2005 Dodge Dakota Suspension Problems

*Incomplete Recall Status* ***Defect in transfer case*** Complaint of Manufacturer Defect in 2005 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab 4x4 3.7l v6. While driving at a speed of 30mph on a smooth paved highway and selector switch turned to 2 wheel drive mode; out of nowhere, the transfer case tried to engage 4 High which resulted in SVC 4X4 warning lamp illumination and a loud grinding/stuttering sound from under carriage as well as halting me to 10 mph without any help from me. after pulling over on the roadside and putting truck in park and turning the engine off, i waited a couple of minutes and SVC 4X4 indicator and 4High dash light had gone. I restarted the truck only to find that the SVC 4X4 Warning lamp immediately returned and now the 4lo illuminated dash light is constantly showing and truck is still showing in 2 wheel drive with selector switch but 4x4 will not engage at all now. Took to a mechanic shop 1/2 mile down the road and had it read for any DTCs and inspected. Code came back as C1404. Transfer case still tries to engage as soon as truck door is opened and dome light comes on. SVC 4X4 warning indicator stays on the dash lit up and 4lo warning light flashes non stop. Manufacturers communication letter has been sent to dealerships for the proper installation steps of the transfer case on the model of my truck due to improper positioning. I have noticed no Recall but have found a Campaign ID listed for this issue. I've owned this truck for only DAYS now with the intention of presenting it to daughter for her 16th birthday next month and now there's a BIG concern here for safety and the fact that a recall hasn't been issued is crazy! ....it's completely absurd and should be escalated immediately until a consumer resolution is made. This truck is NOT safe at all with this defect by manufacturer transfer case! I am demanding that this faulty part be investigated and taken considerable responsibility for just for the amount of time allowed to pass!!

I TOOK MY 2005 DAKOTA TO REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE OF CLUNKING NOISE ON FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN DRIVING OR ROCKING THE TRUCK WHEN IT WAS PARKED. REPAIR SHOP SAID LOWER BALL JOINT COMPLETELY FAILED AND WAS RIDING ON LOWER CONTROL ARM INSTEAD OF SUPPORTED BY BALL JOINT. UPPER BALL JOINT WAS ALSO BAD. PASSENGER SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT WORN OUT AND LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT WAS CRACKED. ALL TIE ROD ENDS ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AGGRESSIVELY SWAYED TO THE LEFT WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE FACE, CHEST, STOMACH, LEG, AND FEET AREAS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.

AROUND 50,000 MILES UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS MAKING POPPING SOUNDS. TOOK TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP . REPLACED ALL 4 , THEN POPPING STOPPED. WAY TO EARLY FOR BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT. OCCURED WHILE MOVING 5 MPH AND TURNING EITHER DIRECTION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FRONT END ALUMINUM CLAMPS THAT HELD THE STABILIZER BAR FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLAMPS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FOUR WHEEL SYSTEM DISENGAGED ON ITS OWNS WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS. THE DOORS MALFUNCTIONED AND LOCKED AND UNLOCKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHILE TURNING, STOPPING OR EVEN GETTING INTO TRUCK DIAGNOSIS FOUND LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINTS LOOSE - RECOMMENDED REPLACING. I HAVE NOT DONE THIS YET - IF YOU LOOK AT MY HISTORY, I HAVE HAD MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER MAKE THE REPAIRS TO THE FRONT BALL JOINTS PREVIOUSLY AT 45,120 MILES AND 59,072 MILES. CHRYSLER RECALLED 2000-2003 DODGE DAKOTAS STATING THAT "EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE UPPER BALL JOINT MAY CAUSE THE FRONT WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE AND RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL" IN THE SAME RECALL THEY ALSO STATED' " WATER MAY ENTER INTO THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINTS AND CAUSE CORROSION AND PREMATURE WEAR." *TR

AFTER ONLY 62,000 MILES MY BALL JOINTS ARE SHOT. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS IN THE PAST AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BALL JOINTS. THIS IS NOT ALOT OF MILES TO WEAR DOWN BALL JOINTS ON A TRUCK, IT IS OBVIOUS THERE IS A DEFECT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL POPPING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SWAY BAR AND THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE WORN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

WHILE ENTERING HIGHWAY (40MPH) MY VEHICLE WENT INTO AN UNCONTROLLABLE SPIN THAT RESULTED IN MINOR IMPACT DAMAGE WITH BRUSH AND DITCH. WHEN I REMOVED THE FLAT TIRE (LEFT FRONT), I FOUND THAT THE SWAY BAR LINK HAD SNAPPED. THIS 2005 DODGE DAKOTA ONLY HAS 58,00 MILES AND HAS NEVER BEEN USED FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN HOUSE HOLD CHORES AND LOCAL DRIVING. I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS THROUGH ON-LINE FORUMS ABOUT THESE SWAY BAR LINKS, BUT DODGE HAS NO RECALL POSTED. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MUCH WORSE ACCIDENT HAD THERE BEEN OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS ON OR BESIDE THE ROAD WHEN MY VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. I CANNOT PROVE, BUT BELIEVE THAT THE SWAY BAR FAILURE CAUSED MY SPIN-OUT AND THAT DODGE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR RESULTANT DAMAGES. *TR

