Dodge Dakota Complaints (2004)

206 consumer complaints on file.

#10481196October 19, 2012
STEERING, SUSPENSION
A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE HAS THE EXACT SAME TRUCK AND HIS WHOLE TIRE FELL OFF GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. HE THANK GOD DID NOT GET HURT OR HURT ANYONE ELSE IN THE PROSESS. HE TOLD ME THAT IN 2004 THEIR WAS A RECALL ON THE BALL JOINTS OF THIS VEHICLE. I BOUGHT MY TRUCK FROM A PRIVATE OWNER AND DO NOT HAVE A RECALL NOTICE OF MY OWN, IS THERE A WAY NOW THAT I AM THE 2ND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE THAT I CAN STILL HAVE THIS RECALL BE TAKEN CARE OF AT A DEALERSHIP BEING THAT IT IS UNDER 10 YEARS WITHIN THE RECALL TIME LIMIT. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE WHAT HAPPENED TO MY FRIEND HAPPEN TO ME. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468980August 2, 2012
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN THEN UNEXPECTEDLY THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL COLLAPSED DUE TO A FRACTURED BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CEMENT POST IN A PARKING LOT. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V596000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT); HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448580February 20, 2012
STEERING
ON FEB.15, 2012 WAS DRIVING AND WENT TO MAKE A TURN AND THE AFTER A QUARTER OF THE WAY INTO THE CURVE THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN, CAUSING ME TO ALMOST HIT THE CAR SETTING AT THE LIGHT. AND SINCE THAT TIME THE STEERING IS HARDEST TO TURN WHEN COLD AND EASIER WHEN WARM. THE STEERING WHEN IT IS COLD IS STIFF WHEN YOU ARE A QUARTER THE WAY INTO THE CURVE AND THEN RELEASES THEN HARD AGAIN ALL IN THE SAME TURN, MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT MAKES YOUR VEHICLE SWERVE AND BECOME RECKLESS. DODGE NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE DEFECTIVE STEERING PARTS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT BECAUSE OF POOR DESIGN AND LACK OF LUBRICATION POINTS CAUSING THE FAILURE. PLEASE MANDATE THAT THEY ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447336February 9, 2012
STEERING
AROUND OCTOBER STARTED HAVING TROUBLE WITH STEERING WOULD BE TIGHT THEN LOOSEN UP IF IT WAS WARM. WHEN IT GOT COLDER IT GOT VERY HARD TO STEER. CHANGED THE RACK THEN EVERY TIME YOU WOULD TURN IT WOULD PULL TIGHT AND LET LOOSE AND MAKE TRUCK SWERVE. FIGURED MOST HAVE GOTTEN A DEFECTIVE PART CHANGED STEERING RACK AGAIN. SAME PROBLEM DECIDED TO CHANGE STEERING PUMP THIS TIME. SO MUCH FOR THAT IT DIDN'T HELP EITHER NOW I HAVE A WHINING NOISE ON TOP OF THE TIGHT STEERING. I HAVE ALREADY PUT ALOT OF MONEY INTO IT AND NOTHING SEEMS TO BE WORKING!!!!!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445953January 30, 2012
STEERING
BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE HEAVY, DIFFICULT STEERING, ESPECIALLY WHEN COLD, AND METALLIC CLUNKING OR GRINDING NOISES WHEN TURNING TIGHTLY AT LOW SPEEDS ACCOMPANIED BY POWER STEERING PUMP WHINE ON A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA 4.7L V8 4X4 QUAD CAB. STEERING HAS ALSO BECOME ABNORMALLY HEAVY AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS WITH DIFFICULTY CENTERING STEERING WHEEL AND REDUCED POWER STEERING ASSIST. INSPECTION OF STEERING COMPONENTS REVEALED SEVERE RUST ON STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT UPPER U JOINT CAUSED BY ROAD SALT AND MOISTURE, WHICH RESULTED IN STEERING DIFFICULTY AND STRAIN ON POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THIS CONDITION IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DUE TO THE EXTRA EFFORT REQUIRED TO STEER THE VEHICLE. LUBRICATING THE JOINT WITH GREASE TEMPORARILY ALLEVIATES THE ISSUE, BUT PROBLEM RETURNS AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME AND WILL REQUIRE EVENTUAL REPLACEMENT OF UPPER/LOWER INTERMEDIATE SHAFT(S) AT A PARTS COST OF APPROXIMATELY $226, PLUS LABOR. INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALS THIS IS A WIDELY OCCURRING ISSUE ON THIS GENERATION OF DAKOTA PICKUP CAUSED BY POOR DESIGN (LACK OF LUBRICATION, NO PROTECTION FROM THE ELEMENTS, AND INADEQUATE RUST PROOFING) OF A CRITICAL STEERING COMPONENT, WHERE FAILURE CAN RESULT IN A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD BY MAKING THE VEHICLE MORE DIFFICULT TO STEER, AND THUS CHRYSLER GROUP LLC SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR REPAIR COSTS OF THIS COMPONENT. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444695January 20, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED AN BEEN REPLACED...NOW IM GOING WITHOUT A HEATER BECAUSE THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR STARTED SPARKING AN THE SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER AN MELTED PLASTIC FILLED THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE SO I QUICKLY PULLED OVER TO AVOID A ACCIDENT AN I REACHED UNDER TO THE TO WHARE THE RESISTOR IS LOCATED AN IT WAS SCORTCHING HOT TO THE TOUCH. IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAD STARTED TO CATCH FIRE. ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE DIES OR GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED FOR THERE TO BE A RECALL ON THIS...THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFTEY ISSUE WITH ATLEAST 298 PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THATS JUST ONE WEBSITE, I HAVE CONCRETE INFORMATION TO BACK THIS MESSAGE SO PLEASE DONT JUST IGNORE THIS. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443932January 16, 2012
