Dodge Dakota Complaints (2002)
678 consumer complaints on file.
- #10640134September 30, 2014TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
SPARE TIRE FELL OFF VEHICLE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. NO REDUNDANCY IN THE MECHANISM THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE. METAL CLIP THAT FITS IN THE CENTER BORE OF THE WHEEL IS THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE. IN THE CASE OF MY VEHICLE THE CLIP HAD RUSTED AND FAILED ALLOWING THE SPARE TIRE TO FALL OFF THE VEHICLE. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED ON A BUSY ROAD AT SPEED IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10626789August 20, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER STUCK, BRAKE GOT HOT, SMOKE CAME OUT OF WHEEL WELL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10626794August 20, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER STUCK, BRAKE GOT HOT, SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE WHEEL WELL. HAD TO HAVE TRUCK TOWER TO DEALER. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10626796August 20, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
RIGHT FRONT BRAKE STUCK, BRAKE GOT HOT, SMOKE CAME OUT OF WHEEL WELL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10618271August 1, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 60K MILES, DON'T DRIVE A WHOLE BUNCH, BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IN 2002. 2 TIMES I HAVE HAD THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL AND BREAKS CATCH ON FIRE DUE TO THE BRAKES/CALIPER LOCKING UP. ONE INCIDENT WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 25 MPH, THE OTHER INCIDENT ON HIGHWAY AROUND 55 MPH. BETWEEN TOWING AND REPLACING BRAKES, ROTORS, CALIPER, BRAKE LINES, AROUND $500-$750 EACH TIME. I AM ON HERE BECAUSE MY BRAKE LINE FROM FRONT TO BACK HAS ERODED AWAY NEAR GAS TANK, SAME AS EVERYONE'S I HAVE READ AND BECAUSE MY PASSENGER WHEEL HAS BEGAN TO GIVE SIGNS THAT IT WILL BE LOCKING UP AGAIN. HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LINE DUE TO THE LINE BEING CRACKED WHERE THE BANJO BOLT IS. THESE SEEM TO ALL BE HUGE ISSUES AND VERY DANGEROUS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10617614July 30, 2014SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CALIPERS SEIZED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ROTORS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE CONTACT REPLACED THE CALIPERS HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000. UPDATED 9/4/14*CN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10615550July 23, 2014SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE RISING NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE CALIPER FAILED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CALIPER AND ROTOR AND REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10614776July 20, 2014ENGINE
WHILE I WAS TRAVELING UPHILL THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AS I WAS GOING OVER THE FREEWAY OVERPASS TO ENTER THE SOUTH BOUND FREEWAY ENTRANCE. I LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AND HAD JUST ENOUGH POWER TO ROLL DOWNHILL PAST THE FREEWAY ENTRANCE TO TURN ON A STREET TO ROLL TO A STOP JUST AS I TURNED THE CORNER. THANK GOODNESS I WASN'T ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED OR HAVE ANY CARS IN FRONT OF ME AS I WAS ROLLING DOWNHILL BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE BRAKES. I TRIED TO START THE ENGINE AND GOT NO POWER, BUT NOTICED THE MILEAGE READER SAID "NO BUS". I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED HOME. FOR THE NEXT 2-3 MONTHS THE TRUCK WOULD START SOMETIMES AND RUN FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND SHUT OFF AND OTHER TIMES IT WOULD JUST TURN OVER AS IF IT HAD A BAD ALTERNATOR.THE STRANGE THING IS WHEN IT WAS 70-74 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND BELOW THE TRUCK WOULD START AND RUN FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES BEFORE SHUTTING OFF AND WHEN YOU TRIED TO START THE ENGINE RIGHT AFTER IT WOULD JUST TURN OVER AND NOT START. IF IT WAS CLOSE TO 80 DEGREES OR HOTTER OUTSIDE, THE TRUCK WOULD NEVER START, IT WOULD JUST TURN OVER LIKE A BAD ALTERNATOR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE "NO BUS" CODE, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS AN INDICATION THAT THE POWER CONTROL MODULE (PCM/ECM COMPUTER) WAS BAD. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND THAT HEAT AFFECTED THE PCM AND THAT'S WHY IT STARTED ON SOME DAYS AND NOT OTHERS. I BOUGHT A REBUILT PCM AND THE TRUCK DID THE SAME THING AFTER A MONTH AND A HALF. THIS PART SHOULD NOT BE SOLD BY AS A REBUILD BECAUSE THE COMPUTER BOARD MELTS AND LEAKS A GREASY LIKE SUBSTANCE. MY BROTHER IN-LAW HAS EXPERIENCE WITH COMPUTERS AND SAID IT RESEMBLED MELTED HEAT COATING FROM THE COMPUTER BOARD. WE HAD SUCCESS WITH A REMANUFACTURED PCM. THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED AND CORRECTED. THERE IS A LIST OF PEOPLE ON THE DODGE FORUM WHO HAVE SUFFERED WITH THE SAME ISSUES AND I'M SURE SOMEONE OUT HERE HAS WRECKED OR DIED OVER THIS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10608122July 3, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS PARKED IN A SPACE. I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT IF PARK. I FELT THE PEDAL GO TO THE FLOOR AND HEARD A NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE. I PUT THE VEHICLE BACK IN PARK AN GOT OUT TO SEE WHAT THE NOISE WAS AND SAW FLUID DRIPPING FROM MY GAS TANK. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I REALIZED THE BRAKE LINE NEXT TO THE FUEL TANK HAD BURST DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO THE REAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE WORST DAMAGE WAS THE SECTION TUCKED BEHIND THE FUEL TANK WHERE IT WAS MORE DIFFICULT TO GET CLEANED DURING NORMAL WASHING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10596243June 4, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
