Dodge Dakota Complaints (2004)

206 consumer complaints on file.

#10747448August 10, 2015
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE ACCELERATING AT A LOW SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, WHILE A STOP, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, STRUTS, CONTROL ARMS, IDLE ARMS, CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10745690August 3, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I BOUGHT MY DODGE DAKOTA BRAND NEW FROM A DEALER. I STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH IT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE. I'LL BRIEFLY LIST THESE FAILURES. WHILE DRIVING IN VERY COLD WEATHER (WINTER). I WAS DRIVING WITH THE HEATER ON, A LARGE VOLUME OF ENGINE COOLANT CAME POURING OUT OF THE DASHBOARD HEATER VENTS. THIS WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. WITHIN THAT SAME YEAR THE FUEL GAUGE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHENEVER THE GAS TANK BECAME HALF EMPTY. AT THIS POINT THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD DROP TO ZERO FUEL, CORRECTS WHEN GAS CAP IS TIGHTENED OR FUEL IS ADDED. PLASTIC PIECE BROKE OFF IN TRANSMISSION AT ~ 52,000 MILES, I HAD IT REPLACED AND NOW HAVE A CRACK IN EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH CAUSED THERMOSTAT FAILURE, WATER PUMP FAILURE AND LEAKING OF ALL OF THE ENGINE COOLANT. UNABLE TO WELD THE MANIFOLD AND MECHANIC HAD TO INSTALL HEAT SHIELD TO PREVENT ALL OF THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. NOW WHEN I START THE VEHICLE IS SOUNDS LIKE IT MIGHT EXPLODE! THIS HORRENDOUS NOISE SOFTENS AFTER A FEW MINUTES. I DON'T RUN THE HEATER ANYMORE AS I SMELL A VERY STRONG ODOR OF EXHAUST FUMES WHEN HEATER FAN IS ON. VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY SHUTS OFF WHEN IDLING AT ~500RPM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10684139February 18, 2015
STEERING
INTERMITTENT STEERING. SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, STEERING WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER . NOW THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. SOMETIMES IT WILL HAPPEN THEN AFTER DRIVING AWHILE IT WILL CLEAR UP. BUT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM. CHECKED POWER STEERING FLUID,AIR PRESSURE. LOOKED AT OTHER FORUMS FOR THIS COMMON PROBLEM. CONSENSUS IS THE STEERING RACK AND/OR THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. WENT AND HAD STEERING RACK AND LOWER SHAFT REPLACED AND IT CURED THE PROBLEM ABOUT 97 PERCENT. DODGE SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR SAFETY REASONS AS THIS COULD INVOLVE FATALITIES . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680384February 1, 2015
STEERING
GOT IN VEHICLE AND STARTED TO DRIVE WHEN I NOTICED MAKING A TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RETURN TO CENTER. THE STEERING WAS REAL HEAVY LIKE THE POWER STEERING WAS FAILING. CHECKED POWER STEERING FLUID-IT WAS OKAY,TIRE PRESSURE WAS OK. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE STEERING GOT BETTER. SINCE THAT INCIDENT THE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COMES AND GOES. I WENT ON THE WEB AND FOUND OUT HOW MANY MORE 2004 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE STEERING PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE IN THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND/OR THE STEERING RACK. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS SAFETY PROBLEM OR A CLASS ACTION. ALSO THE 2004 DAKOTA BALL JOINTS WENT OUT AT 60000 MILES AT MY EXPENSE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2003 DAKOTA BALL JOINTS BEING BAD BUT NOT 2004. I HAD BOUGHT A 1993 DAKOTA BRAND NEW AND BOUGHT THE 2004 DAKOTA BRAND NEW BUT I MIGHT HAVE TO RECONSIDER GOING TO ANOTHER MAKE IF THE STEERING DOES NOT GET REMEDIED BY DODGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10664214December 15, 2014
SEATS
DRIVER SEAT RECLINE WHEN DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10654496November 12, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10644600October 14, 2014
STEERING
THE STEERING IS HARD WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD. . WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IS STIFF AND HARD TO TURN AND DOES NOT GO BACK TO A NEUTRAL POSITION. YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO STRAIGHTEN IT OUT. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR A HOUR THE STEERING IMPROVES. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME VEHICLE. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10641720October 6, 2014
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW OPENED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE GLASS BECAME STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE REGULATOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,803.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10631271September 6, 2014
AIR BAGS
TRUCK T-BONED ANOTHER AT ~25MPH. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED CAUSING BROKEN HAND TO DRIVER. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10607964July 3, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
PAINT PEELING, RUST ON REAR FENDERS AND OTHER SPOTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10595424June 1, 2014
STEERING
STEERING WAS LOOSE AT FIRST BUT BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN AT ANY SPEED.CHANGED THE RACK,WITH SAME PROBLEM. I THAN CHANGED THE STEERING PUMP WITH LITTLE TO NO SUCCESS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588245May 13, 2014
STEERING
NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA AT THE BEGINNING OF APRIL. THE STEERING IS STIFF AND HARD TO TURN. IT REQUIRES ASSISTANCE TO BRING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO CENTER. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SPEED YOU ARE GOING. IT SEEMS TO GET BETTER AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING BUT AFTER SITTING FOR A WHILE THE PROBLEM IS BACK. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK LAST YEAR AS A SECOND VEHICLE AND NOW REGRET DOING SO. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. 4/14/14 THEY REPLACED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, FRONT ROTORS AND POWER STEERING PUMP. THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. 4/24/14 THEY REPLACED THE STEERING RACK. $2,300.00 LATER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. IT IS GOING BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 5/14/14 BUT I HAVE MY DOUBTS THE PROBLEM WILL BE FIXED AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS AND HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED A CASE MANAGER. I AM WAITING TO HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. I DO NOT WISH TO SPEND ANYMORE MONEY TRYING TO FIX A DESIGN FLAW IN THEIR STEERING COMPONENTS. THE STEERING POSES A SAFETY ISSUE AND I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING IT VERY FAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583700April 19, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
AT VARIOUS TIMES THE BRAKES SEEM TO LOCK UP WHEN COMING TO A STOP QUICKLY. THIS NEVER HAPPENS WHEN BRAKING NORMALLY, ONLY WHEN NEEDING TO BRAKE QUICKLY AND HARD. ALSO HAPPENS AT TIMES DURING NORMAL BRAKING, BUT THEN NEEDING TO ACCELERATE, THEN BRAKING AGAIN QUICKLY. THIS IS DANGEROUS IN WET WEATHER AS THE BRAKES LOCK MOMENTARILY AND THE TIRES HYDROPLANE, IT APPEARS TO BE THE REAR BRAKES DOING THIS, THEY RELEASE QUICKLY BUT THE MOMENTARY LOCK-UP IS DANGEROUS. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO DIDN'T FIND A CAUSE FOR THIS, BUT SAID MAYBE THE ABS WAS PERIODICAL FAILING, AS IT ONLY HAPPENS SPORADICALLY; BUT USUALLY WHEN NEEDING TO BRAKE HARD AS IN AN EMERGENCY. I'VE NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL ORDERS ON MY VEHICLE AND HAVE LIVED AT SAME ADDRESS SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583702April 19, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE HORN STOPPED WORKING, I TOOK IT TO A NON-DEALER MECHANIC WHO FOUND THE HORNS THEMSELVES OPERATIONAL WHEN APPLYING AN EXTERNAL RELAYED VOLTAGE TO THEM AND NO FUSES BLOWN, HE THOUGHT IT MAY BE A SHORT IN SYSTEM. HORN WOULD NOT WORK ON MANY OCCASIONS, THEN ONE DAY IT WORKED, THE NEXT DAY IT DID NOT. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER IT WOULDN'T WORK, I HAVE A TILT STEERING WHEEL SO I MOVED IT TO AN UPRIGHT POSITION, THE HORN STARTED WORKING, I PUT THE TILT WHEEL BACK DOWN AND IT STILL WORKED. THE NEXT DAY THE HORN WOULDN'T WORK EVEN IF MOVING THE TILT STEERING UP OR DOWN. IT SEEMS AS IF THERE MAY BE AN INTERMITTENT SHORT OF SOME KIND IN THE WIRING FOR THE HORN IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT HAS AN AIR BAG SO IT ISN'T AN EASY INVESTIGATION. I HAVEN'T TAKEN IT TO A DEALER AS CHRYSLER WAS CLOSING OUTLETS AND I HAVEN'T FOUND ONE TO USE YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565972February 26, 2014
STEERING
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. RK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10522021June 27, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD FAIL AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE. IN WARMER TEMPERATURES, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD EASILY MOVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE BUT WOULD EXHIBIT DIFFICULTIES IN RETURNING TO A STRAIGHT POSITION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10514510May 31, 2013
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH OVER A RAILROAD TRACK, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DROPPED ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,480.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509812April 29, 2013
STEERING
THE STEERING IN MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK WOULD GET STIFF WHILE TURNING AND THEN WOULD TURN EASY THEN BACK TO STIFF. IT IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL THE TRUCK WHILE MAKING TURNS. THE STEERING IS LIKE VERY UNSTABLE AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ARE THERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE I SEE THAT THERE IS ALOT OF THIS HAPPENING TO THESE TRUCKS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10488118December 12, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK FAILED AND BEGAN TO LEAK GASOLINE FUEL. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485917November 24, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE PARKED MY BLOWER MOTOR WIRING TO THE RESISTOR JUST WENT. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME IT HAS DONE THIS. NOW I AM WITH OUT A TRUCK AND ITS SNOWING AND COLD SO IT US INOPERABLE! I HAVE SEEN PLENTY OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING! THANK GOD I WAS NOT DRIVING WITH MY KIDS IN THE TRUCK WHEN IT WENT. THE WIRING MELTED SO THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO TO REPLACE THE RESISTOR SO I HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE WIRE HARNESS. THIS IN NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THESE TRUCKS! SOMETHING NEEDS DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OVER THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Dodge Dakota