IN OCTOBER OF 2010, I WAS DRIVING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY ONTO A MAIN STREET MAKING A RIGHT TURN WHEN I HEARD A METAL SNAPPING SOUND. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE, I FELT SOME SLACK IN THE STEERING WHEN I MADE A TURN AFTERWARDS. I INSPECTED THE SUSPENION SYSTEM SEVERAL TIMES IN THE NEXT WEEK BUT DIDN'T SEE THE CAUSE. LATER I FOUND THE FRONT SWAY BAR LINK BROKE APART WHERE IT ATTACHED TO THE SWAY BAR. I DIDN'T SEE THIS ON EARLIER INSPECTIONS BECAUSE THE 2 PARTS CAME TOGETHER WHEN STATIC TO CONCEAL THE BREAK. I PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT KIT AND REPLACED BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE SWAY BAR LINKS MYSELF. (DAMAGED PARTS STILL AVAILABLE) IN THE EARLY PART OF 2011, I BEGAN TO HEAR CREAKING NOISE FROM THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM AS I DROVE AND ON TURNS. I INSPECTED THE SYSTEM SEVERAL TIMES AND CONCLUDED THAT 1 OR MORE OF THE BALL JOINTS WERE DRY AND NEEDED GREASE. THE BALL JOINTS HAD NO FITTINGS TO APPLY GREASE SO A NEEDLE VALVE WAS USED TO INJECT GREASE INTO THE BOOTS. THIS HELPED FOR A SHORT PERIOD BUT THE CREAKING CAME BACK A FEW MONTHS LATER. I SENT THIS VEHICLE INTO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE DRY AND HAD EXCESS SIDE PLAY. THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT FOR SAFETY AND ALIGNMENT CONCERNS AT LESS THAN 40000 MILES. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THESE SUSPENSION PARTS ARE FAILING FAR TOO SOON. THE CONSUMER HAS NO WAY TO ADD GREASE TO THESE PARTS AND MUST RELY ON THE ORIGINAL PARTS BEING PROPERLY LUBRICATED TO HAVE REASONABLE DURABLITY. FAILURES AT THIS EARLY STAGE INDICATES DEFECTIVE PARTS AND PROCESSES THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED ASAP. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WILL BE FORCED TO HAVE THESE PARTS REPAIRED FOR SAFETY CONCERNS AND A HIGH COST TO THE VEHICLE OWNER. THESE PARTS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO LAST LONGER THAN THE SHORT PERIOD I HAVE EXPERIENCED ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

2005 DODGE DAKOTA CLUB CAB 4X2 S 105,636 MILES HAVE JUST REPLACED FRONT SWAY BARS, FRONT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, RIGHT-FRONT BRAKE CALIPER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOUD SQUEAKY NOISE WAS HEARD WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

HAVE A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA, 40400 MILE ON IT, THE WHOLE FRONT END HAS TO BE REPLACE, DUE IN MY OPINION TO DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING. WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE WHOLE FRONT END SHUDDERS. HAVE REPLACED BALL JOINTS ONCE AND NOW HAVING TO REPLACE WHOLE SUSPENSION, AT MY EXPENSE. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED AND DODGE SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WHEN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I DISCOVERED THAT IT IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH DODGE VEHICLES. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS WHY THIS IS NOT BEING INVESTIGATED MORE EXTENSIVELY AND WHY THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT BEING RECALLED. JUST BECAUSE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A LOSS OF LIVES, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT DODGE OWNERS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS OUT OF THEIR POCKETS. DODGE CREATED THIS PROBLEM AND DODGE SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT WHEELS WOULD EXHIBIT AN UNUSUAL NOISE AND WOULD VEER THE VEHICLE TO ONE SIDE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE HUBS AND BEARINGS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE AND THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN UNUSUAL CLICKING SOUND IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FRONT END BULBS AND BOLTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 35555 MILES. THE GARAGE SAID I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT THE BALL JOINTS DIDN'T BREAK AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. WE NEED TO HAVE THESE DODGE DAKOTA RECALLED BEFORE THEY CAUSE A WRECK. I HAD CARS/TRUCKS WITH 90,000 MILES ON THEM AND NEVER HAVE PROBLEMS. *TR

HAVE A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 WITH 56329 MILES ON IT AND JUST HAD TO HAVE BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED, THE FRONT SWAY BAR LINK KIT AND BUSHINGS REPLACED AND THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD REPLACED. THIS IS A LOT OF REPAIR WORK TO BE DONE ON A VEHICLE THAT IS JUST DRIVEN FOR PLEASURE. IT IS NOT TAKEN OFF-ROAD AND ROUGH HOUSED. I FEEL THAT THIS IS POOR WORKMANSHIP OF PARTS THAT WERE ORIGINALLY PUT ON THIS TRUCK. *TR

RIGHT SIDE BALL JOINTS ON 2005 DODGE DAKOTA ARE WORN OUT LESS THAN 37000 MILES. *TR

BALL JOINTS KEEP GOING BAD. *TR