Dodge Dakota Complaints (2005)

470 consumer complaints on file.

#10506012April 11, 2013
SUSPENSION, STEERING
HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TIE ROD ENDS,SWAY BAR LINK RODS,AND NOW LOWER CONTROL ARMS TO KEEP THE TRUCK SAFELY ON THE ROAD. THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THESE ITEMS ON A VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 100000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505074April 1, 2013
POWER TRAIN, STEERING:RACK AND PINION:PINION SHAFT
2005 DAKOTA CLUB CAB. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE GEARS AND REAR AXLES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR, FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE VEHICLE LURCHED SLIGHTLY FORWARD AND A HIGH PITCHED WHINING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER THEN REALIZED, HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY GEARS. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIFT THE TRUCK OFF THE ROAD, SINCE HE WAS ON A SLIGHT UPGRADE. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. AN INSPECTION REVEALED, THE PINION GEAR HAD METAL FATIGUE AND FRACTURED ON THE SHAFT BEHIND THE SPLINE AND AHEAD OF THE GEAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10501234March 4, 2013
STEERING, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING FELT LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TRANS COOLER LINE FAILED AND WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 85,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10501291March 4, 2013
SEATS
VEHICLE WAS PARKED UNDER THE CARPORT, WAS NOT RUNNING, KEYS WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION. IT HAD BEEN PARKED APPROXIMATELY 2 1/2 HOURS WHEN SON IN LAW HAPPENED TO COME OVER AND SAW THE INSIDE OF THE TRUCK FULL OF SMOKE. HE OPENED THE DOOR AND DETERMINED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE AND THE INSIDE OF THE SEAT WAS BURNING. THE SEAT WAS FULLY DESTROYED, BUT THE FIRE WAS ABLE TO BE PUT OUT BEFORE ANY FURTHER DAMAGE OCCURED. HAD THIS NOT BEEN DISCOVERED WHEN IT WAS, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE COULD HAVE BEEN DESTROYED, ALONG WITH THE CARPORT AND POSSIBLY THE ENTIRE HOME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496812February 8, 2013
SEATS
DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494871January 27, 2013
SEATS
DRIVER'S SIDE HEATER SEAT BURNT HOLE IN MY SEAT, MY BLUE JEANS AND MY WALLET, WARPED CREDIT CARD. THREE MONTHS AGO, A FRIEND BACKED MY TRUCK OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I LEFT HIS HOUSE, I NOTICED A HOLE IN THE BACK SEAT COVER. I BLAMED HIM FOR BURNING A HOLE IN MY SEAT SINCE HE IS A SMOKER. I HAVE NOTICED THAT LATELY MY SEAT HAD BEEN GETTING AWFUL "HOT" BUT NEVER THOUGH IT MIGHT BE BURNING. THEN, TUES JAN 22, I GOT OUT OF MY TRUCK AND NOTICED THE HOLE BURNT IN THE BOTTOM CUSHION. I HAVE SPENT THE PAST WEEK TALKING WITH THE DEALER AND CHRYSLER ABOUT IT SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. CHRYSLER IS WILLING TO HELP ME OUT 50% COST. WHAT I AM FINDING OUT IS THAT THE DEALER ARTIFICIALLY INFLATES THE COSTS SO THAT IN REALITY, IT REALLY WON'T COST CHRYSLER A DIME. OBVIOUSLY, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME. THE PROBLEM WITH THE NHTSA IS THAT THESE ISSUES ARE MINOR TO THEM IN THE BIG PICTURE OF THINGS PERCENTAGE WISE - SO THEY IGNORE IT. BUT TO THE CONSUMER, IT IS MAJOR. IF THE NHTSA WAS SMART OR REALLY ON TOP OF THINGS - THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE OVERALL NUMBERS OF THE CAR COMPANY AND THEY WOULD FIND THAT THE CHRYSLER CORP. HAS HAD TROUBLE WITH THEIR HEATED SEATS FOR OVER A DECADE. ALL THEIR BRANDS. RECALL ON JEEP GR CHEROKEE 2001-2004 ; SEBRING; TOWN & COUNTRY; DODGE/RAM TRUCKS. WHY DOES NHTSA NOT CARE ABOUT THE INDIVIDUALS IN THESE CASES. THERE WAS A PARALYZED MAN THAT HAD HIS SEAT ACCIDENTALLY TURNED ON - HE ENDED UP WITH THIRD DEGREE BURNS ON HIS THIGH ABOUT THE SIZE OF A QUARTER. I WOULD SAY THAT THE NHTSA NEEDS TO DO SOME HOMEWORK ON CHRYSLER AND EXERCISE A RECALL ON ALL OF THESE HEATED SEAT ELEMENTS. HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO SUFFER? WHY IS EVERYTHING BASED ON NUMBERS?? DOES ANYONE IN THIS WORLD CARE ABOUT THE INDIVIDUALS BEING HARMED??IN MY OPINION, YOU ARE FAILING TERRIBLY BY NOT GOING AFTER THE CHRYSLER CORP. FOR THEIR NEGLECT. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10492939January 14, 2013
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT WARMER OVERHEATED AND BURNED HIS LEG THROUGH HIS PANTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLACE THE SEAT AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND RECOMMENDED THE CONTACT TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10490999January 4, 2013
