Dodge Dakota Complaints

6,628 consumer complaints on file.

#10222641March 29, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
MY WIFE DROVE MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT DURING THE SNOW DAYS AND COMPLAINED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER. OVER A FEW WEEKS, I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT THEY WOULD FLICKER, ALONG WITH THE DASH LIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, DOME LIGHT, AND BRAKE LIGHTS. THEN, AS I HAD NOT BEEN DRIVING AT NIGHT MUCH, I HAD MY 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WITH ME COMING FROM RICHMOND TO CONNERSVILLE, IN, AND THIS BECAME SEVERE WHILE IT WAS RAINING WITH FOG. ALL LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF AND COME BACK ON, THEY WOULD ALSO GO OFF EVERYTHING THE DELAYED WIPERS WOULD GO WORK. THEN THE DELAYED WIPERS WOULD GO EVERYTIME THE LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER. AS THE DODGE DEALER COULD NOT NARROW THE PROBLEM DOWN WITHOUT SPENDING MUCH MONEY, I TRIED TO TROUBLESHOOT MYSELF SINCE I DID NOT BELIEVE THE PROBLEM WAS WHAT THEY INSTRUCTED IT MAY BE. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, IT ENDED UP BEING WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS, THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) OR CENTRAL TIMING MODULE (CTM) OR TIME AND ALARM MODULE WHICH ARE ALL THE SAME THING BUT THE NAME HAS CHANGED AT TIMES. THIS MODULE CONTROLS THE LIGHTS, WIPERS, KEYLESS ENTRY, ETC. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ME AND MY DAUGHTER DUE TO THIS MODULE THAT ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS BY PEOPLE PULLING OUT IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE OF HEADLIGHTS OR NOT SEEING MY TAILLIGHTS AT TIMES. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS IN DODGE FORUMS AND HAVE SEEN WHERE DODGE KNOWS THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM (MAYBE THAT'S WHY THEY KEEP RENAMING THE DEVICE). I JUST TODAY HAD THE MODULE THAT I ORDERED PROGRAMMED IN MY TRUCK WHICH WAS OVER $300. A USED MODULE WILL NOT WORK DUE TO THE VIN BEING "BURNED IN MEMORY" IN ROM. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I SPENT MONEY ON LABOR FOR THE DEALER TO FIND THAT OUT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE IT IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION! I COULD NOT DRIVE AT NIGHT UNTIL THEY COULD PROGRAM IT DUE TO THE RISKS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222670March 29, 2008
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER BOLTS TO THE STEERING KNUCKLE ON A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA, 4WD. DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE DESIGN, THE THREADS THAT HOLD THE BRAKE CALIPER MOUNTING STUDS CAN STRIP OUT, THEREBY LEAVING THE CALIPER TO FLOAT ON THE KNUCKLE. UNDER PROLONGED USE, THESE STUDS CAN BACK OUT, LETTING THE CALIPER FALL OFF, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH. ON MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE, THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR THE THIRD TIME NOW, ONCE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND TWICE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE THREADS STRIP OUT, AND THE MOUNTING BOSS SECTION IS SO SMALL THAT A LARGER THREAD CANNOT BE RETAPPED WITHOUT DANGER OF BREAKING THE HOLE OUT. AUTO PARTS SUPPLIERS SELL SLIGHTLY OVERSIZE, SELF TAPPING STUDS, BUT THESE DO NOT LAST LONG. THE STEERING KNUCKLE IS A VERY PRICEY PART (ON THE ORDER OF $600 JUST FOR THE PART) AND CONTINUING REPLACEMENT IS COST PROHIBITIVE. MY VEHICLE IS APPARENTLY NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM, AS A SEARCH OF SALVAGE YARDS REVEALED NUMEROUS STRIPPED OUT THREADS ON VEHICLES WHERE THE STEERING KNUCKLE WAS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222574March 28, 2008
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAG SENSOR ACTIVATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE BROUGHT IN TO BE PLACED ON A DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,069 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,900.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222407March 26, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PULLING HER VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY, SHE LEFT THE VEHICLE ON TO UNLOAD SUPPLIES. WHEN SHE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS STRIKING THE CONTACT. SHE COULD NOT MOVE AWAY FROM DOOR BEFORE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRAG HER RUNNING OVER HER LEFT ARM. DAIMLER CHRYSLER SENT AN INSPECTOR TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE AND HE STATED THAT NO MANUFACTURER DEFECT WOULD CAUSE TRANSMISSION , SHIFTER OR BRAKING PROBLEMS. THE DEALER STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING IT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 5,400. UPDATED 04/16/08 *BF UPDATED 04/16/08 *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10222312March 25, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND CRASHED WHILE PARKED. THE CRASH DAMAGED THE REAR BUMPER AND TAILGATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNTIL SHE NOTIFIED HER INSURANCE COMPANY. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V555000 (POWERTRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: LEVER AND LINKAGE: COLUMN SHIFT) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,924.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222102March 24, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, BUT PARTICULARLY AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 50-70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES OUT OF THE CONTACT'S HAND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKES. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222104March 24, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
