Dodge Dakota Complaints (2002)

678 consumer complaints on file.

#10199464August 13, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
EARLIER IN THE WEEK THE POWER DOOR LOCKS WERE WORKING ON AND OFF. TWO DAYS LATER HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ON AND OFF AND MAKING A CLICKING SOUND BEFORE THEY WENT OUT COMPLETELY. INTERIOR LIGHTS ARE ALSO NOT WORKING. LUCKILY, I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO HOME AND THERE WAS STILL ENOUGH TWILIGHT TO MAKE IT HOME SAFELY. I AM GOING TO BRING THE TRUCK TO DEALER THIS WEEK, BUT I READ ABOUT A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN THE 2003 DODGE DAKOTAS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198942August 9, 2007
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER ON THE FLOORBOARD OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE AIR CONDITION WAS ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONDENSATION LINE WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AS OF AUGUST 9, 2007, THE DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,160 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,963.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198793August 7, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND WOULD NOT RESTART, LEAVING ME STRANDED IN 50 MPH TRAFFIC. UPON RESEARCHING VARIOUS DODGE DAKOTA SITES ON THE INTERNET, THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT IS EXPENSIVE AND TIME CONSUMING TO FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196881July 19, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND VALVES FAILED AND THAT THE CLUTCH AND VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 36,561. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188470April 20, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
BOUGHT 2002 SLT QUAD CAB DAKOTA NEW FROM DEALERSHIP. FIRST EXPERIENCED TRUCK STALLING WHILE DRIVING ON ROADWAYS (VERY DANGEROUS!), WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. SOMETIMES, IT WOULD ALSO STALL IF PUT INTO DRIVE/REVERSE FROM A PARKED POSITION. HAD TRUCK TOWED AT LEAST TWICE, BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT HOME BECAUSE IT WAS STALLING TOO MANY TIMES. TOOK IN TO DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES. SINCE ENGINE LIGHT WASN'T ON, DIAGNOSTIC TEST COULDN'T DETERMINE PROBLEM READILY; PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. OVER THE COURSE OF THE FIRST TWO VISITS TO DEALERSHIP, I HAD TUNE-UP, THROTTLE BODY CLEANED, NEW DISTRIBUTOR PLATE, NEW OIL PAN GASKET. BY THE THIRD TIME, I HAD THE ENTIRE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE REPLACED: THE "BRAIN" OF THE TRUCK, AS THE MECHANIC PUT IT TO ME. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN WHEN A BRAND-NEW TRUCK IS ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD; THE "BRAIN" SHOULD NOT DIE THAT SOON. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY IF THE PCM/STALLING PROBLEM IS CONSIDERED "CHARACTERISTIC." ALL OF THIS COST ME ABOUT $2,500. THE QUALITY OF THIS TRUCK HAS NOT, AND STILL DOES NOT, MEET MY EXPECTATIONS. THE TRUCK IS TOO YOUNG TO BE HAVING THESE SORTS OF PROBLEMS. I EXPECT TO PUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO A 10 YEAR-OLD TRUCK, NOT A FOUR YEAR-OLD TRUCK. I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH THE TRUCK NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. I WILL OUTLINE THAT IN SEPARATE COMPLAINT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185345March 16, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
UPON THE RETURN OF MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB FROM DEALER SERVICE, I NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE A SPOT OF GRAY SPRAY PAINT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER FENDER. THINKING THAT SOMEONE HAD ACCIDENTALLY OVERSPRAYED SOMETHING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NEARBY, I 'LET IT GO'. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER, I NOTICED THAT THE SPOT HAD GROWN FROM THE ORIGINAL SIZE (ABOUT THE SIZE OF A QUARTER) TO ABOUT THREE INCHES ACROSS. THINKING THAT PERHAPS I WAS 'SEEING THINGS', AGAIN, I LET IT GO. HOWEVER, TWO MORE WEEKS PASSED WHEN I STARTED NOTICING THE SAME GRAY COLOR APPEARING THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FENDER AND BEGINNING TO SHOW ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT FENDER AS WELL. I TELEPHONED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT PAINT / FINISHES WERE NOT WARRANTY ITEMS, AND EVEN IF IT HAD BEEN A WARRANTY ITEM, MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED (NOTE: MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000 MILES AT THE TIME). I CONTACTED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER ONLINE CUSTOMER SUPPORT REGARDING THE ISSUE, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP ME BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T PHYSICALLY INSPECT THE VEHICLE. SOME TIME LATER, I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A DIFFERENT REPAIR, BUT DID MENTION THE FADING PAINT. I WAS TOLD THEN THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP THAT HAD BODY/PAINT FACILITIES AND HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. (NOTE: I WAS NOT TOLD THAT WHEN I CALLED ABOUT THE PAINT THE FIRST TIME.) I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP WITH A BODY/PAINT FACILITY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE 'BRUTAL TEXAS SUN' WAS THE CULPRIT - CAUSING MY PAINT TO FADE. (NOTE: MY 1996 GEO PRIZM AND 2000 KIA OPTIMA ARE SUBJECTED TO THE SAME BRUTAL TEXAS SUN, BUT SHOW NO SIGNS OF FADING PAINT.) I WAS TOLD THAT MY CASE COULD BE SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION, BUT NOT TO EXPECT A POSITIVE RESULT. AS EXPECTED, THOSE WITH AUTHORITY TO APPROVE A REPAIR DENIED IT. AGAIN, I CONTACTED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER ONLINE CUSTOMER SUPPORT EXPRESSING MY DISSATISFACTION WITH THE QUALITY OF THE PAINT, AND THE LACK OF SUPPORT DURING THE ORDEAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185068March 14, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKES WOULD NOT APPLY AND CONSEQUENTLY RAN THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION AT 50 MPH BARELY AVOIDING CROSSING TRAFFIC AND STOPPED TRAFFIC. FOUND MISSING CALIPER PAD. REPLACED ALL PADS ON FRONT AND TURNED THE ROTORS. ALSO REPLACED THE REAR CYLINDER SEALS. 1 WEEK LATER RIGHT FRONT BRAKE SEVERELY OVERHEATED AND WAS RED HOT AFTER A SEVEN MILE COMMUTE HOME WITH ONLY SEVEN STOPS AT LOW SPEED (NORMAL BRAKING). MECHANIC FOUND EVIDENCE OF BURNED OUTER EDGE OF ROTOR. PADS ACTUATED NORMALLY. RE-TURNED RIGHT ROTOR TO VERIFY NO WARPING HAD OCCURRED. NO PARTS REQUIRED. BRAKES HAVE LOST SOME STOPPING POWER SINCE BEFORE THE FIRST INCIDENT AND MY CONFIDENCE HAS BEEN EFFECTED. COST OF REPAIRS $400+. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183314February 23, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
FRONT BRAKE CALIBER LOCKED UP. STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182958February 19, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE CALIPERS LOCKED UP ON THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE BRAKES TO BE APPLIED WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE BRAKES. AFTER REPLACING THE RIGHT CALIPERS, ROTOR (WARPED FROM HEAT), AND BRAKE HOSE, 12 MILES AWAY, THE LEFT CALIPER LOCKED UP. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUES BECAUSE THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED WITHOUT THE INTENTION OF THE DRIVER.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182991February 19, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE AS MANY OTHER 2002 DODGE DAKOTA OWNERS IN WHICH THE LIGHTS STOP WORKING OR BEGIN TO FLASH WITHOUT WARNING. IN THIS INSTANCE, THE PARKING LAMPS, INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND COURTESY LAMPS FLICKER ON AND OFF. THE HEADLIGHTS ONLY SEEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FLASHING PART OF THE TIME. IT APPEARS LIKELY THE PROBLEM WILL BE THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE, HOWEVER DUE TO COST I HAVE NOT YET REPLACED IT. I HAVE DETERMINED THE PROBLEM IS NEITHER THE SWITCH, RELAY, OR LIGHTS. THE SYMPTOMS ARE IDENTICAL TO THOSE POSTING THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE DEFECT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182839February 17, 2007
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
A PART INSIDE THE HEATING SYSTEM FAILED; THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN THREE YEARS THAT THIS PART HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE HEATING SYSTEM TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD WILL NOT WORK. PART WAS REPLACED AGAIN; SERVICE COMPANY SAYS THAT THIS PART FAILS OFTEN. THE PART NUMBER IS 5174618-AA DESCRIBED AS A RESISTOR.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182152February 9, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
THE BALL JOINTS ON THE DAKOTA SERIES P/U ARE A CHRONIC PROBLEM. I BOUGHT AN '02 DAKOTA 4X4 WITH 70K AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED NOISE AND A LOOSE FEELING FROM THE FRONT END. I VERIFIED THE BALL JOINT RECALL HAD BEEN COMPLETED. WHEN I WENT TO HAVE IT ALIGNED, I LEARNED THAT ALL FOUR OF MY BALL JOINTS ARE BAD, INCLUDING THE TOP TWO THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED ALREADY. WHILE RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I CAME ACROSS THIS SITE, HTTP://WWW.DODGEDAKOTAS.COM/BOARDS/DEA/140-1.HTML, WHICH IS A DAKOTA FORUM, WITH NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS EXACTLY THE SAME AS MINE. DODGE NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS FAILURE TO USE QUALITY COMPONENTS. