Dodge Dakota Complaints

6,628 consumer complaints on file.

#10065738April 7, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
DODGE MANUFACTURED MY VEHICLE WITH A 20 GALLON TANK, THOUGH IT WAS BUILT FOR THE SPEC OF A 22 GALLON TANK AND AND ALL THE ELECTRONICS WERE SET TO A 22 GALLON TANK. WHEN I NOTICED THE ERRONEOUS OUTPUT FROM THE COMPUTER I ASKED MY DEALER TO INVESTIGATE. THIS IS WHEN THEY DISCOVERED THAT I HAD A 20 GALLON TANK AND THAT MY MODEL WOULD NOT ACCEPT A 22 GALLON TANK. THEY ALSO MENTIONED THAT THEY HAD OTHERS ON THEIR LOT AT THE TIME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH DODGE HAS PRINTED NEW WINDOW STICKERS FOR SINCE THEN. THE ONLY THING THEY COULD DO IS ADJUST THE COMPUTER TO BE CORRECT. MY COMPLAINT REVOLVES AROUND THE TRUCKS THAT WERE SOLD WITH THIS CONDITION, I BELIEVE A TSB SHOULD BE ISSUED TO CORRECT THE COMPUTERS TO 20 GALLON TANKS AND TO NOTIFY THE OWNERS OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM. SINCE BRINGING THIS ISSUE TO DODGES ATTENTION, THEY HAVE BEEN VERY EVASIVE IN THEIR RESPONSE WHEN I ASKED WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO FOR ALL THE OWNERS AFFECTED BY THIS. I BELIEVE IT POSES A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM IN THAT IF AN OWNER RELIES ON THE COMPUTER, THEY COULD RUN OUT OF GAS AT AN INOPPURTUNE TIME. LIKE IN THE MIDDLE OF A FREEWAY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066694April 6, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE DRIVER COULD HEAR A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO WORN PARTS. *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066702April 6, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED WITH THE UPPER BALL JOINTS INCIDENTS AND HOW TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM. *PH *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066703April 6, 2004
SUSPENSION
AT 54K MILES, THE BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *PH *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065505April 5, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
VEHICLE HAD EXCESSIVE BRAKE PAD WEAR. THE FRONT PADS HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES AND THE REAR TWICE WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. ALSO AT 4,000 WHEN TURNING THERE WAS CLUCKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK. THE FRONT TIRES HAD A QUARTER INCH CUP IN THEM. THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BALL JOINT BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE UPPER BALL JOINT HAD TO BE REPLACE AGAIN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064572April 5, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL PRESSURE LIGHT GOES TO 0 AND BACK TO 40 THEN STAYS AT 0. NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEMS WITH OIL PUMP AND OIL SENDING UNIT, SCREENS AND ETC. OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED FOR FREE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064580April 5, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, STEERING:COLUMN, SUSPENSION:FRONT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
AT APPROX. 8K MILES, PULSING AND SHIMMY STARTED IN FRONT END. HAD TO RESURFACE ROTORS. HAD TO DO AGAIN LATER AT ABOUT 35K. NOT NORMAL. AT 15K REPORTED FRONT END CREAKS/GROANS DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM. AT 35K MORE OF THE SAME, DEALER REPLACED FRONT STABILIZER/SWAY BUSHING. AT 38K MILES, REPLACED LOWER STEERING COLUMN. HELPED SOME BUT STILL CREAKING WHEN STEERING AT LOW SPEED. AT 53K ASKED AGAIN ABOUT STEERING GROAN. DEALER SAYS HE COULD FIX FOR ABOUT $1000 (OF COURSE OUT OF WARRANTY NOW! AND I'VE BEEN ASKING ABOUT THIS SINCE 15K MILES). ALSO AT 53K, REPLACED LOWER BALL JOINTS LEFT SIDE AND FUEL PUMP. AT 59K BACK IN THE SHOP TODAY TO REPLACE RIGHT BALL JOINTS WHICH CAUSE VEHICLE STEERING TO "WANDER" AND HAVE BADLY WORN INSIDE RIGHT TIRE. QUALITY OF VEHICLE IS LOUSY AND THEY WON'T ADMIT IT OR STAND BEHIND IT. THE ROTOR AND FRONT END PROBLEMS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THEY IMPAIR THE DRIVERS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064508April 4, 2004
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
