Dodge Dakota Complaints (2001)

678 consumer complaints on file.

#10057991February 11, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
WEBMASTER FOIA REQUEST ALL COMPLAINT/NOTICES/DOCUMENTS OR WARNING BETWEEN NHTSA ND DAIMLER CHRYSLER RE: PROBLEMS MALFUNCTION, FAILURES OF THE UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK FOR MY 2001. (NAR) *PH *CB *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056776February 8, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
GEARS IN FRONT AXLE QUIT WORKING FRONT TIRES LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056581February 5, 2004
TIRES:SIDEWALL
TIRES, GOOYEAR WRANGLERS. COMING APART ON THE SIDEWALL ABOUT 1/2 INCH FROM THE RIM. FIRST SET WERE REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS WITH THESE NEW ONES AS WELL. AM I TO EXPECT A BLOW OUT TO GET SOME ATTENTION TO THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056389February 3, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
WHILE DRIVING, A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING BRAKES WAS SMELLED. THERE WAS A LARGE PLUME OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WELL, AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE TRUCK HAD TO BE STOPPED FOR FEAR OF FIRE OR INJURY. DODGE STATES THAT THE FRONT LEFT CALIPER SEIZED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE RELATIVELY NEW FRONT ROTORS AND PADS I PURCHASED. LAST JULY, APPROXIMATELY 7 MONTHS AGO, THE TRUCK'S RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER SEIZED, CAUSING A SIMILAR SITUATION ONLY ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. DODGE REFUSES TO ADMIT FAULT IN SUPPLYING FAULTY PARTS TO CUSTOMERS. BRAKE CALIPERS SHOULD NOT FAIL UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AFTER 36,000-42,000 MILES. AFTER NUMEROUS OTHER MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE I HAVE LOST COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN IT, AND BELIEVE IT TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055117January 28, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
2001 DODGE DAKOTA PICK UP BALL JOINST WORE OUT AT 54000 MILES, HAD 1998 DAKOTA ALSO BOUGHT NEW , ALL BALL JOINTS WORE OUT AT 40000 MILES, SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM CHRYSLER HASNT FIXED FOR SEVERAL YEARS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054920January 26, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 4W ANTILOCK BRAKES DON'T PROVIDE ADEQUATE BRAKING. VEHICLE DOES NOT BRAKE ADEQUATELY DURING "PANIC" STOPPING. THE ANTILOCK FEATURE RELEASES THE BRAKES LONG BEFORE IT SHOULD. ABS ENGAGES BUT ALLOWS TOO MUCH "FREE-WHEELING" WHICH ALLOWS VEHICLE TOO MUCH TRAVEL. I HAVE SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS. THE LAST TIME THIS HAS CAUSED A REAR END CRASH IN MY TRUCK AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND COST 11,000.00. REPLACING THE AIR BAGS COST 8,500.00. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO 3 LOCAL DEALERS AND THEY SAID THE ABS IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. THE LAST DEALER I TOOK IT TO I TALKED TO THE TECH. HE SAID IT IS A BAD DESIGN. HE ALSO SAID THE MASTER CYLINDER VACUUM CHAMBER IS TO SMALL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND ALL 2001 AND NEWER TRUCKS SHOULD BE RECALLED. I HAVE HAD ANTILOCK BRAKES ON SEVERAL OF MY PREVIOUS VEHICLES BUT THIS TRUCK HAS THE WORST BRAKES EVER. WE NEED A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT TO FORCE DODGE TO FIX DEFECT!! *LA
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054749January 23, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE MAKING NOISE, WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. I ONLY HAVE 29000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054707January 22, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4WD. LOST THE FRONT WHEEL WHILE DRIVING EARLIER THIS YEAR. BALL JOINT FAILURE WAS THE CAUSE. DODGE DIDN'T SEEM TO THINK IT WAS A PROBLEM, THOUGH AT 60 MPH THE WHOLE WHEEL FLYING OFF SEEMED LIKE ONE TO ME. *AK NOT SURE OF THE EXACT DATE...THOUGH I CAN FIND OUT IF NEEDED FROM POLICE
