Dodge Dakota Complaints

6,628 consumer complaints on file.

#10234830July 18, 2008
STEERING
STEERING ERRATIC AND CHOPPY. STEERING WHEEL FAILS TO CENTER SMOOTHLY WHEN RELEASED. STEERING IS HARD AT TIMES. WHEEL STAYS IN TURNED DIRECTION UNLESS MANUALLY TURNED TO CORRECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234632July 17, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FRONT BRAKES GET GRABBY, THAN LOCK-UP, WHEN DRIVEN AT RANDOM SPEEDS. THIS CAUSES THE WHEELS TO SMOKE AND ROTOR GRINDING. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 7 TIMES FROM 500 MILES TO 10,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE 2 DIFFERENT DODGE DEALERS FOR A TOTAL 3 TIMES. THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET THE BRAKES TO UNLOCK IS TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND RESTART THE ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234593July 16, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK OVER A SPEED HUMP GOING APPROX. TEN MPH WHEN SOMETHING SOUNDED LIKE IT DROPPED, I PUT THE TRUCK INTO PARK AND GOT OUT TO FIND MY RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE LAYING HORIZONTAL, BUT STILL ATTACHED TO THE TRUCK. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AND I WAS INFORMED THAT MY UPPER BALL JOINT HAD BROKE ALONG WITH THE HALF SHAFT/CV JOINT. I CALLED DODGE BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BALL JOINTS AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP ME BECAUSE MY TRUCK IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 56,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234273July 14, 2008
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL WOULD STIFFEN AS IF THERE WERE NO POWER STEERING ABILITY. WHEN HE TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL, IT DOES NOT TURN BACK UNLESS HE DOES IT MANUALLY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT COULD LEAD TO THE STEERING WHEEL DISCONNECTING FROM THE RACK UNIT. I BELIEVE THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS THE LOWER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. IF I SPRAY THE U JOINTS OF THE STEERING SHAFT WITH WD 40 OR PB BLASTER IT STEERS GREAT, BUT WEARS OFF WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT!! NOW TRUCK HAS 57,000 MILES. HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE HAD IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234320July 14, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE FAILURE ON A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233754July 10, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE COASTED ACROSS THE PARKING LOT BEFORE THE CONTACT COULD APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED AT LEAST THREE LINES AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT OTHERS MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A LATER DATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 89,249. UPDATED 09/15/08 *BF UPDATE 09/24/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233604July 9, 2008
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WINDOW REGULATOR FAILS WHEN SHUTTING DOOR, DROPPING WINDOW DOWN IN DOOR CHANNEL. WINDOW REGULATOR MUST BE REPLACED. HAS JUST HAPPENED FOR THE 3RD TIME IN PAST 1 YEAR. EACH TIME A DIFFERENT WINDOW OF THIS DAKOTA QUAD CAB PICKUP I PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN NO ACCIDENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233267July 6, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I USED MY DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB TO PULL MY 5,000 LB TRAVEL TRAILER ON VACATION AT THE TIME. THE TRUCK WAS VERY UNSTABLE AND UNSAFE WHILE PULLING THE TRAILER TO AND FROM PIGEON FORGE, TENNESSEE. THE ENGINE IS A 4.7 V8 RATED AT 230 HP AND 290 LB FT. TORQUE. I PURCHASED THE TOWING OPTION PACKAGE WITH THE TRUCK. IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE RATED FOR 7,000 LBS. DAIMLER CHRYSLER FALSIFIED THE TOWING ABILITY OF THIS ENGINE / TRANSMISSION SET UP BY OVERSTATING ITS TOWING CAPABILITY. I BASE MY ACCUSATION ON THE FACT THAT CHRYSLER RETOOLED THIS 4.7 V8 ENGINE FOR 2008. IT IS NOW RATED AT 302 HP AND 329 LB FT. TORQUE YET STILL ITS MAXIMUM TOWING CAPABILITY IS