AROUND 03/04/2008 I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A CREDIT UNION PARKING LOT AND HIT A SHEET OF ICE I ENGAGED MY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, BUT MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DID NOT WORK AND I SLID 25' INTO AN SUV CAUSING SOME COSTLY DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. BOTH VEHICLES WERE DISABLED AND HAD TO BE TOWED. ALSO,THE AIRBAGS ON MY VEHICLE DID NOT ENGAGE AND FORTUNATELY I ONLY SUSTAINED A MINOR HEAD INJURY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10222110March 24, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL), STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 DODGE DAKOTA. THERE ARE TWO SAFETY RECALLS THAT THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE REPAIRED ON THE VEHICLE: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER'S 00V106000 (POWERTRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)) AND 95V089000 (STEERING: WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALLS APPLY TO HIS VEHICLE, BUT THEY COULD NOT GET THE PARTS. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 151,139.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222209March 24, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND LEFT MY TRUCK RUNNING WITH THE LIGHTS ON. I UNLOADED SOME SUPPLIES AND WHILE STANDING ON THE GROUND REACHED IN AND TURNED THE KEY OFF. THE TRUCK STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. I COULD HEAR A CLICKING NOISE. I COULDN'T GET AWAY FROM THE DOOR AND IT DRUG ME DOWN. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE RAN OVER MY LEFT ARM BETWEEN THE SHOULDER AND ELBOW. I ALSO HAD ABRASIONS ON BOTH KNEES, THE KNUCKLES ON MY RIGHT HAND AND A 12 INCH BRUISE ACROSS BOTH HIPS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10221550March 18, 2008
AIR BAGS
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SHUTS ITSELF OFF WHEN A BAG OR SOME LIGHT WEIGHT ITEM THAT WEIGHS LESS THAN AN ADULT (NO SPECIFIC WEIGHT GIVEN) IS PLACED ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE AIRBAG BACK ON IS TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. THEY CHARGE $100 EVERY TIME. THE DEALER AND CHRYSLER CORP. ARE SAYING THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE MENTIONED THAT I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE, IN THAT IF TWO PERSONS ARE TRAVELING AND THE AIRBAG GETS SHUT OFF, SOMEONE EITHER MUST WAIT SOMEWHERE FOR MAYBE 2-3 DAYS UNTIL REPAIRS CAN BE MADE, OR RIDE IN THE TRUCK WITHOUT AN AIRBAG. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 3 TIMES NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221174March 14, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2001 DODGE DAKOTA AND THE NOT ABLE TO BE REMEDIED AND INADEQUATE 4.7L ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221217March 14, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO STOP AND TURN THE SWITCH ON AND OFF FOR ONE MINUTE UNTIL THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 142,542.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221235March 14, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. HE STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE DISENGAGED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE LOWER BALL JOINTS NOT BEING LUBED. IN ADDITION, THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE RUBBING AGAINST THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS. THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,689 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,471.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220865March 12, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE, BUT REMAINED STUCK WHEN IN LOW GEAR. HE PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIVE IN REVERSE AND THE CONTACT WAS STRUCK BY THE DOOR AND KNOCKED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRAG THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE'S OWNER WAS ABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE AND SHUT IT OFF. THE VEHICLE SLIPPED INTO REVERSE. THE SAME DAY A RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V555000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT). THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES ON HER RIGHT LEG. THE MILEAGE INFORMATION, PURCHASE DATE, POWERTRAIN, AND DEALER INFORMATION WERE UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10220913March 12, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE ELECTRIC SHIFT TRANSFER CASE DID NOT FULLY ENGAGE INTO GEAR WHEN THE CONTACT MOVED THE TRANSFER CASE SELECTOR SWITCH. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND CALLED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. ONE WEEK LATER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD TO RESCHEDULE DUE TO A LACK OF PARTS. THE REPAIR WAS RESCHEDULED FOR MAY; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT NO REPAIRS WERE DONE ON SATURDAYS. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,250.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220918March 12, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
PREMATURE FAILURE OF LOWER BALL JOINTS ON 2005 DODGE DAKOTA 4WD PU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220529March 10, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V555000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT). HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AND WHEN HE RETRIEVED IT, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HE BELIEVES THAT THE RECALL REPAIR CAUSED THE CLOCK SPRING TO FAIL. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $197 TO REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,970. UPDATE 04-02-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT UNTIL AFTER HE PICKED THE VEHICLE UP FROM HAVING A RECALL PERFORMED. UPDATED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220686March 10, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TIMING COVER HOUSING THAT ALSO HOUSES WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT, HAS POOR CASTING QUALITY WHERE COOLANT ENTERS HOUSING FROM LOWER RADIATOR HOSE RESULTING IN EROSION OF MATERIAL AND ULTIMATELY LEAKS OUT RADIATOR FLUID. AFTER SPEAKING WITH CHRYSLER CORPORATE, THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO FURNISH PARS FOR REPAIR OR LABOR TO COMPLETE REPAIRS. EVEN WITH HAVING INFORMATION THAT AN AVERAGE OF 24 PARTS PER WEEK ACROSS U.S. ARE BEING ORDERED AND REPLACED THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO ACT UPON THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE MADE DUE TO POOR PRODUCT QUALITY FOR ENGINE COMPONENTS THAT ARE ESSENTIALLY NON-CONSUMABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220369March 7, 2008
SUSPENSION, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS WERE GOING BAD AT 54,000 MILES. DODGE WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. ALSO, MY TRANSMISSION STARTED TO GO BAD AT 74,000 MILES. 2ND GEAR WENT OUT, THEN IT WENT COMPLETELY OUT AT 91,000 MILES. OBVIOUSLY DODGE WASN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I WONT BUY ANOTHER DODGE AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220425March 7, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE BALL JOINTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V596000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 71,000. UPDATED 03-25-08 *BF UPDATED 03/25/08 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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