Dodge Dakota Complaints (2001)

678 consumer complaints on file.

#10045825November 9, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 8 2003 I WAS GOING THROUGH A INTERSECTION AT APPROX. 10 MPH, I HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW MY TIRE IS ALMOST LAYING FLAT ON THE GROUND. I CANNOT BELIEVE A VEHICLE WITH 31,900 MILES THE UPPER BALL JOINT WOULD COMPLETELY COME APPART. I CANNOT IMAGINE IF YOU WERE ON THE HIGHWAY AND THIS HAPPENED, DODGE HAS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10045773November 8, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
UPPER BALLJOINT DEFECTIVE 35000 MILES CHRYSLER WOULD NOT REPLACE. THIS FOUND WHEN A ALIGNMENT PERFORMED. I REPLACED BOTH BALLJOINTS. I HAVE ALL BILLS AND DEFECTIVE PARTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046194November 3, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
WHILE DRIVING THERE WOULD BE HEAVY VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALERSHIP/MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE WEARING OUT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046278October 29, 2003
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP, SEATS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2001 DODGE DAKOTA SLIPPED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE GEAR AND WAS CIRCLING OUT OF CONTROL.*MR THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STRUCK A CONCRETE MEDIAN AND STOPPED. THE DRIVESHAFT AND OTHER PARTS UNDER THE VEHICLE WERE DAMAGED. THIS WASN'T THE FIRST TIME THE GEAR SELECTOR JUMPED OUT OF GEAR. THIS VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO MAROONE/DODGE SERVICE CENTER TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED WHERE IT SAT TO THIS DAY. CONSUMER STATED IT WAS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM SINCE THEY COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS. THEY HAVEN'T OBTAINED NO INFORMATION ON THEIR VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE A/C ONLY WORKED ON HIGH DUE TO A FAULTY BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR. THE POWER STEERING MADE NOISE INTERMITTENTLY. THE GAS CAP WAS LOOSE WHICH CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE DRIVER SEAT HANDLE CAME APART *PH *NLM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043912October 29, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA WITH THE LEFT SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT WORE OUT. I HAVE ONLY 36400 MILES ON THE TRUCK AND SAW A NEWS REPORT ON TV ABOUT THE BALL JOINTS AND INSPECTED MY TRUCK AND TO MY SHOCK SURE ENOUGH I JACKED THE TIRE UP AND IT HAS LOTS OF PLAY. SO MUCH PLAY IM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. IF I WOULD HAVE NOT SEEN THIS NEWS REPORT I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THIS CAME APART. SO NOW I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IT TO THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIX IT. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY TRUCK LIKE THIS. I THEN DID SOME MORE INVESTIGATING ON THE INTERNET AND TO MY SUPPRISE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. YOU WOULD THINK DODGE WOULD HAVE NOTICED THIS BY NOW. THE THING THAT SCARES ME IS THAT MY 2 YEAR OLD SON HAS RIDDEN IN THE TRUCK WITH ME A LOT. IF THOSE BALL JOINTS WOULD HAVE FAILED GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55 MPH WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO US. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE PEOPLE START GETTING HURT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043754October 28, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE FOLLOWING: DRIVERS SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT AND CONTROL ARM, DRIVERS SIDE SPINDLE RETAINING PLATE AND LOCKING NUT. THE SIMPTOMS WERE, A SLIGHT THUMPING NOISE WHEN GOING OVER SMAL BUT SHARP BUMPS (LIKE ENTERING A DRIVEWAY), AND A SOUND SIMILAR TO A SPRING BEING STRETCHED AND COMPRESSES. THE WORK WAS DONE UNDER WARANTY (29,000 MILES). THE THING THAT BOTHERS ME IS THAT IT TOOK 2 ATTEMPTS AT THE DEALER TO GET IT FIXED, AND THAT ALL THE THINGS I'VE BEEN READING INDICATE PROBLEMS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE! AM I JUST A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN? IS DAIMLER CHRYSTLER GOING TO OWN UP TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OR DO A BUNCH OF PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE FIRST?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043772October 28, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEMS IDENTICAL TO THAT OF THE DODGE DURANGO. HAVE HAD BOTH LOWER AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS/BALL JOINTS RELACED WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. PARTS WERE REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP WITH SAME DEFECTIVE PARTS AS ORIGINALLY INSTALLED ON VEHICLE. PERSONALLY, NO ACCIDENTS RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM YET. CONCERNED ABOUT OVERALL SAFETY OF DAKOTA OWNERS. WE HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043686October 27, 2003
