are component failures common on 3rd gen Dakota?
#1
are component failures common on 3rd gen Dakota?
I've had the following problems:
Warped front rotors - 16,000 miles
Outer tie rods worn - 24,000 miles
Front wheel bearing failure - 24,000 miles
What's so bad is that the rotors weren't covered by the 3/36 warranty so I ended up eating half of the cost after fighting with Dodge. The tie rods and wheel bearing both occurred after 36 months so I paid for the tie rod replacements as was able to get Dodge to cover all but $125 of the wheel bearing replacement.
I do not haul anything with my truck, go off-roading or in any other way treat my truck roughly. It seems outrageous to me that I would have so many failures with front end components with so few miles on it.
How common are my problems?
Warped front rotors - 16,000 miles
Outer tie rods worn - 24,000 miles
Front wheel bearing failure - 24,000 miles
What's so bad is that the rotors weren't covered by the 3/36 warranty so I ended up eating half of the cost after fighting with Dodge. The tie rods and wheel bearing both occurred after 36 months so I paid for the tie rod replacements as was able to get Dodge to cover all but $125 of the wheel bearing replacement.
I do not haul anything with my truck, go off-roading or in any other way treat my truck roughly. It seems outrageous to me that I would have so many failures with front end components with so few miles on it.
How common are my problems?
#2
#4
#6
I've had the following problems:
Warped front rotors - 16,000 miles
Outer tie rods worn - 24,000 miles
Front wheel bearing failure - 24,000 miles
What's so bad is that the rotors weren't covered by the 3/36 warranty so I ended up eating half of the cost after fighting with Dodge. The tie rods and wheel bearing both occurred after 36 months so I paid for the tie rod replacements as was able to get Dodge to cover all but $125 of the wheel bearing replacement.
I do not haul anything with my truck, go off-roading or in any other way treat my truck roughly. It seems outrageous to me that I would have so many failures with front end components with so few miles on it.
How common are my problems?
Warped front rotors - 16,000 miles
Outer tie rods worn - 24,000 miles
Front wheel bearing failure - 24,000 miles
What's so bad is that the rotors weren't covered by the 3/36 warranty so I ended up eating half of the cost after fighting with Dodge. The tie rods and wheel bearing both occurred after 36 months so I paid for the tie rod replacements as was able to get Dodge to cover all but $125 of the wheel bearing replacement.
I do not haul anything with my truck, go off-roading or in any other way treat my truck roughly. It seems outrageous to me that I would have so many failures with front end components with so few miles on it.
How common are my problems?
#7
With the exception of the rotors, I think most everyone has the same issues (at least I don't see a lot of complaints about rotors). The factory components are pure junk. If they are replacing things under warranty, they are using the same factory junk so it will go bad again soon. Most of us have upgaded these parts with aftermarket (better) parts from Moog. Tie rod ends, ball joint, struts, sway bar end links (I prefer to keep mine on) can all be found at Rock Auto. Most of these are greaseable and last way longer than the el-cheapo factory parts.
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#8
#9
I'm having trouble getting the control arm bolts out. If I find the bolts I'm just going to cut the olld one and have them pressed out of the bushings. Replacing both lower control arms just so I can replace a $30 ball joint is just plain retarded.
#10
Autozone stuff is usually junk, in my experience, unless you get the good name brand stuff.
I buy a lot of stuff from Rock Auto now if it can wait. 99% of the time, they are half price of what you can get at Autozone, O'Reillys, Advance, or NAPA, and they almost always have all the good name brands. Currently trying Deeza parts on the wife's 2006 Durango (semi-similar to 2004-2007 Dakotas, I have read) for the sway bar links. Supposedly almost as good or just as good as Moog, and occasionally cheaper. Made in Turkey. We drove it for a while with none when we were waiting on parts (rather than dealing with the constant rattling noise over bumps), and we definitely noticed it, noticeably more lean in corners.
I buy a lot of stuff from Rock Auto now if it can wait. 99% of the time, they are half price of what you can get at Autozone, O'Reillys, Advance, or NAPA, and they almost always have all the good name brands. Currently trying Deeza parts on the wife's 2006 Durango (semi-similar to 2004-2007 Dakotas, I have read) for the sway bar links. Supposedly almost as good or just as good as Moog, and occasionally cheaper. Made in Turkey. We drove it for a while with none when we were waiting on parts (rather than dealing with the constant rattling noise over bumps), and we definitely noticed it, noticeably more lean in corners.
Last edited by jasonw; 04-29-2012 at 11:06 PM.