Dodge Dakota Complaints (2000)

806 consumer complaints on file.

#10184319March 6, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TRUCK FUEL LEAK. 2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB PURCHASED NEW DECEMBER 1999; MILEAGE 66,000 + ; EXTENSIVE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON VEHICLE, ALSO GARAGED WHEN NOT IN USE; TRUCK IS NOT 4WD AND IS ONLY DRIVEN OVER PAVED ROADS. . STARTED SMELLING FUEL IN GARAGE, THEN COULD SMELL FUEL WHEN TRUCK PARKED IN OPEN, FINALLY COULD SMELL FUEL WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH WINDOWS CLOSED AND AIR / FAN NOT ON RECIRCULATE. WENT TO DEALER, FOUND FUEL DRIPPING FROM VEHICLE TANK. DEALER SAYS IT IS A MOLDED FUEL LINE FROM THE TANK, AND IT IS BEING REPLACED NOW. THIS IS THE SECOND FUEL LEAK IN THIS VEHICLE!! JUST OVER 2 YEARS AGO, THE TRUCK INTERMITTENTLY QUIT WHILE DRIVING,AND IT TOOK 4 VISITS TO 3 DEALERS TO GET THE FUEL PUMP / FILTER DIAGNOSED AS THE PROBLEM. THAT REPAIR LEFT A FUEL LEAK WHICH REQUIRED 2 SUBSEQUENT TRIPS TO DEALER [ AND ONE OTHER REPAIR FACILITY] TO GET REPAIRED. DRIVER / OWNER IS 60+, WITH EXTENSIVE DRIVING EXPERIENCE, HAVING OWNED 3 TRUCKS, AND AT LEAST 10 OVER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IN THE US, JAPAN, AND GERMANY, AND IS A PILOT BY TRAINING. DRIVER / OWNER HAS NEVER EXPERIENCED A FUEL LEAK IN A PREVIOUS VEHICLE; HE ALSO THINKS THAT HIS EXPECTATIONS ARE NOT OUTRAGEOUS , AND THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184058March 2, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE DOOR LOCKS ON MY 2000 DODGE DAKOTA HAVE FAILED TO WORK. THEY LOCK BUT DO NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE. THEY HAVE BEEN REPAIRED 2 TIMES AND HAVE FAILED A THIRD . I WAS TOLD THE DOOR LATCH/LOCK ASSEMBLY IS THE PART THAT IS FAILING ALSO THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE IS ALSO IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. THE DOORS WILL UNLOCK FROM OUTSIDE WITH THE REMOTE BUT WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184056March 2, 2007
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, STEERING:RACK AND PINION
NOISE FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND VIBRATION FROM STEERING WHEEL. SOUNDS AS IF POWER STEERING PUMP WAS LOW ON FLUID. MAKES A LOAD NOISE WHEN STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. DROVE SHORT DISTANCE TO REPAIR FACILITY AND WAS SHOCKED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE HOSES HAD SPLIT. ALSO THE RACK AND PINION STEERING WILL HAVE TO BE REBUILT IF POSSIBLE IF NOT REPLACED. ALSO A BOOT WAS TORN AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. WORK HAS NOT BEEN STARTED AS I FIND IT IS NECESSARY TO GET MORE THAN ONE ESTIMATE. THE LOCAL GARAGE WANTS IN EXCESS OF $1200 FOR THE REPAIRS WHILE THE DEALER WANTS OVER $2000. APPROXIMATELY 12 MONTHS AGO I HAD THE UPPER BALL JOINTS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND HAD TO GET A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AT AN EXTRA CHARGE. NO VISUAL SIGNS OF WEAR WAS NOTICED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180691January 25, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HER 2000 DODGE DAKOTA (139000 FAILURE MILEAGE) AT 50 MPH IN THE LIGHT RAIN, SHE ATTEMPTED TO GO AROUND A SLIGHTLY SHARP CURVE, BUT THE CURVE TURNED OUT TO BE SHARPER THAN EXPECTED. WHEN THE CONTACTS APPLIED THE BRAKES HEAVILY THE WHEELS LOCKED, AND THE CONTACT SKIDDED, HITTING THE EMBANKMENT. AFTER THE CRASH, IN THE PROCESS OF EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BELT BELT DID NOT TIGHTEN TO SECURE THE OCCUPANT IN THE SEAT. AS A RESULT, SHE HIT HER HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10178396January 11, 2007
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
