Dodge Dakota Complaints

6,628 consumer complaints on file.

#10434023November 2, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433029October 27, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. THE BRAKES SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE SKIDDED AND SWERVED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AS THE BRAKES RETURNED TO NORMAL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432727October 25, 2011
STEERING
STEERING SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT HAS EXCESSIVE WEAR, APPEARS IT IS DUE TO POOR DESIGN AS ROAD SPLASH HITS THE LOWER STEERING JOINT AND POOR SEALS ALLOW RUST AND CAUSE IT TO SEIZE, MAKING STEERING DIFFICULT AND THEN WHEN IT IS LUBED BY SPRAYING A LUBRICAANT ON IT IT FAILS A SHORT TIME LATER. SURVEY THE DODGE DEALERS AND SEE HOW MANY OF THESE JOINTS THEY ARE REPLACING... THIS PART IS ALSO ON NATIONAL BANK ORDER PER MY LOCAL DEALER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432801October 25, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ON 21ST BRAKES STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. ON MONDAY BEFORE GETTING IT TO THE SHOP I HAD NO BRAKES. BRAKE CALIPERS LOCKED UP AND OVER EXTENDED L REAR HARDWARE FALLEN INTO DRUM AND DAMAGED SHOES & CONTAMINATED BRAKE FLUID. JUST HAD THE ROTORS AND PADS DONE LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432606October 24, 2011
STEERING
TRUCK HAS BECOME VERY HARD TO STEER. LIKE THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED. WHEN GOING INTO A TURN IS VERY HARD TO TURN AND WHEN COMING BACK IT STICKS AND HAVE TO TURN HARD ON THE WHEEL. THIS COMES AND GOES, SEEMS TO WORK FINE WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT OUT AND SEEMS TO FAIL WHEN THE WEATHER IS COOL OR COLD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432648October 24, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND TOOK IT IN TO FLUSH THE FLUID. DIDN'T DO ANYTHING BUT WAS TO GIVE IT A FEW HUNDRED MILES. I WAITED TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND AFTER 1 MONTH AND NOTHING CHANGING I REPLACED THE FLUID AGAIN WITH SOME CORRECTION FLUID. DIDN'T WORK, THEN ANOTHER MONTH LATER THE STEERING RELEASED BACK TO NORMAL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN. TWO WEEKS LATER THE POWER STEERING BECAME INTERMITTENT AND SOMETIMES IN THE SAME TURN. AT THIS POINT I SEARCHED DEEPER ON THE INTRANET AND FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT DODGE DAKOTA STEERING AND MANY THAT WERE SPECIFIC TO A 2004 DAKOTA AND MORE THAN A HANDFUL THAT HAD ABOUT 70K MILES LIKE MINE. AFTER SPRAYING PENETRATING OIL ON THE U-JOINT WITH A SHORT TERM CORRECTION, I'M CONVINCED THAT I NOW HAVE ONE OF THESE FAULTY STEERING SHAFTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432524October 23, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2006 DODGE DAKOTA, VERY DIFFICULT TO REFUEL REGARDLESS OF AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK. FILLER NOZZLE CONTINUOUSLY CUTS OFF, SHOOTING FUEL UP THE FILLER TUBE EVERY TIME THE CUT OFF OCCURS. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A BUILD UP OF PRESSURE WITHIN THE TANK AS THE FUEL IS PUMPED INTO IT. TAKES APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES TO BABY TWENTY DOLLARS WORTH OF GAS INTO THE TANK AT THE LOWEST DISPENSE LEVEL WITH RECURRING SHUT OFFS. PROBLEM IS NOT ISOLATED TO A PARTICULAR VENDOR, BUT HAS OCCURRED WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT BRANDS OF GAS. DEFINITELY A FIRE HAZARD AND POLLUTION PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432324October 21, 2011
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED SHE COULD CHANGE GEARS WITH OUT ENGAGING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,092.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430918October 20, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKES OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. WHERE THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, HOSES AND THE BRAKE LINES, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 11/16/11 *BF UPDATED 03/08/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430750October 19, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WAS COMING TO A STOP WHEN SUDDENLY THE BRAKE PEDAL SANK ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. A HOLE WAS LATER NOTICED IN THE HARD BRAKE LINE JUST BELOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE ENTIRE LINE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AS ARE THE LINES LEADING TO THE OTHER BRAKES. LUCKILY, NOBODY WAS INJURED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430462October 17, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 30,731.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430135October 13, 2011
