Dodge Dakota Complaints (2001)

678 consumer complaints on file.

#10579164April 11, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE KEY CAN BE PULLED OUT WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING. I DID THIS BY ACCIDENT ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE. I JUST READ THE ARTICLE ABOUT THE CURRENT GM RECALL IN THE USA TODAY NEWSPAPER. I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT IT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE AS I UNDERSTAND IT. I TRY NOT TO PULL IT OUT ANYMORE AS I THINK THAT WOULD LOOSEN IT UP MORE. I DON'T THINK IT EVER GOES OUT OF THE RUN CONDITION. I BELIEVE THERE ARE SEVERAL OEM'S (IF NOT ALL WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS OLD) THAT HAVE THIS ISSUE AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT IT IS NOT A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. THE CUSTOMER KNOWS THEY HAVE AN ISSUE WHICH MAKES THEM SHARE ON THE LIABILITY. I JUST REPORTED THIS ON MY SATURN VUE AS WELL. THE KEY COMES OUT MUCH EASIER ON THE DODGE THAN ON THE SATURN. THE IGNITION SLOT IS MUCH LOOSER ON THE DODGE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558393January 3, 2014
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ENGAGED IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION ERRONEOUSLY SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INDICATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC SHIFT TRANSFER CASE HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V077000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10554015November 27, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE TRUCK TRANSFER CONTROL MODULE INDEPENDENTLY SWITCHED FROM TWO-WHEEL DRIVE TO FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE, CAUSING THE TIRES TO SEIZE. THE CONTACT HAD TO UNHOOK THE WIRES FROM THE TRANSFER CASE AND POWER THE VEHICLE OFF IN ORDER FOR THE CONTACT TO SECURE THE VEHICLE IN TWO-WHEEL DRIVE MODE. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE CONTACT, WHO WAS A MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10536524August 21, 2013
AIR BAGS
UNIT ONE WAS TRAVELING EAST ON GREENBRIER ROAD IN THE INSIDE LANE. THE DRIVER OF UNIT 1 STATED IT WAS RAINING HEAVILY AND HE LOST CONTROL OF HIS VEHICLE. DUE TO VEHICLE HYDROPLAINING UNIT 1 CROSSED THE CENTER LINE AND ENTERED THE WEST BOUND TRAFFIC LANES UNIT 2 WAS COMING WEST ON GREENBRIER IN THE INSIDE LANE UNIT3 WAS TRAVELING WEST ON GREENBRIER IN THE OUTSIDE LANE UNIT1 CROSSED IN FRONT OF UNIT2 COLLIDED WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE OF UNIT1 UNIT1 FISHTAILED COUNTER CLOCKWISE AND CAME TO REST ON THE WEST BOUND SIDE OF GREENBRIER UNIT2 FISHTAILED CLOCKWISE AND WAS STRUCK BY UNIT 3 THE DRIVER OF UNIT3 STATED HE ATTEMPTED TO AVOID UNIT 1 BY SWERVING TO THE LEFT AND COLLIDED WITH UNIT 2 AS IT SPUN TOWARDS HIS VEHICLE THE AIR BAGS IN UNIT ONE BEING MY VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY AND PASSENGER WAS BADLY INJURED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10522961July 2, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DASH LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLASH ALONG WITH HEAD LIGHTS, THEN WENT OUT. TIME WAS 10:30 PM TO DARK TO DRIVE RURAL ROADS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10522399June 29, 2013
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I WAS NOT MOVING, JUST STARTED VEHICLE. LIGHT HAS REMAINED ON FOR 5 DAYS WITH MY NORMAL DRIVING. HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511500May 11, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEAT BELTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE STEREO SYSTEM STOP WORKING, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ARE FLICKERING AND EVEN WHEN THE DOORS ARE PERFECTLY CLOSED AND I AM WEARING MY SEAT BELL THE ALARM ( BELL SOUND) START SOUNDING WHEN I REACH THE 10 MPH SPEED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512127May 8, 2013
AIR BAGS
CLOCKSPRING IN STEERING COLUMN. THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON, THE CRUISE CONTROL, HORN AND RADIO STOPPED WORKING. A NEW CLOCKSPRING WAS INSTALLED AND NOW EVERYTHING WORKS FINE. UPDATED 06/10/13 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502650March 13, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT STATED THAT AFTER APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, THE LEVER FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 99,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10498007February 13, 2013
AIR BAGS
A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. MOST OF THE DAMAGE WAS FROM THE FRONT MIDDLE TO PASSENGER SIDE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10494920January 28, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 58 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DEER. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH IMPACT TO CAUSE THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DISAGREED AS THE FRONT BUMPER WAS PUSHED INTO THE FRONT WHEELS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 291,000. .... UPDATED 03/08/13 *BF UPDATED 03/13/13
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10489495December 21, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V077000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 220,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474519September 10, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
REAR BRAKE LINE BELOW DRIVERS SIDE BLEW OUT. LOST BRAKES HAD TO DOWN SHIFT TO SLOW DOWN AND HAD TO GET TOWED HOME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473823September 4, 2012
