Dodge Dakota Complaints (2001)

678 consumer complaints on file.

#10071636April 26, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
VEHICLE SHUT COMPLETELY DOWN WHILE DRIVING. (NAR) *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068556April 21, 2004
SUSPENSION
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON IS 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 QUAD CAB. *PH THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED BUT THE FRONT END NOISE RETURNED AFTER A FEW WEEKS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION IS NOT DESIGNED OR THE EXTRA WEIGHT THAT IT CARRIES OVER THE STANDARD OR EXTRA CAB MODELS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068619April 21, 2004
SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE
WHILE MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED BY A TECHNICIAN, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT AXLE WAS DEFECTIVE, BUT FAILED TO FIX IT UNTIL IT WOULD BE RECALLED. A FEW MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING SOUND AGAIN. VEHICLE SLID SIDEWAYS AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067515April 20, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT. DEALER STATED THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER AND NOT AVAILABLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063413April 20, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A CLANKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FRONT BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE PASSENGER SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS. *AK THE SWAY BAR SQUEAKED. THE BROKEN SEAL CAUSED THE BALL JOINTS TO DRY. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063116April 20, 2004
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE REAR-END LOCKING UP. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE REAR END PINION GEAR LOCKED UP, SHEARED THE BOLTS OFF THE DRIVESHAFT, BROKE THE REAR OF THE TRANSMISSION, AND LEAKED OIL EVERYWHERE. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMED THE CONSUMER ABOUT ANOTHER DODGE VEHICLE THAT EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066415April 18, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2001 DODGE DAKOTA EQUIPPED WITH A 4.7 LITER EIGHT CYLINDER ENGINE WITH 46024 MILES BEGAN TO HAVE A LIGHT KNOCK. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO METROLINA DODGE WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SPUN A ROD, DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH A EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT I WAS INFORMED THAT THE DAMAGE WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY BECAUSE THE OIL HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED BY DODGE CERTIFIED MECHANICS. MY HUSBAND AND FATHER HAVE CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3500 MILES, BUT ACCORDING TO THE PEOPLE AT METROLINA IF DODGE DID NOT PERFORM ALL THE MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE THEN THE WARRANTY IS VOIDED. MY HUSBAND WENT TO METROLINA DODGE TO HAVE THE SERVICE WRITER SHOW HIM THE SLUDGE BUILD UP THAT THEY WERE TELLING ME ABOUT. WHILE HE WAS THERE THE SERVICE WRITER KEVIN ST.CLAIR TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL 4.7 AND 2.7-LITER ENGINES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. KEVIN SAID THAT IT WOULD COST $6500.00 TO REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT, ONE ROD, AND THE BEARINGS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067162April 14, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SLUDGE BUILT UP. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065968April 12, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED AFTER 29,000 MILES. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE COMPLAINING OF THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM AND DID NOT FIX IT. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO ANOTHER MECHANIC HE DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A BALL JOINT ISSUE. THE VEHICAL IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTEE, AND I AM AFFAID THAT THE DEALERSHIP IS GOING TO ASK ME TO PAY FOR THE FIX. I AM WAITING FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO CONTACT ME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067017April 12, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS CONSUMER NOTICED A POPPING NOISE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED BY A TECHNICIAN , WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT AXLE HAD PROBLEMS, BUT FAILED TO FIX IT UNTIL IT WAS RECALLED A FEW MONTHS LATER. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING SOUND AGAIN WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE SLIDING SIDEWAYS AND CRASHING INTO A TREE; VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065872April 10, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
LOCAL DODGE DEALER SERVICE DEPT INFORMED ME TODAY THAT MOST LIKELY BALL JOINTS ON MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA PROBALLY NEED TO BE REPLACED. WITH LESS THAN 30000 MILES THIS IS UNBELIEVEABLE. JWK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067140April 8, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
UPPER BALL JOINT AND LEFT RIGHT TIE ROD END FAILURE. *PH *LA
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065686April 7, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