SEATS
I WAS USING THE HEATED SEATS AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT OVERHEATED AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT. THIS OCCURRED WITHIN THE FIRST 7-8 MINUTES OF USING IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487616December 6, 2012
SEATS
TURNED ON DRIVERS HEATED SEAT TO (LOW),IN JUST A FEW MINUTES I GOT A BURNING FEELING IN MY RIGHT BUTT CHEEK ,AT THE TOP OF MY RIGHT LEG. IT GOT SO HOT THAT I HAD TO TURN THE SEAT OFF RIGHT AWAY !!!!! I DROVE TO WORK AND BY THE TIME I GOT THERE I FORGOT ABOUT THE SEAT ,ALTHOUGH I STILL HAD A BURNING SENSATION IN MY BUTTOCKS. WHEN I CAME OUT OF WORK TODAY ,I NOTICED A BURN HOLE IN THE DRIVERS SEAT AND THE TRUCK HAD THE SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING! I GUESS I SHOULD BE HAPPY THE TRUCK DIDN'T BURN TO THE GROUND BUT I'M AT A LOSS ON WHAT TO DO, EVEN MORE SO ,NOW THAT I'VE SEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET !!!!!! MY BUTT WILL BE FINE ,I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT MY NEXT MOVE SHOULD BE ????? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10485023November 17, 2012
STEERING
I WAS TRAVELING 55-60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY IN A STRAIGHT LINE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED WHEN I HIT A DIP IN THE ROAD AND THE TRUCK LITERALLY JUMPED OFF THE HIGHWAY. IT COMPLETELY LEFT MY LANE AND DROVE ITSELF OUT OF CONTROL ACROSS TRAFFIC AND TO THE RIGHT INTO A DITCH. IT CAUSED FRONT END BODY DAMAGE (MODERATE) AND SCARED ME TO DEATH. I HAVE SINCE DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL FROM MY TRUCK. NOW OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS THE TRUCKS FRONT END SHAKES AND RATTLES AND IS DIFFICULT TO CORNER, ACTS IF IT WILL JUMP OFF THE ROAD. THIS FRONT END OF THE DAKOTA SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE IT KILLS MANY PEOPLE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479598October 10, 2012
SUSPENSION
IN OCTOBER OF 2010, I WAS DRIVING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY ONTO A MAIN STREET MAKING A RIGHT TURN WHEN I HEARD A METAL SNAPPING SOUND. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE, I FELT SOME SLACK IN THE STEERING WHEN I MADE A TURN AFTERWARDS. I INSPECTED THE SUSPENION SYSTEM SEVERAL TIMES IN THE NEXT WEEK BUT DIDN'T SEE THE CAUSE. LATER I FOUND THE FRONT SWAY BAR LINK BROKE APART WHERE IT ATTACHED TO THE SWAY BAR. I DIDN'T SEE THIS ON EARLIER INSPECTIONS BECAUSE THE 2 PARTS CAME TOGETHER WHEN STATIC TO CONCEAL THE BREAK. I PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT KIT AND REPLACED BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE SWAY BAR LINKS MYSELF. (DAMAGED PARTS STILL AVAILABLE) IN THE EARLY PART OF 2011, I BEGAN TO HEAR CREAKING NOISE FROM THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM AS I DROVE AND ON TURNS. I INSPECTED THE SYSTEM SEVERAL TIMES AND CONCLUDED THAT 1 OR MORE OF THE BALL JOINTS WERE DRY AND NEEDED GREASE. THE BALL JOINTS HAD NO FITTINGS TO APPLY GREASE SO A NEEDLE VALVE WAS USED TO INJECT GREASE INTO THE BOOTS. THIS HELPED FOR A SHORT PERIOD BUT THE CREAKING CAME BACK A FEW MONTHS LATER. I SENT THIS VEHICLE INTO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE DRY AND HAD EXCESS SIDE PLAY. THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT FOR SAFETY AND ALIGNMENT CONCERNS AT LESS THAN 40000 MILES. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THESE SUSPENSION PARTS ARE FAILING FAR TOO SOON. THE CONSUMER HAS NO WAY TO ADD GREASE TO THESE PARTS AND MUST RELY ON THE ORIGINAL PARTS BEING PROPERLY LUBRICATED TO HAVE REASONABLE DURABLITY. FAILURES AT THIS EARLY STAGE INDICATES DEFECTIVE PARTS AND PROCESSES THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED ASAP. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WILL BE FORCED TO HAVE THESE PARTS REPAIRED FOR SAFETY CONCERNS AND A HIGH COST TO THE VEHICLE OWNER. THESE PARTS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO LAST LONGER THAN THE SHORT PERIOD I HAVE EXPERIENCED ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10477189September 26, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN FOLLOWED BY A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A CLOSED INVESTIGATION PERTAINING TO THE DEFECT UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA06004 (STEERING:COLUMN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472323August 24, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
