2000 Dodge Dodge Truck

1) FRONT END BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPAIR-BROUGHT IN FOR CHECK BECAUSE OF NEWS STORY 2) DOOR/ALARM SWITCHES MALFUNCTIONED AND HAD TO BE DISABLED TO PREVENT ALARM FROM GOING OFF. ALL SWITCHES REPLACED AND WAS SUCCESFUL THOUGH ADVISED IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE CONTROL CHIP AND UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHICH, SO IT WAS A FINANCIAL GAMBLE TO REPAIR. *AK

NUMEROUS FRINT END PROBLEMS, MAINLY BALL JOINTS. DEALER WOULD JUST LUBICATE THE JOINTS AND SEND ME ON MY WAY. ITS BEEN ALMOST 5 YEARS AND PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. FRONT END IS NOT TIGHT AND BALL JOINTS WERE NEVER PROPERLY FIXED. ALSO, SEAT BELT FAILED TO OPERATE DURING AN ACCIDENT IN 2002 WHICH FLUNG MY DAUGHTERS CAR SEAT INTO THE BACK OF THE FRONT PASSANGER AND LANDING HER IN THE HOSPITAL.*AK

ON MY 2000 DODGE DAKATO PICK-UP TRUCK, THE BALL JOINT POPPED OUT WHILE DRIVING. I TRIED TO CONTACT DODGE ON OCTOBER 31, 2003, TO INFORM THEM THAT THEIR MUST BE SOME KIND OF PROBLEM WITH THE PART. THEY REPLIED AND SAID,"AFTER THOROUGHLY REVIEWING YOUR REQUEST AND THE FILES ON THIS MATTER, WE RESPECTFULLY CONCUR WITH THE DECISION RENDERED BY OUR SENIOR STAFF AND THAT THERE IS NO DEFECT ON THEIR BALL JOINTS. WATCHING THE CBS EVENING NEWS, I NOW FIND THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION BEING DONE BY THE NHTSA WITH THE DODGE DURANGO, AND THAT YOU ALSO CLAIM THE SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURING WITH THE DODGE DAKATO. IF THIS IS TRUE, WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP! *AK

THE STEERING GEAR BOX HAS NOT FAILED OR MAY NOT EVEN BE THE PROBLEM. ON (2) DIFFERENT TIMES WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN ON A CURVING MOUNTAIN ROAD, WHEN YOU TURN BACK TO THE LEFT, JUST PAST CENTER THE STEERING LOCKS AND YOU CAN STEER THE TRUCK. ON THE FIRST LOCKUP ABOUT (6) MONTHS AGO, I WAS TRAVELING UP HILL AND MADE A SHARP RIGHT TURN THROUGH A SWITCH BACK TURN AT ABOUT ( 5 TO 10) MPH. WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO THE LEFT TO CORRECT FROM THE TURN, THE WHEEL LOCKED JUST PAST CENTER. I WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE RUNNING OFF THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. AT THIS POINT WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL RIGHT, THEN LEFT, IT TURNED TO THE LEFT JUST FINE. THE (2ND) TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS NOT SO LUCKY. ON 6-07-02 WHILE PULLING A TRAILER IN THE MOUNTAINS ON A NARROW MOUNTAIN ROAD, I CAME THROUGH A RIGHT TURN DOWN A SLIGHT GRADE AND INTO A LEFT HAND CURVE AT ABOUT (25 OR 30) MPH WHEN BEFORE I KNEW IT THE STEERING WAS LOCKED AND I WAS DRIVING OFF THE ROAD. I HIT THE CLUTCH AND THE BRAKE, PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL BOTH HANDS TRYING TO TURN LEFT AND THE WHEEL DID NOT MOVE. THE TRAILER HAD BRAKING ON ALL WHEELS AND DID SLIDE. THE TRUCK HAS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND DID NOT SLIDE. BY THE TIME I GOT STOPPED I WAS COMPLETELY OFF THE ROAD IN THE DITCH. THIS GOT MY ATTENTION, I WAS LUCKY THERE WAS A DITCH TO DRIVE INTO. IF THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A PLACE WHERE THERE WAS NO SHOULDER ON THE ROAD OR THINGS SUCH AS TRAFFIC, BIG BOULDERS, GUARD RAILS, OR BRIDGE PILLARS, NOT BEING ABLE TO STEER AWAY FROM THEM IS A SATETY PROBLEM TO ME.*AK

AT AVE VERY POOR CONTROL; CONSTANTLY HAVING TO CORRECT CAUSING OVER CORRECTION VERY EASILY. HAVE TAKEN TO TOM RAPER {DEALER} THEY SENT US TO SANDMAN BROS { A DODGE DEALER LOCATED IN SHELBYVILLE IN. THEN TOM RAPER WOULD NOT GIVE AN APPOINTMENT TO MAKE CORRECTIVE MEASURES BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO BUSY!!! THE MANURFACTURER OF AMERICAN CRUISER, 1800 CHEYENNE ST NAPPANEE IN 46550 THEY HAD TECHNICIAN TO LOOK AT PROBLEM TOOK MEASURES FOR CORRECTIONS AND PROBLEM STIIL CONTINUE TO EXIST !!!! WE HAVE HAD NO SATIFACTION FROM ANY CUSTOMER SERVICE OR REPRESENTATIVES FROM ANY PARTIES INVOLVED. I FEEL MY LIFE IN DANDER AS WELL AS TO OTHERS UPON HIGHWAYS TRAVLED. THIS VEHICLE WILL UPON SOMETIME BE SUGGECT TO ROLL-OVER AT ANY TIME!!!! THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONCERNS. TRAVEL HAS BEEN RESTRICTED DUE TO THIS DISCONCERNS OF THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER .