOWS PARK BUT THE CAR CONTINUES TO ROLL. I SEE THAT 2002 DAKOTAS HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT MY VIN # DOESN'T SHOW A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11172312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GALEANA'S VAN DYKE DODGE (28400 VAN DYKE AVE, WARREN, MI 48093, (586) 573-4000) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL FOR THE GEAR SHIFTER, AND THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER AND THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
NHTSA complaint #11075467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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RACK AND PINION SEAL BUSTED WHILE DRIVING AT SOME POINT RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID.
NHTSA complaint #10702702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THE SHIFTER WILL NOT MOVE FROM PARK POSITION. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER DUE TO THE RECALL FOR THAT SPECIFIC PROBLEM WITH THAT YEAR MODEL. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT IS VIN # RELATED PROBLEM (IT IS A SPECIFIC VIN NUMBERS THAT IT IS RELATED TO). I INFORMED THEM THAT I'M EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT ALL SITES, REPORTS AND BLOGS ARE TALKING ABOUT. THE FINAL ANSWER IS TO TAKE MY CAR TO BE DIAGNOSE, DEPENDING ON THE REPORT THEY MAY OR MAY NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. HOW IT IS DIFFERENT THIS PROBLEM FROM THE PROBLEM THAT I'M HAVING?!
NHTSA complaint #10678228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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HAVE HAD STEERING KNUCKLES REPLACED TWICE ON MY TRUCK BECAUSE THE CALIPER BOLTS STRIP OUT AND CAUSE MY TRUCK DO DIVE LEFT OR RIGHT UPON BRAKING. ALSO CAUSED BY BRAKE PAD RAILS WEARING TOO MUCK AND NOT LETTING THE CALIPERS MOVE THE BRAKE PADS TO APPLY THE BRAKES. ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS MULTIPLE TIMES BUT DEALER SAYS ITS NOT AN ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10566791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH BOTH FRONT TIRES LOCKED UP AND THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE BRAKES AND UPPER BALL JOINTS. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRONT CALIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOUR TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
NHTSA complaint #10525120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND THE BOTTOM OF THE CONTROL ARM BROKE FREE LETTING THE WHEEL COME FREE FROM THE VEHICLE.....
NHTSA complaint #10471872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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LOWER U JOINT IN THE STEERING SHAFT BREAKS. MINE LUCKLY BROKE IN MY DRIVEWAY BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN BAD. THE PART IS UNAVAILBLE AFTERMARKET. DEALER IS BACK ORDERD FOR WEEKS. I HAD TO DRIVE OVER 2 HOURS AWAY TO GET THE SHAFT AT THE CLOSEST DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #10277236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE STEERING COMPONENT ON HER VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE WEARING QUICKLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CV JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFUSED TO SERVICE THE CV JOINTS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS OWNER ALREADY HAD IT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 127,000.