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054608January 21, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
BALL JOINTS ARE CHEAP AND DANGEROUS. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 35,000 MILES AND THE BALL JOINTS ARE IN BAD SHAPE ON BOTH SIDES AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, LIKE MANY OTHERS AROUND THE COUNTRY!! IM SURE IM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054505January 20, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
I PURCHASED MY 2001 DAKOTA ON 11/13/2000. BY APRIL 2001 I HEARD POPPING AND CREAKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE HUB WAS LOOSE AND RE-TORQUED THE BOLT. THEN ABOUT 6 TO 9 MONTHS LATER I HEARD THE SAME NOISE AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE STEER STOP. THEY TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG, JUST NOT TO TURN THE WHEELS ALL THE WAY TO ONE DIRECTION OR THE OTHER. AT 25,000 I REPLACED THE TIRES BECAUSE THEY WENT BALD ON THE OUTER EDGE, BUT HAD PLENTY OF TREAD ON THE INNER EDGE. ON THE NEWS, I HEARD ABLE THE ISSUES WITH THE BALL JOINTS ON DODGE DAKOTAS AND DURANGOS. UPON RESEARCHING THE BALL JOINT ISSUE, I FOUND THAT FAILURE OF THE BALL JOINTS CAN LEAD TO POPPING AND CREAKING NOISES IN THE SUSPENSION, AND PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. I ALSO LEARNED THAT THERE WERE A COUPLE INSTANCES WHERE THE WHEEL ACTUALLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. ON 11/13/2003, THE FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED...LEAVING ME ON THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE NOISE HAS SINCE GOTTEN LOUDER, SO ON 1/19/2004 I TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE NOISE CHECKED AND TO ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE UPPER RIGHT BALL JOINT IS FAILING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL COVER THE REPAIR, HOWEVER WILL NOT COVER THE ALIGNMENT THAT IS REQUIRED TO MAKE SURE THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETY DRIVEABLE AND SAFE AGAIN. I FEEL THAT THE DEALER WAITED ON THE BALL JOINT ISSUE UNTIL THE FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED. I ALSO FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE BALL JOINTS FOR THESE VEHICLES. TODAY, MY DAKOTA HAS 25,500 MILES ON IT. BALL JOINTS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE, AND SHOULD LAST OVE 50,000 MILE OR MORE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055313January 16, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED WHICH CAUSED THE POWER STEERING SHAFT TO BREAK. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069361January 15, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I PUCHASED THIS TRUCK USED WITH 12,500 MILES.IT HAS A REAR WINDOW LEAK,I HAVE YET TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.IT ALSO HAS SOME PAINT FLAWS.I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS CAP WHICH CAUSED A ENGINE CODE LIGHT.WHEN I WENT TO LOCAL DEALER TO SOLVE CODE PROBLEM,I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD NO WARRANTEE.DODGE ADVERTISES OTHERWISE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069371January 15, 2004
SUSPENSION
RIGHT FRONT BALL JOINT HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF EXCESS WEAR ON TIRES AND LOOSE DRIVING. I NOW HAVE JUST OVER 50K MILES AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT BALL JOINT NEED TO BE REPLACED. TRUCK HAS A TERRIBLE RIDE AND A DODGE DEALER STATED THAT MY PROBLEM WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER ANY BULLITIN OR WARRANTY. COST IS ESTIMATED TO BE OVER $1200.00
