Dodge Dakota Complaints

6,628 consumer complaints on file.

#10102615December 10, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE IN 1998 DODGE DAKOTA 4WD. QUERY: WHY ISN'T THE RECALL RE. BALL JOINTS COVERING DAKOTAS MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO 2000? MINE EXPERIENCED LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE AT 30,000 MILES AND I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT WILL CAUSE REPEATING BALL JOINT FAILURE. NOW I AM INFORMED THERE IS A RECALL OF 2000-2004 MODELS WITH A SIMILAR DEFECT, BECAUSE WHEELS HAVE COME OFF. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COMPREHENSIVELY ADDRESSED TO INCLUDE PRIOR MODEL YEAR PROBLEMS. MOST OF THESE VEHICLES ARE STILL ON THE ROAD ! *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102620December 10, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HIT A POTHOLE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE CAME RIGHT OFF , IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 2000 - 2003'S HAVE. WE HAVE PICTURES OF IT TO PROVE IT . THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS LET LOOSE THE CV SHAFT PULLED OUT AND THE SHOCK GOT BENT. THE TIRE TURNED ON ITS SIDE WHILE THE TRUCK WAS SLIDING DOWN THE ROAD SIDEWAYS AND I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL HOW THE TRUCK WAS GOING. THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE TIRE ON THE TRUCK WAS THE BRAKE LINE. THE TIRE RIM HAD CHUNKS TAKEN OUT OF IT AND THE TIRE HAD WEAR FROM BEING ON ITS SIDE UNDER THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK WHILE IT WAS SLIDING. WE HAD TO GET IT FLATBEDDED TO THE REPAIR SHOP . WE HAD A CERTIFIED REPAIR SHOP DO ALL THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO THE TRUCK TO WHICH INCLUDED NEW UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS,NEW CV SHAFT, NEW RIM ADN TIRE , NEW SHOCK , AXLE ASSEMBLY,BRAKE HOSE , STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE,INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS AND A FRONT END ALIGNMENT.THIS TRUCK HAD JUST BEEN THROUGH A NYS INSPECTION IN DECEMBER 2003 AND PASSED. THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 25, 2004 WHICH LEFT US WITHOUT THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ABLE TO BE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY WE GOT THE TRUCK BACK ON NOVEMBER 10 , 2004. WE FEEL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR BILL FOR THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY ARE ADMITTING THERE IS A PROBLEM THE SAME AS THIS TO THE NEWER MODELS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102635December 10, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
1998 DODGE DAKOTA. I PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES FROM A GOODYEAR DEALER. THEY TOLD ME AT THIS TIME THAT ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS WERE EXTREMELY BAD. ONE UPPER BALL JOINT HAD ABOUT AN INCH TO AN INCH AND A QUARTER. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AT MY EXPENSE TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED TO TRUCK AND AN EXTENDED WARRANTE. PERVIOUS TO THIS, I HAD BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT A LOUD THUMPIONG SOUND COMING FROM THE PASSENGER FRONT. (THIS TURNED OUT TO BE THE WORSE BALL HJOINT FOUND). THE DEALER KEPT TELLING ME THAT ALL MY SUSPENSION AND BALL JOINTS WERE FINE. THE SOUND CONTINUED AND I REPEATEDLY BOUGHT THE TRUCK BACK COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SOUND. THE LAST TIME, PRIOR TO MY GETTING NEW TIRES WHICH WERE ROTATED EVERY OTHER OIL CHANGE, I WAS CHARGED A ROAD TEST FEE AND TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. AFTER THE NEW TIRES WERE INSTALLED AND THE TRUCK BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT THEIR 'FRONT END EXPERT' FOUND ONE LOWER BALL JOINT (PASSENGER SIDE) THAT HAS A SMALL AMOUNT OF PLAY IN IT. IT WAS REPLACED. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK DIRECTLY BACK TO GOODYEAR FOR THE ALIGNMENT AND THEY CALLED ME INTO THE SERVICE AREA WHERE THEY SHOWED ME AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF PLAY IN THE RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINT AND AN MORE THAN NORMAL AMOUNT OF PLAY IN THE LEFT UPPER JOINT. THE LOWER JOINT HAD A GREASE FITTING AND DID NOT REVEAL THAT MUCH PLAY THIS TIME BECAUSE THE DEALER AND DONE A LUBE, OIL AND FILTER CHANGE WHILE THE TRUCK WAS THERE FOR THE BALL JOINT WORK. I NOW SEE THAT THE NHTSA AND ASKED FOR A RECALL ON THE DODGE VECHILES STARTING FROM THE YEAR 2000. MY TRUCK IS A 1998 AND CERTAINLY FITS THE DESCRIPTION OF THE OTHER RECALLED VECHILES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102632December 10, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED 3 TIMES. ROTORS WARPED BETWEEN 10,000 TO 20,000 MILES. IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THEM AGAIN ONLY WITH HIGH PERFORMANCE ROTORS, DODGE BRAKE ROTORS ARE NO GOOD.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102643December 10, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
