Dodge Dakota Complaints (2002)

678 consumer complaints on file.

#10018756May 15, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKING FOR 4 MONTHS HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE DEALER STATES THAT IT WAS WARPED ROTORS. THE DAKOTA TRUCK IS ONLY 1.5 YEARS OLD WITH 23,000 AT FIRST START OF PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATES THEY CAN'T BE TURNED DUE TO SEVERE RUST PITTING WHEN I BRAKE THE TRUCK HOPS INTO THE NEXT LANE . THE DEALER STATES THAT IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I SUSPECT THAT THERE ARE MORE TRUCKS WITH THIS PROBLEM OUT THERE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018629May 13, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
AT JUST AROUND 17,000 MILES, THE BRAKES STARTED TO VIBRATE WHEN APPLIED. DEALER SAYS ROTORS ARE ALREADY WORN AND NEED TO BE CUT/REPLACED, ALTHOUGH BRAKE PADS ARE STILL GOOD. ROTORS SHOULD LAST A LOT LONGER, EARLY WEAR IS MOST LIKELY DUE TO IMPROPER DESIGN, VENTING, MATERIAL AND WILL RECUR ONCE REPLACED. DODGE WILL DO NOTHING, AS THEY CLAIM THEY COVER ONLY 12K MILES ON DEFECTS. I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S A DEFECT, BUT RATHER A DESIGN ISSUE, WHICH THE CONSUMER CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR, OR AVOID EVEN WITH EXTRA-EASY DRIVING. THERE IS NO ALTERNATE ROTOR AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME THROUGH DODGE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10019655May 12, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, AIR BAGS
WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE. CONSEQUENTLY NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10019659May 12, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, AIR BAGS
THE CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED AT 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE HIT A TREE AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016901May 2, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKES OF MY DODGE DAKOTA STARTED TO PULSE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AT 24,000 MILES AND THE ROTORS WERE WORN TO BELOW MINIMUM STANDARDS. THE REAR DRUMS HAD TO BE CUT. I DRIVE HIGHWAY WITH NO TOWING AND MINIMAL STOP GO DRIVING. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE DO THIS TO ME BEFORE SO IT IS NOT MY DRIVING. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016742April 30, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
UNSAFE CONDITION INVOLVING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MANIFESTED ITSELF AT APPROXIMATELY 4,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL ENTER OVERDRIVE MODE AT APPROXIMATELY 45-50MPH. ONCE THIS OCCURS THE VEHCILE WILL NO LONGER RESPOND TO LIGHT OR MODERATE THROTTLE PRESSURE. IF YOU APPLY A HEAVIER PRESSURE THEN THE VEHICLEE DROPS DOWN INTO PASSING GEAR AND TAKES OFF. THIS PRESENTS A VERY UNSAFE AND HAZARDOUS CONDITION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENTER A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY OR PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE, IN THAT THE VEHICLE POWER AND ACCELERATION IS LOST AT THE PRECISE MOMENT THAT THE TRANSMISSION DROPS INTO OVERDRIVE. THE DEALERS FIX WAS TO REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. UNFORTUNATELY THE NEW TRANSMISSION HAS DEVELOPED THE SAME PROBLEM AFTER ONLY 3,000 MILES. THE NEW TRANSMISSION ALSO DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR WHEN STARTING UP IN THE MORNING. THE ENGINE REVS AND GAINS RPMS BUT THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT UPSHIFT UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS TRAVELLED 4-5 BLOCKS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016770April 30, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
2002 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4, MILEAGE 20800, THE FRONT BRAKES WERE PULSING AND INEFFECTIVE, THE ROTORS WERE SO BADLY PITTED THAT THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT OTHER TRUCKS WERE COMING IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM, DEFECTIVE ROTORS, AND DODGE SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016707April 29, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB W/ 5.9 LITER ENGINE. MY TRUCK SUFFERS FROM A SHAKY IDLE, VERY PREVALENT WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE AND ROLLING. IS WORSE AT COLD START UP. I SUSPECT IGNITION SYSTEM= LOCATION OF COIL MAY BE THE CAUSE DUE TO BEING SO CLOSE TO THE TENSIONER PULLEY OR A OUT-OF BALANCE HARMONIC BALANCER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10017668April 28, 2003
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AND RETRIEVED SOME ITEMS FROM THE INTERIOR CABIN. CONSUMER SAW A FLASH AND THEN SMELLED A "BURNING" ODOR. LIGHTING HAD STRUCK THE STEEL ANTENNA. THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED WITH THE CONSUMER'S 1997 DODGE CARAVAN. CONSUMER BELIEVED THE ANTENNA WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10017593April 25, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THE VEHICLE PULLED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO STATED THE FRONT DISC ROTORS WERE WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE TURNED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016323April 22, 2003
SUSPENSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4 SPORT HAS HAD SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN BAD FROM DAY ONE. I NOW HAVE 35,000 MILES AND THE POUNDING AND NOISE HAVE NOT STOPPED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. WHY NOT A RECALL? *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10017149April 18, 2003
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING . THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ( SIZE#P26570R16 AND DOT#PK72WDWR4001). *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10014377April 14, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ROTORS AND DRUMS WORN TO BELOW OEM REPLACEMENT SPECIFICATIONS IN ONLY 20,000 MI. WITH NO TOWING INVOLVED. AT ISSUE FOR SAFETY IS WHETHER OR NOT THE DESIGN OF THE ROTORS AND DRUMS ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR THE ADDITIONAL WEIGHT OF THE QUAD-CAB LINE. THE WEAR ON MY VEHICLE IS UNUSUALLY FAST AS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR ONLY 7 MONTHS AND DRIVE MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES. THE BRAKE PADS (LININGS) ARE STILL IN GOOD SHAPE SO, IN MY OPINION, THE COMPOSITION AND DESIGN OF THE ROTORS AND DRUMS ON MY VEHICLE ARE NOT SAFE. IF THIS ISSUE IS NOT ADDRESSED THERE WILL BE THE POSSIBILITY FOR NUMEROUS BRAKE FAILURES ON THIS MODEL IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS. THE PARTS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THE ROTORS AND DRUMS SHOULD BE REDESIGNED. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10015373April 8, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE STALLED AT 30 MPH. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10013847April 2, 2003
SUSPENSION, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FRONT END LINKAGE. TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT OUT. FRONT END HAS A POPPING NOISE AGAIN ( SAME AS BEFORE) TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT OUT AND CAUSES THE MOTOR TO REV UP CONSIDERABLY. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050257April 1, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
CONSUMER NOTICED UNEVEN WEAR ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE FRONT TIRES. THERE WAS A GROANING SOUND COMING FROM THE AXLE AREA WHEN TURNING CORNERS AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS VERY LOOSE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010933March 24, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
OUR 2002 DODGE DAKOTA 5-SPEED GOT STUCK IN A SNOW DRIFT DURING OUR BLIZZARD LAST WEEK. AFTER SHOVELING IT OUT, I FORGOT TO RELEASE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEFORE PUTTING IT INTO GEAR, NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THE ENTIRE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM IS BLOWN AND IT WILL COST $1200.00 TO FIX. CHERRY CREEK DODGE HAS THE TRUCK, THEY TELL ME THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE AND THEY HAVE SEVERAL OTHERS IN THE SHOP WITH THIS PROBLEM NOW. IT SEEMS LIKE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT FOR SOMETHING LITTLE LIKE THIS TO CAUSE SO MUCH DAMAGE TO AN EXPENSIVE VEHICLE. I WANT AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM, IT SOUNDS LIKE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THE REPAIR SHOPS ARE MILKING LOTS OF MONEY FROM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010902March 23, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WARM ENGINE IDLE ON 4.7L ENGINE IN 2002 DAKOTA QUAD CAB STUMBLES WHEN IDLING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. RPM AT NORMAL IDLE ONLY 500 TO 550. WHEN FLUCTUATION OCCURS IDLE SPEED RANGES BETWEEN 450 RPMS TO 650 RPMS. ENGINE VIBRATES DUE TO LOW IDLE RPM AND HAS STALLED ON ONE OCCASION. TO PREVENT STALL OUT I NEED TO SHIFT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL. HAVE BEEN TO DEALER TWICE AND WAS TOLD THEY CAN'T FIX AS NO TSB HAS BEEN RECEIVED ALLOWING FOR CHANGE TO COMPUTER. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW LAST JUNE. NOT JUST DATE SPECIFIC AS REQUESTED BY AN INCIDENT DATE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010584March 17, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
FUEL LEVEL IS OFF. THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE 7-8 GALLONS OUT OF 22 WHEN FUEL LIGHT COMES ON. BOOK SAYS YOU HAVE 1/8 LEFT, EQUALLS ABOUT 2 7/8 GAL. DEALER AND CHRYSLER SAY IT IS OK, HAVE TO KEEP FUEL PUMP COOL? *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010138March 8, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
PICKUP TRUCK DRIVE TRAIN BINDS UP DURING 2 WHEEL DRIVING. THE FRONT AXLE (4X4) DOES NOT ALLOW THE FRONT WHEELS TO DISENGAGE. TRUCK HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND DODGE SAYS THIS IS THE WAY THEY ALL ARE. AT 4272 MILES THE FRONT TIRES SHOW SIGNIFICANT FEATHERING, AND IS STALLING OUT WHEN DRIVING AROUND CORNERS IN LOW GEAR MODE (@ INTERSECTIONS AND PARKING SPACES). DODGE SAYS THAT THE FRONT AND REAR AXLES ARE NOT LIMITED SLIP BUT POSITIVE TRACTION AND RECOMMENDS THAT I PUSH IN THE CLUTCH TO KEEP FROM STALLING. THEY WANT ME TO DOUBLE-CLUTCH TO GET THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WHEN I MAKE LEFT HAND TURNS? I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DESIGN ERROR WITH SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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