Dodge Dakota Complaints (1998)

545 consumer complaints on file.

#10201091August 29, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DECELERATING AT 3 MPH THE BRAKES FAILED. THE BRAKE LINE WAS COMPLETELY COVERED WITH RUST AND CORRODED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RUST WAS A NATURAL PHENOMENON AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 107,000. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183811February 28, 2007
STEERING:LINKAGES
I AM THE OWNER OF A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. WHEN I BROUGHT IN THIS VEHICLE FOR THE MANDATORY SAFETY INSPECTION IN 2006 I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE MANIFOLD BOLTS HAD BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE VEHICLE TO PASS THE SAFETY INSPECTION. WITHOUT REPLACING THE BOLTS IT WOULD BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. COST TO ME WAS $561.18. I HAD THE REQUIRED SAFETY WORK COMPLETED. THIS YEAR I BROUGHT THE SAME VEHICLE IN FOR THE REQUIRED SAFETY INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE WARN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS THE SAFETY INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE HAS 63,736 MILES ON IT. I TALKED WITH SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT BALL JOINTS SHOULD BE WARN OUT AT THIS LOW MILEAGE. I ALSO WENT TO THE CONSUMERS AFFAIRS COMMISSION WEB SITE AND THERE WAS NUMEROUS ARTICLES REGARDING THE PROBLEMS WITH THE DODGE DAKOTAS SUSPENSION AND STEERING ASSEMBLIES. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE DEFECTS WITH THESE PARTS. ANY HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178926January 17, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HIS 1998 DODGE DAKOTA, AT A SPEED OF 25 MPH IN DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL GAVE NO RESISTANCE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TAKE LONGER THAN USUAL TO COME TO A STOP. IN ORDER TO AVOID A COLLISION CONTACT HAD TO STEER THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GRASS MEDIAN. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE PICTURES IF NEEDED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178773January 16, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
I WAS ADVISED TODAY THAT MY 1998 DAKOTA IS PLAGUED WITH THE SAME ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE A WHILE. THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ARE GARBAGE AT ABOUT 75,000. FORTUNATELY I DROVE MY WIFE'S CAR BY A STROKE OF LUCK AND THEY GAVE ME A LOT OF NOISE. SO I CAUGHT IT BEFORE A WHEEL FELL OFF. DODGE SHOULD BE RECALLING OR AT LEAST REPLACING FREE OF CHARGE ALL BALL JOINTS THAT FAILED. NOT JUST THE 2000-2003 MODEL NUMBERS.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178343January 10, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA, WHOSE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BROKE OFF DUE TO DEFECTIVE WELDING. THE CONTACT'S DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND NOT REPAIRABLE. PER THE CONTACT, THE LOWER SUSPENSION BOLTS FELL OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THERE WAS NO COLLISION AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. *AK UPDATED 2/2/2007 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160297June 20, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
AROUND 60,000 MILES I WAS LEFT STRANDED AFTER THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE REPAIR COST OVER 700 DOLLARS PLUS THE COST OF THE TOW. AT 90,000 MILE THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AGAIN. THIS TIME THE TRUCK QUIT IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR INTERSECTION UP TRAFFIC AND PUTTING MY LIFE AT RISK. THIS TIME THE REPAIR COST 777.00 DOLLARS PLUS THE COST OF THE TOW. I DON'T FEEL THAT A FUEL PUMP SHOULD FAIL SO OFTEN. ESPECIALLY A SUCH GREAT COST FOR REPAIR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159340June 8, 2006
STRUCTURE
OUR TRUCK'S PAINT IS FLAKING. WE WANT DAIMLER CHRYSLER TO RE-PAINT OUR TRUCK. WE FOUND OUT FROM OUR INSURANCE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE AND SCREWUP. OUR ROOF AND HOOD ARE FLAKING AND IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF SOON IT IS GOING TO RUST. WE HAVE NOTICED THAT OTHER TRUCKS IN OUR AREA THAT IS IN THE SAME YEAR MODEL RANGE IS DOING THE SAME AS OURS WITH THE PAINT. WHAT IS THE DEAL? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159259June 7, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT
BALL JOINTS SEPERATED...COSTING ME OVER $1000 IN REPAIRS...AND NOW THEY HAVE FAILED AGAIN....ALSO CONTROL ARM BUSHING IS FAILING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157504May 13, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURES @ 58,500 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155482April 17, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CLEAR COAT ON PAINT IS FLAKING OFF OF TRUCK ON THE HOOD, TOP OF CAB, TOP OF TAILGATE AND BED OF TRUCK. THIS HAS BEEN EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE RESULT OF THIS IS BECAUSE DODGE DID NOT ALLOW THE PAINT TO DRY BEFORE CONTINUING ASSEMBLY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152774March 15, 2006
TIRES
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE TIRES ARE AIRED UP THEY SLOWLY DEFLATE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04T001000, REGARDING THE TIRES. THE TIRES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE SERIAL NUMBER. UPDATED 4/11/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152467March 11, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