NO EVENT YET, HOWEVER AS THE 2000 4 X 2WD DODGE DAKOTA HAS THE SAME BALL JOINTS AS THE 4 X 4 VERSION IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. SINCE IT IS NOT, I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT. IF ANY FAILURE, ACCIDENT OR INJURY DOES OCCUR FROM DODGE'S REFUSAL TO REPAIR MY 2000 DODGE DAKOTA UNDER THIS RECALL I WANT NOTE MADE OF MY COMPLAINT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102450December 9, 2004
STEERING:COLUMN, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
(1) FAILURE OF STEERING COMPONENTS; (2) REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE PARTS; (3) PARTS REPLACEMENT IMMINENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102465December 9, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
THERE HAS BEEN NO FAILURE OF MY FRONT END YET, HOWEVER I HAVE NOTICED A RATTLE IN THE FRONT. I HAVE NOT NOTIFIED MY DEALER YET. I DONT BELIEVE THE BALL JOINTS ARE UNDER WARRANTY. JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102470December 9, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
I NOTICED LOUD CRACKING-POPPING NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN TURNING OR TRAVELING OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE NOISES FROM THE SUSPENSION. THEY CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND SAID THAT I WAS IN DANGER OF LOSING A WHEEL IF I HIT A POT HOLE. THEY WANTED OVER $1000.00 TO REPLACE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. I DECLINED. I REPLACED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS MYSELF. I KNOW I WAS OVER THE 36000 MI. WARRANTY. I THOUGHT IT WAS AN EXCESSIVE AMMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPLACE 2 BALL JOINTS THAT COST $50.00 EACH. I DID NOT KEEP THE OLD PARTS. ONE OF THE BALL JOINTS FELL APART AS I WAS REMOVING IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102476December 9, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES
IN A RECENT NEWS ARTICLE I READ THAT THE NHTSA IS CONSIDERING RECALLING DODGE DAKOTAS FOR FAULTY UPPER BALL JOINTS. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE WITH MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB CONCERNING THIS ISSUE.*AK I RECENTLY TOOK MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB IN FOR A FRONT END ALLIGMENT. AT THE TIME OF SERVICE THE VEHICLE HAD 36,500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE SERVICE TECH NOTIFIED ME THAT THE RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINT HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY AND WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE AND SHOULD NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AT THE STATED MILEAGE. I HOPE THIS ISSUE CAN BE REMEDIED SOON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102483December 9, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
I BOUGHT MY TRUCK WITH 5,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION HITS THE REV LIMITER FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR WHEN PASSING OR GOING AROUND VEHICLES UNDER THE SPEED OF 30 MPH. FROM MY RESEARCH THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF DAKOTA OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I'VE TAKEN MINE TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX IT. MY WARRANTY RAN OUT AND I GOT TIRED OF TAKING IT TO THEM. I NOW HAVE 55,000 MILES ON MY DAKOTA AND IT STILL HITS THE REV LIMITER EACH TIME I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOOR FROM A STOP OR AT 30MPH. THE ONLY TIME IT SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR IS WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD. AFTER THAT, IT HITS THE REV LIMITER EVERYTIME. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM?? THERE'S BEEN NUMEROUS TIMES I HAVE ALMOST HAD A WRECK DUE TO THE TRANNY NOT SHIFTING TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. ONE DAY I MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102484December 9, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
