Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Dodge Dakota owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the lower ball joints for the front suspension fractured without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed by the dealer. The contact stated that the parts to repair the vehicle were no longer available. The vehicle was not able to be repaired. The contact purchased a lower control arm to repair the vehicle; however, it did not correct the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.
The lower ball joint on my 1999 Dodge Dakota failed. This caused the driver's side of vehicle to slam violently to the ground. The rack and pinion was damaged as a result. Steering alignment was greatly affected as well. Front bumper was also damaged. I understand that these ball joints are a growing concern with dakotas and durangos and would like to see some action taken by the manufacturer.
Brakes came apart when applied, no brake. Rattle on rotors, pad damage. Bolts that go through caliper stripped threads from spindle freeing caliper to bounce on rotor I have replaced with used part once hoping for recall, bad news dude!!!
I have a 1999 Dodge Dakota 4x4. At 50,000 I installed new tires and took my truck to a mechanic for a wheel alignment. I recently moved and the mechanic was new, but had good reports. He told me that he could not do the alignment because of bad ball joints and tie rod ends. I was outraged, thinking that he might be trying to rip me off. I told him at 50,000 miles I should not have to get new steering parts, but the mechanic said that he has replaced ball joints and tie rod parts on several dakotas and durangos at that mileage. I told him to replace the parts and do the alignment. When I picked up my Dakota, he showed me the parts, they were bad. I have worked for two large agricultural machinery manufacturers and have seen them cut costs by installing cheap chinese parts. …
Not necessarily an incident, yet... But how come 1999 Dodge dakotas are not affected by the new recall on the ball joints?!!?!? The '99 is the exact same design as the 2000 Dakota. I have a RWD 99 Dakota, and I had the ball joints replaced 3 times since I've owned it. Three times. Daimler Chrysler doesn't care if our wheels fall off?!? I had warning once of three times when my ball joints were shot. What were to happen if I rolled my truck and died?! I can't believe that the recall for the ball joints only affects the 2000-2003 models, I know from plenty of other Dakota owners, the 99's are every bit as bad, if not worse. Same design = same problems. I'm not paying for dc to do my ball joints again, there is no reason the 1999s should be excludeed from the recall. If the balljoints on the 200s are bad, then being the same ones on the 99s will go just as bad. …
Dodge Dakota 4x4 required replacement of front suspension upper and lower ball joints. Wear of ball joints resulted in premature, rapid destruction of a set of tires due to inner shoulder wear. Set of 4 tires had to be replaced at approximately 1/2 of expected tread life. Total repair cost due to premature failure of ball joints, including new tires, was $1384.93 condition of ball joints was hazardous and could have resulted in an accident through suspension or tire failure. Condition was also difficult to notice, as the wear was on inner shoulder of front tires. The ball joint and tire wear was not identified during a thorough inspection by an independent mechanic at 60586 miles or by a Dodge dealership during 60,000 mile service performed at 60789 miles. Dodge is aware of the safety hazard of the front ball joints on these vehicles, however did not notify me of the condition. …
Tl contact owns a 1999 Dodge Dakota. While driving 15 MPH or less, the contact heard a loud thumping noise underneath the front passenger side of the vehicle. The noise intensified whenever a turn was made. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the ball joints failed. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic and the front passenger side ball joints were replaced. The failure recurred years later and the upper ball joints were replaced at 59,244 miles. The contact believes that the Chrysler ball joints do not have greasers, which the new replacement ball joints have along with a lifetime warranty. He believes that the manufacturer should issue a recall. The first time the ball joints failed, the contact was forced to replace them with Chrysler parts. He believes that this is why they failed a second time. The failure mileage was 32,904 and current mileage is 59,244. …
I owned a 1999 Dodge Dakota club cab since 09-99. It was bought new. .before my warranty expired on sept-2000, there was a popping noise from my front end, which was attributed to the ball joints. Not only that, but every time I filled it up, gas would start pouring out from the tank. I took it to the the dealership maroone Dodge in pembroke pines, fl), and was told that it was probably because I put too much gas in it. After the warranty expired, the problem got worst, and I was told that I needed to replace the fuel pump gasket, and the ball joints. I asked why I haven't been told that before my warranty expired, but the service advisor that attended me wasn't working there anymore. I complained to Chrysler, trying to service my truck since I had complained from before the warranty had expired, but they never got back to me. …
I own a 1999 Dodge Dakota sport 4x4 and I needed to have the ball joints (upper and lower) and tie rods replaced at 67,000 miles. I found out that they needed to be replaced because I was having brand new tires installed, and when new tires are installed I figured it would be good to get an alignment as well. The mechanice said he couldn't give the truck an alignment because the ball joints were too loose - and this is a very reputable mechanic here in town, so I knew I wasn't getting taken for a ride. So, for a cost of $1,052 I had to have the ball joints and tie rods replaced. …
Northtown Dodge of tonawanda ,2020 niagara falls blvd, tonawanda,ny tel#7166927200, told me the squeak in my '99 Dodge Dakota (53,372 miles) was the failure of both upper and lower ball joints. They charged me a total of $1,870.00 for the job in July '03. $1,048 was for parts alone. They insisted that the ball joint connecting arms are one piece with each ball joint. Since then I called the same dealer's parts dept. Requesting information on replacement parts costs. That dept. Told me that daimler Chrysler has produced replacement parts at the cost of $100.00 each because they realize that the ball joints in both the Dakota and durangos have a frequent failure record. Northtown Dodge service dept. Did not inform me of those parts availability or even existence and did not afford me the opportunity to save over $640.00 in parts alone. …
NHTSA investigations
Upper ball joint separation
Daimlerchrysler corporation (dcc) is recalling the target population of approximately 600,000 my 2000 through 2003 durango and dakota vehicles with four-wheel drive to replace the front suspension upper ball joints with redesigned parts that do not have the joint integrity concerns and have substantially improved joint retention capacity (NHTSA recall no.
Suspension complaints in other Dakota years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 1999 Dodge Dakota?
NHTSA has 342 complaints about the suspension of the 1999 Dodge Dakota, 53% of the model year's 641 complaints. The component named most often is front › control arm › upper ball joint (224 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Dodge Dakota suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for the 1999 Dodge Dakota, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1999 Dodge Dakota suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 56,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 9 injuries to suspension problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.