Dodge Dakota Complaints

6,628 consumer complaints on file.

#10392130March 18, 2011
STEERING
JUST LIKE OTHER 2005 DODGE DAKOTA OWNERS REPORTED WITH THE STEERING RACK PINION FAILED. FLUID LEAK AT STEERING RACK PINION WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO PULLED TO RIGHT. IT FAILED TO TURNED BACK TO RIGHT AFTER FAILED. COULD HAVE BEEN WORST IF NOT FOR ME WENT TO AN OPEN FIELD. NO INJURY OR DAMAGED REPORTED. IT SHOULD HAVE NOT FAILED ON TRUCK WITH ONLY 39500 MILES.
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
#10389933March 12, 2011
SEATS
IN JANUARY 2009 I REPLACED THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION IN MY 2005 DODGE DAKOTA SLT 4X4 TRUCK. VIN NUMBER [XXX]. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION COST ME $3200.00, NOT TO MENTION THE HASSLE OF BREAKING DOWN WHEN I WAS VISITING OUT OF STATE. IN 2010, I HAD TO REPLACE THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE COMPONENT THAT ENGAGES AND DISENGAGES THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. COSTING ME ANOTHER $300.00 RECENTLY WHILE USING MY HEATED SEAT OPTION, IT BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT AND THE SEAT COVER. I AM TIRED OF FIXING THIS TRUCK,AND IF I COULD GIVE IT BACK I WOULD, BUT SINCE THE HEATED SEATS ISN'T A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM, I WANT CHRYSLER TO ABSORB THE COST OF GETTING THIS CHECKED AT A DODGE DEALERSHIP. NOT ONLY DO I WANT YOU TO COVER THE COST OF FIXING THE ISSUE, BUT I ALSO WANT THE HOLE IN MY SEAT FIXED AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10391088March 11, 2011
POWER TRAIN
THE PINION GEAR SHAFT TO MY DIFFERENTIAL SHEARED OFF JUST AFT OF THE TAPERED ROLLER BEARING IN THE FRONT OF THE HOUSING. THE PORTION OF THE SHAFT STILL ATTACHED TO THE DRIVE SHAFT THROUGH THE UNIVERSAL JOINT AND THE ROLLER BEARING PULLED OUT OF THE HOUSING AND FELL TO THE GROUND. THIS APPEARS TO BE A FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE GEAR SHAFT. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON A MAINTAINED DIRT ROAD. NO MODIFICATIONS OF ANY KIND HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE VEHICLE AND ASIDE FROM OCCASIONAL USE ON MAINTAINED DIRT ROADS, NO OFF-ROADING OR OTHER SEVERE DRIVING CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN ENCOUNTERED. CONSIDERING THE MILEAGE AND LIGHT USAGE OF THIS VEHICLE, THIS IS A VERY UNEXPECTED FAILURE. A GEAR SHAFT OF THIS TYPE SHOULD NOT FAIL, CERTAINLY NOT BEFORE THE U-JOINT ITSELF. THIS WOULD THEN SEEM TO MOST LIKELY BE A RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THIS IS CLEARLY A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AS THIS FAILURE IS FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY THE DRIVE SHAFT DRAGGING ON THE GROUND AND A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. A FAILURE OF THIS TYPE AT HIGH SPEED WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10389879March 11, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS IN HOT WEATHER, HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD SMOKE WHEN THEY WERE NOT APPLIED. THE CONTACT HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAIT FOR THE BRAKES TO COOL DOWN IN ORDER FOR THE SMOKE TO GO DISAPPEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THEM THAT THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000. UPDATED 07/21/11 *BF UPDATED 08/05/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10389656March 9, 2011
STEERING
STEERING SHAFT ON OUR DODGE DAKOTA WENT BAD.....GOING TO FIX IT BUT HOW MANY ARE ON THE ROAD WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE FIX COSTS A SMALL FORTUNE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10389008March 8, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DRIVING VEHICLE, TURNED ON SEAT WARMERS, BACK STARTED GETTING VERY WARM AND A TERRIBLE SMELL. PULLED OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD, GOT OUT, SMOKE COMING FROM SEAT AND TWO BURN HOLES IN FABRIC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386849March 8, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BRAKE ABNORMALLY LOCKED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND WAS LEFT PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386632March 6, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WAS GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE DOING APPROXIMATELY 65-70MPH WHEN THE TRUCK STARTS SHAKING AND THEN LOOSES POWER. WITHIN ONE TO TWO MILES IT WILL GO BACK TO NORMAL. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 7 TIMES WITHIN THE LAST MONTH AND HALF. THE TRUCK HAS 39,000 MILES ON IT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NO ERROR CODES RECORDED AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE INTERSTATE BECAUSE THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED A SEMI WAS RUNNING AT 70MPH BEHIND ME WHEN THE TRUCK STARTED SHAKING AND LOOSING POWER AND HE HAD TO SLAM ON HIS BRAKES BECAUSE OF MY REDUCED SPEED. I ALMOST GOT RUN OVER BY THE SEMI. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386307March 3, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT BRAKE LOCKED UP AND BEGAN SMOKING. THE VEHICLE PULLED OVER UNTIL IT COOLED OFF AND THEN IT RELEASED ITSELF. HE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. HE CHANGED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HIMSELF. THE FAILURE CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY. AT 50,000 MILES, HE CHANGED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS, ROTORS AND CALIPERS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN SO HE CHANGED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS, ROTORS AND CALIPERS AGAIN. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386208March 2, 2011
STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PAINT ON THE ENTIRE VEHICLE HAD BEGUN TO PEEL ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH CLEAR COAT ON THE PAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386254March 2, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP. TRUCK CURRENTLY HAS 23000 MILES BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE A TRUCK THAT THE BRAKES LOCK UP TO THE POINT THAT I AM PULLED INTO THE OPPOSING LANES OR ONTO THE MEDIAN. HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 2002 AND HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE EVERY 5 OR 6 TIMES I USE THE TRUCK. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY TIME OR REASON FOR THIS AND IT IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384702February 28, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES CONTINUED TO LOCK, GRAB WHEN TRYING TO STOP AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO A MIDAS MECHANIC CENTER WHERE THE BRAKE ROTORS, CALIPERS, AND BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND STILL THE PROBLEMS EXIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384678February 27, 2011
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
DODGE DAKOTA FRAME ROTTING OUT TOYOTA RECALLED THEIRS THE TRUCK IN GREAT SHAPE AND I HAVE SEEN ALOT OF TRUCKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM COULD CAUSE DEATH IN CRASH.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#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
#10384233February 23, 2011
AIR BAGS
AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB SLT. (4X4, 4.7L MAGNUM). VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BETWEEN THE FENDER AND WHEEL WELL. THE SPEED OF THE COLLISION WAS APPROXIMATELY 60-70MPH. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10383339February 19, 2011
STEERING
THERE SEEMED TO BE AN INCREASING AMOUNT OF "PLAY" IN THE STEERING. IT HAS NOW GOTTEN TO THE POINT I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS TRUCK LONG DISTANCES. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE FRONT END, AND THE STEERING RACK MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE APPROXIMATELY 1/2 -1". *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382936February 16, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2001 DODGE DAKOTA: CLOCKSPRING FAILURE LEADING TO NON FUNCTIONING HORN AND AIR BAGS: HISTORY: NORMAL USE, VERY LOW MILEAGE (27000) SYMPTOMS: ON-STEERING-WHEEL HORN AND SPEED CONTROLS FAIL, THEN AIRBAG SYSTEM CAUSE: FAILURE IN CLOCKSPRING. PREVIOUS RECALLS FOR DODGERAM, DAKOTA AND DURANGO COVER THIS IN OTHER MODELS, BUT NOT MINE ALTHOUGH MY DAKOTA WAS BUILT IN ONE OF THE RECALL-EFFECTED PLANTS DURING THE MDH TIME RANGE: SEE RECALL #982 REPAIR: REQUIRES REPLACING CLOCK SPRING $180 "STREET PRICE" FOR PART PLUS LABOR. COMMENT: INTERNET SEARCHES SUGGEST THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DAKOTA TRUCKS OUTSIDE THE AFOREMENTIONED RECALL. IT MAY BE APPROPRIATE TO INCREASE THE RANGE OF COVERAGE OF MODELS, VIN'S AND MDH'S SUBJECT TO RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381625February 11, 2011
STEERING
HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED ON THE VEHICLE DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIE ROD END WAS LOOSE AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED, OR ELSE THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE EMINENT. WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE DESIGNED FOR CARS, AND THESE SAME TIE ROD ENDS WERE ALSO USED IN THE TRUCKS. I ASKED IF THE PARTS HAD BEEN UPGRADED AND WAS TOLD NO THEY HAD NOT BEEN UPGRADED, AND THAT THE SAME PARTS WOULD BE USED TO REPLACE THE OLD WORN ONES. WHY ARE PARTS DESIGNED FOR A CAR BEING USED IN A TRUCK, ESPECIALLY IN SUCH A CRITICAL AREA? LUCKILY, THIS WAS CAUGHT BEFORE A DISASTER HAPPENED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10377162January 19, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA . THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP. THE FRONT CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000. UPDATED 04/22/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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