Dodge Dakota Complaints (2003)

296 consumer complaints on file.

#10050287January 15, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
THE FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. THE CONSUMER COULD HEAR LOUD NOISES COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE BUT WAS REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE FOR REPAIRS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053012January 12, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRUCK WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY WHEN GOING UP GRADE. ENGINE WILL REV AT 4500-5000 RPM BUT WILL NOT SHIFT UNTIL I SLIGHTLY RELEASE THE GAS PEDAL. TRUCK WILL ALSO PERFORM MULTIPLE HARD UP SHIFTS WHEN IN CRUISE CONTROL GOING UP GRADE... HAD THE TRUCK IN FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES. FIRST TIME IN MAY, 1 MONTH AFTER PURCHASE, THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER WITH A "FLASH UPDATE" AND ADJUSTED THROTTLE LINKAGE. THAT WAS NO HELP. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER I TOOK IT IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, AND DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THE THIRD TIME, JANUARY 2004, I TOOK A TECHNICIAN FOR A TEST DRIVE, AND HE AGREED THAT THE TRUCK WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. THEY REPLACED THE "VALVE BODY" IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOW GOTTEN WORSE. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TRUCK IS NOW HAVING PROBLEM SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. THEY CLAIM THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE SAME PART THEY JUST INSTALLED, THEY SAY IT MUST HAVE BEEN A DEFECTIVE "VALVE". FURTHERMORE, THE TECHNICIAN IS NOW SAYING THE ORIGINAL SHIFTING PROBLEM IS NORMAL BECAUSE DODGE REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION TO AVOID MULTIPLE UP & DOWN SHIFTING WHEN GOING UP A GRADE. THIS WAS DOWN TO PUT "LESS STRESS" ON THE TRANSMISSION. DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, DODGE IS SAVING THE TRANSMISSION BY MAKING IT WORK LESS AND DESTROYING THE ENGINE BY LETTING IT REV AT 5000 RPM..... P.S. THIS SHIFTING PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE THE DAY I DROVE THE TRUCK OFF THE LOT. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052824January 11, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
UPPER BALL JOINTS JOINTS WORN OUT AND ATTACHING NUT COMPLETELY STRIPPED OUT ON LEFT SIDE. HEARD A NOISE AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO BE CHECKED OUT IN NOVEMBER 03. DEALER CLAIMED EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT FINE, COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. DECEMBER 03 NOTICED TIRE WEAR ON INSIDE, TOOK THE TRUCK TO AN ALIGNMENT SHOP. IT WAS THERE THAT THE MECHANIC POINTED OUT THAT THE BALL JOINT ON THE RIGHT WAS WORN BADLY AND THE LEFT WAS ABOUT TO FALL APART. THE DEALERS KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM IN THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. I WAS TO LEAVE AN HOUR AFTER THE ALIGNMENT ON AN EIGHT HOUR TRIP THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS. I CONSIDER MYSELF VERY LUCKY AND VERY WRONGED BY THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER FOR NOT NOTIFYING THEIR CUSTOMERS OF THIS PROBLEM. FOR THAT MATTER WHY HASN'T ANY SAFETY AGENCY STEPPED UP TO TELL US OF THIS PROBLEM???. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053311January 5, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN IT EXCEEDED SPEEDS OF 45 MPH. THIS WAS DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR OF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, PER THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052347January 4, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT TO THIRD GEAR UNLESS THE GAS PEDAL IS ALMOST FULLY RELEASED. TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT TO PASS. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052348January 4, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL LOSES SPEED UP LONG INCLINES. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052351January 4, 2004
SUSPENSION:REAR
REAREND WHINES UNDER POWER FROM 50-60 MPH AND WHILE DECELERATING FROM 45-40 MPH. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052350January 4, 2004
STRUCTURE
RATTLE IN DASHBOARD, DRIVERS SIDE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051305December 30, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
4X4 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB STALLS PERIODICALLY. HAS STALLED 12 TIMES BETWEEN THE PERIOD 10/30/03 AND 12/19/03. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS IT CANNOT RECREATE. USUALLY OCCURS WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF STARTING. TYPICALLY HAS BEEN AT SLOW SPEEDS (20 MPH OR LOWER), BUT HAS OCCURRED AS HIGH AS 40 MPH. TYPICALLY RESTARTS AFTER SITTING FOR A FEW MINUTES. WOULD NOT RESTART, HOWEVER, AFTER STALL ON 12/14/03. CURRENTLY ON 5TH SERVICE VISIT. DEALERSHIP TELLS ME NO ERROR CODES SHOW UP ON THE COMPUTER. I SUGGESTED INSTALLATION OF A CO-PILOT. AFTER LENGTHY WAIT FOR A CO-PILOT (NATIONAL BACKORDER PER CHRYSLER), EVENT WAS RECORDED ON CO-PILOT AND HAS BEEN SENT TO CHRYSLER. AS OF YET, NO WORD ON RESULTS OF CO-PILOT DATA. I HAVE BEGUN ARBITRATION PROCESS UNDER MN LEMON LAW TO HAVE VEHICLE REPLACED/REPURCHASED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050909December 22, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