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH HE HEARD A CLICKING SOUND NEAR THE FRONT SUSPENSION ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT NOTICED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V596000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT) AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED DUE TO THE VIN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428898October 6, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE LINE FAILURE, REAR BRAKES SEIZED. REPLACED REAR BRAKE SHOES AND WHEEL CYLINDERS 6,500 MILES AGO (APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 YEARS AGO). SEVERAL WEEKS AGO 9/23/2011 MY TRUCK SUFFERED REAR BRAKE LINE FAILURE - STEEL LINE THAT RUNS FROM FRONT TO BACK - FAILURE ADJACENT LEFT REAR TIRE WITHIN FRAME HOUSING. I DISCOVERED THE LINE WALL FAILURE WITHIN AN AREA OF EXTREME CORROSION OF THE LINE - APPROXIMATELY SIX INCHES OF THE BRAKE LINE WITH REMAINING NINE PLUS FEET OF THE LINE IN LIKE NEW CONDITION. FURTHER REVIEW DISCOVERED THE LEFT REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY TO BE SEVERELY CORRODED, IE SHOES, SPRINGS, ADJUSTERS, ETC. AS WELL AS THE LEFT FRONT ROTOR ASSEMBLY. REVIEW OF THE PHYSICAL BODY OF THE TRUCK FOUND THE LEFT FRONT CAB BODY MOUNT TO BE "GONE" (RUSTED AWAY!) AS WELL AS SEVERAL AREAS OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BODY PROPER ALSO EXHIBITING OXIDATION (TWO YEARS AGO THIS WAS NOT THE CASE AT ALL). THE REMAINDER OF THE TRUCK, CENTER SECTION AS WELL AS THE RIGHT SIDE (BRAKES INCLUDED) TO BE IN LIKE NEW CONDITION EXHIBITING NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, WITH NO CORROSION. MY CONCLUSION, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF OTHER "GEAR HEAD FRIENDS", IS THAT THE NEW ICE INHIBITOR BEING ADDED TO THE CENTER SECTION OF OUR CONNECTICUT ROADS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS IS PROMOTING EXTREME PREMATURE CORROSION RESULTING IN ULTIMATE FAILURE OF BRAKE, AND POSSIBLY FUEL LINE COMPONENTS, OF OUR VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429018October 6, 2011
STEERING
STEERING BECAME INCONSISTENT. VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN , BUT WOULD BECOME OCCASIONALLY EASIER MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL GOING INTO AND OUT OF TURNS. DEALER REPLACED INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AT A COST OF $420. THIS FIXED PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
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
#10428057September 30, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLTS ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD DETACHED, CAUSING A MANIFOLD TO LEAK OIL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND DEALER STATED THE MANIFOLD BOLTS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT REPLACE THE MANIFOLD BOLTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,900.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426561September 21, 2011
AIR BAGS
TRAVELING SB ON US 13, I FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL. STRUCK 2 VEHICLES AT APPROX. 50 MPH, POINT OF IMPACT DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT OF TRUCK. INSURANCE ADJUSTER TOTALED THE TRUCK, SO THE IMPACT WAS SURELY ENOUGH TO WARRANT DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS. THEY FAILED TO DEPLOY, RESULTING IN A HEAD INJURY TO MY COMPANION. SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE, SO HER INJURIES WERE DOCUMENTED. I HAD A LARGE ABDOMINAL BRUISE, BUT REFUSED TREATMENT SO I HAVE NO DOCUMENTATION OF MY INJURY. SHE HAS A PERMANENT SCAR ABOVE HER EYEBROW AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT, WHICH I BELIEVE WOULD'VE BEEN PREVENTED HAD AIRBAG PROPERLY DEPLOYED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10425814September 16, 2011
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED WHICH PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM STEERING THE VEHICLE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOLTS ON THE RACK AND PINION WERE CRACKED. AS A RESULT, THE RACK AND PINION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXCEEDED THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS TO RECEIVE REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 96V094000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHO FILED A REPORT AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HIM BACK AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 209,000. UPDATED 10/12/11*LJ UPDATED 10/14/11 *BF WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK, DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO STEER AND ULTIMATELY ENDED UP IN A DITCH. UPDATED 10/18/11 UPDATED 10/26/11 UPDATED 10/31/11 UPDATED 3/30/12 *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425687September 15, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TURN SIGNALS AND WIPERS INTERMITTENT. PUSH LEVER DOWN AND RIGHT SIGNAL MAY BLINK, OR NO SIGNAL, OR LEFT SIGNAL. PUSH LEVER UP AND RIGHT SIGNAL MAY BLINK OR NOTHING AT ALL. IF SIGNALS DO WORK PROPERLY AS THEY SWITCH OFF (EITHER MANUALLY OR WHEN THE TURN IS COMPLETED) OPPOSITE SIGNAL MAY BLINK 1-3 TIMES. WHILE SWITCHING FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM AND VICE VERSA WINDSHIELD WASHER AND WIPERS WILL TURN ON FOR 3-4 SWIPES. *KB
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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