Dodge Dakota Complaints

6,628 consumer complaints on file.

#10145988December 23, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING AT 45 MPH WHEN A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. HE PRESSED ON THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND JUMPED. THE BRAKES LOCKED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO OVER A HILL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE FRAME REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.*AK UPDATED 01/23/06. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10145933December 22, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
TWO DRIVER SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKE OFF. THESE TWO BOLTS WHERE HOLDING ON THE HEAT SHIELD. THE HEAT SHIELD DROP DOWN AND WEDGED IT SELF BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND STEERING SHAFT. THE STEERING SHAFT IS NOW SCORED. THE ONLY REASON I FOUND THIS WAS THAT I KNOW WHAT AN EXHAUST LEAK SOUNDS LIKE AND WENT SEARCHING. IF I DIDN'T I WOULD HAVE NEVER FOUND IT UNTIL MY STEERING SHAFT SEPARATED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145815December 21, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
DT: THE CONTACT RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE THAT EXHIBITED A FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEM. AFTER THE INITIAL VEHICLE PURCHASE HE NOTICED A PULLING SENSATION ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED BOTH FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE DUE TO EXCESSIVE EXPENSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145592December 19, 2005
AIR BAGS
DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH. IT STRUCK A TREE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. HOWEVER, HE SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. A MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AIRBAG SENSOR FUNCTIONED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT BY THE COMPUTER CODES. HE STATED THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE IMPACT. THIS DETERMINATION WAS MADE BASED ON THE DATA COLLECTED BY THE REPRESENTATIVE. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10145456December 16, 2005
AIR BAGS
SINCE PURCHASING MY 2005 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB IN FEB. OF '05, I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL TIMES THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS UP INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER CHECKED THE "CODES" AND FOUND NOTHING THAT INDICATED A CIRCUIT PROBLEM, SO THEY DONE NOTHING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. TWO DAYS AFTER THE SERVICE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT AGAIN CAME ON. THE DEALER EVEN SAID THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WOULD NOT OPERATE WHENEVER THE LIGHT IS ON. WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON, IT SOMETIMES STAYS ON 15 MINUTES, AND TYPICALLY ANYWHERE FROM 2 TO 15 MINUTES. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE SYSTEM WOULD FAIL IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, ENDANGERING MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. THIS IS THE PRIMARY FAMILY VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145235December 14, 2005
STEERING
MY 2005 DODGE DAKOTA HAS HAS A STEERING PROBLEM STARTING JULY 2005. THE VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD NOISE/SQUEALING SOUND WHEN STEERING IS TURNED EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. THIS NOISE IS MADE WITH LITTLE MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND CONTINUES TO THE STOP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED THREE TIMES REPLACING THE BELT AND TENSIONER TWICE, POWER STEERING PUMP, AND POWER STEERING RACK. VEHICLE STILL MAKES NOISE AND DEALERSHIP HAS NO IDEA WHAT PROBLEM IS. I CONTACTED CORPORATE AND ADVISED THEM OF THE PROBLEM AND HAVE BEEN GETTING THE RUN AROUND FROM THEM ALSO. THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, YET THEY TELL ME IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE! AS OF TODAY THEY CONTINUE TO TELL ME THAT ENGINEERING IS LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145243December 14, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT
VIN NUMBER: 1B7GG22YX XS206501; VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 P/U CLUB CAB MODEL YEAR: 1999 A KNOCKING BEGAN IN THE FRONT END AND I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO FOUND BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS NEARLY READY TO FALL APART AND BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS WELL WORN. HE SAID DODGE HAD RECALLED NEWER MODEL YEARS BUT WAS REFUSING TO FIX THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE 1999 MODELS. THE MECHANIC SAID THE PROBLEM IN MY PICKUP WAS EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM IN SEVERAL 2000 - 2003 MODELS HE'D FIXED. I CALLED DODGE BUT THEY JUST SAID IT WASN'T THEIR PROBLEM. I ENTERED AN INCIDENT DATE BELOW BUT THERE REALLY WASN'T A SPECIFIC INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED. THE BALL JOINTS JUST DETERIORATED MUCH TOO QUICKLY. I'M NOW PAYING OVER $700 TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145073December 13, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AT 79,729 MILES AND ALL THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES AT THE DEALERSHIP (LAST ONE AT 70,000) THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, THE "CHECK GAUGES" LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND CHECKED FLUID LEVELS (OIL, TRANSMISSION, AND RADIATOR) WHICH WERE FINE. OIL PRESSURE WOULD DROP TO 0 AND JUMP BACK TO 40 WHEN ENGINE WAS RESTARTED. THINKING (INCORRECTLY) THAT IT MIGHT ONLY BE AN OIL PRESSURE SENSOR FAILURE, I TRIED TO DRIVE HOME TO GET IT SERVICED THE NEXT DAY, BUT IT BEGAN KNOCKING AND SMOKING AFTER A FEW MILES AND HAD TO BE TOWED. IT IS BEING EVALUATED NOW, BUT IT WILL PROBABLY INVOLVE A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT TO REPAIR. I NOTICED SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND THINK THAT DODGE SHOULD OWN UP TO THIS DEFECT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145119December 13, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE I NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID 04V596000 CONCERNING THE UPPER BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144994December 12, 2005
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEATER FAN MECHANISM STOPPED WORKING, RESULTING IN NO HEAT OR DEFROST. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAVE REPAIRS MADE, BUT THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE. REPAIRS WILL BE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144845December 9, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
DT: WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT. THIS PROBLEM CONSTANTLY RECURRED WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE T AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144807December 8, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THE FUSE IN THE RELAY SWITCH WAS MISSING FROM ANTI LOCK BRAKES. HE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THE FUSE WAS MISSING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145360December 7, 2005
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE HEATER CORE IN HIS 2001 DODGE DAKOTA FIVE TIMES. *NM WHEN THE CONSUMER RECEIVED HIS VEHICLE BACK, HE FOUND THE REPAIR TO BE INSUFFICIENT. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THE DEALER CREATED OTHER PROBLEMS ON THE VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144667December 7, 2005
EQUIPMENT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ON MY VEHICLE WITH MOPAR PARTS. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 2 YEARS AND HAVE PUT 40,000 MILES ON IT. THE ROTORS ARE ONLY LASTING IN THE AREA OF 10 - 15000 MILES. I SPOKE WITH MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE HAS TOLD ME THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE DODGE DAKOTA AND I BETTER GET USE TO REPLACING THEM OR GET USE TO DRIVING WITH WARPED ROTORS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144718December 7, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SEATS, STEERING, STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS, SUSPENSION:FRONT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
I AM LOOKING FOR ALL PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO SPEAK TO MY ATTORNEY ABOUT PROBLEMS THEY ARE HAVING WITH THEIR 04 DAKOTA'S. I HAVE HAD CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END, WHIRLING NOISE AT IDLING GETS LOUDER WHEN BLINKER ON, WINDOWS MAKE CLUNKING NOISE WHILE ROLLING UP OR DOWN, SEVER E SHAKING WHILE BRAKING ( WARPED ROTORS), TRANSMISSION LEAKING, AND THE LIST GOES ON. I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF LEMON LAW AND IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO BE ABLE TO FIND AN ATTORNEY. THIS ONE IS EXCELLENT.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144344December 2, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