APPLIED LEFT TURN SIGNAL AND NOTICED THE RIGHT SIGNAL WAS BLINKING. I CANCELED SIGNAL AND THEN REAPPLIED AND LEFT SIGNAL FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. SINCE INITIAL OCCURRENCE THE TURN SIGNALS HAVE GOTTEN PROGRESSIVE WORSE. APPLICATION OF THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL TURNS ON LEFT ONE, APPLICATION OF THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL TURNS ON RIGHT ONE. SOMETIME NEITHER SIGNAL OPERATES. MY TRUCK HAS A TILT STEERING WHEEL AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL UP OR DOWN - WHILE DRIVING - INITIALLY CLEARED THE PROBLEM AND ALLOWED THE CORRECT SIGNAL TO OPERATE. BUT NOW THE SIGNALS EITHER DO NOT WORK OR MALFUNCTION MOST OF THE TIME NO MATTER WHICH POSITION THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN. ADJUSTING THE STEERING WHEEL HAS LITTLE TO NO AFFECT ON IF THE SIGNALS WILL OPERATE PROPERLY. AS YOU MAY REALIZE THINKING YOUR LEFT / RIGHT TURN SIGNAL IS ON AND FINDING OUT THE OPPOSITE ONE IS ACTUALLY BLINKING HAS CAUSED SOME "INTERESTING" TRAFFIC SITUATIONS AS WELL AS A FEW NEAR CRASHES UNTIL I REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10462710June 22, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND INSTANTLY NOTICED A STRONG RAW GAS SMELL IN THE CAB. THINKING IT JUST OVERLOADED BY NOT STARTING IT FOR A MONTH, I WAITED FOR THE SMELL TO GO AWAY, BUT IT DIDN'T. LOOKING THROUGH THE REAR WHEEL WELL, I DISCOVERED THE FUEL HOSE FROM THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK HAD SPLIT AND WAS SPEWING GASOLINE ALL AROUND AND UNDER THE BED OF THE TRUCK. JUST TURNING ON THE KEY, WHICH STARTS THE FUEL PUMP AND PRESSURIZES THE FUEL LINE, CAUSES GAS TO BE DISCHARGED AT A HIGH RATE. THE TRUCK IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, WELL MAINTAINED, AND HAS JUST 54,000 MILES ON IT. I AM GLAD I DIDN'T DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH IT; THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE AND/OR EXPLOSION WHILE DRIVING OR SITTING STILL AT AN INTERSECTION COULD CASE HARM TO NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT OTHER DRIVERS AROUND ME. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459184May 21, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A SQUEAKING NOISE UPON ENTERING AND EXITING. THE NOISE WAS ALSO PRESENT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE HEAD WAS REBUILT AND THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS WORKING WITH THE CONTACT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454720April 10, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHEN HE MADE A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE THEN BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,100.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454318April 6, 2012
AIR BAGS
DASH BOARD AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I REPOSTIONED FRONT PASSANGER SEAT. .I CAME HOME AND CHECKED DODGE FORUM TO SEE WHAT AND WHERE THE PROBLEM MAY BE.... WHILE READING SEVERAL POSTS ABOUT CHECKING FOR A LOOSE CONNECTOR I DECIDED TO GO TO THE TRUCK AND REMOVED THE BOLTS HOLDING THE SEAT TO THE FLOOR I LAYED THE SEAT ON ITS BACK, RELEASED THE RED RETAINING CLIP AND DEPRESSED IT... WHILING HOLDING DOWN THE RELEASE I PULLED ON THE PLUG AND TO MY SURPRISE THE CONTROL UNIT CAME APART IN MY HANDS.... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450214March 4, 2012
STEERING
I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING STARTED GETTING SLOPPY AND STARTED POPPING. NOW IF YOU HIT A BAD PATCH OF ROAD IT WANTS TO JUMP OUT OF ROAD GETTING SCARY. I AM DISABLED AND DEPEND ON MY TRUCK TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO 4 DIFFERENT DOCTORS. I LIVE ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND CANT AFFORD REPAIR BILLS ON PARTS THAT SHOULD NOT BE WORE OUT. PLEASE HELP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10446263February 2, 2012
SUSPENSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOUD SQUEAKY NOISE WAS HEARD WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445238January 25, 2012
SEATS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I STARTED VEHICLE AND TURNED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT SWITCH PRIOR TO CLEANING THE SNOW AND ICE OFF WINDOWS AND HOOD AFTERWHICH I LET MY COWORKER CLEAN HIS VEHICLE OFF. I WENT BACK TO MY VEHICLE TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING AND NOTICED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT SMOLDERING THROUGH THE CLOTH. I TURNED THE SWITCH BACK OFF AND WIPED THE AREA WITH SNOW THUS STOPPING THE IMPENDING FIRE. I WOULD ESTIMATE THE TIME RUNNING/WARMING UP; TO BE APPROXIMATELY 6 MINUTES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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