WE OWN A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT 4X4. IT CURRENTLY HAS 144K KILOMETERS. WE JUST INSTALLED OUR 3RD SET OF UPPER BALL JOINTS, AND HAVE REPLACED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS TWICE. WE EXPECT TO REPLACE THE LOWERS AGAIN BEFORE NEXT YEAR. WE KNOW WHEN THE JOINTS NEED REPLACING, WHEN THE VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO KEEP WITHIN A LANE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, DUE TO EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING. I SEE FROM THE INTERNET THAT CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR 2000 AND LATER MODELS. THIS IS INSUFFICIENT, AS MANY PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE IN MODELS AS LATE AS 1996. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE IS WELL KNOWN IN THE INDUSTRY, ONE PERSON OR FAMILY GETTING KILLED BY THIS DEFECT FOR THERE TO BE AN OFFICIAL RECALL IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. OUR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE IS PAID BY OUR COMPANY, HOWEVER A FAMILY THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD SUCH EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT ON A REGULAR BASIS, MAY BE PUTTING THEMSELVES IN JEOPARDY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151439February 28, 2006
STEERING
STEERING WON'T TURN AT ALL WHEN COLD, UNTIL IT WARMS FULLY IT'S HARD TO TURN. I'VE NOTICED THIS ON 2 OTHER 98 DODGE DAKOTAS I LOOKED AT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143429November 22, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
DT: THE CONTACT STATES EVERY YEAR WHEN HE TAKES VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED THEY INFORM HIM THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE REPLACEMENT TAKES PLACE APPROXIMATELY EVERY 20, 000-25,000 MILES. A LOCAL MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE DESIGN OF THE BALL JOINTS THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143274November 19, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
WALKING BACK TO MY PARKED "98 DODGE DAKOTA, AFTER DINING OUT WITH FAMILY, I NOTICED THAT MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS COCK-EYED WHILE THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS POINTING STRAIGHT. I HAD THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER/SERVICE DEPARTMENT CHECK IT OUT AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT 3 OUT OF 4 BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I WAS APPALLED TO HEAR THAT SINCE I HAD NO INDICATION THAT I OR MY PASSENGERS WERE IN ANY DANGER: THE TRUCK NEVER PULLED TO ONE SIDE, AND IT DIDN'T STEER FUNNY, OR GIVE ME ANY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING WAS SO TERRIBLY WRONG. THE SERVICE MANAGER URGED ME TO REPLACE ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS, WHICH I DID AT A COST OF OVER $773.81. I THINK DODGE NEEDS TO RECALL THE '98 DAKOTAS' BALL JOINTS. THERE'S NO REASON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 73,000 MILES ON IT SHOULD HAVE 3 OUT OF FOUR BALL JOINTS GO BAD TO THE POINT THAT THE WHEELS ARE COMING OFF. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142475November 11, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BALL JOINTS FAILED, PASSENGERS SIDE CAME LOOSE AND THE WHEEL FEEL OFF AND THE TRANSMISSON HAD TO BE REBUILT DUE TO CHEAP INTERNAL PARTS. BUT IF YOU OWN A 98 DODGE DAKOTA HAVE YOUR BALL JOINTS CHECKED THEY ARE A HAZARD AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED, IF THEY ALREADY HAVE NOT.... *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141993November 7, 2005
STEERING:COLUMN
STEERING COLUMN STARTED MAKING A CLICKING NOISE AS THE WHEEL WAS TURNED. DEALER STATED THAT THE LOCKING MECHANISM WAS FAILING AND COULD EASILY LEAD TO A CATASTROPHIC AND SUDDEN LOCKING OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141593November 2, 2005
STEERING, SUSPENSION
AFTER READING ABOUT STEERING PROBLEMS IN DODGE VEHICLES, I HAVE HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME. I PURCHASED MY '98 DODGE DAKOTA FROM 5 CORNERS DODGE AT 1292 HIGHWAY 143, CEDARBURG, WISCONSIN 53012. *09 DEC '97 I TOOK MY TRUCK IN FOR "CUSTOMER STATES THAT WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS THERE IS S JARRING THAT COMES THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL" - REPLACE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT - N/C. *23 JULY '99 - "CHECK NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS FROM DRIVE TRAIN" - FRONT PROPELLER SHAFT BALL SOCKET INSUFFICIENT LUBE NOISY 16300100 DRIVELINE/PROPELLER SHAFTS, REMOVE INSPECT WHEELS, BRAKES, UNIVERSOLA, REPAIR/LUBE FRONT SHAFT BALL SOCKET JOINT AND REINSTALL -N/C. *07 JULY 2003 - "GRINDING NOISE FROM DRIVERS SIDE FRONT END AREA" - 2200 REPLACE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING/HUB ASSY, 219 REPLACE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS-BOTH SIDES, 2WT 2 WHEEL TRUCK ALIGNMENT, 52165 TEST DRIVE AND INSP REPLACE FAILED LF BEARING ASSY REPLACE BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS REPLACE BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS 2WHEEL TRUCK ALIGN - $1095.12!!!! I BROUGHT ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM FROM THE BEGINNING AND BY THE TIME IT WAS FINALLY FIXED, IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. CAN YOU HELP ME, IN ANY WAY? THANK YOU, DON GRUELL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139168October 10, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
MY 98 DODGE DAKOTA HAS HAD THE EXHAUST CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED 2 TIMES ALREADY UNDER WARRANTY, THE LAST ONE ABOUT 10 MONTH AGO, NOW IT RATTLES LIKE ROCKS IN A TIN CAN AGAIN, NOW MY MILEAGE IS OVER THE WARRANTY BY ABOUT 9000 MILES AND THEY SAY THEY WILL NOT REPLACE UNLESS I PAY! OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM NATION WIDE WITH THIS EMISSION COMPONET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117768August 5, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
RECALL 00V193000 FOR THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE HAS BEEN ISSUED AND REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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