NHTSA complaint #10275664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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BOUGHT A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA NEW. TOOK IT BACK 3 TIMES FOR COLUMN MOUNTED SHIFTER PROBLEMS WITHIN DAYS OF IT JAMMING, COULD NOT GET IT OUT OF PARK,THEN IT WOULDN'T STAY IN PARK, MAKING A CRUNCHING SOUND WHEN YOU TRY TO SHIFT THREW THE GEARS. EACH TIME I TOOK IT BACK, ANOTHER PROBLEM CAME UP CAUSED BUY THE DEALERS NEGLECT DAMAGING THE TRUCK, I COMPLAINED TO CHRYSLER CORP AND THEY BLEW ME OFF AND TOLD ME I WAS A TROUBLED CUSTOMER AND THEY NEVER WOULD RETURN MY CALLS. I PARKED THE TRUCK IN THE GARAGE AND NEVER TRUSTED IT FOR ANY LONG TRIPS AND SUCH. GOT STUCK 250 MILES FROM HOME WHEN THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK, AND THEN NOT STAY IN PARK. NOW I WAS SENT A RECALL NOTICE OF THIS ISSUE ( RECALL G28 IGNITION/PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM) I TOOK THIS TRUCK TO GLENN E THOMAS DODGE IN LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA FOR THE RECALL AND THEY ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THIS, I DID NOT EVEN GET OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY WHEN I NOTICED THE SHIFTER STILL DID NOT WORK CORRECT AND STILL WAS HAVING AN PROBLEM. I ASKED FOR THE SERVICE PERSONNEL TO LOOK AT THIS AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL, IT CLEARLY WAS NOT ! THEY ATTEMPTED TO TAKE IT IN AGAIN, AND STILL IT DID THE SAME THING, THIS 3 TIME REPEAT REPAIR BEFORE I EVEN GOT OFF THE LOT. I GOT DISGUSTED AGAIN AND LEFT BUT WHEN I GOT DOWN THE STREET I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS OFF CENTER AND NOT EVEN STRAIGHT ANYMORE. THIS TRUCK HAS ONLY 11,250 MILES ON IT AND IS LIKE MINT NEW CONDITION ( EXCEPT FOR THIS PROBLEM) NOT A SCRATCH, MARK OR DIRT ANYWHERE ON IT. I AM NOT TRUSTING THIS VEHICLE IT COULD GO INTO REVERSE AND KILL SOMEONE. THERE IS MORE I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS AND WOULD LIKE TO INFORM NHTSA OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS. ALSO WANT THIS FIXED OR FOR CHRYSLER TO TAKE IT BACK.
NHTSA complaint #10267463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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2002 DODGE DAKOTA, LESS THAN 60,000 MILES, CORRODED POWER STEERING FLUID TUBING, CAUSING FLUID LOSS AND LACK OF NORMAL STEERING CONTROL. REPAIR PART NOT AVAILABLE FOR MORE THAN 5 WEEKS. HAS THERE BEEN A LOT OF POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILURES FOR THESE AND SIMILAR VEHICLES? I HAVE PARKED THE VEHICLE UNTIL REPAIRS ARE COMPLETED. I'VE OWNED 13 VEHICLES SINCE 1971 AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. IS THERE AN UNANNOUNCED VOLUNTARY RECALL BY CHRYSLER FOR THIS? IT SEEMS ODD THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE, LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS MORE WIDESPREAD THAN ACKNOWLEDGED.
NHTSA complaint #10255534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE CLEANING OUT THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE DRIVE GEAR SHIFT WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT OWNS THREE OTHER DODGE DAKOTA'S AND NONE OF THEM HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 40,000. UPDATED 01-11-08. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE PARTS BROKEN IN THE STEERING COLUMN. UPDATED 12//12/07
NHTSA complaint #10209294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THOUGHT I WOULD "BUY AMERICAN" AND GET THE DODGE DAKOTA 4 DR CREW. LOVE ITS STYLE, COMFORTS, MORE POWER THAN I NEED (4.7L V8) 2WD HAS NO TRACTION IN SNOW OR ICE. VERY EASY TO DRIVE AND COMFORTABLE 6FT.2 220LBS.(2 TRIPS NJ TO CALIF.) GAS MILEAGE STINKS...13-18MPG, NO LOADS. BRAKE ROTORS REPLACED 28K, LEFT TOP BALL JOINT WORN (NO RECALL YET)A/C NEEDED CHARGING, RIGHT FRONT HUB AND BEARINGS REPLACED 49K, REAR LEAF SPRING NOISY, TRANSMISSION HESITATION OCCASIONALLY. GREAT TRUCK TO DRIVE AND HAUL BUT RELIABILITY REALLY IN QUESTION WITH ONLY 49K. PROBABLY BACK TO NISSAN OR TOYOTA.
NHTSA complaint #10128866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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MULTIPLE SUSPENSION COMPONENT FAILURES PLEASE REOPEN INVESTIGATIONS INTO DODGE DAKOTA/DURANGO PRODUCTS. STABILIZER BUSHINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED AND WERE REPLACED, STEERING INPUT SHAFT FAILED AND REPLACED ONCE.
NHTSA complaint #10128548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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RACK AND PINION FAILURE 48,000 MILES. SEALS LEAKING AND PUMP WHINING. *AK.