TRUCK STARTED TO PULL TO RIGHT UPON MID-LEVEL BRAKING. WAS TOLD BRAKES OK, TIE ROD ENDS BAD/REPLACED, NO CHANGE. THEN TOLD RACK & PINION BAD/REPLACED, SLIGHT CHANGE, STILL PULLS TO RIGHT, GETTING WORSE. NOW 3 MONTHS LATER AND AFTER $400.00 IN REPAIRS, I GO WITH A DIFFERENT SHOP, I WAS TOLD BRAKES CALIPER BOLTS ARE STRIPPING OUT. THIS CAUSES THE BRAKE SHOES TO MOVE WHEN BRAKING, BINDING, THEN PULLING THE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF HANDS. HAS ALSO CAUSED RIGHT TIE-ROD END TO GO BAD AGAIN. THE BIGGEST DANGER IS THAT UPON BRAKING THE STEERING WHEEL TURNS TO THE RIGHT AND I COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND A GOOD USED STEERING KNUCKLE AND ALL THE ONES FOUND HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FIX IS, IF CAUGHT SOON ENOUGH, HELI-COIL NEW THREADS OR REPLACING THE STEERING KNUCKLE ($415.00 PART ALONE). *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177028December 26, 2006
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
MY 2000 DODGE DAKOTA DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR HAS FAILED. I ALSO OWN A 2001 CARAVAN WHOSE DRIVERS SIDE REGULATOR BROKE 2 YEARS AGO AND MY 2001 DURANGO HAD BOTH LEFT SIDE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE AS WELL. THAT IS NOW 4 WINDOWS REGULATORS FAILED IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175600December 8, 2006
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
HEATER CORE BUSTED AT 42000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175334December 6, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
A DESIGN FAILURE IN THE TIMING CHAIN COVER 4.7 CID 2000 DODGE DAKOTA IN THE HOUSING WHERE THE THER. HOUSING BOLTS TO THE COVER. A PIN HOLE LEAK OCCURRED. DODGE HAS REDESIGNED THIS COVER 2 TIMES TO CORRECT THE DESIGN ERROR. DEFECT COVER IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. 145,000 MILES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173967November 21, 2006
STEERING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONED ON A WORSENING BASIS WHILE TRYING TO TURN IN ANY DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT OF THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. NO REPLACEMENTS HAD BEEN MADE. THE CONTACT ENCOUNTERED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE # 10120725 REGARDING THE STEERING COLUMN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171492October 21, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
I OWN A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. 3 OUT 4 ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING IN THE SAME YEAR AND THE LAST THAT HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED WILL NOT LOCK WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170121October 6, 2006
SUSPENSION
I BOUGHT A 00 DAKOTA R/T USED NOT FROM A DEALER IN 2004. I HAD SOME ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TRUCK WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED FROM. THEY SAID THEY NEEDED TO CHANGE SOME PARTS TO ALIGN IT WHICH COST OVER $1000. ABOUT 1 1/2 YEARS LATER IT NEEDED ALIGNMENT AGAIN AND NOW THE ALIGNMENT IS STILL OFF. THE WHEELS ARE FIGHTING EACH OTHER AND THERE IS A CREAKING SOUND WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND IT ALSO FEELS LIKE THERE IS NO SUSPENSION AT ALL. I HAVE CHANGED THE SHOCKS RECENTLY AND IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE WHATSOEVER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168818September 21, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
FELT 'CLUNKING' NOISES THROUGH STEERING WHEEL. DURING ANNUAL MASSACHUSETTS VEHICLE INSPECTION IN AUGUST 2006 TRUCK FAILED ON FRONT SUSPENSION TEST. TOOK TO WCS AUTOMOTIVE IN ROCKLAND, MA. MECHANIC DETERMINED BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. TOTAL REPAIR BILL WAS $809.56. OLD (ORIGINAL) PARTS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166250August 22, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
