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Slow4x4Dak
Dodge Dakota
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4/03/2005
22:54:09
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 Subject: My Ball Joints Failed
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I was driving about 4 minutes away from my house when all of a sudden I think my passenger front tire blew. The truck swirves left real hard and I manage to keep it on the road and pull off to the right side. I get out, and my Drivers front tire is pointed like this / . I'm flipping out and call my dad.
I've been on the waiting list for balljoints for 2 months at the local Chrysler dealership; unfortunately for me they have failed. If I was going any faster than 30mph, I may have actually been killed or if I was going down a road or the interstate or any other number of things. I'm going to have to call Chrysler and NHTSA and the Chrysler Dealership tomorrow.
I have uploaded pictures I have taken to:
www.smimprovements.com/images/joints
Half are of the broken side, the other half are of the non-broken side. The tow truck guy said that the shocks broke at the same time my ball joints did. I hope Chrysler will pay for that, and my 18" Epic rim, the tow truck costs $85, shocks (for both sides), a rental car and whatever else I've had to incur.
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cj
Dodge Dakota
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4/03/2005
23:28:06
| RE: My Ball Joints Failed
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Wow slow4x4dak, that sucks, its weird to see this occur to someone you know well on a forum... just sucks. Since u have been on the waiting list and didnt get them replaced,, man oh man, i sure hope you and mostly your dad become pissed as all hell and make sure the chrysler reps and NHTSA know about it, it could make them look even worse. If you do so, youll get taken care of.
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Slow4x4Dak
Dodge Dakota
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4/04/2005
01:51:22
| RE: My Ball Joints Failed
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If you look at www.smimprovements.com/images/joints/P1001431.jpg
You can see that the entire ball joint has come out and is about 2" right (from this POV) from the shock. It looks about half eaten up (at 150% zoom), I'm going to go out tomorrow and take closer up pictures, and I think the boot was cracked in half on the passenger side. I need to get a closer look at it tomorrow.
Yea, it totally blows; tomorrow all hell is going to be raised. Especially since we own 4 Chrysler vehicles and my dad has a contracting business with 8 dodge rams in service.
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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4/04/2005
06:08:36
| RE: My Ball Joints Failed
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D'0h! I would think that since the ball joints caused the rest of the damage and are covered under the recall the dealer is liable for replacing all damaged parts. You should also ask about them giving you a rental car - and make sure they give you something comparable and not some chevy cavalier.
You also did not mention that you were turning. As I recall, DC's whole reluctance with doing the recall at first was that this only happens during turns, which are slow speed, and is therefore not a safety concern. I would definately file a complaint with the NHTSA and DC.
good luck!
- Dan M
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Slow4x4Dak
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/04/2005
16:05:35
| RE: My Ball Joints Failed
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I wasn't turning, I was doing about 30mph, got done a turn and got on the straight away and it busted out. The whole housing that the balljoint was in is like completely shattered and only a small 1" piece remains.
I called DC today and got transferred twice, then spoke to beth in special investigations and she wrote up a report. A Special Investigator is coming out from DC this week and going to write a report. I notified my insurance that something happened, but didn't want to file a claim yet. Then I called the local Chrysler dealer and asked what # I am on the list...according to them, I am #11 on list 4. I'm guessing that's like 40th or maybe just 11. Then she was like "do you want me to move you to #1?, we still don't have any balljoints though". I said no, I wanted you to inspect the vehicle when I brought it in the first time or to do anything. I said keep me as #11 and do not move me. Been on the list since Jan 19th.
I don't have anybody to yell at because they said do not move the truck til the Investigator comes out. I don't need a rental car now, but I will soon, so I guess when he gets out here we'll figure out what to do.
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Dodge
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/04/2005
16:10:14
| RE: My Ball Joints Failed
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Message:
Different
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