Dodge Dakota Complaints

6,628 consumer complaints on file.

#10102211December 6, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
MY 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB HAS HAD THE BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES WITH NO SEVERE USE. AND ALSO THE BALL JOINTS ARE WORN OUT AT 35,000 MILES. THESE PARTS SHOULD LAST A LOT LONGER ON A LIGH USE VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102228December 6, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
DECEMBER 6, 2004 I OWN A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CABU AND NOTICED A SHAKING FEELING WHEN APPLYING MY BRAKES WHEN GOING DOWN HILL ON 11/25/04. THIS PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS THAT THERE IS A LOUD CREAKING NOISE. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN FOR ANY OIL CHANGE AND ASKED TO HAVE A ROAD TEST DONE TO SEE WHAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. I WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT MY FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE COMPLETLY RUSTED, ROTTED OUT, AND HAD GROOVES ALL OVER THEM. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT MY BALL JOINTS WERE "SHOT" AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE 22,000 MILES ON MY DAKOTA AND DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS EXCEPTABLE TO HAVE MY FRONT BRAKES COMPLETELY REPLACED! I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE DAKOTA FROM AND WAS TOLD THAT DODGE'S WARRANTY ONLY COVERS BRAKES FOR 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES! AFTER READING THE NHTSA'S COMPLAINTS FOR A SIMILIAR PROBLEM, I SEE THAT THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN THE VEHICLE'S MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 20,000-25,000 MILES. NOT VERY HAPPY WITH DODGE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM! DEALERSHIP DID NOT SEEM TO BE VERY UNDERSTANDING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103188December 6, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
CONSUMER STATED UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102247December 6, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
I PURCHASED MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUADCAB 4X4 NEW FROM THE DEALER. AND AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES I NOTICE SUSPENSION NOISE FROM THE FRONT. IT WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST THEN AS I APPROACHED 50,000 MILES THE NOISE BECAME A METALLIC CHATTER AT ALL TIMES. I HAD THE PARTS REPLACED BY A LOCAL SHOP AFTER THE DEALER FAILED TO HONOR MY APPOINTMENT TIMES. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE OUT AND THAT THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO COMMENTED THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN A BALL JOINT WEAR OUT IN JUST 50,000 MILES. HE GAVE ME THE OLD PARTS SHOWED THE PLAY IN THE JOINT AND THE ABSENCE OF GREASE IN THE BOOT. HE CLAIMED THAT THE DESIGN MUST BE DEFECTIVE TO WEAR OUT THAT EARLY AND COMPLETELY. I USE THE CAR FOR WORK AND LOSE MONEY WHEN IT IS NOT OPERATIVE. MY MAIN CONCERN WAS SAFETY AND RELIABILITY SINCE I AM REQUIRED TO WORK IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS WITH MY CONTRACT TO THE LOCAL UTILITY, PG&E. NOW I AM AT 65,000 MILES AND THEY ARE GIONG OUT AGAIN. IT IS UNDER WARRANTY WITH THE LOCAL SHOP BUT IS IT FAIR FOR THIS BUSINESS TO DEAL WITH A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM? THE DATE OF REPAIR WAS 8/23/04 BUT THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED 4/5/04 AND WORSENED TO I FELT I COULDN'T SAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANYMORE. NOW THE EARLY SIGNS ARE STARTING AGAIN 10,000 MILES AFTER REPAIR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102182December 5, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
1999 DODGE DAKOTA-UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. NOTICE A CLANKING NOISE DURING ROUGH ROADS AND IN TURNS. IN ICY CONDITIONS, THE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE CAN BE POOR. PROLONGED WEAR CAN CAUSE THE ENTIRE WHEEL TO FALL OFF AT ANY SPEEDS. I HAVE BEEN ON MANY OTHER FORUMS TO SEE IF ANY ONE ELSE HAS HAD TO REPLACE THESE. IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY FREQUENT THING FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE TO REPLACE THESE. UPON REMOVAL OF THE BALL JOINTS, I DISCOVERED THAT THEY WERE MISSING ONE THING THAT KEEPS THEM FROM WEARING OUT....GREASE. NEW UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ARE TO BE REPLACED ASAP BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102126December 4, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
SUBJECT VEHICLE: 2000 DODGE DAKOTA R/T, ILES: 49000; USAGE: DAILY DRIVER-CITY/HWY ONLY; COMPLAINT: EXCESSIVE UPPER BALL JOINT PLAY EARLY FAILURE. *AK AT APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MILES I NOTICED A SLIGHT CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION. I LUBED THE FRONT END USING THE APPROPRIATE TOOL AND GREASE NIPPLES BUT FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO FITTING ON THE UPPER BALL JOINT. THE CLICKING SOUND PROGRESSED TO CLUNKING OVER THE NEXT 10000 MILES AND ON INSPECTION I FOUND EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE UPPER FRONT SUSPENSION ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE LEFT SIDE BEING THE MOST EGREGIOUS. IN ADDITION I STARTED TO NOTICE WANDERING IN THE STEERING TRACK OF THE VEHICLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I FOCUSED MY ATTENTION ON THE UPPER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY'S AND HAVE SINCE REPLACED BOTH. THE SYMPTOM HAS CLEARED. I HAVE HAD AN ASSORTMENT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE THIS HAVING THE MOST POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE APPRECIATED JAMES DALY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102128December 4, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
I OWN A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA AND HAD TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED AT 24,000 MILES AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS COMMON. MY HOPE IS THAT YOU WOULD INVESTIGATE THIS AND FORCE CHRYSLER TO DO A RE-CALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102144December 4, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