SUSPENSION
I HAVE A 2001 DAKOTA THAT STARTED KNOCKING ON BUMPS AT APPROX. 25000 MILES. I DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS NOT NORMAL AND TOOK IT TO A 5 STAR DEALER AT APPROX. 34000 AND 37000 MILES AT WHICH BOTH TIMES THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. IT IS VERY OBVIOUS THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE SUSPENSION. MY FATHER OWNS A 1995 DAKOTA THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. ONCE THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED, NOT BY A DODGE DEALERSHIP, THE NOISE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED. THERE ARE MANY REVIEWS STATING THIS ISSUE BUT CHRYLER DOES NOTHING TO ADDRESS IT. THE ONLY THING I AM LEFT TO DO IS PAY $800-$1000 TO REPAIR IT. I UNFORTUNATELY CANNOT AFFORD THIS AND RISK HAVING IT BREAK AT ANYTIME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043687October 27, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP. LAST YEAR IT STARTED MAKING A SQUEAKY NOISE (LIKE AN OLD CAR CREAKING) IN THE FRONT END. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO DEALMAKER DODGE HERE IN WATERTOWN, NY. THE FIRST TIME TAKING IT IN THEY STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS FROM LOOSE BOLTS IN THE FRONT END AND THAT THEY JUST TIGHTENED THEM UP. THE NOISE PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS POSSIBLY THE SWAY BARS. THEN THE OCT. 10, 2003 I WAS DRIVING AND WHEN I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD, SOMETHING POPPED IN THE FRONT END, THE FRONT END DROPPED DOWN AND I LOST STEERING OF THE TRUCK. THIS WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE THE TRUCK VERY SLOWLY OVER TO DEALMAKER DODGE AND THEY LOOKED AT IT (NEVER TEST DROVE IT, JUST LOOKED AT IT). THEY STATED THAT THEY ARE NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED BUT THAT MAYBE THE SWAY BARS GAVE WAY. TIM (SERVICE MGR) STATED THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO ORDER BUSHINGS AND A PART FOR THE STEERING BOX AND THAT UNTIL THEY CAME IN THE TRUCK WOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE. UNFORTUNATELY, I DID NOT FEEL IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE - WE PARKED THE TRUCK IN OUR DRIVEWAY UNTIL THE PARTS CAME IN. WE ASKED WHY THIS HAPPENED TO A FAIRLY NEW TRUCK AND TIM (SERVICE MGR) COULD NOT ANSWER US, HE DID NOT KNOW. WE TOOK THE TRUCK IN ONCE THE PARTS ARRIVED AND HAD IT WORKED ON. WHEN I WENT TO PICK IT UP, I ASKED TIM (SERVICE MGR) WHAT DID THEY DO TO THE TRUCK (REPAIRS)? HE STATED HE DID NOT KNOW BUT THAT HIS WARRANTY GIRL WAS OUT OF THE OFFICE AND THAT THEY WOULD MAIL ME A COPY OF THE PAPERWORK. UPON RECEIPT OF THIS PAPERWORK, IT NOTED THAT BOTH SWAY BAR BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE COUPLING. THE NOISE SEEMS TO BE GONE IN THE FRONT END, HOWEVER, WHEN I GO OVER BUMPS OR ROUGH ROAD, IT STILL MAKES A POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. AFTER WATCHING THE CBS EVENING NEWS TONIGHT WITH REGARD THE FRONT END SAFETY ISSUES ABOUT DAKOTAS, I AM NOW VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND THE LIFE OF PASSENGERS WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043700October 27, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES ARE WORN OUT BEFORE 38,612 MILES (MILEAGE AT TIME I AM SENDING THIS EMAIL). TOOK DAKOTA DEALER (RAINIER DODGE, OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON) LAST MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2003, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND WOULD ONLY TAKE A FEW DAYS TO GET NEW PARTS. THEY STILL DON'T HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX IT AND WE JUST SAW A NEWS REPORT (ON DURANGOS THAT ALSO MENTIONED DAKOTAS BEING WORSE) SHOWING HOW DANGEROUS IT IS TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH BAD UPPER BALL JOINTS (BROKE OFF AND WHEEL AND ALL WENT ACROSS 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC). ON