Dodge Dakota Complaints (2001)
678 consumer complaints on file.
- #10105128December 21, 2004SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH FRONT BALL JOINT PUNCTURED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THIS FORCED THE VEHICLE INTO A DITCH. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER OF THE BALL JOINT FAILURE AND REPAIRED IT. *AK
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10104219December 21, 2004STEERING:LINKAGES
I HAVE HAD A CRUNCHING TYPE NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS, 18 MONTHS AGO MY TRUCK WENT IN FOR A NEW HEATING CORE TO THE DODGE DEALER AND I MENTIONED IT AND THEY SAID THEY TOOK A QUICK LOOK AND IT WAS PROBABLY MY SHOCKS MAKING THE NOISE. IT HAS MADE THE SAME NOISE SINCE THEN AND I HAVE NOT REPLACED MY SHOCKS. I RECENTLY TOOK MY TRUCK INTO REPLACE THE SHOCKS AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE BALL JOINTS ARE THE PROBLEM NOT THE SHOCKS. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM ON DODGE DAKOTAS AND IT IS WELL KNOWN. HE SAID IT IS BOUND TO FAIL AND COULD CAUSE DEATH. 2 TIMES IV HAD THE FRONT END DRIFT SEVERLY TO THE RIGHT AND HE SAID THIS IS THE PROBLEM>*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10104128December 20, 2004SUSPENSION:FRONT, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2001 DODGE, DAKOTA, QUAD CAB, 4X4. SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRENTY EXPIRED(36000MI.), I DEVELOPED A POPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING OVER BUMPS. SENSE THEN IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. I HAD IT INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD IT WAS OK, JUST TYPICAL TRUCK NOISE DUE TO BUMPS. AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BALLJOINTS, I HAD IT RE-INSPECTED (MANY MILES LATER) ONLY TO FIND THAT I AM LUCKY THAT A WHEEL HAS NOT CAME OFF (BAD JOINTS). ALSO, IF THE TRUCK SETS OVERNIGHT (OR 1 OR MORE DAYS)WHEN YOU FIRST CRANK THE TRUCK AND PUT IN GEAR(REVERSE) THE TRANSMITION WILL SLIP. TOOK TO THE DEALER WHILE STILL UNDER WARRENTY THEY SAID IT WAS TYPICAL THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WOULD DRAIN DOWN AND THAT YOU HAD TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL FOR A FEW SECONDS TO LET THE CONVERTER FILL BEFORE PUTTING IN GEAR. I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM!*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10105071December 20, 2004SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB
WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE LOST CONTROL WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK.....*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10104186December 20, 2004SUSPENSION:FRONT
I HAVE A 2001 DAKOTA 2 WHEEL DRIVE WITH A BAD FRONT SUSPENSION. IT ONLY 54000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE HAD THE BUSHING REPLACED THREE TIMES AND NOW THEY TELL ME I NEED UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS, BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS, AND A R/F HUB BEARING. UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE VERY LOOSE. I WAS WONDERING WHY I AM ALWAYS FIXING THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO TO GET THIS PROBLEM SOLVED. I HEARD THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE DAKOTA'S, BUT NOT THE TWO WHEEL DRIVE. COULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO/ THANKS, STEPHEN. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10104085December 19, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED BUT IT HAD NEW BRAKES. I HAD IT FOR A MONTH AND DROVE APPROX. 1000 MILES AND THE BRAKE ROTORS BECAME WARPED. I HAD THEM TURNED AND THEY WERE FINE. I DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR APPROX. 