Dodge Dakota Complaints (2002)
678 consumer complaints on file.
- #10086635August 11, 2004SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
BROUGHT 2002 DAKOTA TO DEALER CAUSE OF POPPING NOISES COMING FROM FRONT END ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING. DEALER SAID NO PROBLEM FOUND. TRUCK STILL MAKES NOISES. HEARD THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH BALL JOINTS. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10086450August 9, 2004SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
SAW ON A MESSAGE BOARD THAT THERE IS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION RE: DODGE DAKOTA BALL JOINTS. I HAVE A 2002 DAKOTA. AT AROUND 10,000 MILES, I STARTED HEARING A NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. IT WAS VERY INTERMITTENT, SO I DIDN'T PAY ANY ATTENTION. BUT IT GOT MORE AND MORE FREQUENT UNTIL AROUND 20,000 MILES, WHEN I FINALLY HAD IT FIXED. THE DEALER (ANDERSON DODGE IN ROCKFORD, IL) REPLACED BOTH OF THE FRONT BALL JOINTS. NOW, AT 45,000 MILES, IT'S STARTING TO MAKE SOME OF THE SAME SOUNDS - POSSIBLY FAILING AGAIN. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10087504August 9, 2004SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN VEHICLE WENT OVER A PUMP IN THE ROAD THERE WAS A CLUCKING OR KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10086388August 8, 2004SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AND ABOUT 15,000 MILES I TOOK MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA SLT QUAD CAB 4.7L V8 4X2 IN TO THE DEALER FOR A "CLUNKING" NOISE IN THE STEERING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN AND REPLACED THE PARTS UNDER WARRANTY. ON 4 JULY 2004, AFTER HAVING THE TRUCK FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS AND 32,000 MILES, WHILE GOING OVER A SPEED BUMP AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES PER HOUR, A LOUND CRASH WAS HEARD FOLLOWED BY A GRIDING NOISE. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE JUST SNAPPED AND THE STEERING ARM SLAMMED IN TO THE RIM OF THE WHEEL SCRAPING THE EDGE OF IT BARELY MISSING THE TIRE BY 1-1.5 INCHES. THE VEHICLE IS NOW HAVING THAT SAME "CLUNKING" NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND IT CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10086313August 6, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKE ROTORS WARP EARLY DUE TO NORMAL WEAR. ITH 19,000 MILES I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ROTORS BEFORE REPLACING MY FIRST SET OF PADS.THER PEOPLE REPORT THE ME:HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/REVIEW_30410.HTML HTTP://WWW.DODGEDAKOTAS.COM/BOARDS/V6/924.HTML. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10086268August 5, 2004STEERING:RACK AND PINION, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
I HAD A BRAKE AND ROTOR JOB DONE AT 36000 MILES BY A LOCAL MECHANIC AND FOUND THAT MY RACK AND PINION IS LEAKING AT THE BOOT AND THERE IS TO MUCH PLAY FROM TIE RODS. DEALER SHIP WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP EXEPT CHARGE ME $3750 TO FIX IT. I DO NOT NO HOW LONG THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THERE. ANOUTHER DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS A MESSY OIL CHANGE YA RIGHT!*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10087170August 4, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
VEHICLE STALLED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO REPEAT THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER REPLACED THE VEHICLE CHIP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, BUT IT CONTINUED TO STALL. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10083189August 2, 2004ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
2002 DODGE DAKOTA 52000 MILES FIRST THE SEAT BELT LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING, THEN ALL THE GUAGES ON THE DASH GO DEAD FOR ABOUT THREE SECONDS. ODOMETER ALSO WILL NOT RECORD ANY MILEAGE ALSO. THEN THE GAUGES RESET NORMAL. THIS HAPPENS ONLY WHEN THE INSIDE GETS HOT FROM THE SUN. TURNING THE AIR ON AND COOLING THE INSIDE HELPS TO STOP OR SLOW DOWN THE PULSING OF THE GUAGES FROM DEAD TO NORMAL. REPLACED CENTRAL TIMING UNIT COMPUTER . DID NOTHING, OLD UNIT PUT BACK IN .NEXT STEP IS TO REPLACE DASH CLUSTER.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10083041July 31, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
MY ROTORS WERE TRASHED AT 20,000 MILES ON THE 2002 DODGE DAKATO. I DO BASIC DRIVING AND FOUND OUT FROM A FORUM WEBSITE ON DAKATOS THAT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. A MECHANIC FROM THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT HE FIXES DOUBLE THE ROTORS ON DAKATOS THAT HE DOES ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10083698July 28, 2004SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10082738July 27, 2004SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, STEERING:RACK AND PINION