1998 DODGE DAKOTA UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. REPORTED BY REPAIR SHOP WHEN ASKED TO PERFORM A FRONT ALLIGNMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT TEY HAVE NEVER SEEN A WORSE CASE OF WORN OUT BALL JOINTS. THEY TOLD ME THAT AN ALLIGNMENT CANNOT BE PERFORMED WITHOUT THE BALL JOINT REPALCEMENT. FRON END IS LOOSE AND MAKES A POPPING SOUND WHEN TURNING. TRUCK HAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000 MILES. NO REPAIR COMPLETED AS YET. I WAS INFORMED BY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT IS LIKELY TO BE INITIATED SOON AND THAT I SHOULD WAIT FOR THE RECALL AND AVOID DRIVING THE TRUCK UNTIL FIXED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105398December 3, 2004
WHEELS:HUB, WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
DECORATIVE END COVERS CAME OFF OF WHEEL NUT. WHEEL NUT CATCH 1/2 " OF THE END OF LUG BOLTS. *BF *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102109December 3, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN COLD MY 2001 DAKOTA STUTTERS FROM 2300 TO 2500 RPM. WHEN I TALK TO OTHER DAKOTA OWNERS THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS FOR SOMEONE NOT INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100945December 2, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, INTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS TURNING OFF AND ON AND FLASHING WHILE DRIVING, POWER DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING DURING THIS TIME. IF INTERIOR LIGHTS ARE ON AT THIS TIME THEY WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF ALSO. FOUND PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS OF DODGE RAM'S AND DAKOTA'S HAVE SAME PROBLEM WHICH WAS RECALLED. CENTRAL TIMER MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED. A VEHICLE WITH 60,000 MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. COULD ONLY DRIVE IN DAYLIGHT HOURS UNTIL PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED AT MY EXPENSE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102060December 2, 2004
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
A LOUD CLANKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT THE CLUTCH POPPED OUT. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE 02 SENSOR BLEW A HOLE INSIDE OF THE CLUTCH AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK......*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100971December 2, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
RECENT INSPECTION BY AUTHORIZED MECHANIC REVEALS HEAVILY WORN BALL JOINTS ON 2003 DODGE DAKOTA WITH 24,000 MILES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100974December 2, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
I STARTED TO NOTICE A LOUD POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL WELL ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA SLT CLUB CAB. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO AN INDEPENDANT GARAGE AND WAS TOLD THAT MY BALL JOINTS WERE IN DESPARATE NEED OF REPLACEMENT. I WAS TOLD BY THE ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC THAT THE BALL JOINTS ARE SEALED AND COULD NOT GET THE PROPER LUBRICATION CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE BALL JOINTS COULD HAVE FAILED AT ANY TIME CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FAIL WHICH WOULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I ASKED THE MECHANIC IF THE REPLACEMENT BALL JOINTS WERE GREASABLE. HE TOLD ME YES. I FEEL THAT THE ORIGINAL BALL JOINTS WERE NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER, AND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT WARRANTS A RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100858December 1, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD END NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT APPROX. 55,000 MILES. THIS UNIT IS SEALED AT THE FACTORY AND NOT SERVICABLE BY THE OWNER. IT WAS REPLACED BY VISSING DODGE, JEFFERSONVILLE. IN. SERVICE MANAGER NOTED THAT THIS UNIT COULD FAIL RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL,(WORST CASE SENERIO). I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING BACK TO CAL. WITH THIS PROBLEM AND ITS SAFETY RELATED ISSUES. PASSENGER SIDE UNIT IS NOW SQUEEKING AND WILL NEED REPLACEMENT. TRUCK NOW HAS APPROX. 58,500 MILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098997December 1, 2004
AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
SRS AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO WORK WHEN APPLIED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100697November 29, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
2002 - DODGE DAKOTA: TRUCK MECHANICALLY SOUND WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENGINE. RECENTLY HAD A TUNE-UP & 27 POINT INSPECTION @ 50,000 MILES AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACEMENT AND WOULD COST ABOUT $1200.00 TO FIX. THE DEALERS MECHANIC ASKED IF I HAVE BEEN HEAR A "CLUNKING" SOUND WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS. I ADVISED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS SOUND STARTED HAPPENING AROUND 30,000 MILES BUT DID NOT PAY TO MUCH ATTENTION. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP IF IT WAS COMMON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN SO PREMATURELY. NO ANSWER. ANY RECALLS IN THE WORKS. THERE SEEMS TO BE MAY ISSUES FROM OTHERS SURROUNDING THE BALLJOINTS!!! IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL COST OF $1200.00 MAYBE I WOULD NOT HAVE CONSIDERED PURCHASING THE TRUCK IN THE FIRST PLACE.*AK FP
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100605November 27, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION:FRONT
TRANSMISSION SLIPS, RATTLING IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK THIS TRUCK BACK TO OUTTEN COUNTY CHRYSLER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY WOULD NOT FIX ANY OF THE PROBLEMS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101660November 26, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO HAVE THE ROTORS TURNED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100574November 26, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
LEFT AND RIGHT BALL JOINTS ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK FAILED WITH ONLY 46,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. I HAD TO REPLACE THEM IN ORDER FOR THE TRUCK TO PASS ITS STATE SAFETY INSPECTION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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