Dodge Dakota Complaints

6,628 consumer complaints on file.

#10152783March 15, 2006
POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION:REAR
I WAS CAUGHT IN AN ICE STORM IN MY 2003, DODGE DAKOTA, 4X4 QUAD CAB. THE TRUCK WENT INTO A SLIGHT SPIN AND BUMPED A SMALL CURB THEN SLID UP OVER THE CURB. I WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT APPROX. 5 MPH WHEN I BUMPED THE CURB. THE AXLE SHEARED OFF AND BROKE THE HUB, ROTOR, WHEEL, TIRE, AND BENT THE AXLE HOUSING. THE TRUCK WAS RENDERED UNDRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. I CALLED DAIMLERCHRYSLER AND ASKED FOR THE PARTS TO BE TESTED FOR DEFECTIVENESS. I HAD SEEN SEVERAL WEB SITES DEVOTED TO AXLES PUT INTO DODGE TRUCKS THAT WERE KNOWN TO DAIMLERCHRYSLER TO BE DEFECTIVE DUE TO POOR HEAT TREATING. I WAS TREATED VERY RUDELY AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT ADDRESSED. SINCE THE ACCIDENT, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL MECHANICS AND MACHINISTS LOOK AT THIS AXLE AND ALL SAY THAT IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BROKEN UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES IT WAS SUBJECTED TO. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, FEARING THAT THE REST OF THE AXLES ARE ALSO DEFECTIVE. I AM GETTING NO SATISFACTION IN SOLVING THIS PROBLEM AND MY OWN INSURANCE HAD TO PAY THE $3,000. DAMAGE CAUSED BY A 5 MPH BUMP. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10152615March 13, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE IS A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AND THE OIL PAN ON THE VEHICLE SITS BELOW THE TRUCK FRAME. THE OIL PAN IS TO CLOSE TO THE GROUND AND DOES NOT HAVE A SKID PLATE THEREFORE, DEBRIS PUNCTURES THE PAN. THE MANUFACTURE HAS BEEN ALERTED BUT STATED THERE ARE KNOW RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE THEREFORE, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152458March 11, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
RIGHT FRONT LOWER SHOCK BOLT SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING SHOCK TO BREAK LOOSE FROM LOWER CONTROL ARM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152467March 11, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
WE OWN A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT 4X4. IT CURRENTLY HAS 144K KILOMETERS. WE JUST INSTALLED OUR 3RD SET OF UPPER BALL JOINTS, AND HAVE REPLACED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS TWICE. WE EXPECT TO REPLACE THE LOWERS AGAIN BEFORE NEXT YEAR. WE KNOW WHEN THE JOINTS NEED REPLACING, WHEN THE VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO KEEP WITHIN A LANE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, DUE TO EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING. I SEE FROM THE INTERNET THAT CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR 2000 AND LATER MODELS. THIS IS INSUFFICIENT, AS MANY PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE IN MODELS AS LATE AS 1996. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE IS WELL KNOWN IN THE INDUSTRY, ONE PERSON OR FAMILY GETTING KILLED BY THIS DEFECT FOR THERE TO BE AN OFFICIAL RECALL IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. OUR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE IS PAID BY OUR COMPANY, HOWEVER A FAMILY THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD SUCH EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT ON A REGULAR BASIS, MAY BE PUTTING THEMSELVES IN JEOPARDY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152397March 10, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2002 DODGE DAKOTA, 4 WHEEL DRIVE,81,180 MILES, FRONT BRAKES SEIZED. HAD ALL BRAKES REPLACED ON AUG 31, 2005. ON NOVEMBER 10, 2005 LEFT FRONT ROTOR AND PADS SEIZED, ALERT DRIVING PREVENTED POSSIBLE VEHICLE. MARCH 10, 2006, RIGHT FRONT ROTOR SEIZED AND ONCE AGAIN MY ALERTNESS PREVENTED ANOTHER POSSIBLE VEHICLE FIRE. THIS WILL BE THE FOURTH TIME THE ROTORS AND/OR PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152277March 9, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
EXPERIENCED CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT SUSPENSION. BALL JOINT SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED CAUSING FRONT WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE OPERATING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#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
#10152036March 6, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHEN PUTTING HEATER ON THE VENT SETTING THE ELECTRIC LOCKS, THE DOME LIGHTS AND THE 4 WAY FLASHERS START BLINKING, HAD CENTRAL TIMER MODULE REPLACED, STILL IS DOING SAME THING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152038March 6, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
OWN 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. NOTICE THE SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED WITH FRONT STEERING BALL JOINT HAVING PROBLEMS. OUR TRUCK IS SUFFERING SAME PROBLEM WITH LOAD POPPING NOISE WHEN WE MAKE A HARD LEFT HAND TURN. HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES FOR PAST 9 MONTHS...BUT NOW GETTING MORE FREQUENT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151799March 4, 2006
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 WAS PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 2004 WITH 54,000 MILES ON IT. RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS 2004 THE HEATER CORE WENT OUT. I WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY $900 FOR THIS REPAIR BUT I TALKED THE DEALERSHIP INTO GIVING ME "SHOP RATE" OF $500. LESS THAN 10,000 MILES LATER THE HEATER CORE AGAIN NEEDED REPLACED. THE PART WAS UNDER CHRYSLER WARRANTY, BUT THE LABOR WAS NOT. AGAIN THE DEALERSHIP WORKED WITH ME AND THEY TOOK CARE OF THE COST OF LABOR. NOW AT 80,000 MILES THE HEATER CORE AGAIN IS NEEDING REPLACED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151697March 3, 2006