I HAD LOSS OF CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE THIS MORNING WHICH I BELIEVE IS A DIRECT RESULT OF MY STEERING/BALL JOINT / RACK AND PINION FAILURE. IT'S AT THE DEALER NOW BEING LOOKED OVER THOROUGHLY. THE DEALER JUST REPLACED THE INTERMITTENT STEERING SHAFT LAST WEEK.*AK
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10083775July 23, 2004STEERING
2002 DODGE DAKOTA FRONT END FAILURE.*MR WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS MANEUVERING A CURVE THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE HIT A GUARD RAIL. THE TRUCK SUSTAINED SOME FRONT BUMPER DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT. THE CONSUMER STILL HEARS A POPPING NOISE WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS. THE CONSUMER PLANS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT SINCE DODGE IS HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR SUSPENSION THAT THE DEALER NEEDS TO LOOK AT THE BALL JOINT, TIE RODS, RACK AND PINION. *NM
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10082499July 23, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
BRAKE CALIPER GOT STUCK OPEN WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. NO ONE WAS INJURED. ALSO THERE WAS NO WARNING AND WE HAVE DONE REGULAR MAINTENANCE AS SUGGESTED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10082362July 21, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WARPED DISC ROTORS ON 2002 DAKOTA WITH 16000 MILES. DODGE REFUSES TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY. IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE EXCESSIVE EARLY ROTOR FAILURES ON DAKOTA'S AS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA COMPLAINTS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND MAY BE RELATED TO DEFECTIVE CALIPERS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *LA
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10083324July 20, 2004TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ( ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE P265/70R16, DOT# 25.4 0FFSET) *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10081337July 19, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
AT AROUND 15000 MILES I NOTICED THE BRAKES STARTING TO PULSE OR DRAG DURING NORMAL STOPPING. AT 18000 MILES I WAS TOLD BY MIDAS THAT ROTOR FAILURE IN THIS VEHICLE WAS A BIG PROBLEM, AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THEM MANY TIMES DURING THE LIFE OF MY TRUCK. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10079665July 16, 2004SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN BRAKE WERE DEPRESSED PEDAL PULSATED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND TECHNICIAN TURNED THE ROTORS AT 34, 000 MILES. *AK VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BALL JOINT IN THE PAST, WHICH CONCERNED THE CONSUMER. *LA
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10081129July 15, 2004ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
A POWER PORT INSIDE OF A CENTER CONSOLE HAD A DEVICE PLUGGED INTO IT AND THE VEHICLE STARTED ON FIRE. THE START OF THE FIRE WAS TRACED TO THE PLUG IN INSIDE OF THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE FUSIBLE LINK/FUSE NEVER BLEW AND SO THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED $4000 WORTH OF DAMAGE BEFORE THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT. *LA
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10081068July 14, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
UPDATE TO COMPLAINT 10028872. AFTER HAVING THE ROTORS TURNED (RECUT TO SAFE SPECIFICATIONS) AT 24,000 THE SAME SEVERE VIBRATIONS AND SHAKING CAME BACK AT 27,000. EVEN LIGHT BRAKING PRESSURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE TO THE LEFT AND ACROSS LANE MARKERS. I NOTICED THAT WHEN THE TRUCK WAS DRIVEN AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT ALL BRAKING FUNCTIONS WERE NORMAL. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MILES THE SHAKING AND PULLING TO THE SIDE CAME BACK WITHOUT WARNING. I HAD THE ROTORS, CALIPERS, AND PADS ALL REPLACED WITH HIGH PERFORMANCE PARTS (SLOTTED & CROSS DRILLED ROTORS, CERAMIC PADS). NOW AT 37,000 WITH NO FURTHER ISSUES (AS OF THIS WRITING) ON THE BRAKES. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLE RESULTING FROM THIS BRAKE SYSTEM DEFECT.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10080925July 13, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ON OUR WAY TO THE HOSPITAL (AFTER DARK) WHEN THE OIL PRESSURE WENT TO '0' AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TRUCK STARTED SLOWING DOWN (AS IF DOWNSHIFTED) AND SMOKING. ABOUT THE TIME WE GOT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD IT BACKFIRED AND A FLASH CAME FROM THE BACK OF THE TRUCK AND IT DIED. I HAVE A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WE HAD TO CALL 911 AND GET A DEPUTY TO PICK US UP AND TAKE US TO THE HOSPITAL. *LA
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0