40,000 MILES TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WOULD NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY FROM FIRST TO SECOND. 45,000 MILES IGINITION PROBLEMS. SHORT IN THE IGNITION, CAR WOULD DO NOTHING. NOT START, NO LIGHTS, NOTHING. 50,000 MILES AND THE BALL JOINTS WENT OUT. I WAS TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS AT THE DODGE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH DAKOTA'S AND DURANGOS AND THAT THE BALL JOINTS USED ON THOSE TWO CARS WERE VERY WEAK AND NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066702April 6, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED WITH THE UPPER BALL JOINTS INCIDENTS AND HOW TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM. *PH *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064508April 4, 2004
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
I BOUGHT A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT WITH A 6 CYLINDER SO FAR THERE HAS BEEN 3 CV SHAFTS PUT IN IT AND I AM WONDERING WHY I HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING THE CV SHAFTS IN THIS TRUCK, IT IS GETTING VERY AGGRAVATING I BOUGHT THE TRUCK WITH 9100 MILES ON IT MAY OF 2001 TWO MONTH AFTER I GOT IT I HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE CV SHAFT. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE CV SHAFT 2 OTHER TIMES SINCE THEN RIGHT NOW IT HAS ABOUT 43500 ON IT NOW WHY DOES THIS PROBLEM KEEP OCCURRING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064396April 2, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THE VEHICLE IS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB EQUIPPED WITH A FACTORY TOWING PACKAGE. ON MARCH 12, I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON I-215 PULLING A TRAILER. I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, THEN THE CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHT, AND EMERGENCY FLASHER CEASED OPERATING. A COMBINATION FLASHER UNIT HAD FAILED AND BURNED, WITH THE PLASTIC CASE PARTIALLY MELTED. THE HEAT HAD DAMAGED THE COMBINATION SWITCH, WHICH ALSO FAILED, AND THE PLUG INTO THE WIRING HARNESS WAS ALSO PARTIALLY MELTED. THE DODGE DEALER CHANGED THE FAILED COMPONENTS, AND THEY FAILED AGAIN, THIS TIME WITH NO TRAILER ATTACHED. THE DEALER FINALLY ATTRIBUTED THE FAILURES TO A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE WIRING INSTALLED BY THE FACTORY WHICH CONNECTED THE FACTORY INSTALLED TRAILER SOCKET TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I HAVE ADVISED DODGE OF THE PROBLEM, AND THEY MAINTAIN THAT THEIR WIRING WAS NOT DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT THE SHORT ORIGINATED IN THE TRAILER WIRING. THEY MADE THIS DETERMINATION WITHOUT EXAMINING THE TRAILER. EVEN IF THE SHORT DID IN FACT START IN THE TRAILER, THE FACTORY DESIGNED AND INSTALLED WIRING HARNESS SHOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE SHORT FROM DESTROYING THESE VITAL SAFETY COMPONENTS. THE FREEWAY I WAS ON WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED WAS PACKED WITH RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, AND IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT MAKING MY WAY TO SAFETY PULLING A TRAILER WITHOUT THE USE OF THE SIGNAL LIGHTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064402April 2, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
I TOOK MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB TO A DEALER TO CHECK A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE. THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WEARING DOWN AND THAT I COULD LOOSE THE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. MY COMPLAINT IS BASED ON THE FACT THAT ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED ON A VEHICLE UNTIL AT LEAST 100,000 MILES. FROM MY RESEARCH THIS IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS CORRECTION IN THESE MODELS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065414April 1, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH AN ALARM SOUNDED WARNING THE CONSUMER TO CHECK THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. OIL PRESSURE GAUGE REGISTERED VERY LOW OIL PRESSURE. CONSUMER CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL WITH THE DIP STICK AND FOUND IT TO BE UP TO PAR. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND A SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE. A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064177March 30, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4 AND HAD THE PASSENGER SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT FAIL (LUCKLY I WAS HAVING MY MECHANIC CHANGE THE OIL) WHEN HE SAID THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINT SIMPLY FELL OUT. I THINK THAT DODGE SHOULD HAVE MADE OWNERS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM RATHER THAN CAUSE INJURIES TO CONSUMERS. ALSO WHY IS IT THAT YOU CANNOT PURCHASE A REPLACEMENT BALL JOINT FROM DODGE (YOU MUST PURCHASE THE WHOLE UPPER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY?)*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065124March 25, 2004
SUSPENSION
A CONTINUOUS "CLUNK" IN THE FRONT LEFT SUSPENSION WHICH THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD WAS THE BALL JOINTS. *PH THE LEFT SIDE WAS AT "380 DEGREE" AND THE OE SPECIFIC WAS "0," AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A NON DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS POOR. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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