NHTSA complaint #10116533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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SLIGHT NOISE, LOUD NOISE. POWER STEERING PUMP. *AK.
NHTSA complaint #10108048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AFTER 2,000 MILES OF OWNERSHIP. THIS WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION. THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, STATING IT WAS A WEAR ITEM. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT AND FIXED BEFORE OFFERING THE VEHICLE FOR SALE, BUT THEY CLAIM OTHERWISE. I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE BOTH SETS OF BALL JOINTS ON MY OWN. SINCE THEN, DC HAS RECALLED THE UPPER JOINTS. THE UPPER JOINTS CREATED A SITUATION CAUSING THE LOWER JOINTS TO FAIL ALSO AND SHOULD BE COVERED IN THEIR RECALL. THEY ALSO DO NOT SPECIFY COVERING THE ALIGNMENT NEEDED AFTER JOINTS ARE REPLACED. THE RECALL SHOULD BE REISSUED COVERING UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ALONG WITH ALIGNMENT TO REMEDY THE SITUATION IN THIS RECALL FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10104632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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(1) FAILURE OF STEERING COMPONENTS; (2) REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE PARTS; (3) PARTS REPLACEMENT IMMINENT.
NHTSA complaint #10102450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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(1) FAILURE OF STEERING COMPONENTS; (2) REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE PARTS; (3) PARTS REPLACEMENT IMMINENT.
NHTSA complaint #10102450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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IN A RECENT NEWS ARTICLE I READ THAT THE NHTSA IS CONSIDERING RECALLING DODGE DAKOTAS FOR FAULTY UPPER BALL JOINTS. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE WITH MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB CONCERNING THIS ISSUE.*AK I RECENTLY TOOK MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB IN FOR A FRONT END ALLIGMENT. AT THE TIME OF SERVICE THE VEHICLE HAD 36,500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE SERVICE TECH NOTIFIED ME THAT THE RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINT HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY AND WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE AND SHOULD NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AT THE STATED MILEAGE. I HOPE THIS ISSUE CAN BE REMEDIED SOON.
NHTSA complaint #10102476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I OWN A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA AND HAD TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED AT 24,000 MILES AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS COMMON. MY HOPE IS THAT YOU WOULD INVESTIGATE THIS AND FORCE CHRYSLER TO DO A RE-CALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #10102128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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2002 - DODGE DAKOTA: TRUCK MECHANICALLY SOUND WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENGINE. RECENTLY HAD A TUNE-UP & 27 POINT INSPECTION @ 50,000 MILES AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACEMENT AND WOULD COST ABOUT $1200.00 TO FIX. THE DEALERS MECHANIC ASKED IF I HAVE BEEN HEAR A "CLUNKING" SOUND WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS. I ADVISED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS SOUND STARTED HAPPENING AROUND 30,000 MILES BUT DID NOT PAY TO MUCH ATTENTION. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP IF IT WAS COMMON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN SO PREMATURELY. NO ANSWER. ANY RECALLS IN THE WORKS. THERE SEEMS TO BE MAY ISSUES FROM OTHERS SURROUNDING THE BALLJOINTS!!! IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL COST OF $1200.00 MAYBE I WOULD NOT HAVE CONSIDERED PURCHASING THE TRUCK IN THE FIRST PLACE.*AK FP
NHTSA complaint #10100697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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RACK AND PINION, AND TIE ROD FAILURE AFTER 2 YEARS ON DODGE DAKOTA....TIRE ROTATION STORE INFORMED ME THAT WHEEL WAS IN DANGER OF COMING OFF. RACK AND PINION GEAR AND TIE ROD REPLACED AT COST OF 1,000.00. WAS "WORN" THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE PIECES. A SEARCH OF THE WEB INDICATES THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF WHEELS COMING OFF, BALL JOINTS, AND TIE RODS FAILING ON THE DURANGO/DAKOTA FRONT CLIP. WILL IT TAKE A DEATH FOR CHRYSLER TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES? I HAVE DRIVEN FOR 35 YEARS AND NEVER HAD A FAILURE IN SUSPENSIN LIKE THIS. THIS HAS BEEN "UNDER INVESTIGATION" FOR 3 YEARS. WHY IS THAT?
