Dodge Dakota Complaints (2004)

206 consumer complaints on file.

#10384170February 23, 2011
STEERING
MY DAKOTAS STEERING HAS RECENTLY BECOME VERY JERKY. WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL, IT GETS STIFF, LOOSE, STIFF, LOOSE, STIFF, LOOSE IN ONE FULL TURN OF THE WHEEL. THROUGH SEARCHING FORUMS ON THE INTERNET, I DECIDED TO TEST A THEORY THAT IT WAS THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT/ROD AND THE U JOINT ATTACHED TO IT WAS NOT LUBRICATED ENOUGH. AFTER GREASING UP THE JOINT, THE PROBLEM MOMENTARILY STOPPED, BUT THEN RETURNED. THIS JOINT DOES NOT HAVE ANY GREASE FITTINGS AND SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH ONES WITH FITTINGS. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AFTER WINTER COMING INTO THE WARMER WEATHER WHERE THERE WERE A LOT OF PUDDLES WHICH MOST LIKELY GOT ON THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND JOINTS CAUSING IT TO DRY OUT AND CREATE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373612December 31, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT
STEERING ON MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA BECAME HARD TO STEER WON'T RETRACT HAVE TO DO IT BY HAND. ABOUT SIX MONTHS BEFORE THIS STARTED HAPPENING I HAD WENT TO GET A ALIGNMENT AND WAS TOLD MY UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACED. WE BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW AND IT HAS WORN OUT EVERY FRONT TIRE THAT HAS EVER BEEN ON IT. 4 SETS BY 100,000 MILES THIS BEGAN TO HAPPEN AT 25,000 MILES THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE FRONT END, NO VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BAD BALL JOINTS AT 85,000 MILES OR SOONER BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS WEARING TIRES OUT BECAUSE IT NEEDED A ALIGNMENT!!!! I HAVE NOT REPAIRED IT , WE ONLY DRIVE IT AROUND TOWN, I AM WAITING FOR CHRYSLER TO RECALL THIS. I SEE ON THIS SITE THAT SEVERAL OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD HOPE CHRYSLER DON'T WAIT UNTIL PEOPLE ARE KILLED OR INJURED LIKE TOYOTA DID!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10360329October 13, 2010
STEERING
THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WITHTHE UNIVERSAL JOINTS STARTED TIGHTENING UP TO THE POINT WHERE I ALMOST COULDN'T STEER IT THEN WHEN IT LET LOOSE THE STEERING WAS VERY ABRUPT IT STARTED AROUND 100 K MILES AND I UNDERSTAND THINGS WEAR OUT .BUT AREN'T THOSE SUPPOSED TO BE LIFE OF VEHICLE LUBRICATED?????? I LOVE MY TRUCK ITS BEEN WONDERFUL BUT IF SOMEONE THAT WAS NOT AS STRONG AS ME ....AND THIS HAPPENED I HAD THE REPAIR DONE AND IT WAS AONLY AROUND 300-400 BUCKS SO ITS NOT HORRIBLE BUT IT WAS SCARY NOT BEING ABLE TO STEER MY TRUCK.....THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THIS IS COMMON???? HE SEES IT ALOT ON THIS MODEL TRUCK..... I JUST THOUGH THAT I ALSO HAVE A 89 HOINDA CIVIC AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING..... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355067September 12, 2010
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HEATER/AC BLOWER MOTOR WIRING MELTS CAUSING FAILURE OF DEFROSTER, HEATER, A/C, PREMATURE FAILURE OF BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR, ETC. THIS MAY EVEN CAUSE A FIRE IF THE WIRES HAPPEN TO BE TOUCHING COMBUSTIBLES IN THE PASSENGER FOOTWELL WHEN THEY MELT. DODGE HAS RELEASED A KIT TO REPAIR THIS EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM. SEE MOPAR # 5017124AC. THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY RECALL, NOT A FIX OFFERED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE: 1. WINDSHIELD MAY FOG UP REDUCING VISIBILITY AND LEADING TO ACCIDENT. 2. WIRING GETS HOT ENOUGH TO MELT INSULATION AND CONNECTOR AND COULD EASILY CAUSE A FIRE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347182August 4, 2010
AIR BAGS
THE CLOCK SPRING ON MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA IS BAD. THIS CONTROLS THE AIR BAG AND HORN. THE HORN IS REQUIRED FOR NYS INSPECTION. THIS PART IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE UNTIL NOVEMBER. IN THE MEAN TIME, I HAVE NO DRIVER AIR BAG AND A VEHICLE I CAN'T GET INSPECTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346899August 2, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY FOR AN ALIGNMENT WHEN THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE SEVERELY WORN TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO PERFORM AN ALIGNMENT. THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE CAUSING THE TIRES TO WEAR UNEVENLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,700.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345965July 28, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE ATTEMPTING A TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO UTILIZE EXTREME BODILY FORCE IN ORDER TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TEMPORARILY REPAIR THE VEHICLE BY LUBRICATING THE UNIVERSAL JOINT. HE STATED HE WOULD HAVE TO SPRAY THE UNIVERSAL JOINT EVERY 1,500 TO 2,000 MILES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336559June 16, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I HAVE A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB AND I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOW REGULATOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I HOWEVER HAVE CHANGED IT MYSELF TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR AND IT WAS ABOUT 95-100$ EACH TIME AND FINALLY DECIDED THAT THE LAST TIME THAT IT WENT OUT THAT I WASN'T GOING TO FIX IT UNTIL DODGE CAME UP WITH A BETTER DESIGN ON IT SO I NOW HAVE A PAIR OF C-CLAMP VICE GRIPS HOLDING MY WINDOW UP. IT IS BAD THAT I CANT ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN BUT ATLEAST I KNOW THAT I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT FALLING DOWN AND THE INSIDE GETTING WET OR VANDALIZED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10334394June 3, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD AREA. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE RESISTOR THAT CONTROLS THE HEATER AND BLOWER HAD OVERHEATED, BURNED AND FAILED. THE CONTACT INSTALLED A NEW RESISTOR HOWEVER, IT ALSO BURNED AND FAILED. HE PURCHASED A NEW RESISTOR AND CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE RESISTOR AND THAT IT WOULD CONTINUE TO FAIL AT A RAPID PACE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HAVING THE DEALER PERFORM DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AT HIS EXPENSE. THE CONTACT DECLINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED AND THE NEW RESISTOR WAS NOT INSTALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10331091May 18, 2010
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I OWN 2 DODGE/CHRYSLER PRODUCTS, IN THE 6 YEARS I HAVE HAD THESE CARS I HAVE HAD TO REPAIR THE ELECTRIC WINDOW CABLES 9 TIMES AT A COST OF $250.00 EACH TIME. I HAVE ASKED THE LOCAL DEALERS WHY THEY KEEP BREAKING AND I AM TOLD THAT THEY USE PLASTIC PIECES THAT DON'T HOLD UP. THESE PRODUCTS ARE SUPPOSED TO CARRY A LIFETIME WARRANTY WHICH NONE OF THE DEALERS WILL HONOR. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I SPOKE TO THE MECHANIC IN MY HOME TOWN AND HE SAID THEY REPLACE AT LEAST 5 TO 6 OF THESE CABLES A DAY. WHY IS CHRYSLER ALLOWED TO USE THESE PRODUCTS WITH NO CONSEQUENCES? THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THE CABLES SNAP WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING AND THE WINDOWS FALL DOWN INTO THE TRACKS. IF YOU ARE IN BAD WEATHER YOU HAVE NO CHANCE OF FIXING THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. HOW CAN I GO ABOUT GETTING CHRYSLER TO RECALL THESE PRODUCTS AND MAKE THERE SUPPLIER ACCOUNTABLE? THINK ABOUT DRIVING ALONG AND YOUR WINDOW JUST FALLING DOWN TO THE TRACK AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. NO LOCKING YOUR CAR FOR SAFETY, NO PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM THE ELEMENTS, NO WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT SHELL OUT MORE MONEY FOR A PRODUCT THAT WILL ALWAYS FAIL!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319657March 15, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEN THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED WITH CAUTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE STEERING WHEELS INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THE FAILURE RESULTED IN PREMATURE WEAR TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE PART WAS ORDERED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHICH THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315611March 2, 2010
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HE WAS DRIVING 40 MPH THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED IN FRONT OF HIM AND CRASHED INTO HIS VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CENTER AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF HIS VEHICLE WERE DESTROYED. THE FRONT END AND THE FRAME WAS REPLACED. THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER WERE INJURED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 78,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10315005February 28, 2010
STEERING
MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA HAS STEERING PROBLEMS. AFTER TAKING IT TO A DODGE DEALER AND LEAVING IT FOR TWO DAYS THEY ARE UNABLE TO TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THE VEHICLE IS VERY HARD TO STEER. FLUID IS NOT LEAKING, I HAVE DAYS THAT THE STEERING IS BETTER THAN OTHER DAYS..BUT FOR THE MOST PART THE STEERING IS GETTING HARDER EVERYDAY. I FEEL THAT IT IS GETTING VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE,YET I CANNOT GET AN ANSWER TO WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET AND THIS FORUM, I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER 2004 DAKOTA OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. INFACT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2000 TO 2003 DAKOTAS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. YET THE 2004 HAS THE SAME STEERING DESIGN. I THINK THE 2004 DAKOTA SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL. PLEASE HELP!! AS I CAN'T SEEM TO GET ANY ANSWERS TO WHAT IS CAUSING THIS STEERING PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310139February 13, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4 WITH THE MAGNUM ENGINE. IT HAS ROUGHLY 59,000 MILES ON IT. SOMETIME WITHIN THE PAST 3,000 MILES THE STEERING BEGAN TO GET STIFF. IT WAS A GRADUAL THING, SLOWLY GETTING WORSE UNTIL NOW I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IT FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT. THE EXACT SYMPTOMS AT THIS POINT ARE THAT THE STEERING WILL GET STIFF THEN SMOOTH THEN STIFF THEN SMOOTH, DEPENDING ON THE POSITION OF THE WHEEL DURING A TURN. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL AND YEAR, IT IS APPARENTLY EITHER THE UPPER OR LOWER U-JOINT ON THE STEERING COLUMN. I HAVE NOT CONFIRMED THIS, BUT WANTED TO LEND MY WEIGHT TO THE OBVIOUSLY HUGE NUMBER OF DODGE DAKOTA/DURANGO OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307136February 7, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ON FEBRUARY 5, 2010 AT APPROXIMATELY SIX PM ON MY WAY TO WORK I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. DUE TO THE SNOW ON THE ROAD I WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL MY VEHICLE, THUS LEADING TO THE ACCIDENT. THE FRONT AIRBAGS IN MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA DID NOT DEPLOY. THE OTHER VEHICLE INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT A HONDA CRV THEIR FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT CHRYSLER HAS HAD PREVIOUS ISSUES WITH AIRBAGS FAILING TO DEPLOY, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH A REPRESENTATIVE TO DISCUSS HOW THIS SITUATION CAN BE HANDLED. *TW
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296734December 22, 2009
STEERING
I HAVE READ SO MANY OF THESE SAME ISSUES THAT I AM HAVING WITH MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE STEERING IS LOCKING UP AND VERY HARD TO TURN. I'VE TAKEN IT INTO A DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES NOW, AND THEY HAVE REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP, CHECKED MY RACK AND PINION, AND ALL OTHER OPTIONS AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. VERY SCARY. JUST HAD A BABY AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT WHERE NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I HAVE READ UP SO MANY OF THESE SAME COMPLAINTS AND THEY ARE ALL THE SAME AS WHAT I AM EXPERIENCING. THERE HAS GOT TO BE A PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. VERY HARD TO TURN WHEEL AND GO STIFF LOOSE STIFF LOOSE. PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295320December 11, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT, SUSPENSION:REAR
I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP IN 2004. EVERY YEAR FOR INSPECTION, I HAVE NEEDED SEVERAL BALL JOINTS REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THIS PAST YEAR THAT I WAS REALLY CLOSE TO HAVING THE BALL JOINTS COMPLETELY BREAK OFF, WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY HAVE NEEDED REPLACED EVERY YEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292316November 16, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VISIBILITY
MY SON WAS ON HIS WAY TO THE DOCTOR FOR AN INJECTION IN HIS 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MPH, HE TURNED ON THE PARKING LIGHTS AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON ALL BY THEMSELVES. HE HAD NOT TURNED ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH. HE STOPPED THE TRUCK AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. ASSUMING THAT IT WAS A TEMPORARY GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM HE STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN AND TURNED ON THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. AT THAT TIME THE ENTIRE LIGHTING SYSTEM WENT CRAZY. THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN FLASHING ON AND OFF, THE EMERGENCY WARNING SYSTEM BEGAN TO WORK AND THE DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS BEGAN TO BLINK ON THEIR OWN. BETWEEN FLASHES OF THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS A DIRECTIONAL LIGHT WOULD ELIMINATE. AGAIN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN TO OPERATE ON THEIR OWN AGAIN. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AFTER DARK. WE ARE WAITING TO GET A DEALER TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME. AGAIN THIS COULD HAVE HAD A DISASTROUS ENDING IF HE HAD BEEN DRIVING AFTER DARK AND ON A BUSY HIGHWAY OR STREET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284860September 22, 2009
STEERING
POWER STEERING HIGH PRESSURE SIDE HOSE P/N 52110348AE. HOSE IS LEAKING AND THE PART IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. DO NOT WANT TO BE STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE STEERING GOES OUT OR HAVE A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT DUE TO NO STEERING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284824September 21, 2009
STEERING, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
I CAN HARDLY STEER MY TRUCK ANYMORE EVEN AFTER REPLACING A POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH I WAS TOLD WAS THE PROBLEM. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE PUMP WAS FINE AND AFTER RESEARCHING THIS VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THE WEB I AM FINDING OUT THAT THE STEERING ISSUES ARE ACTUALLY DUE TO A FAULTY INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. WHAT DOES A GIRL HAVE TO DO TO GET DODGE TO CORRECT THIS NATIONWIDE PROBLEM? IT'S SEEMS ONLY FAIR THAT A RECALL BE INITIATED ASAP. I GUESS MY ONLY RESORT IS TO LUBE THE SHAFT FOR NOW UNTIL DODGE FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGES HOW MANY THEY HAVE '!@#$%. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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