I OWN A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA 2WD. THERE ARE DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS ON THE FRONT END. THERE WAS A RECALL ON 4WD DAKOTAS, HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL FOR THE BALL JOINTS ON THE 2WD MODELS. THERE WAS AN "EXTENDED WARRANTY" THAT WAS SILENTLY (AS IN I NEVER KNEW THERE WAS AN ISSUE) ON THE BALL JOINTS ON THE 2WD MODELS. I HAVE HAD 6 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS TROUBLE WITH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE (I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW 07/2000). AS IN I HAVE REPLACED THE ROTORS ON THE FRONT END AT LEAST EVERY 3 MONTHS FOR THE FIRST 18 MONTHS OF OWNING IT. I HAVE HAD IT ALIGNED (FRONT AND REAR ALIGNMENTS) OVER A HALF DOZEN TIMES. ALL WORK DONE IN THE FIRST 18 MONTHS WAS DONE AT THE DEALER, WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN, AND PROBABLY WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. AFTER 18 MONTHS OF PAYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM (OUT OF MY OWN POCKET BECAUSE DODGE'S WARRANTY ISN'T WORTH THE PAPER IT'S WRITTEN ON) I CONCEDED DEFEAT (AND TOOK THE WORD OF THE DEALER) THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG, AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT BUT MAINTAINING THE ROTORS AND PURCHASING NEW TIRES EVER 12-16 MONTHS. WHEN MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, DODGE IS UNWILLING TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. IF NO ONE HAS DIED, THERE IS NO PROBLEM. LET ALL BUYERS BEWARE, SAFETY IS NOT ALWAYS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157974May 22, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCKING INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT ACTIVATING THE POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH. THERE IS ALSO A CLICKING SOUND FROM THE POWER DOOR LOCKS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156774May 4, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ANOTHER DRIVER TURNED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING 35-40MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BUT THE VEHICLES COLLIDED IN A NEAR HEAD ON POSITION. THE CONTACT WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. THE POLICE TOOK A REPORT AT THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155316April 13, 2006
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BACKING OUT OF AN ANGLED PARKING SPACE, THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WOULD NOT TURN. THE CONTACT DETERMINED THE OUTER TIE ROD CAME APART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154129March 30, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING UPPER BALL JOINT RECALL (04V-596000)THAT CAUSED POSSIBLE COLLISION AND DEATH OF PASSENGER. *TS *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10152239March 8, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN MY 2000 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK. SHE HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. FORTUNATELY SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP (SHE OF COURSE LOST ALL POWER ASSIST TO THE STEERING AND BRAKES). THE DEALERSHIP DENIED MY EXTENDED WARRANTY CLAIM SO I PURCHASED A REBUILT ENGINE BLOCK AND I AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING IT INSTALLED. THERE WAS EXCESSIVE SLUDGE BUILDUP IN THE MANIFOLD AND A PISTON ROD HAD BROKEN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150196February 13, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2000 DODGE DAKOTA CONSTANT MECHANICAL FAILURE DUE TO THE TYPE OF ROTORS, BRAKE PADS, AND BALL JOINTS THEY USE. THEY USE INFERIOR PRODUCTS THAT DO NOT LAST ON A VEHICLE BASED ON NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. HAVE TO CONSTANTLY REPLACE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ABOUT EVERY 20,000 MILES. THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. DODGE PRODUCTS FROM THE EARLIER YEARS REALLY SUCK. I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THE NEWEST MODELS SUCH AS 2004 AND 2005. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148203January 20, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
WHEN THE TRUCK IS STARTED THE REAR DRUM BRAKES HAVE A TENDENCY TO LOCK UPON FIRST BRAKING. ABS DOES NOT ENGAGE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. BRAKE OPERATION NORMAL AFTERWARDS. HAD AN ASE MECHANIC ADJUST DRUMS PROBLEM RETURNED FOUR MONTHS LATER. FRONT ROTORS HAVE WARPED TWICE. FIRST TIME THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS/25K MILEAGE. ROTORS WERE REPLACED AGAIN 2 YEARS LATER/50K MILEAGE. REAR DRUMS ARE NOT ADJUSTING PROPERLY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Dodge Dakota