NHTSA complaint #10098515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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RACK AND PINION, AND TIE ROD FAILURE AFTER 2 YEARS ON DODGE DAKOTA....TIRE ROTATION STORE INFORMED ME THAT WHEEL WAS IN DANGER OF COMING OFF. RACK AND PINION GEAR AND TIE ROD REPLACED AT COST OF 1,000.00. WAS "WORN" THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE PIECES. A SEARCH OF THE WEB INDICATES THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF WHEELS COMING OFF, BALL JOINTS, AND TIE RODS FAILING ON THE DURANGO/DAKOTA FRONT CLIP. WILL IT TAKE A DEATH FOR CHRYSLER TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES? I HAVE DRIVEN FOR 35 YEARS AND NEVER HAD A FAILURE IN SUSPENSIN LIKE THIS. THIS HAS BEEN "UNDER INVESTIGATION" FOR 3 YEARS. WHY IS THAT?
NHTSA complaint #10098515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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REPORTED A POPPING SOUND ON THE RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP APPRO. ONE YEAR AGO, INFORMED NOTHING WAS WRONG. UPON A PERSONAL INSPECTION DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE I NOTED THAT THE RIGHT UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT HAD PREMATURELY FAILED. *AK(CURRENT VECHICLE MILEAGE 16,000) PURCHASED REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARM AND INSTALLED PER MANUFACTUERS INSTRUCTIONS. I HAVE SAVED THE OLD PART. MY CONCERN IN THIS MATTER IS, IF THESE SAME PARTS ARE USED ON BOTH DODGE DAKOTAS AND DODGE DURANGOS AND THIS PART IS PRONE TO PREMATURE FAILURE, WHAT WILL BE THE END RESULT?
NHTSA complaint #10095670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S UPPER BALL JOINT, LOWER CONTROL ARM, AND STEERING.*MR
NHTSA complaint #10034004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I HAD A BRAKE AND ROTOR JOB DONE AT 36000 MILES BY A LOCAL MECHANIC AND FOUND THAT MY RACK AND PINION IS LEAKING AT THE BOOT AND THERE IS TO MUCH PLAY FROM TIE RODS. DEALER SHIP WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP EXEPT CHARGE ME $3750 TO FIX IT. I DO NOT NO HOW LONG THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THERE. ANOUTHER DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS A MESSY OIL CHANGE YA RIGHT!
NHTSA complaint #10086268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I HAD A BRAKE AND ROTOR JOB DONE AT 36000 MILES BY A LOCAL MECHANIC AND FOUND THAT MY RACK AND PINION IS LEAKING AT THE BOOT AND THERE IS TO MUCH PLAY FROM TIE RODS. DEALER SHIP WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP EXEPT CHARGE ME $3750 TO FIX IT. I DO NOT NO HOW LONG THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THERE. ANOUTHER DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS A MESSY OIL CHANGE YA RIGHT!
NHTSA complaint #10086268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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2002 DODGE DAKOTA FRONT END FAILURE.*MR WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS MANEUVERING A CURVE THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE HIT A GUARD RAIL. THE TRUCK SUSTAINED SOME FRONT BUMPER DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT. THE CONSUMER STILL HEARS A POPPING NOISE WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS. THE CONSUMER PLANS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT SINCE DODGE IS HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR SUSPENSION THAT THE DEALER NEEDS TO LOOK AT THE BALL JOINT, TIE RODS, RACK AND PINION.
NHTSA complaint #10083775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I HAD LOSS OF CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE THIS MORNING WHICH I BELIEVE IS A DIRECT RESULT OF MY STEERING/BALL JOINT / RACK AND PINION FAILURE. IT'S AT THE DEALER NOW BEING LOOKED OVER THOROUGHLY. THE DEALER JUST REPLACED THE INTERMITTENT STEERING SHAFT LAST WEEK.
NHTSA complaint #10082738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.