DODGE DAKOTA 2003 SPORT: FIRST FEW MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, I WENT TO HAVE TIRES ROTATED (20,000MI) AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE OUT OF SPEC. BY THE MECHANIC AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. AFTER INSPECTION, THE DEALER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG.I KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SINCE THAT TIME, EVERYTIME I TURN LEFT WHILE APPLYING BRAKES IN A DOWNHILL SITUATION, A TERRIBLE GRINDING SOUND IS HEARD. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 54000MI AND I HEAR ABOUT WHEELS BREAKING OFF. I AM SCARED FOR MY FAMILIES AND PERSONAL SAFETY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051918December 22, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS, BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051922December 22, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP TWICE BUT THE SAME PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. LOUD NOISE CAME FROM INSIDE FUEL TANK. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INDICATED THAT FUEL PUMP COULD CATCH ON FIRE AND MELT THE WIRES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050822December 19, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
I RECENTLY SAW A CBS NEWS STORY CONCERNING THE UPPER BALL JOINTS OF DODGE DAKOTAS WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. MY DAKOTA IS A 2002. I HAVE TAKEN IN INTO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALORSHIP REPEATEDLY BECAUSE I HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN MAKING A TURN, ESPECIALLY ON AN INCLINE. EVERY TIME I HAVE TAKEN IT IN, THEY ARE NEVER ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE EVEN TAKEN THE MECHANIC FOR A RIDE WITH ME AFTER THEY HAD IT ALL MORNING AND THE NOISE, SURE ENOUGH, CAN'T BE DUPLICATED WHILE HE IS IN THE TRUCK. BUT SURE ENOUGH, 3 OR 4 DAYS LATER THE NOISE COMES BACK. AND THE PORCESS REPEATS AGAIN. I TAKE IT, THEY CAN'T FIND IT, I TAKE THE MECHANIC AND THE NOISE IS GONE, 3 OR 4 DAYS LETTER - HELLO - ITS BACK! CAN YOU HELP ME? FYI: FOR THE INCIDENT DATE, I JUST PUT TODAY'S DATE. I TOOK THE TRUCK IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT ON 5/24/2002; 12/6/2002; & 9/3/2003 . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049746December 15, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TRANMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT FROM THIRD GEAR. DEALER CONFIRMED PROBLEM, ORDERED REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION MODULE. REPLACEMENT DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FROM DEALER FOUND BROKEN WIRE IN WIRING HARNESS LEADING TO TRANSMISSION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049751December 15, 2003
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS:FRONT
AIRBAG FAILURE ON 2003 DODGE DAKOTA SXT. FORCE WAS SUCH THAT FRAME OF TRUCK IS BENT AND WILL BE REPLACED BUT NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SIDE SHOULDER HARNESS ON SEAT BELT ALSO FAILED. A VISIT TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS.COM QUICKLY MADE ME AWARE THAT DAIMLER HAS THIS PROBLEM ON MANY OF ITS VEHICLES BUT SENDS THE SAME "FORM" LETTER TO EACH CONSUMER REPORTING THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10046663December 10, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PERFORM THE WIRING HARNESS RECALL 03 V 389 000 BECAUSE THE CONSUMER DIDN'T PURCHASE THE VEHICLE FROM THEM. *AK *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049458December 9, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY
WATER LEAKING ON PASSENGER SIDE. DEALER ATTEMPTED REPAIR 4 TIMES. DEALER SAID FIRST TIME AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSATION LEAKED. FILLED UP WITH WATER AFTER RAIN, RUINED CARPET AND MUSTY SMELL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044936December 3, 2003
SUSPENSION, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
AT 6,000 MILES THE UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. WHEN RIDING OVER ANY SIZE BUMP IN THE ROAD THE FRONT END COLLAPSED. *AK THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN BRAKING, THE FLAPPER DOOR FOR THE FUEL FILLER NECK WAS MISSING AND OR FELL INSIDE THE TANK, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY, THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS WERE GROOVED, WORN UNEVEN AND PITTED. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046167December 2, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE LEFT WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE TO HIT A TREE AND ROLLED OVER. THE DEALER BELIEVED THAT THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO FRONT END SUSPENSION FAILURE, HOWEVER THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. *AK *SCC
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047567November 25, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
RH SIDE - UPPER BALL JOINT NEEDS REPLACEMENT AT 15,700 MILES. DEALER FOUND BALL JOINT TO BE "OUT OF SPEC" AFTER AN INSPECTION WAS REQUESTED DURING ROUTINE SERVICE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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