STEERING
NO POWER STEERING ASSIST IN COLD TEMPERATURES. WITH FIRST START UP THE TRUCK TURNS VERY HARD. EVEN AFTER DRIVIG FOR SEVERAL MILES TRUCK IS STILL HARD TO STEER AND YOU CONSTANTLY HAVE TO CORRECT IT. *TR
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
#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
#10424106September 7, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN THE DIRECTION THE VEHICLE WAS TURNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421643August 26, 2011
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THE THE WIRE CONNECTED TO THE HEATER BLOWER MELTED AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE POTENTIAL OF A FIRE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE FAILURE NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FIALURE BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF ANOTHER REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10418199August 9, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEAT BLOWER FAN FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE RESISTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE WIRING WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10416746August 2, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE DIAGNOSIS STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT FAILED. THE FAILED COMPONENT WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED.THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 74,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415140July 26, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE PARTS NEEDED TO BE ORDERED FIRST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND FILED A CLAIM ON THE CONTACTS BEHALF. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402695May 25, 2011
VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT FUNCTION WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED UNDER RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH AND VARIOUS FUSES WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V216000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,676 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,328.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10399547May 9, 2011
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME STIFF WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED THAT THE STEERING MECHANISM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 52,000. UPDATED 06/03/11 *BF UPDATED 06/13/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397459April 26, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEERING GOES LOOSE-STIFF-LOOSE-STIFF WHILE TURNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10395501April 11, 2011
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2004 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB: HAS POWER WINDOWS. ON A TRIP FROM MONTROSE CO. TO DENVER CO. PUT DOWN THE 3 PASSENGER WINDOWS. WHEN TRIED TO PUT THEM BACK UP WOULD NOT GO BACK UP. HAD TO PHYSICALLY PULL WINDOWS UP AND DUCK TAPE THEM....AND HOPED THEY WOULD NOT COME DOWN ON TRIP BACK HOME...IT WAS RAINY, SNOWY COLORADO WEATHER. I FEEL THIS IS UNSAFE BECAUSE OF CHILDREN IN THE TRUCK AND CONSTANTLY WATCH FOR WINDOWS TO GO BACK DOWN. I CAN HEAR THE POWER MOTORS WORKING BUT THE WINDOWS WILL NOT MOVE. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM? THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10389977March 13, 2011
STEERING
MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA BEGAN HAVING STEERING ISSUES LAST FALL WHICH BECAME INCREASINGLY WORSE OVER THE FOLLOWING WEEKS. THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO HAVE STOPPED WORKING. WHEN I MADE A TURN IT WAS STIFF, THEN LOOSE, THEN STIFF AGAIN AS YOU CRANKED THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS WOULD CAUSE ME TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO TURN THE TRUCK, THEN THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SUDDENLY LOOSEN UP, CAUSING YOU TO SWERVE. THIS CAUSED ME ENOUGH CONCERN ABOUT MY SAFETY THAT I HAD A MECHANIC TAKE A LOOK. HE FIRST THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE POWER STEERING FLUID SO HE FLUSHED OUT THE SYSTEM. PROBLEM PERSISTED. HE THEN REPLACED THE STEERING RACK. JERKY/STIFF STEERING CONTINUED TO OCCUR. AFTER READING ON A DODGE FORUM ABOUT THIS ISSUE HE TRIED THE "TEMPORARY FIX" OF LUBRICATING THE LOWER U-JOINT ON THE INTERMEDIATE ROD AND THIS SEEMS TO HAVE RETURNED THE STEERING TO A NORMAL STATE. HOWEVER, MY MECHANIC FEELS THIS IS A TEMPORARY FIX AND FEELS THE ROD SHOULD BE REPLACED. PREFERABLY WITH A ROD THAT HAS GREASE FITTINGS. APPARENTLY THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL WHICH DODGE IS AWARE OF, BUT HAS FAILED TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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