16 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK TO A SCHOOL FUNCTION, STEPPED ON THE BRAKES TO MAKE THE TURN OFF THE HIGHWAY INTO THE SCHOOL AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WENT TO GET THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKE LINE THAT RUNS ALONG THE FRAME RAIL TO THE REAR AXLE HAD CORRODED THROUGH IN SEVERAL PLACES CAUSING HIM TO LOSE BRAKE FLUID. I'VE HAD A LOT OF CARS MUCH OLDER THAN THIS TRUCK (MY FAMILY HAD A CAR DEALERSHIP) AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER SEEN A HARD BRAKE LINE GO BAD. LOOKING ONLINE FOR A REPLACEMENT PART IT QUICKLY BECAME APPARENT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE DAKOTAS AND THEY ALL CORRODE IN THE SAME PLACE. BEHIND THE FUEL TANK. DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD CORRECT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10592611May 19, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE LINE TO THE LEFT REAR TIRE RUSTED OUT AND LEAKED. LOST ALL BRAKE FUNCTIONS. LOCATION OF THE LEAK WAS NEXT TO THE GAS TANK. REPETITIVE PROBLEM WITH OTHER DODGE TRUCKS. LUCKY I WAS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OR NEEDED A SUDDEN STOP. *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10584102April 22, 2014STRUCTURE: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, 2014AIR 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
- #10583594April 18, 2014SERVICE 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
- #10568883March 12, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
NO HEADLIGHTS, PARKING LIGHTS, DASHBOARD/INSTRUMENT LIGHTS, FOB DOES NOT WORK AND SERVICE 4X4 LIGHT IS ON, RECALL ON CTM I WAS TOLD. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10567940March 8, 2014TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE LEFT REAR ORIGINAL GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S P265/70R16 TIRE ON MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA 4WD PICK-UP TRUCK HAS BELT SEPARATION. THE TRUCK HAS ONLY 17,685 MILES ON IT. THE TRUCK IS USED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR PRIMARILY AS A SPARE VEHICLE WHEN THE CAR IS BEING USED. I WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE DOT NUMBER. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10566791March 3, 2014STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES
HAVE HAD STEERING KNUCKLES REPLACED TWICE ON MY TRUCK BECAUSE THE CALIPER BOLTS STRIP OUT AND CAUSE MY TRUCK DO DIVE LEFT OR RIGHT UPON BRAKING. ALSO CAUSED BY BRAKE PAD RAILS WEARING TOO MUCK AND NOT LETTING THE CALIPERS MOVE THE BRAKE PADS TO APPLY THE BRAKES. ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS MULTIPLE TIMES BUT DEALER SAYS ITS NOT AN ISSUE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10563459February 7, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE "SECURITY LIGHT" ON DASH WAS FLASHING AND WHEN IT IS ON THE HEADLIGHTS GO OFF AND DASH LIGHTS GOES DARK AND TURN SIGNALS/BRAKE LIGHTS COMES ON. WHEN SECURITY LIGHT IS OFF THE HEADLIGHTS GOES ON THE DASH LIGHTS ARE ON AND TURN/BRAKES LIGHTS GOES OFF. THIS SECURITY LIGHT ( ON DASH) WILL FLASH ON AND OFF EVERY SECOND OR WILL GO ON SOLID - IF ON SOLID HEADLIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS WILL BE OFF - DOME LIGHT ON AND TURN/BRAKE LIGHTS ON. THIS WILL HAPPEN UNTIL VEHICLE IS WARMED UP TO 20 DEGREES AMBIENT TEMP. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE "TCM MODULE" ON THIS VEHICLE. IT DOES NOT EFFECT THE ENGINE OR DRIVE TRAIN ONLY THE LIGHTS ! YOU CAN BE DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENS ! PEOPLE WILL THING YOU ARE AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE OR CRAZY ! THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A "CHIP" IN THE KEYS ONLY A REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY THAT IS SEPARATE FROM THE IGNITION KEY...UPDATED 02-28-14 *BF. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SECURITY CAME ON AND THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF. THE VEHICLE DID NOT DIE, OR MISFIRE. UPDATED 04/01/14
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10556568December 18, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THIS VEHICLE, 2002 DODGE DAKOTA, WAS DRIVEN DURING THE DAY FOR SOME MONTHS. IN OCTOBER, 2013 I STAYED OUT LATE AND AS I TURN THE HEAD LIGHTS ON, A FEW SECONDS AFTER ALL THE LIGHTS STARTED TO BLINK NON STOP, EVEN ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT FAR FROM HOME, I HAD TO TURN ALL THE LIGHTS OFF TO GET HOME. AN ADDITIONAL ALARM SYSTEM, EVS 11 MOPAR ELECTRONIC VEHICLE SECURITY SYSTEMS, WAS INSTALLED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS THE ALARM SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, I HAD THE ALARM SYSTEM REMOVED BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED. I EVENTUALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DODGE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BCM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AFTER A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS DONE. TO REPLACE THIS PART IS VERY EXPENSIVE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10543066September 11, 2013SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE BUT THE BRAKES SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE ROTORS, PADS, HOSES AND THE CALIPERS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0