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER WINDOWS ARE INOPERABLE. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED BUT NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. UPDATED 3/28/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151712March 3, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS SYSTEM CAUSING STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION; BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED, NO CHANGE. REAR ABS PULSATING CAUSING REAR AXLE TO VIBRATE ENOUGH TO MOMENTARILY LIFT REAR TIRES OFF PAVEMENT. NEITHER PROBLEM EXTANT DURING RAIN CONDITIONS. PROBLEM INTERMITTENT: APPROX 30% OF THE TIME FOR FRONT ONLY; APPROX 60% FOR REAR ONLY; BOTH CONDITIONS SIMULTANEOUSLY, MIXED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151439February 28, 2006
STEERING
STEERING WON'T TURN AT ALL WHEN COLD, UNTIL IT WARMS FULLY IT'S HARD TO TURN. I'VE NOTICED THIS ON 2 OTHER 98 DODGE DAKOTAS I LOOKED AT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151445February 28, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BACKING UP AT 10 MPH THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL DETACHED. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. THEY DETERMINED IT WAS A LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE, HOWEVER NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151197February 25, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 2005 DODGE DAKOTA 4 DOOR PICKUP STARTED TO SHIMMY VERY BAD AND I HAD A HARD TIME CONTROLLING THE TRUCK WHILE BRAKING ON STEEP DOWNHILL HIGHWAYS IN VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIA. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP WHEN THEY RESURFACED THE ROTORS THAT THEY WOULD NOT LAST THROUGH VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIA. MY TRUCK ONLY HAD 9,400 MILES ON IT. THIS IS THE SECOND PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON MY TRUCK. IF I HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM IN THE PAST I COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON THESE STEEP GRADES. RESURFACING THE ROTORS OR DRUMS IS NOT THE SOLUTION, BUT IS GOING TO MAKE THE PROBLEM MORE SERIOUS DUE TO THE FACT THAT WHEN THESE PARTS ARE RESURFACED THEY TAKE AWAY METAL FROM THE ROTORS OR DRUMS WHICH MAKES THESE PARTS HEAT UP EVEN FASTER IN THIS SITUATION. THESE PARTS NEED TO BE REPLACES. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON A NEW TRUCK WOULD BE TAKEN MORE SERIOUS THAN JUST RESURFACING THE ROTORS. BUT I GUESS DODGE IS TRYING TO REPAIR THE BRAKES THE CHEAP WAY, UNTIL SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED DUE TO THE BRAKES. THEN DODGE WILL MAYBE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151022February 23, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CURVE AT 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND DOWN INTO A DITCH. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER, GRILL, AND DRIVER SIDE TURN SIGNAL. THERE WAS PRIOR BRAKING. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEATBELT, BUT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES WHEN HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL. A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THERE HAS BEEN NO INSPECTION TO THE AIRBAGS.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10150792February 21, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT IN MY 1999 DODGE DAKOTA STARTED STAYING ON AFTER STARTUP INTERMITTENTLY. THE LIGHTS STAYED ON MORE OFTEN AS TIME WENT BY. SHOP COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY BOTH LIGHTS WERE ON ALL THE TIME. VEHICLE STARTED STALLING AT STOP SIGNS AND WHEN GOING AROUND CORNERS. SPEEDOMETER WOULDN'T WORK AT LOW SPEEDS--CAME ON ABOUT THE TIME DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED (20-25 MPH). SHOP REPLACED SPEED SENSOR. VEHICLE RAN FINE FOR 30 DAYS OR LESS. SAME SYMPTOMS ARE BACK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151898February 16, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
2005 DAKOTA QUAD CAB HAS SEVER BRAKE PULSATION. CONSUMER HAD ROTORS REPLACED UNDER RECALL, BRAKES CONTINUED TO PULSATE. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THE CONSUMER STATED HIS WIFE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABRUPT STOP. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE ACCIDENT WAS BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE FAILED STATE INSPECTION DUE TO THE BRAKE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE DEALER CLAIMED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150205February 14, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
JUST BOUGHT A DAKOTA TRUCK 2 WKS AGO, SECOND DAY ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND CAR KEPT STALLING WHEN DRIVING, IT COMPLETELY TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT ALSO DOES NOT CHANGE GEAR; IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET GOING. THIS HAPPENED 1/18/06. ON 2/10/06 I NOTICED AN IDLING SOUND RIGHT AFTER BREAKING AND IT DIDN'T WANT TO STOP. VERY UNSAFE DRIVING WITH CHILDREN. UNCERTAIN OF ITS BRAKES AND THE COMPLETE SHUT OFF OF TRUCK & OR STALLING WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO CHRYSLER AND WANTED TO CHARGE $170. FOR DIAGNOSTIC WORK 2 WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT IT. WHY HAVEN'T THEY RECALLED THESE TYPE OF UNSAFE VEHICLES? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150187February 13, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
LEASED NEW DAKOTA 5/05. ON 10/05 WITH 5344 MILES REAR BRAKES ,DRUMS AND WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE REPLACED DEALER AND DODGE SAID NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND WOULD NOT WARRANTY THEM SAID I USE THE BRAKES TO MUCH. ON 2/06 TRUCK WAS RETURNED TO DEALER NEEDED NEW REAR BRAKES ,DRUMS WERE TURNED,FRONT PADS WERE METAL ON METAL AND REPLACED , ROTORS AND CALIPERS WERE REPLACED ALSO. MILES ON TRUCK WAS 9,700 DEALER AND DODGE SAID NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AGAIN AND WOULD NOT COVER THIS TOTAL COST SO FAR 1,400.00. I THINK IT COULD BE A DESIGN FLAW BECAUSE THEY PUT THE ADJUSTER AT THE TOP BY THE WHEEL CYLINDER. I KEPT ALL THE PARTS AND TOOK PIXS. SO I'M NOW ON THE 3RD SET OF REAR BRAKES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Dodge Dakota