Dodge Dakota Complaints

6,628 consumer complaints on file.

#10588432May 14, 2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. SHAKING TURN SIGNAL EVENTUALLY CAUSED WIPERS TO START WORKING AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588245May 13, 2014
STEERING
NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA AT THE BEGINNING OF APRIL. THE STEERING IS STIFF AND HARD TO TURN. IT REQUIRES ASSISTANCE TO BRING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO CENTER. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SPEED YOU ARE GOING. IT SEEMS TO GET BETTER AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING BUT AFTER SITTING FOR A WHILE THE PROBLEM IS BACK. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK LAST YEAR AS A SECOND VEHICLE AND NOW REGRET DOING SO. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. 4/14/14 THEY REPLACED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, FRONT ROTORS AND POWER STEERING PUMP. THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. 4/24/14 THEY REPLACED THE STEERING RACK. $2,300.00 LATER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. IT IS GOING BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 5/14/14 BUT I HAVE MY DOUBTS THE PROBLEM WILL BE FIXED AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS AND HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED A CASE MANAGER. I AM WAITING TO HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. I DO NOT WISH TO SPEND ANYMORE MONEY TRYING TO FIX A DESIGN FLAW IN THEIR STEERING COMPONENTS. THE STEERING POSES A SAFETY ISSUE AND I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING IT VERY FAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587364May 9, 2014
STEERING
I AM EXPERIENCING "BINDING" WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ALL SPEEDS. EXTRA PRESSURE IS NECESSARY TO CORRECT THE SITUATION; POTENTIALLY, THIS CORRECTIVE ACTION COULD LEAD TO THE VEHICLE TURNING MORE THAN DESIRED THUSLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM IS ERRATIC - USUALLY NE PROBLEM - AND CAN OCCUR UNEXPECTEDLY DURING ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HAS ADVISED THAT THE LIKELY PROBLEM IS THE STEERING SHAFT WHERE STEERING KNUCKLES ARE LOCATED. HE STATED THAT THE SITUATION CAN SOMETIMES BE CORRECTED BY LUBRICATING THE COMPONENTS WITHIN THE STEERING SHAFT WITH PENETRATING OIL. THIS TEMPORARILY ALLEVIATED THE PROBLEM BUT THE PROBLEM IS RE-OCCURRING. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE NEXT STEP IS TO DISMANTLE THE STEERING SHAFT WHICH MAY LEAD TO THE REPLACEMENT OF PARTS. I LIVE IN OHIO WITH SEVERE WINTER WEATHER AND ROAD SALT AND SUSPECT THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT ALLOWS CORROSION TO OCCUR WITHIN THE STEERING SHAFT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587372May 9, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLID DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED VARIOUS INJURIES AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION AS WELL AS PHYSICAL THERAPY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 201,475.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10587331May 8, 2014
STEERING
WAS TRAVELING DOWN A REGULAR ROAD WHEN THE POWER STEERING BECAME VERY TIGHT AND THEN ALTERNATELY A LITTLE WHILE LATER BECAME VERY LOOSE CAUSING OVER CORRECTION. ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF LATER WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND OREGON THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY IN THE VEHICLE. HAD THE PUMP AND RESERVOIR REPLACED AS WELL AS INTAKE AND OUTTAKE LINES. PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED HAD TO THEN REPLACE RACK AND PINION, VEHICLE STILL LEAKING AFTER THIS REPLACEMENT AS WELL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS BOTH OF WHICH CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO MALFUNCTION CONSISTENTLY.AFTER REPLACING RACK AND PINION WAS ALSO TOLD THAT BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10586090May 2, 2014
POWER TRAIN
ROLLING SLOWLY THROUGH A PARKING LOT, THE TRUCK LUNGED FORWARD, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVER REV WILDLY UP AND DOWN. (MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AT THIS POINT. EARLIER THIS YEAR IT DID IT ON THE FREEWAY RAMP AS I ATTEMPTED TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A BULLETIN ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10586050May 1, 2014
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER FRONT SEAT WAS UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10585068April 26, 2014
POWER TRAIN