STILL RATED AT 7,000. COMMON SENSE WOULD DICTATE THAT IMPROVED ENGINE SHOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO TOW MORE WEIGHT SINCE IT NOW HAS MORE HORSEPOWER AND MORE TORQUE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE TRUCKS ON THE HIGHWAY THAT MAY BE TOWING AN UNSAFE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT SINCE CHRSYLER OVERSTATED THE TOWING ABILITY OF THE 2005 TRUCKS WITH THE 4.7 V8. I HAVE HAD MY TRUCK IN THE SHOP FOUR TIMES FOR REPAIRS AND THEIR ONLY SOLUTION IS TO TOW LESS WEIGHT. I BELIEVE THEIR OVERSTATEMENT OF THE TOWING ABILITY OF THE VEHICLE WARRANTS A GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION FOR SAFETY REASONS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR KILLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THE TRUCK HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY YARD FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232904July 1, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT FAILED. THE FRONT TIRE BECAME DISCONNECTED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V596000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 104,000. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF UPDATED 09/15/08 *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232765June 30, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT, STEERING
THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 12-14-06 AND SHORTLY AFTER I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE THE BOUNCING AND ROLLING ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION AS WELL AS NUMEROUS TYPES OF RATTLING NOISES. SHOCKS WERE REPLACED ON 3-14-07 AND FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS ON 4-24-07. SINCE THEN, FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS WERE REPLACED AGAIN AS WELL AS ONE TIE ROD END. ONE SWAY BAR LINK WAS REPLACED IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND THE OTHER IS CURRENTLY NEEDS REPLACED. THE CONDITION HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND NOW INCLUDES A FRONT END SHAKING ON ALMOST SMOOTH ROADS AS WELL AS THE STEERING WHEEL MOVING LEFT AND RIGHT IN MY HANDS WHEN GOING AROUND TURNS. THIS VEHICLE IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I HAVE TO VIRTUALLY HOLD A DEATH GRIP ON THE WHEEL TO KEEP FROM LOOSING CONTROL WHEN I HIT A BUMP, DIP, STRIP BUMP, PAVEMENT WAVES, ETC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232621June 29, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
KNOWING THE DAKOTA'S HAVE BRAKE ISSUES, I REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS WITH AFTERMARKET SLOTTED ROTORS IN HOPES THAT THE ROTOR WOULD STAY COOL & NOT WARP. HOWEVER EVEN AFTER ADDING NEW ROTORS I HAVE HAD ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS ONE OR THE OTHER FRONT ROTORS HAVE LOCKED UP. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT I COMPLETELY DRAINED & REPLACED ALL THE BRAKE FLUID W/SYNTHETIC BRAKE FLUID. I HAD NO PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS BEFORE THEY LOCKED UP AGAIN. THIS TIME I REPLACED BOTH CALIPERS, IT'S ONLY BEEN A MONTH EVERYTHING IS WORKING FOR NOW. DODGE SHOULD RECALL! EITHER THERE BRAKE BOOSTER OR CALIPERS ARE FLAWED BECAUSE THE BRAKE CALIPER TEND TO STICK CAUSING OVERHEATING, WRONG TO THE POINT WHERE THE PADS ARE SO HOT YOUR ENGULFING OTHER VEHICLES IN SMOKE!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231936June 22, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE SPARE TIRE RETAINER FAILED, ALLOWING THE SPARE TIRE TO DETACH FROM IT'S MOUNT UNDER THE VEHICLE AND FALL TO THE ROAD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE SPARE TIRE IS HELD UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE BY A RETAINER ATTACHED TO A STEEL CABLE. THE STEEL CABLE IS IN A CONSTANT STATE OF TENSION SUPPORTING THE SPARE TIRE THE STEEL CABLE HAD DEVELOPED CORROSION TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT IT SIMPLY SNAPPED, ALLOWING THE SPARE TIRE TO FALL TO THE ROADWAY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERWAY. THE AREA OF FAILURE FROM CORROSION IS HIDDEN FROM VIEW. WITHOUT SOME DISASSEMBLY THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO ASCERTAIN A FAILURE WAS DEVELOPING. THE FAILED PARTS ARE IN MY POSSESSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231862June 20, 2008
