Complaint 1510294

Complaint Summary

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Owner Narrative

HELLO, I RECENTLY PURCHASED A ONE OWNER 2005 DODGE DAKOTA, WHICH HAS LESS THAN 35,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. THE CAR FAX CAME BACK CLEAN FOR ACCIDENTS ETC, BUT I HAVE FOUND, THAT BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR SECTIONS OF THE CHASSIS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES AND MOST OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAD TO BE REPLACED TOO. DUE TO EXCESSIVE DEEP RUST. TO THE POINT OF THE NUT HOLDING THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD END DISINTEGRATED. THE STRAIGHT SIDE RAILS OF THE CHASSIS ARE EXCESSIVELY DEEP RUSTED. AS WELL AS THE OIL PAN AND REAR AXLE HOUSING (WHICH ARE ORIGINAL). THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO CUT OFF THE FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND REPLACE ALL BUSHINGS AND MOST OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST AND WEAR. MY TRUCK HAS BARELY BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR ITS YEAR AND HAS HAD MINIMAL EXPOSURE TO ROAD CHEMICALS SUCH AS SALT ETC. THESE COMPONENTS ROTTING AWAY TO THIS EXTENT WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE REGARDLESS OF AGE INDICATES THE USE OF POOR QUALITY MATERIALS BEING USED DURING ASSEMBLY AND POSING A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE TO CONSUMERS. I OPENED A CASE# 57271603 WITH CHRYSLER AND THE AGENT TOLD, THAT EVEN IF THE CASE WAS MOVED UP FOR REVIEW . IT WOULD BE SENT BACK DUE TO THE AGE OF THE TRUCK . WHICH I DISAGREE WITH, AS THE FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE ROTTED AND DISINTEGRATED SO BADLY AND THE CHASSIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO HAVE EXTENSIVE REPAIRS IN LESS THAN 35,000 MILES. I WOULD THINK, THAT THIS POSES A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE FOR ANYONE BUYING TRUCKS USING THE SAME CHASSIS AND COMPONENTS FROM THE SAME VENDOR, IF THEY ARE NOT MANUFACTURED AT A DODGE PLANT. ULTIMATELY IT SHOULD BE THE CAR MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY, THAT THE PARTS THEY ARE USING ARE QUALITY AND WILL NOT POSE POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK TO CONSUMERS . PLEASE LET ME KNOW, IF FURTHER INFORMATION ETC. IS NEEDED. THANK YOU

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.