THE REAR AXLE PINION NUT ON YOUR VEHICLE MAY LOOSEN DUE TO UNDERSIZED PINION SHAFT SPLINES. A LOOSE PINION NUT COULD CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO SEIZE OR CAUSE THE DRIVE SHAFT TO SEPARATE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER. EITHER SITUATION COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10584102April 22, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY, AIR BAGS
I WAS TURNING LEFT ON TO WAX RD AT A RED LIGHT GOING UP HILL WHEN IT WAS RAINING THE TRUCK RIGHT REAR TIRE BROKE TRACTION PUT ME IN A FISHTAIL LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND FLIPPED THE TRUCK ON ITS TOP DAMAGED THE DRIVER SIDE BENT THE FRAME CAVED IN THE ROOF BUSTED MY WINDSHIELD I WAS PULLED OUT BY AN PEDESTRIAN BUT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY NONE OF THE SAFETY FEATURES DID NOT WORK BUT THE SEAT BELT ONLY. WHERE THE THROTTLE WAS STICKING THAT GAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT I WAS PLAYING CARELESSLY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10584150April 22, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK AND CAUSED HIM TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ROLL OVER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583669April 19, 2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER
WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM SPLINES WORN SMOOTH, CAUSING WIPER TO NOT FUNCTION. WIPER ARM REPLACED HAPPENED AGAIN 04/18/2014, THIS TIME SPLINES ON ARM WORN SMOOTH AND SPLINES ON MOTOR PARTIALLY WORN. NOT CAUSED BY LOOSE ATTACHMENT NUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583691April 19, 2014
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM TIRE BUT DID NOT LOSE AIR AND I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. TIRE TREAD CAUSED OVER $2,000 DAMAGE TO THE BED OF THE 2000 DODGE DAKOTA PU AS THE TREAD EXPLOSIVELY SEPARATED FROM THE TRUCK. THE TIRE WAS 6 YEARS AND 3 MONTHS OLD WITH LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON IT. WE DO LIVE IN AN AREA THAT EXPERIENCES SUMMERTIME TEMPS IN THE 90-110 DEGREE RANGE. THE TEMP THAT DAY IN MAY WAS ABOUT 90 DEGREES. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE I JUST HAD ANOTHER DEFINITY DAKOTA H/T TIRE DEVELOP A BULGE AND LOOKS LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO EXPERIENCE A TREAD SEPARATION ALSO. TIRE IS ON THE SAME VEHICLE AND THE SAME, PASSENGER SIDE REAR POSITION AS THE FIRST TIRE INCIDENT. BOTH TIRE WERE PURCHASED IN FEB 2007 AS A SET OF FOUR DEFINITY DAKOTA H/T. TIRES. I CHECKED WITH PEP BOYS AND THE LOCAL REP SAID HE WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES AND STATE THAT HE HAD THEM ON HIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583700April 19, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
AT VARIOUS TIMES THE BRAKES SEEM TO LOCK UP WHEN COMING TO A STOP QUICKLY. THIS NEVER HAPPENS WHEN BRAKING NORMALLY, ONLY WHEN NEEDING TO BRAKE QUICKLY AND HARD. ALSO HAPPENS AT TIMES DURING NORMAL BRAKING, BUT THEN NEEDING TO ACCELERATE, THEN BRAKING AGAIN QUICKLY. THIS IS DANGEROUS IN WET WEATHER AS THE BRAKES LOCK MOMENTARILY AND THE TIRES HYDROPLANE, IT APPEARS TO BE THE REAR BRAKES DOING THIS, THEY RELEASE QUICKLY BUT THE MOMENTARY LOCK-UP IS DANGEROUS. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO DIDN'T FIND A CAUSE FOR THIS, BUT SAID MAYBE THE ABS WAS PERIODICAL FAILING, AS IT ONLY HAPPENS SPORADICALLY; BUT USUALLY WHEN NEEDING TO BRAKE HARD AS IN AN EMERGENCY. I'VE NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL ORDERS ON MY VEHICLE AND HAVE LIVED AT SAME ADDRESS SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583702April 19, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE HORN STOPPED WORKING, I TOOK IT TO A NON-DEALER MECHANIC WHO FOUND THE HORNS THEMSELVES OPERATIONAL WHEN APPLYING AN EXTERNAL RELAYED VOLTAGE TO THEM AND NO FUSES BLOWN, HE THOUGHT IT MAY BE A SHORT IN SYSTEM. HORN WOULD NOT WORK ON MANY OCCASIONS, THEN ONE DAY IT WORKED, THE NEXT DAY IT DID NOT. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER IT WOULDN'T WORK, I HAVE A TILT STEERING WHEEL SO I MOVED IT TO AN UPRIGHT POSITION, THE HORN STARTED WORKING, I PUT THE TILT WHEEL BACK DOWN AND IT STILL WORKED. THE NEXT DAY THE HORN WOULDN'T WORK EVEN IF MOVING THE TILT STEERING UP OR DOWN. IT SEEMS AS IF THERE MAY BE AN INTERMITTENT SHORT OF SOME KIND IN THE WIRING FOR THE HORN IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT HAS AN AIR BAG SO IT ISN'T AN EASY INVESTIGATION. I HAVEN'T TAKEN IT TO A DEALER AS CHRYSLER WAS CLOSING OUTLETS AND I HAVEN'T FOUND ONE TO USE YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583594April 18, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
BOTH CALIPER BOLTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SPIDLE OF MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA 2WD STRIPPED OUT CAUSING THE CALIPER TO MOVE OUT OF PLACE CAUSING STOPPING DIFFICULTY TO STOP AND DAMAGE TO THE CALIPER, RIM AND BRAKE PADS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#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
#10578549April 9, 2014
SUSPENSION, SERVICE BRAKES, STEERING
I BOUGHT THIS 2005 DAKOTA NEW. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS IN REPAIRS AND THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT. I'VE ALSO NEVER SEEN ANYTHING RUST LIKE THIS TRUCK. THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE I AM FIGHTING NOW. AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 55 - 75 INTERMITTENTLY THE TRUCK WILL BEGIN TO VIBRATE. IF YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS IT GETS WORSE. IF YOU THEN APPLY THE BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL BEGINS TO SHAKE ALMOST VIOLENTLY, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSES. IF I SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 30 MPH IT STOPS AND MAY HAPPEN AGAIN QUICKLY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR A WHILE. I HAVE REPLACED THE ROTORS AND CALIPERS AND TIE ROD ENDS AND GOTTEN AN ALIGNMENT. STILL THE ISSUE EXISTS. I HAVE NEW MICHELIN TIRES. I HAVE ALSO ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. I HAVE REPLACED THE ROTORS AND CALIPERS 3 TIMES ALREADY ON THIS TRUCK. IT HAS LESS THAN 65K MILES ON IT. NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I WILL NEVER, EVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER / DODGE PRODUCT. THIS WAS MY FIRST AND WILL BE MY LAST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578378April 8, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FOB FAILED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE MASTER WINDOW CONTROL WAS ALSO INOPERABLE AND THE DOORS COULD NOT BE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED. THE CONTACT THEN STARTED THE ENGINE AND THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS HAD ALSO FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V322000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL WAS THE SAME FAILURE THAT HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED WITH HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576087March 31, 2014
TIRES, WHEELS
ON SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014, DURING A TRIP FROM SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA TO LARAMIE, WYOMING, WE SUFFERED TWO BLOWOUTS OF GOODYEAR WRANGLER TIRES IN SIZE P265 70 R16. IN EACH INSTANCE THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE TIRES WERE WELL MAINTAINED AND PROPERLY INFLATED. AT 10:00AM, TRAVELING 65MPH ON INTERSTATE 35, NORTH OF DES MOINES, IOWA WE SUFFERED THE FIRST BLOWOUT. THERE WAS A LOUD WHUP, WHUP, WHUP NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. WE WERE ABLE TO SAFELY REDUCE SPEED AND PULL OVER. WE DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL. WE HAD THE DAMAGED TIRE REPLACED IN AMES, IOWA AT A GOODYEAR DEALER. AT OUR NEXT STOP, I CHECKED THE AIR PRESSURE IN ALL 4 TIRES. THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS AT 32 PSI. I INFLATED THE LEFT REAR TIRE TO 40 PSI TO MATCH THE OTHER 3 TIRES. WHILE TRAVELING 75 MPH ON INTERSTATE 80, EAST OF LARAMIE AT 11:00PM WE SUFFERED THE SECOND BLOWOUT. AGAIN THERE WAS A LOUD WHUP, WHUP, WHUP NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. I REDUCED SPEED AND ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE WHICH SENT THE TRUCK INTO A WILD FISHTAIL SKID. WE CRASHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL AND THE VEHICLE WAS RENDERED INOPERABLE. WE GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK AND SURVEYED THE DAMAGE. IT WAS THEN WE DISCOVERED THAT A PORTION OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE INNER TUBE OF THE TIRE WAS EXPOSED BUT STILL INFLATED. AFTER THE CRASH I WAS MADE AWARE OF A RECALL BY GOODYEAR OF THEIR WRANGLER TIRES. WHILE THE TIRES DESCRIBED ABOVE DO NOT FALL INTO THE DOT NUMBERS OF THE RECALL, I WOULD ASK THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE FURTHER AND BROADEN THE RANGE OF RECALL AS THE BLOWOUT THAT CAUSED OUR CRASH APPEARS TO BE THE SAME AS THE BLOWOUT THAT CAUSED A CRASH IN TEXAS THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATHS OF TWO COLLEGE STUDENTS ON AUGUST 01, 2011. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10575394March 28, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN, HE HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE REAR END HAD SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000. UPDATED 5/27/14*CN *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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