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT BE SPENDING $600 EVERY YEAR TO KEEP THEIR VEHICLES ALIGNED ON THE ROAD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180786January 26, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DURANGO. WHEN THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES AND THE ABS TOOK OVER. THE BRAKES SQUEAKED AND DID NOT IMMEDIATELY STOP THE VEHICLE UNLESS THE CONTACT TOOK FOOT OFF THE PEDAL AND APPLIED THE BRAKE AGAIN. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE ABS FUSE AND THE BRAKES WORKED NORMALLY. HOWEVER, THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ALSO CONNECTED TO THAT FUSE SO THE SPEED WAS NOT REGISTERING CORRECTLY WITHOUT THE FUSE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45MP AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178511January 12, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HIS 2002 DODGE DAKOTA ON APPROXIMATELY DECEMBER 15, 2006; WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE HE STRUCK A CURB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS DOES NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES DO NOT STOP THE VEHICLE DURING SUDDEN STOPS. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND STATED IT IS OPERATING AS EXPECTED. THE CONTACT STATED THERE HAVE BEEN NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000 MILES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176408December 18, 2006
PARKING BRAKE
WHEN I DROVE OFF WITH MY PARKING BREAK SET IT SHEARED OFF THE GRADE 8 BOLTS THAT HOLD THE BRAKES TO THE AXLE. RESULTING IN THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY SPINNING AND TEARING OFF THE BRAKE LINES AND BREAKING THE BRAKE CABLE. I HAD NO REAR BRAKES OR EMERGENCY BRAKE. COST $1200.00 TO REPAIR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176325December 17, 2006
PARKING BRAKE
I SET MY PARKING BRAKE. FORGOT IT WAS SET AND MOVED MY TRUCK THE BRAKE HELD TO THE POINT IT BROKE ALL 8 BOLTS HOLDING THE BACKING PLATES CAUSING THE ENTIRE BRAKE BACKING PLATE WHEEL CYLINDER, SHOES AND DRUM TO SPIN BREAKING THE BRAKE LINES AND BRAKE CABLE. RESULTING IN ON REAR BRAKES. THE COST TO REPAIR $1219.83. THANK GOD IT DID NOT BRAKE WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176328December 17, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
UPPER BALL JOINTS WORN OUT AT 52,00 MILES. WENT FOR TIRE CHANGE AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND FOUND PROBLEM. HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT DID NOT COVER. AM WAITING FOR PART AT THE COST OF ABOUT $600.00 TO REPLACE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176067December 13, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY IN RAINY WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHERS FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V216000, REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175672December 9, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHEN I WOULD FORGET TO TURN OFF MY HEADLIGHTS AFTER TAKING KEYS OUT. MY INSIDE LIGHT WOULD START TO BLINK ALSO MY WARNING FOR SEAT BELTS WASN'T WORKING. THE LAST THING THAT HAPPENED WAS WHAT ALARMED ME. I WAS TRAVELING TO WORK IN THE EARLY MORNING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON. WHEN I HEARD MY LOW GAS WARNING GO OFF . ALL OF A SUDDEN MY HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO BLINK ON AND OFF IN SEQUENCE WITH THE LOW GAS WARNING. AFTER WORK I CHECK AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED THEN I FILLED UP WITH GAS AND THE LIGHTS WORKED FINE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND THAT THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE WAS BAD. OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE IT WAS JUST ALARMING FOR ME AND THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME WHEN MY LIGHTS STARTED TO BLINK I PULLED AND HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 15 MINUTES FOR IT TO BE LIGHT ENOUGH TO GET MOVING AGAIN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175291December 6, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS IN THE NORTHEAST I HAVE EXPERIENCED TWO SEPARATE INSTANCES WHERE THE FRONT BRAKES WOULD NOT DISENGAGE OR REMAINED PARTIALLY ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING. FIRST FAILURE AT APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES, MECHANIC FOUND CALIPERS TO OPERATE NORMALLY BUT REPLACED ALL PADS AND ROTORS DUE TO HEAT DAMAGE EVIDENT ON "PASSENGER SIDE" FRONT. SECOND FAILURE AT APPROXIMATELY 35,000 AGAIN FOUND CALIPERS OPERATING NORMALLY BUT REPLACED FRONT BRAKE LINE, BRAKE FLUID, PADS AND MACHINED ROTORS. MECHANIC UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE BRAKES FREEZE WHEN EVERYTHING APPEARS TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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