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD STIFFEN AS IF THERE WERE NO POWER STEERING ABILITY. WHEN HE TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL, IT DOES NOT TURN BACK UNLESS HE DOES IT MANUALLY. THE FAILURE BEGAN APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AGO. THE CONTACT FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT COULD LEAD TO THE STEERING WHEEL DISCONNECTING FROM THE RACK UNIT. HE BELIEVES THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS THE LOWER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 43,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231184June 16, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES GOING DOWN HILL OR WHEN CARRYING A LIGHT LOAD BRAKES VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231000June 14, 2008
POWER TRAIN
JUST LAST WEEK AT 42,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I REPLACED THE STEERING RACK AND THE POWER STEERING STILL DOESN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING ONLY OCCASIONALLY. I AM NOW BEING TOLD TO BRING THE TRUCK BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP. HONESTLY, IF THEY WOULD JUST TAKE THIS TRUCK BACK .I DON'T EVEN WANT MONEY BACK FOR IT..JUST SET ME FREE OF THIS TRUCK AND LOAN AND I'D BE HAPPY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231027June 14, 2008
TIRES, TIRES:VALVE
ON FREEWAY AT 75 MPH. HEARD A LOUD POP SOUND AND THE VEHICLE TUGGED TO THE LEFT. MANAGED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND PULL OFF TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. THE TIRE WAS DAMAGED BUT INTACT, IT WAS A VALVE STEM FAILURE. TOOK THE TIRE TO SHOP WHERE PURCHASED AND WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230544June 11, 2008
SUSPENSION
ORIGINAL OWNER OF VEHICLE WITH 21,00 MILES. APPROX 1 WEEK AGO BEGAN HEARING SCRAPING SOUND WHEN TURNING. NOISE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. MECHANIC SAYS VEHICLE NEEDS NEW TIE ROD. ADVISED US AGAINST DRIVING IT BECAUSE HE CONSIDERS IT TO BE VERY UNSAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230407June 10, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TRUCK OPERATING NORMAL UNTIL BRAKING AT INTERSECTION. TRUCK THEN PULLED VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT UPON BRAKING. SMELLED AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM FRONT OF TRUCK. UPON STOPPING HAD SMOKE COMING FROM PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT WHEEL/ROTOR. GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS CONCERNED THAT A FIRE WAS IMMINENT DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE HEAT. THE TIRE/WHEEL ON THE FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE WAS EXTREMELY HOT. NEXT MORNING, THE TRUCK DROVE NORMAL, NO SIGN THAT THE BRAKE/ROTOR WAS DAMAGED. PLAN ON TAKING IN FOR THOROUGH INSPECTION. NOTICED FIFTEEN (15) SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR 2002 DODGE DAKOTA WITH UNEXPLAINED MASTER CYLINDER LOCK-UP. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/DODGE/DAKOTA/2002/BRAKES/BRAKE_CYLINDER_LOCK-UP.SHTML. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230529June 10, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
GOING DOWN A SLIGHT GRADE AND FRONT LEFT BRAKE LOCKED UP SLIGHTLY PULLING ME TO THE LEFT, WITH NOWHERE TO PULL OFF I HAD TO GO A MILE OR MORE TO GET STOPPED, THE ROTOR WAS VERY HOT AND HAD TO WAIT CLOSE TO AN HOUR BEFORE THEY BROKE OFF, CHANGED BRAKES SANDED ROTORS AT ANGLE AND ALMOST DID IT AGAIN. APPARENTLY ON AUTO BEEF, THERE ARE 15 OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME THING. I KNOW IT SUCKS BUT DODGE NEEDS TO SUCK THIS ONE UP AND NOT LOSE THEIR LOYALTY TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230372June 9, 2008
EQUIPMENT
MY 06 DODGE DAKOTA WITH 61K HIGHWAY MILES ON IT , NEEDS BEARING , TIERODS, AND THE SUSPENSION IS WORN OUT, I DOT'S TOW OR HAUL ANYTHING HEAVY WITH THIS TRUCK. AND FROM WHAT IM HEARING FROM OTHERS IS THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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