Dodge Dakota issues
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Joined: Nov 2002
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From: mesa, az
Dodge Dakota issues
....My newly EX-G/F just bought a 04 Dakota, Of course 3days after she bought it, I heard that the Dakotas had problems with the front ends falling off (or at least wearing excessively) something to do with poor metalurgy in the ball joints......
Anybody else hear this....?
Anybody else hear this....?
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Joined: Jul 2001
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The ball joint design for the Dakotas is flawed and Dodge has known about it since the Gen II. They are far too small for the truck. She may get 35-50,000 miles before having to have them replaced- about $600.00. But she will need brakes before that as they also are far too small for the weight of the truck. And then there is the issue of the factory bent A frames- that means that regardless of what you do, you can never align the frontend and tire wear is incredible. I guess you are lucky to be rid of such a person.
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From: Western Colorado USA
Originally posted by Flash
The ball joint design for the Dakotas is flawed and Dodge has known about it since the Gen II. They are far too small for the truck.
The ball joint design for the Dakotas is flawed and Dodge has known about it since the Gen II. They are far too small for the truck.
New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11
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From: IOWA
I can officially answer on this as i was a dodge tech for six long months. First the caster and camber are adjustable on the dakota and durango same chasis, second the front brakes are the same size as the ram, the brakes will last longer than 60.000 if they run high miles, yes the dakota's have ball joints that wear out fast because they sealed ball joints no grease nipple, also on the dakota and durango's they have no front spring they are strut. I.m not defending dodge but that is the facts, just like when they first started putting 318 v8's in the dakota's the tranny's didn't last because it was a 3spd v6 tranny and just think dodge is engineered by the germans
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 694
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From: formerly Brooklyn NY now
i just heard the 04 durangos/dakotas have electric problems for a recall that somethng overheats and catches fire all motors except the hemi and there was some other problem. i have a 97 caravan thats my dads car and i keep it to drive him for med appointments as hes only comfortable in that.if it wasnt for that id berid of that hunk of junk in a heartbeat. whenya have a dodge you need the perfect second car a tow truck. besides from what i read in the papers give it ten years and dodge will be out of business in bankruptcy
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