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070294January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BLOWER MOTOR FIRST INOPERABLE AT 7566 MILES. CURRENTLY IN FOR SERVICE FOR THE 12TH TIME FOR THIS PROBLEM. I LIVE IN MINNESOTA - WHEN MOTOR GOES OUT I CANNOT DEFOG OR DEFROST WINDOWS. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS POSSIBLY RELATED INCLUDE: HEADLIGHT ACCESSORY PANEL GOING OUT, HVAC CONTROL LIGHTS GOING OUT, DOOR ALARM MALFUNCTIONING, AND CIGARETTE LIGHTER INOPERABLE. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 44,XXX MILES. BLOWER MOTOR PROBLEM IS AT TIMES INTERMITTENT WITH LONGEST TIME BETWEEN COMPLETE FAILURES BEING TEN MONTHS. DEALER HAS TRIED REPLACING BLOWER MOTOR, RELAY, FUSES, WIRING HARNESS, DUCT WORK, ETC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054085January 14, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD A RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD. CONSUMER FOUND THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT AND LOOSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053034January 13, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
BALL JOINT FAILURE. I HAVE ALREADY FILED A COMPLAINT IN REGARDS TO UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE ON MY TRUCK. WHEN I FIRST STARTED CHECKING ON THE PROBLEM THE ONLY REPAIR SOLUTION WAS UPPER CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENT. BY THE TIME OF INVESTIGATING FOR AN AFTER MARKET PRODUCT DODGE HAD RELEASED A BALL JOINT ONLY PART. THIS INDICATES TO ME THAT DODGE SAW THAT THERE WAS A UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF BALL JOINT FAILURES. NOW TO MAKE THINGS WORSE I AM STARTING TO GET THE SAME SYMPTOMS I HAD BEFORE (WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF REPLACING THE UPPERS). WHICH TELLS ME THAT EITHER THE LOWERS ARE GOING OUT NOW OR THE NEW UPPERS WERE DEFECTIVE AS WELL. IT ALSO SEEMS STRANGE THAT ALOT OF THE PROBLEMS ARE HAPPENING JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I THINK DODGE MAY BE USING PLANNED FAILURE. I ALSO THINK NHTSA OFFICIALS INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM SHOULD LOOK AT COMMENTS ON OTHER WEBSITES. NOT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THEY CAN REPORT A PROBLEM ON THIS WEBSITE. JUST DO A SEARCH FOR DODGE DAKOTA BALL JOINTS AND LOOK AND SEE HOW MANY COMPLAINTS THERE ARE OUT THERE. THE SCARIEST THOUGHT ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND NOT KNOW THAT IT IS THE BALL JOINT AND HOW SERIOUS THE FAILURE COULD BE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053049January 13, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
FRONT RIGHT BALL JOINT FOR MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB EXTREMLY LOOSE AND BROKEN. NEEDED REPLACEMENT. COST $200 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. REPAIR SHOP SAID HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS '01 DAKOTA AND SO ARE MANY OTHERS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053058January 13, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
SQUEAKING NOISES HEARD EMINATING FROM FRONT SUSPENSION AT 35000 MILES, UNABLE TO LUBRICATE SUSPENSION BECAUSE COMPONENTS LACK SERVICE/GREASE FITTINGS. DURING FOLLOW-UP INSPECTION AND TIRE ROTATION, IDENTIFIED PREMATURE WEAR TO RIGHT SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT CAUSING MISALIGNMENT, UNUSUAL WEAR TO FRONT TIRES AND WEAR TO LEFT WHEEL BEARING. DEALER REPLACED LEFT WHEEL BEARING AND RIGHT SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT AT 37336 MILES. DEALER ALSO RECOMMENDED THE REPLACEMENT OF MOST OF THE OTHER SUSPENSION COMPONENTS BEFORE THEY FAILED. DODGE WAS HELPFUL IN PICKING UP THE COST OF FAILED PARTS, NOT RECOMMENDED REPAIRS. MY COST $100.00, FOR GOING OVER THE WARRANTEE MILAGE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN A MAINTENANCE FREE SYSTEM. PLUS, I GET TO PAY FOR A RE-ALIGNMENT AFTER THE CURRENT REPAIRS AND MOST LIKELY THE COST OF ANY OTHER PREMATURE FAILURE OF THESE MAINTENANCE FREE PARTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053988January 13, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BALL JOINT PROBLEM. BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS PREMATURELY WORE OUT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050352January 8, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BALL JOINTS. THE DEALERSHIP/MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE UPPER FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. *AK *PH *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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