Steering problems

[John Swanick]

My wife owns a 2000 Dodge Dakota 4x4 truck where we started to experience a problem with the steering. We first noticed when making turns you could feel the steering wheel wanting to turn the opposite way. Secondly the force required to turn the steering wheel was much harder when turning to the right. Eventually the steering wheel would want to turn mysteriously to either the right or left going down the highway. There was never a loss of control that could have caused an accident where we assumed it was the steering pump going bad. We took the truck into a Dodge dealer who said the tie rods were bad and needed replacing. The day we took the truck in for service Dodge announced a recall on some Dakota’s. The dealer said the recall was too new for him to make any upper ball joint repairs at that time (two weeks ago).

With this said, the truck still has a steering problem (not as bad as original) where the steering wheel turns hard to the right and the steering wheel wants to turn the opposite way when making turns. This is very noticeable as you can see your hand move in the opposite direction of the turn.

I am taking the truck back to the dealer tomorrow morning and need any advise you might provide. Do you think the dealer should have replaced the tie rods and ball joints at the same time? Would replacing both at the same time with the ball joints under recall save me any money? Could there be something else that could be causing the problem? How should I communicate with the dealer tomorrow? Please advise

[BleedDodge]

These things were recalled eh...

[John Swanick]

We have not received confirmation from Dodge or the dealer that our vehicle will be included in the recalled. Are you indicating that the tie rods and ball joints will both be covered by the recalled? We paid for the replacement tie rods where the dealer said if we receive notice from Dodge he would replace the ball joints. Did they pull the wool over our eyes? What should I do?????

[BleedDodge]

Go back to the dealer and tell them what you just said in that last post.