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND NOW IT COMES ON EVERY TIME I TURN THE WHEEL, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT DIRECTION. THERE SEEMS TO BE A RECALL FOR THE 2000 MODEL YEAR, BUT NOT MY YEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447764February 13, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH UP A HILL, HE ATTEMPTED TO DOWN SHIFT FROM FIFTH TO FOURTH GEAR, BUT THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT AND THE TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO LOCK OUT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM SHIFTING INTO REVERE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442132January 2, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
APPLIED SERVICE BRAKE TO AVOID ANIMAL ON HIGHWAY AND REAR BRAKE LINE FAILED. AFTER AN INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT ALL OF THE HYDRAULIC LINE IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM SHOULD BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. VEHICLE HAS HAD THE BRAKE FLUID REPLACED EVERY 2 YEARS FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS. THE CORROSION IS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BRAKE LINES AND IS EXTREMELY EXCESSIVE FOR THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND THE CURRENT STATE OF THE SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM IS THAT OF A 20 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. THE CERTIFICATE OF COMPLACENCY FOR THE MATERIAL USED TO FABRICATE THE LINES SHOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE NHTSA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440991December 22, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH WHEN ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD AREA WHICH THEN IGNITED INTO A FIRE. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED AND WAS ABEL TO EXIT THE VEHICLE SAFELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SENSOR TIMER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE WAS PENDING AN INVESTIGATION. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 104,300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439797December 13, 2011
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WITH THE HEATER IN ACTIVATION AND SUDDENLY THE HEATER FAILED TO OPERATE. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A STRONG BURNING ODOR AND SMOKE EMITTING INTO OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE HEATER BLOWER RELAY WIRES MELTED. THE FAILURE CAUSED PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE HEATER BLOWER RELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428043September 30, 2011
SUSPENSION
I STARTED NOTICING A "LURCH OR LATERAL SHIFT" OF THE FRONT END DURING TIGHT LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS AT LOW SPEED (35 MPH OR LESS). DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON STRAIGHT ROADS DID NOT INDICATE ANY PROBLEMS. RECENTLY, DURING A BRAKE SYSTEM INSPECTION, SIGNIFICANT "SLOP / FREE MOVEMENT" AT THE UPPER BALL JOINT & WHEEL KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY CONNECTION WAS NOTED (> 0.5"). I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED THE NHTSA ISSUED RECALL FOR "UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURES ON 2000-2003 DODGE DAKOTAS" AS WELL AS THE DODGE ISSUED TSB FOR THE SAME DEFECT. I TOOK MY 2001 DAKOTA IN TO A DODGE DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DODGE DEALER AND CHRYSLER BOTH CONVENIENTLY TOOK THE POSITION THAT MY VIN WAS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL, THEREFORE THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THE REPAIR. MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME FAILURE MODE DESCRIBED IN THE NHTSA RECALL AND THE DODGE ISSUED TSB. THE NHTSA SHOULD FORCE DODGE TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF VIN'S COVERED BY THE RECALL TO INCLUDE ALL 2000-2003 DAKOTAS THAT EXPERIENCE PREMATURE BALL JOINT FAILURES. A SAFETY RELATED SUSPENSION COMPONENT SHOULD NOT FAIL AT 50,000 MILES. TO ARBITRARILY EXCLUDE SOME VEHICLE VIN'S FROM THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE THE SAME DEFECTS IS DISHONEST AND NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE TRAVELING PUBLIC. I URGE THE NHTSA TO FORCE DODGE/CHRYSLER TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT ON ALL 2000-2003 DAKOTAS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425273September 13, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DRIVING WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF FORT COLLINS COLORADO AND STOPPING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE FRONT BRAKES ON MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT RELEASE UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS ALLOWED TO SIT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY, WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING, BOTH ROTORS AND PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT AND WEAR. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES WHEN THE BRAKES AGAIN LOCKED UP AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND BEGAN TO SMOKE FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD UP ON THE LEFT FRONT ROTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE REPAIR FACILITY WHERE LEFT FRONT CALIPER WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN, AT WHICH TIME THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LOCKED UP IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE LEFT FRONT HAD. THE REPAIR FACILITY RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM FURTHER AND DISCOVERED VIA IDENTAFIX.COM THAT THE HYDRAULIC LINES AND CALIPERS ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS WAS NOT THE ONLY OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING AT AROUND 70 TO 80,000 MILES. HAD THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE I WAS TOWING MY TRAVEL TRAILER, WHICH I HAD JUST DONE, AND WHEN GOING DOWN A LONG OR STEEP GRADE AT THE VERY MINIMUM IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS OCCURRENCE. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT THAT CHRYSLER CORP. NEEDS TO ADDRESS UNDER RECALL FOR THE AFFECTED MODELS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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