I HAVE HAD A WARPED ROTOR ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE 3 TIMES NOW. IT WAS TURNED TWICE, REPLACED ONCE, AND NOW IT'S WARPED AGAIN. I'M FACING REPLACING THE CALIPERS AND ROTORS UPFRONT. I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL OTHER DODGE DAKOTA OWNERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS, SO OBVIOUSLY, THEY HAVE A SUPPLIER THAT IS NOT UP TO PAR. THIS SHAKING IS DANGEROUS - WITH ABS, A WET ROAD, AND SOME CLOWN PULLING IN FRONT OF YOU, THE WARPAGE DOES VERY STRANGE THINGS WITH THE ABS - AND YOU REALLY HAVE TO STOMP ON THE BRAKES TO OVERRIDE THE ABS FEATURE. I'VE OWNED MOPAR PRODUCTS EXCLUSIVELY SINCE 1981; I DOUBT SERIOUSLY THAT I'LL EVER BUY ANOTHER ONE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144149December 1, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE 2000 4 WD DODGE DAKOTA WITH THE 4.7 ENGINE THAT WE OWN AND BOUGHT NEW (LAST TIME...) HAD AN OIL PUMP FAILURE AT 60K MILES. THE DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE FOR A WEEK TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM CITING SLUDGE BUILD UP AND LACK OF MAINTENANCE AS THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE AND THE REASON FOR THE LONGER THAN QUOTED REPAIR TIME. ORIGINALLY THE QUOTE WAS FOR 6-8 HOURS PLUS THE COST OF THE PUMP WHICH ALSO CAME IN HIGHER THAN QUOTED, WE ENDED UP PAYING MORE THAN TWICE THE QUOTED HOURS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PUMP. THE "SLUDGE" BUILD UP PROBLEM BOTHERS ME BECAUSE IT IS REPORTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET WITH OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM IN THE 4.7 MAGNUM ENGINE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE PICK UP TUBE OF THE PUMP WAS BLOCKED WITH SLUDGE, HENCE THE OIL PUMP FAILURE. WELL THAT IN IT SELF IS ALL UNDERSTANDABLE HOWEVER, WHY DOES IT MAKE SLUDGE...? THREE YEARS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE WHILE CHANGING THE OIL I HAPPENED TO HAVE DISCOVERED A SLIMY SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE OIL FILL SPOUT ON THE ENGINE, ASKED THE SERVICE FOLKS AT THE DEALER ABOUT THIS CONDITION AND THE REPLY WAS YES, THIS IS A KNOWN CONDITION, COME IN FOR THE RETROFIT TO CURE THIS "MOISTURE" PROBLEM IN THE 4.7 ENGINE. THE SERVICE DEPT DID INDEED INSTALL THIS BAFFLE AND CAP AND I ASKED THEN IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CONDITION. NO WAS THE REPLY. SO, MY CONTENTION IS THAT THE AFOREMENTIONED OIL SPOUT SLUDGE PROBLEM WENT HAND IN HAND WITH THE SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. I FEEL THAT THE OIL PUMP FAILURE ON THIS VEHICLE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE GIVEN TO MILES ON THIS, A WELL MAINTAINED ENGINE AND I WOULD LIKE FOR CHRYSLER TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR FULLY AND TO INVESTIGATE THE RELIABILITY AND FAILURE TREND IN THIS ENGINE AND SLUDGE MAKING TENDENCIES LEADING TO THESE FAILURE. RAD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143907November 29, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
DT: THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V596000 CONCERNING THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED, AS WELL AS THE LOWER BALL JOINTS. WHEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER TO BE REIMBURSED, THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE HIM FOR THE LOWER BALL JOINTS. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT AS WELL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141934November 29, 2005
AIR BAGS
FAILURE OF CLOCKSPRING ON 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK AND AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS PART - RECALL NUMBER 982. PART WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PICTURES OF REPLACED PART INDICATE DEFECT IN PART BUT DODGE WILL NOT PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF PART. *JB *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143849November 28, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA 4 DOOR CAB 2 WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK. THE BRAKES FAILED AT LESS THAN 12,000 MILES. THEY WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER AND FAILED AGAIN LESS THAN 8,000 MILES LATER. I HAD TO PAY FOR THAT FAILURE. THE SYMPTOMS WERE SHIMMY/SHAKE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. I HAD NOT MADE ANY PANIC STOPS AND MOST OF THE DRIVING HAD BEEN ON INTERSTATE OR STATE HIGHWAYS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Dodge Dakota