THEIR WORD THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, WE TOOK AN OUT OF TOWN TRIP THIS WEEKEND. I THANK GOD THAT WE MADE THE TRIP SAFELY! WHEN IS A RECALL GOING TO BE MADE ON BOTH THE DAKOTA AND DURANGO? OUR DODGE DEALER SEEMS TO BE DRAGGING THEIR FEET GETTING THE PARTS TO FIX OURS, AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY DAKOTA UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED. PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW HOW DANGEROUS THIS CONDITION IS AND DODGE NEEDS TO ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM ASAP! *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044671October 24, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE PART WITHIN FOUR MONTHS. DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO GREASE FITTING IN THE BALL JOINTS AND THE JOINTS BECAME DRY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043221October 20, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
UPPER BALL JOINT ON BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE ARE FAILING. VEHICLE ONLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 40000 MILES ON IT. JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044175October 12, 2003
WHEELS
WHEEL SHEARED OFF COMPLETELY FROM THE HUB WHILE DRIVING.*MR NO ONE WAS ABLE TO OFFER ANY EXPLANATION AS TO HOW THE WHEEL COULD HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE HUB. CONSUMER FELT CHRYSLER SHOULD HAVE COVERED THE $398.41 REPAIR BILL. *PH *JB *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041422October 7, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
AT 21000 MILES, I NOTICED A CLANKING SOUND IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE DEALER CHECKED IT OUT, THE BRAKE PAD CLIPS HAD RUSTED AWAY AND ONE ROTOR HAD EXCESSIVE WEAR. HOWEVER, CHRYSLER REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS, WHICH COST OVER $400.00. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041212October 4, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA HAS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE ROTORS WARPING AND THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ADMIT TO THIS BEING A PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THOUSANDS OF OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. MY ROTORS HAD TO BE TURNED AT 15,000 MILES, AND THEY NEED IT AGAIN AT 40,000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041102October 2, 2003
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
HEATER CORE LEAKS HOT (200F+)ENGINE ANTI- FREEZE ON DRIVERS FOOT WHILE DRIVING. MINE HAS FAILED THREE TIMES IN 34,00 MILES. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING WITH SANDAL'S IT WOULD HAVE SCALDED HER FOOT AND MAY HAVE CAUSED HER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF TRUCK!!!!!!!!! ADDITIONALLY, THE WINDOW FOGGED UP TO THE POINT OF COMPLETE LOSS OF ABILITY TO SEE FORWARD, HAD TO OPEN SIDE WINDOW TO PULL OVER AND CLEAN FOGGING OFF WINDSHIELD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038215October 1, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
DURING NORMAL DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE FACES OF BOTH ROTORS BROKE OFF INTO PIECES, WHICH CAUSED AN UNCONTROLLABLE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041899September 29, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE SLID ON DIRT AND GRAVEL AND IT WENT DOWN INTO AN EMBANKMENT, HITTING A TREE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AN AMBULANCE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10040282September 22, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT ENGINE PROBLEMS. ALSO STATED THAT EVERY TIME IT OVEREXTENDS 4 RPMS WILL NOT SWITCH GEARS, TRANSMISSION FAILED, AND VEHICLE VIBRATED AND DIED. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANY THING BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039090September 18, 2003
TIRES:SIDEWALL
SIGNIFICANT SIDEWALL CRACKS NOTICED ABOVE THE RIM ON THREE TIRES (FOURTH TIRE NEW AFTER REPLACEMENT FROM BLOWOUT TWO MONTHS AGO). WRANGLER ST 215/75R/15. TIRES HAVE 30K MILES AND TWO YEARS OLD. GOODYEAR STORE MANAGER IN COLLEGE STATION TX SAID THERE IS NO SAFETY ISSUE WITH OUR REMOVING TIRE FROM RIM AND INSPECTING INSIDE OF SIDEWALL. REFUSED TO CONSIDER PROBLEM AS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. DID OFFER PRO-RATED REPLACEMENT AS WARRANTY ISSUE. Z8JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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