5 MORE MONTHS AND 6000 MILES AND THE ROTORS BECAME WARPED AGAIN. THE VIBRATIONS OCCUR VERY BADLY WHEN BRAKING FROM 50 MPH-40 MPH. WHEN BRAKING FROM A HIGHER OR LOWER SPEED THAN 40-50 THERE ARE ONLY MINOR VIBRATIONS. I ALSO HAVE NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SUSPENSION WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS AND GOING OVER A BUMP/CURB(SUCH AS TO ENTER/LEAVE A DRIVEWAY). *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10104038December 17, 2004SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB, FOR ABOUT 2 1/2 YEARS WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END. NOW A RECALL ON THE BALL JOINTS HAS COME IN AND DODGE WILL NOT EVEN LOOK AT OUR VEHICLE UNTIL THE RECALLS GO IN THE MAIL. I HAVE BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE CALLED WITH THIS COMPLAINT, I AM SCARED SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME AND MY FAMILY BUT DODGE JUST TELLS ME TO STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE. HOW CAN I DO THAT WHEN IT IS MY ONLY ONE AND I CANT GET TO WORK OR MY KIDS TO SCHOOL.. PLEASE HELP IN THIS. MY HUSBAND CAN GIVE MORE INFO IF NEEDED PLEASE CALL HIM AT 707-689-2333 IF YOU NEED MORE INFO. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10103853December 15, 2004STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING PARKED IN REVERSE UNEXPECTEDLY CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO STEER OR MOVE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STEPPED OUT TO LOOK AT FRONT WHEELS AND NOTICED THAT EACH WHEEL WAS FACING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIE ROD BROKE OFF.*AK THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR INSPECTION TWICE, WAS TOLD BY DEALER THERE WA SNO WAY TO TELL IF TIE RODS WERE DEFECTIVE DUE TO RUST. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10101704December 15, 2004SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
FRONT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK THE FAULTY BALL JOINTS CAUSED ABNORMAL WEAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10102925December 14, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
WHEN NEEDING TO BRAKE QUICKLY, THE BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION. I ASSUME IT IS AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MALFUNCTION, AND HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, MOSTLY DURING THE NEED TO BRAKE QUICKLY. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A WAY TO MANEUVER AROUND THE OBSTACLE (CAR, PEDESTRIAN, ETC..), BUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE DAY COMES THAT I DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO AND A PERSON GETS HIT, BECAUSE OF DEIMLER-CHRYSLER'S LACK OF MORALS TO MAKE RIGHT WHAT THEY DID WRONG, AND NOT RECALL THIS POOR DESIGN. IT DOES NOT FEEL GOOD KNOWING THAT YOU PUT ON YOUR BRAKES, AND YOU CAN'T STOP...VERY HELPLESS, AND NERVOUS. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS NOW, TO SAVE A LIFE. HOPEFULLY THIS COMPLAINT ALONG WITH THE NUMEROUS OTHERS WILL RAISE A RED FLAG, AND SOMETHING WILL BE DONE.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10103610December 13, 2004ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER STATED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, THE POWER SWITCHES, AIR BAGS, AND HORN VBECAME INOPERABLE. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10102850December 13, 2004STEERING
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE 4X2 DAKOTA'S ARE NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. MY 2001 RT HAS ALWAYS MADE A POPING SOUND WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS AND IS STARTING TO "WANDER" AND PULL TO THE LEFT. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN VERY HARD ON TIRES. LAST TIME IN, DEALER SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. OF COURSE THAT WAS JUST BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. ALL DAKOTAS SHOULD BE COVERED BY THIS RECALL, NOT JUST THE 4X4 MODELS.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10102887December 13, 2004SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB WAS SERVICED ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR CLUNKING IN THE FRONT END WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS AND DURING TURNS. SEVERAL PARTS WERE REPLACED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY BUT DEALERSHIP INSISTED THAT BALL JOINTS AND CV JOINTS WERE FINE. THEY ALSO STATED THAT NO OTHER COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN FILED AND THAT THERE WAS NOT A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM BECAME APPARENT WITHIN THE FIRST 17,000 MILES AND CONTINUES TO PERSIST.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10102784December 12, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
