Dodge Dakota Complaints (2003)

296 consumer complaints on file.

#10402601May 24, 2011
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AROUND THE BASE OF THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELTS, THERE WAS A SHARP METAL SHARD TEARING AWAY AT THE SEAT BELT STRAPS. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELTS WAS ALSO TORN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO CONSULT WITH THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH REPAIRING THE SEAT BELTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,900 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,263.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368204November 29, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT
UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE BOTH LOOSE AND DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT. VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN PREVIOUS RECALL BY CHRYSLER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10332216May 25, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I HAVE A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA CLUB CAB. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE UPPER BALL JOINT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE ARE BLOWN. DEALER STATES NO RECALL FOR MY YEAR DUE TO THE FACT MINE IS A 2WD. CALLED CORPORATE AND HAVE HAD NO LUCK. DEALER IS CHARGING ME $400. MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES. WILL NOT HONOR THE 10 YEAR OR 100,000 MILES EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10330096May 12, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4.7L V-8. IT EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AND CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. VEHICLE HAD ONLY 60,745 MILES ON ODOMETER, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY CHRYSLER'S 7YR/70,000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY BUT CHRYSLER REFUSED TO COVER AS WITH ALL THE OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. HOW MANY OF THESE ENGINES HAVE TO FAIL BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT PROTECTS THE CONSUMER? THIS OIL PUMP FAILURE IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER, BUT THEY REFUSE TO COVER ANY WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE ENGINE IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN, THESE ENGINES ARE FAILING AT A VERY HIGH RATE. SPEAK WITH ANY ENGINE REMANUFACTURER AND THEY WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE DESIGN FLAWS OF THIS ENGINE AND HOW MANY REBUILDS THEY ARE SELLING TO FIX BLOWN ENGINES OF CONSUMERS THAT HAVE CHRYSLER VEHICLES WITH THIS 4.7L ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326916April 21, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THIS IS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA PICK-UP WITH 2 WHEEL DRIVE. UPPER BALL JOINT AND FRONT HUB BEARING ARE BOTH BAD, AND MUST BE REPLACED . THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 34,900 MILES ON IT. STARTED MAKING A LOUD HUMMING SOUND WHEN MAKING A TURN AND WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. WE THOUGHT MAYBE IT JUST NEEDED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR SHOP THE ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE DONE AND THE REPAIRS WERE VERY MUCH NEEDED FOR OUR SAFETY. READING ON LINE I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT CHRYSLER HAS ONLY AGREED TO RECALL 4 WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. IF DAKOTA'S WITH 2 WHEEL DRIVE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, WHY ARE THEY NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312049February 19, 2010
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH HE NOTICED SMOKING COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE CAR WASH TO STOP IT FROM SMOKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO LOCATED THE FAILURE AS THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT. THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS REPLACED. THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $320.00. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR COST BECAUSE THE REPAIR WAS NOT DONE BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 3/17/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEFECT WAS ON THE HGH VELOCITY JOINT FO THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT. UPDATED 05/14/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304844February 3, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT
3 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE HAD TRUCK IN SHOP WITH NOISE IN FRONT AND REAR TIRE/SUSPENSION AREAS...IN FOR SEVERAL SERVICE VISITS, SEEMED TO GET BETTER THAN CAME BACK, THEY REPLACED BUSHINGS//HAD NOT HEARD NOISE...JANUARY 28, 2009 VERY LOUD NOISE AND HARD TO TURN DROVE TO LOCAL TIRE COMPANY WHICH SAID MY SUSPENSION WAS BOWED THAT TIRES WERE ANGLED INCORRECTLY AND AN IMMEDIATE FIX OF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE DONE FOR SAFETY...$900.00 LATER THEY REPLACED. I FOUND OUT THAT NIGHT THROUGH AN ON LINE SEARCH THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL OF THE SAME PART THAT WAS CONSISTENT WITH MY SITUATION SAME MODEL MAKE YEAR/ I HAVE THE REMOVED DEFECTIVE PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283445September 9, 2009
TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA WITH BF GOODRICH TIRES, LONG TRAIL, DOT# AP72F821, SIZE P265/70/R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES FAILED STATE INSPECTION DUE TO ABNORMAL TREAD WEAR. PREMATURE TREAD WEAR ON THE TIRES INCREASED THE RISK OF A TIRE BLOW-OUT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 14,721. UPDATED 10/21/09. *LJ UPDATED 10/20/09*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278238July 24, 2009
VISIBILITY
MY HUSBAND AND I HAD DRIVEN OUR 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE MILES WHEN WE SMELLED SMOKE. MY HUSBAND LOOKED IN OUR REAR VIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM BETWEEN THE CAB AND TRUCK BED NOT FROM THE ENGINE AREA. AT THE SAME TIME, I GLANCED IN THE SIDE MIRRORS AND SAW SOMETHING LIQUID (OR MELTED) DRIPPING BEHIND US ON FIRE IN THE ROAD AND LEAVING A BURNING TRAIL ON THE ASPHALT. WE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER (THANK GOD THERE WAS A SPOT TO DO SO!) BUT HAD NO BRAKES. DUE TO THE SANDY NATURE OF THE DIRT AND SLIGHT UPHILL HE WAS ABLE TO THROW IT INTO PARK. I BAILED OUT MY SIDE AND RAN. RANDY TRIED TO EXIT HIS SIDE, BUT THE FLAMES WERE ALREADY TOO HIGH SO HE LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO GET OUT MY SIDE AS WELL. THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND WHEN RANDY HIT THE GROUND HE NOTICED WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HANGING DOWN AND ON ALSO FIRE. THE TRUCK EXPLODED ABOUT 10 - 15 SECONDS AFTER WE ESCAPED. THIS WAS A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE BOTH INSIDE AND OUT AND WE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THAT WE WERE IN ANY DANGER OR THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TRUCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275385June 30, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT, SUSPENSION
2003 DODGE DAKOTA, 2WD, 5 SPD MANUAL, V6. ALTHOUGH A RECALL HAS BEEN GENERATED PERTAINING TO THE 4WD VERSION ONLY, MY TRUCK HAS THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN I AM DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND TURNING OR GOING THROUGH A BUMP I HEAR A CLUNK WHICH SOUNDS LIKE WHAT IS DESCRIBED ON THE EXISTING RECALL FOR THE 4WD ONLY. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275390June 30, 2009
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
2003 DODGE DAKOTA, 2WD, 5 SPD MANUAL, V6. AT SPEEDS FROM 15 MPH AND UP THE BRAKE SYSTEM SEEMS TO FAIL AS THE TRUCK JUMPS AND SKIDS VERY RAPIDLY. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, TRAFFIC CAME TO A HALT QUICKLY, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AS THIS JUMPING AND SKIDDING OCCURED. ALL PARTS ON THE TRUCK ARE FACTORY AND HAVE NOT BEEN MODIFIED. I AM CONCERNED AND WONDERING IF THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION CLUNKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264994April 11, 2009
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 OF 4 WINDOW CABLES AND MOTORS. TRUCK IS NOW BACK IN FOR THIRD WINDOW IN A SEVEN MONTH PERIOD. WINDOWS ARE HARDLY EVER ROLLED UP OR DOWN. VEHICLE HAS 46000 MILES ON IT, PROVING NOT A LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR. FIRST WINDOW, WAS ROLLING BACK UP, GOT HALF WAY AND FELL DOWN. SECOND WINDOW FELL WHILE IN PARKING LOT AND NO ONE WAS AROUND. THIRD WINDOW FELL WHEN CLOSING DOOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262849March 23, 2009
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
IN LATE FEBRUARY 2009 I HAD A SLIPPED BELT ON ONE OF MY GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S TIRES ON MY 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. THIS WAS PARTICULARLY ANNOYING ESPECIALLY SINCE THE TIRES ONLY HAD 33K MILES ON THEM. THE SPARE HAD NEVER BEEN USED SO WE PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON. THAT WAS FIND FOR A FEW WEEKS BUT THEN THE OTHER TIRES STARTED SLIPPING BELTS. AFTER THE INITIAL TIRE I CONTACTED GOODYEAR TO INFORM THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO THEIR GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S TIRE AND THEY INDICATED THAT SULLIVAN TIRE IN STRATHAM NEW HAMPSIRE COULD REVIEW THE SITUATION FOR THEM SINCE THEY WERE A TRUSTED DEALERSHIP. TODAY I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO SULLIVAN TIRE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE BELTS ON THE OTHER TIRES HAD SLIPPED AND WERE ACTUALLY DANGEROUS AND I SHOULD BE CAREFUL ABOUT DRIVING ON THEM. AS A RESULT I HAD THEM REPLACE THE TIRES AND WAS SO MAD ABOUT THIS THAT I HAD THEM PUT DUNLOP TIRES INSTEAD OF GOODYEAR ON THEM. I REALIZE THAT THESE WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON MY 2003 TRUCK ( SULLIVAN TIRE INDICATED THAT THE SERIAL NUMBERS INDICATED THIS) BUT THE TIRES HAD IN EXCESS OF 50% TREADWARE ON THEM. SULLIVAN TIRE TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE ABOUT 7 YEARS OLD THAT GOODYEAR WOULD NO DO ANYTHING. AFTER LEAVING I CHECKED THE TIRE WARRANTY DOCUMENT THAT CAME WITH THE CAR AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS ANY TIME LIMIT ON THE WARRANTY - ONLY TREADWEAR. I AM OUT $587 AND SHOULD HAVE NOT BEEN. I FEEL THAT THESE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND SOMETHING SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BECAUSE OF THIS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SORT OF THING. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN TO ME. I AM 62 AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING SINCE I WAS 16 AND AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH CARS SINCE MY DAD WAS A MECHANIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261475March 10, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE, I CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY SAY THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL #04V216000, WHICH COVERED 600,000 VEHICLES FOR THIS VERY TYPE OF FAILURE. I WAS NEVER OFFERED OR INFORMED OF A EXTENDED WARRANTY GIVEN BY CHRYSLER TO COVER THIS VERY PROBLEM. IF I WAS MADE AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING WITH MY VEHICLE, I WOULD OF MADE SURE THAT MY VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ON A TIMELY MANNER IN THIS AREA. I DID RETURN MY VEHICLE FOR A RECALL FOR MY WINDSHIELD WASHER ASSY IN DECEMBER OF 2004 AND ALSO FOR MY BALLJOINTS DUE THE FACT I WAS SENT A RECALL NOTICE. IF THE WEATHER WAS WORSE OR I DID DRIVE MY VEHICLE OFF ROAD I DO BELIEVE MY BALL JOINT WOULD HAVE DETERIORATED AS A ACCELERATED RATE. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT IF I EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE IN MY VEHICLE,WHICH WAS NOT RECALLED, THERE ARE MANY MORE DODGE DAKOTA PICK UP TRUCKS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. CHRYSLER SAYS THE NUMBERS DON'T WARRANT A RECALL,BUT THIS FAILURE IN THEIR VEHICLE COMPARED TO GM OR FORD PRODUCTS OF THE SAME TYPE VEHICLE ARE ABOUT 300% TO 1% COMPARING THE NUMBERS. I FEEL CHRYSLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY AND ALL EXPENSE THAT I HAVE INCURRED TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE AND MORE VEHICLES SHOULD BE PUT INTO A RECALL STATUS FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258125February 9, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR IN THE VEHICLE FAILED. HE WENT TO THOMPSON CHRYSLER AND DODGE AND HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, HE WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE REPAIRS. THE RADIATOR STILL LEAKS FLUID AND THE CONTACT WOULD JUST LIKE HIS VEHICLE REPAIRED PROPERLY. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245532October 15, 2008
STRUCTURE
THE PAINT ITS COMING OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242935September 19, 2008
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, STEERING, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. WHENEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE BRAKES WOULD PULSATE, OVERHEAT, AND LOCK UP. THE STOPPING DISTANCE WOULD ALSO INCREASE. THE DEALER STATED THAT WET CONDITIONS AND HIGH SPEED BRAKING CAUSED THE ROTORS TO WARP. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE IDLES HIGH AND ROUGHLY WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE ROUGHLY. THERE WAS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 20 SECONDS, BUT THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER APPROXIMATELY FIVE TIMES FOR THESE ISSUES, BUT THE FAILURES STILL PERSIST. ALL THE SENSORS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE IS BECOMING WORSE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS THREE TIMES AND THE CONTACT REPLACED THEM FOUR TIMES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,655 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 11/06/08. *LJ THE ROTORS AND BRAKES WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER THAT WAS NOT LETTING THE REAR BRAKES EVER WORK. THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS BUILT TO DRAIN INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR. THE COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCEPT UPDATES. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED. THE WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 11/06/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242713September 17, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008, THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE LIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT REVIEWED THE WIRING DIAGRAM FOR THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NO POWER COMING OUT OF THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT REALIZED THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS NOTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V322000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 10/16/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/20/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234593July 16, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK OVER A SPEED HUMP GOING APPROX. TEN MPH WHEN SOMETHING SOUNDED LIKE IT DROPPED, I PUT THE TRUCK INTO PARK AND GOT OUT TO FIND MY RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE LAYING HORIZONTAL, BUT STILL ATTACHED TO THE TRUCK. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AND I WAS INFORMED THAT MY UPPER BALL JOINT HAD BROKE ALONG WITH THE HALF SHAFT/CV JOINT. I CALLED DODGE BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BALL JOINTS AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP ME BECAUSE MY TRUCK IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 56,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233604July 9, 2008
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WINDOW REGULATOR FAILS WHEN SHUTTING DOOR, DROPPING WINDOW DOWN IN DOOR CHANNEL. WINDOW REGULATOR MUST BE REPLACED. HAS JUST HAPPENED FOR THE 3RD TIME IN PAST 1 YEAR. EACH TIME A DIFFERENT WINDOW OF THIS DAKOTA QUAD CAB PICKUP I PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN NO ACCIDENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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