Dodge Dakota Complaints (1998)

545 consumer complaints on file.

#709775August 9, 1999
SUSPENSION:REAR
MANUFACTURER HAS REDUCED RATED TOWING CAPACITY FROM 6400# TO 2000# WITHOUT STATING A REASON OR OFFERING AN EXPLANATION. I NEED TO KNOW WHY THE REDUCTION HAS BEEN MADE. WILL TOWING 4000# NOW CAUSE A FAILURE/ACCIDENT?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#709786August 9, 1999
SUSPENSION:REAR
DAKOTA R/T TOWING ISSUE---CHRYSLER CORP. HAS LOWERED THE TOW RATING ON THE DAKOTA R/T MODELS FROM 6400 LBS. TO 2000 LBS.. AT FIRST THEY TOLD ME IS WAS THE SPEED RATING OF THE TIRES. WHEN I ASKED WHY THEY DO NOT JUST CHANGE THE TIRES THEY TOLD ME IT WAS IN THE LOWERED SUSPENSION THAT COULD CAUSE FRAME FAILURE. I BELIEVE IT IS TIME FOR CHRYSLER TO OFFICALLY SAY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I ALSO HAVE A 1997 DAKOTA WORK TRUCK AND I BOUGHT THE 1998 DAKOTA R/T TO USE AS A TOW VEHICLE FOR MY CLASSIC CAR. CHRYSLER HAS OFFERED TO BUY BACK THE TRUCK BUT I WOULD LOSE ABOUT $3500 IN COSTS AND INTEREST. I AM NOT INTERESTED IN LOSING ANY MONEY ON THIS TRUCK BECAUSE CHRYSLER MADE A MISTAKE. LIKE I SAID EARLIER IT IS TIME FOR CHRYSLER TO OFFICALLY SAY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE APPRECIATED. CHARLIE HINES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#709725August 8, 1999
SUSPENSION:REAR
TRUCK IS BEING SOLD WITHOUT STATING TOWING HAS CHANGED. DODGE IS ONLY OFFERING A BUY BACK OF THE TRUCK, HOWEVER THE TRUCK HAS BEEN DEVALUED AND COULD BE DAMAGED IF OWNER TRIES TO TOW MORE THEN 2000 POUNDS. ADVERTISED IT WOULD PULL 6400 POUNDS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#709708August 7, 1999
SUSPENSION:REAR
THIS IS MY COMPLAINT. DODGE HAS ISSUED AN ADDENDUM FOR THE R/T TOWING COMPACITY WEIGHT. SINCE THEY SOLD THE VEHICLE TO ME STATING THAT IT COULD TOW UP TO 6400 PDS; I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT COMPONENT(S) ARE FAILING TO MAKE THEM ISSUE THESE ADDENDUMS. ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T RECEIVED THIS ADDENDUM IN DANGER ON THE HIGHWAY IF THERE TOWING A TRAILING. I CAN'T GET ANY ANSWERS FROM CHRYSLER. MAYBE YOU PEOPLE CAN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#709489August 2, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONTINUED SPARK KNOCK. HAS BEEN IN SHOP 4 DIFFERENT TIMES. DEALER NOT SURE HOW TO FIX IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#709338July 28, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, BOTH THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. TOOK THE TRUCK STRAIGHT TO A DEALER AND THEY FOUND "NO CODES" IN THE COMPUTER. HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. BOTH DEALERS CLAIMED TO HAVE THROUGHLY CHECKED THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG AND IT WAS NOT DANGEROUS. I CALLED CHYRSLER CUSTOMER CARE AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME "IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, TAKE IT TO THE DEALER". IT IS A DAILY OCCURANCE. IF I WERE TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO A DEALER EVERY TIME THE LIGHTS CAME ON, I WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO GET TO WORK. I CHECKED THE BRAKES THE OTHER DAY WHILE THE LIGHTS WERE ON, AND THE ABS SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK!! THE TIRES LOCKED UP WITHOUT MUCH EFFORT. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE SECOND DEALERS SERVICE MANAGER, "EVEN IF THE ABS PUMP IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, YOU STILL HAVE OLD FASHIONED NON-ABS BRAKES". I AM SORRY, BUT THAT IS THE WRONG ANSWER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#709090July 23, 1999
AIR BAGS
MICHAEL BOGNER WAS GOING AT ABOUT A SPEED OF 35 TO 45 MPH WHEN HE LOST CONTROL OF HIS TRUCK AND HIT A PARKED CAR. HIS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND BECAUSE OF IT HE SUFFERED NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES. WE CONTACTED CHRYSLER CORP. TO LET THEM KNOW. THEY SENT OUT AN AGENT, AND HE CLAIMS THAT THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY BECAUSE HE HIT AN OBJECT. HE WENT FURTHER TO SAY THAT THE AIRBAG "MAY" HAVE GONE OFF IF HE HIT A BRICK WALL. RIGHT NOW MY MICHAEL AND I ARE WAITING ON THE REPORT. WE WERE PROMISED IT THREE WEEKS AGO AND WE STILL NOT HAVE RECIEVED IT. WE BOTH FEEL LIKE SOMETHING IS BEING KEPT FROM US AND WOULD APPRECIATE IT GREATLY IF YOU WERE TO LOOK INTO IT.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#708769July 18, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRUCK WAS IDLING IN PARK ON LEVEL GROUND WHEN IT SHIFTED ITSEL INTO REVERSE AND HIT A TREE. I WAS LOADING ITEMS IN THE TRUCK AT THE TIME OF THE MISHAP, BUT COULD NOT RUN FAST ENOUGH TO OPEN THE DOOR AND STOP IT.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#841746July 7, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ABS FAILURE AND ABS LIGHT COMING ON AT THE SAME TIME; WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS WILL BE A SAFETY PROBLEM, CAUSING A DANGER TO DRIVER OR PASSENGER WHENEVER THIS OCCURS. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY DEALER SHOP, AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND; CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDTIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#708306July 7, 1999