ROTORS ARE WARPING AND BEING SEVERELY SCORED. MY CAPLIPERS WERE BADLY RUSTED WITH IN A YEAR WHICH DID NOT LET IT SLIDE PROPERLY AND CAUSE UNEVEN PRESSURE ON THE PADS. THIS CAUSE A PAD TO DISINTEGRATE WHILE BRAKING. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED MY BRAKE PADS WITH PERFORMANCE FERRO CARBON PADS AND CROSS DRILLED VENTED ROTORS. THE ROTORS NO LONG WARP BUT THEY ARE STILL BEING BADLY SCORED. AND I HAVE TO KEEP A CONSTANT EYE ON PAD WEAR. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10102799December 12, 2004SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
ON APRIL 16, 2004 I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA "SPORT" 4X4, AT APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH WHEN IT APPEARED MY HAD "FALLEN OFF", BUT WAS STILL SOMEHOW ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE. THE WHEEL COLLAPSED INSIDE THE WHEEL WELL WITH THE TOP OF THE WHEEL TOWARDS THE ENGINE. THE BRAKE LINE WAS RIPPED OUT AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HAD NO BRAKE POWER. THE VEHICLE SLID TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED. THE RESULT WAS THE UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATED IN THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE CAUSING THE SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FALLING OFF, THE BRAKE LINE BEING RIPPED OUT AND LOSING BRAKING ABILITY, AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, THE TRUCK HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, REPLACED THE UPPER FRONT RIGHT BALL JOINT, BRAKE LINE WORK, AND THE COST OF LABOR. THE TOWING COST $45, THE BALL JOINT COST $56.80, AND THE LABOR COST $75 FOR A TOTAL OF $187.41. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10102656December 11, 2004SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE FACT THAT ONLY THE 4X4 DODGE DAKOTAS HAVE BEEN RECALLED ABOUT THE BALL JOINTS. THE FACT IS THAT THEY ALL USE THE SAME BALL JOINTS AND WELL HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE 4X2 ARE NOT GOING TO GO. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE GET HURT BEFORE THEY RECALL THE 4X2? I DON'T THINK THAT IS RIGHT THAT THEY ONLY RECALL THE 4X4 THEY SHOULD RECALL ALL THE DAKOTAS AND DURANGOS OF THOSE YEARS. I AM NOT ONE FOR THAT I BUY A TRUCK AND THE MANUFACTURE HAS DON'T WRONG BY GIVING FAULTY PARTS AND I WOULD HAVE TO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCE. THAT JUST IS NOT RIGHT IF THEY ALREADY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE FAULTY PARTS ON THE TRUCKS. SO THIS IS A COMPLAINT THAT THEY SHOULD RECALL ALL THE DAKOTAS IF NOT ALL THEN ALSO THE 4X2.. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT AS OF DECEMBER 11, 2004 BUT THE COMPLAINT REQUIRED THAT I PUT A DATE IN BUT THERE WAS NO INCIDENT. THIS IS JUST A COMPLAINT. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10102720December 11, 2004SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
RECENTLY THE BALL JOINTS WERE RECALLED FOR DODGE DAKOTAS/DURANGOS 2000-2003, BUT ONLY FOR 4 WHEEL DRIVE. MY 2001, DODGE DAKOTA NEEDS NEW BALL JOINTS. IT ALSO USES THE SAME BAL JOINT AS THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE. IF THERE'S ARE BAD, WHY ISN'T MINE? *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10102488December 10, 2004SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 2WD HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT AND ALREADY NEEDS 3 BALL JOINTS REPLACED.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10102495December 10, 2004SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
PASSENGER SIDE FRONT END BALL JOINT FAILURE. BALL JOINT REPLACED BY LOCAL DODGE DEALER.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10102515December 10, 2004STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
FRONT END VIBRATION AT 65MPH. HAVE REPLACED ALMOST EVERY COMPONENT IN THE FRONT END, INCLUDING RACK AND PINION. THE VIBRATION HAS NOT GONE AWAY AND THE DEALERSHIP BLAMES THE TIRE COMPANY, AND THE TIRE COMPANY BLAMES THE DEALERSHIP.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0