I OWN 2 DODGE DAKOTAS ONE 1997 AND ONE 2001. I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS, BUT THEY ARE MAKING POPING AND CRACKING NOISES. THE 2001 ONLY HAS 24000 MILES ON IT. WHEN MAKING A HARD TURN BOTH DAKOTAS SEEM TO WOBBLE LIKE SOMTHING IS LOOSE. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS YET BUT SOMTHING IS WRONG. ALSO THE FRONT TIRES HAVE WARN UNEVEN ON BOTH TRUCKS. FRONT END ALIGNMENT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSABLE ON THE 2001 MODEL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10099788December 9, 2004
SEAT BELTS
THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PARKED AND WHEN IT HAD COME TIME TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE, THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT UNLATCH. THE SEAT BELT EVENTUALLY HAD TO BE CUT OFF IN ORDER TO GET THE PASSENGER OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102364December 8, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONTINUOUS ABS PROBLEMS. SOME TIMES THE ABS BRAKES WILL APPLY WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL, MOST OF THE TIME THE ABS WON'T WORK AT ALL, ABS SENSORS ARE CONTINUOUSLY NEEDING REPLACEMENT,ALL 4 FRONT END BALL JOINTS WORN OUT, NOISY REAR END, ONLY 50,000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103384December 8, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING THE RMPS ACCELERATED THE SPEED. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10099487December 8, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT COMPLETELY AT 27,000 MILES. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT A CONSISTENT RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT STEERING SUSPESION AREA. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PLAY INSIDE THE BALL JOINT WAS SEVERE. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097740December 8, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
THE TIRE RETAIL STORE WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AFTER REPLACING THE FRONT TIRES BECAUSE 3 OF THE BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE, AND THE FOURTH WORE OUT. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE HAS NO LIFT AND NO OVERSIZED TIRES. THE DEFECTIVE TIRES HAVE 20 TO 25% OF THE TREAD STILL ON THEM SHOWING INDICATION OF FAULTY BALL JOINTS. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10095051December 8, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED AN OIL TANKER WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED KNEE INJURIES, AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A HAIR LINE FRACTURE TO LEFT FOOT, ANGLE, AND RIBS. SHE ALSO SUFFERED FROM BACK PAINS. THIS WAS THE SECOND COLLISION WHERE THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK *TC THE CONSUMER'S HUSBAND APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE BRAKES FELT LIKE THEY WERE SLIPPING. *SC *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10102277December 7, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
DODGE DAKOTA UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE. SHAKING STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT END NOISE CLUED ME IN TO THE KNOWN PROBLEM. BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED WITH BETTER MOOG GREASABLE ONES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102278December 7, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
PREMATURE WEAR OF FACTORY BALL JOINTS ON MY 2000 DODGE DAKOTA AND WATER LEAK THAT FILLS UP MY PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD. DEALER HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIND WATER LEAK PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102195December 6, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DRIVING MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA (SLT 4X4) IN A 55 MPH SPEED LIMIT. WAS TRAVELING AT 49 MPH. APPLIED BRAKES WITH ABNORMALLY SLOW RESPONSE, JERKING AND VIBRATION, RESULTING IN REAR-ENDING THE CAR AHEAD. RESULTED IN $5050 DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK AND $4781 IN DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE. HAVE HAD BRAKES CHECKED TWICE BY THE DEALERSHIP SINCE ACCIDENT WITH EXPLAINATION THAT THE FRONT BRAKES ARE DISC AND THE BACK ARE DRUM AND THAT FRONT DISC BRAKES WILL APPLY BEFORE THE REAR, AND THIS IS THE NORMAL OPERATION OF THESE BRAKES. THIS TRUCK CONTINUES TO HAVE A LONG STOPPING DISTANCE COMPARED TO OTHER TRUCKS I HAVE OWNED. I AM NOW SEEING MULTIPLE OTHER BRAKING COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THIS TRUCK. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING FOR A DIFFERENT VEHICLE BECAUSE THIS ONE DOES NOT FEEL SAFE WHILE STOPPING.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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