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
OVERSIZED OUTSIDE MIRRORS ARE MOUNTED SO HIGH THAT THEY CREATE A SERIOUS BLIND SPOT FOR SHORTER DRIVERS. THIS CAUSES PROBLEMS ROUNDING CORNERS, AT INTERSECTIONS, AND AT NIGHT WHEN THE EYELEVEL MIRROR REFLECTS FOLLOWING HEADLIGHTS. POSSIBLE SOUUTIONS: LOWER THE MOUNTING POSITION OF THE MIRRORS; RAISE THE SEATING POSITION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#708114July 1, 1999
SUSPENSION:REAR
THE RECENT NEWS OF A LOWERED HAULING CAPACITY ON THE R/T , FROM 6400LBS. TO 2000LBS. I USE MY TRUCK TO HAUL AND WHEN I BOUGHT THE TRUCK I TOLD IT COULD HAUL MY 5000LB. TRAILER AND CAR. THIS EFFECTS ME BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE TO HAUL WITH, AND NOW I AM BEING TOLD THAT I CAN'T USE MY TRUCK FOR WHAT I NEED IT FOR. SO BASICALLY I AM TOLD I HAVE A $24000 TRUCK IN MY YARD THAT I CAN'T USE FOR THE REASOINS I BOUGHT IT FOR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#841513June 30, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, AND RESUTLING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#708070June 30, 1999
SUSPENSION:REAR
DIAMLERCHRYSLER HAS REVISED THE TOWING RATING FOR ALL 1998 AND LATER DODGE DAKOTA R/T TRUCKS FROM 65OO POUNDS TO 2000 POUNDS SAYING THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION CAN DETERIORATE AND HAVE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE . THEY DO NOT INTEND TO REPAIR THE DEFECT AND HAVE ONLY ISSUED A WARNING TO OWNERS NOT TO TOW MORE THAN 2000 POUNDS . THIS IS NOT SATISFACTORY AS THE TRUCK WAS ADVERTISED MARKETED AND SOLD AS BEING CAPABLE TO TOW 6500 POUNDS AND WILL ULTIMATELY RESULT IN DEATH AND/OR INJURY TO A PARTY . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#708081June 30, 1999
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID
LETTER FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER INFORMING ME THAT MY DODGE DAKOTA R/T, ONE OF 7,000 MADE, THAT IT CAN ONLY TOW 2,000 LBS. THEY MARKETING THE TRUCK AT 6,800 LBS AND HAVE OFFERED TO REFUND $300 FOR TOW PACKAGE $0 FOR HD SERVICE GROUP. THE WILL NOT TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY TRUCK. SOME OWNS HAVE BEEN OFFERED A BUY BACK. CHRYSLER IS SPOSE TO CONTACT ME SOON FOR A DEAL BUT, I CAN'T FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY 1998 SPORT TRUCK OF THE YEAR THAT CAN NOW ONLY TOW AS MUCH AS A FORD RANGER. THEN IT WAS RATED HIGHEST IN ITS CLASS FOR TOWING CAPACITY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#837962June 8, 1999
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED SIDE MIRRORS ARE SO LARGE AND PLACED SO HIGH ON DOORS THAT IT CREATES A SEVERE BLIND SPOT WHEN CORNERING WITH VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD ENCOUNTERED NEAR MISSES WITH PEDESTRIANS IN CROSSWALKS AND SMALLER VEHICLES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#707182June 3, 1999
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS COMPLETELY WORN OUT AT LESS THAN 22000 MILES. THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK RATTLED SEVERELY WHENEVER DRIVING OVER AN SURFACE THAT WAS LESS THAN PERFECTLY SMOOTH, AND AT ANY SPEED. THIS TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN OFFROAD EXCEPT VERY OCCASIONALLY, AND EVEN THEN WAS DONE SO WITH GREAT CARE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#707138June 2, 1999
TIRES, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT CONTACTED NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OVER PAST 7+ MONTHS WITH EITHER NO RESPONSE OR EXTREMELY SLOW RESPONSE. TANSMISSION/BRAKES/SHOCKS/TIRES, AND SEAT BELTS, NOT REPAIRED TO DATE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235 75R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#837942May 14, 1999
SEAT BELTS
THE BOLT THAT HAD BEEN SECURING THE SHOULDER ANCHOR OF THE SEAT BELT TO THE FRAME WORKED ITS WAY LOOSE ALLOWING THE ANCHOR TO DISENGAGE FROM THE FRAME. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#836955April 21, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD STAY IN ONLY ONE GEAR. TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. DEALER CONTACTED. REPAIRWORK DONE TO REMEDY PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDED FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#705728April 17, 1999
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
ATF LEAKING ONTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER -SMOLDERING/SMOKE FROM UNDER TRUCK. LEAKS APPEAR TO BE FROM TRANSMISSION TAIL SHAFT /DRIVESHAFT YOKE AND FLING ATF ONTO CONVERTER 3 REPAIRS NO SUCCESS A THIS TIME - REPAIRING DEALER NOT SELLING. DEALER I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A FIRE HAZARD, POOR SHIFT QUALITY DUE TO LOSS OF FLUID. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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