I BOUGHT A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT WITH A 6 CYLINDER SO FAR THERE HAS BEEN 3 CV SHAFTS PUT IN IT AND I AM WONDERING WHY I HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING THE CV SHAFTS IN THIS TRUCK, IT IS GETTING VERY AGGRAVATING I BOUGHT THE TRUCK WITH 9100 MILES ON IT MAY OF 2001 TWO MONTH AFTER I GOT IT I HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE CV SHAFT. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE CV SHAFT 2 OTHER TIMES SINCE THEN RIGHT NOW IT HAS ABOUT 43500 ON IT NOW WHY DOES THIS PROBLEM KEEP OCCURRING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064512April 4, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IN MY 99 DODGE DAKOTA WITH 38,900 MILES ON IT. CHRYSLER DAIMLER COVERED ONLY PARTS. IT COST ME 370 DOLLARS TO GET IT REPAIRED. I CONTESTED WHEN THEY SAID THEY WOULD ONLY COVER PARTS. CHRYSLER STATED THAT IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THIS IS ALL THEY WOULD DO. I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT VERY LOW MILES ON THIS CHRYSLER PRODUCT. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. CHRYSLER WON'T TALK TO ME ANYMORE. THEY STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY I COULD STILL FIGHT IT WAS TO PAY THE FULL PRICE FOR THE REPAIR AND THEN CONTEST IT. I NEEDED MY TRUCK BACK. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IT FAR DO TO THE OIL CONSUMPTION. I WAS STUCK. I PAID IT CAUSE I NEEDED A VEHICLE. AGE SHOULDN'T MATTER IN A CASE LIKE THIS. 38,900 IS WAY TO LOW OF MILES FOR A MAJOR REPAIR LIKE THIS. I AM WORRIED THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND THAT CHRYSLER WILL JUST SAY "TOUGH". I HAVE READ COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB WHERE PEOPLE HAVE HAD IT REPLACED 3 TIMES WITHIN 100,000 MILES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064396April 2, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THE VEHICLE IS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB EQUIPPED WITH A FACTORY TOWING PACKAGE. ON MARCH 12, I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON I-215 PULLING A TRAILER. I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, THEN THE CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHT, AND EMERGENCY FLASHER CEASED OPERATING. A COMBINATION FLASHER UNIT HAD FAILED AND BURNED, WITH THE PLASTIC CASE PARTIALLY MELTED. THE HEAT HAD DAMAGED THE COMBINATION SWITCH, WHICH ALSO FAILED, AND THE PLUG INTO THE WIRING HARNESS WAS ALSO PARTIALLY MELTED. THE DODGE DEALER CHANGED THE FAILED COMPONENTS, AND THEY FAILED AGAIN, THIS TIME WITH NO TRAILER ATTACHED. THE DEALER FINALLY ATTRIBUTED THE FAILURES TO A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE WIRING INSTALLED BY THE FACTORY WHICH CONNECTED THE FACTORY INSTALLED TRAILER SOCKET TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I HAVE ADVISED DODGE OF THE PROBLEM, AND THEY MAINTAIN THAT THEIR WIRING WAS NOT DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT THE SHORT ORIGINATED IN THE TRAILER WIRING. THEY MADE THIS DETERMINATION WITHOUT EXAMINING THE TRAILER. EVEN IF THE SHORT DID IN FACT START IN THE TRAILER, THE FACTORY DESIGNED AND INSTALLED WIRING HARNESS SHOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE SHORT FROM DESTROYING THESE VITAL SAFETY COMPONENTS. THE FREEWAY I WAS ON WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED WAS PACKED WITH RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, AND IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT MAKING MY WAY TO SAFETY PULLING A TRAILER WITHOUT THE USE OF THE SIGNAL LIGHTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064402April 2, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
I TOOK MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB TO A DEALER TO CHECK A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE. THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WEARING DOWN AND THAT I COULD LOOSE THE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. MY COMPLAINT IS BASED ON THE FACT THAT ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED ON A VEHICLE UNTIL AT LEAST 100,000 MILES. FROM MY RESEARCH THIS IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS CORRECTION IN THESE MODELS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065468April 1, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
FRONT BALL JOINTS FAILED AT 48,000 MILES. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064319April 1, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
THE BALL JOINTS ON MY 2002 DODGE DAKATO 4X4 HAVE PREMATURELY FAILED. THE TRUCK HAS APPROX. 27000 MILES ON IT. THE INFAMOUS KNOCKING SOUND COMES FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN I TURN. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TAKEN TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS A GRAND TOTAL OF 5 TIMES FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. A SERVICE TECH AND A SERVICE MANAGER HAVE BOTH RIDDEN IN THE TRUCK AND AGREE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM INITIALLY. UPON INSPECTION, I HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM "UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION." I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY ALWAYS FAVOR THE SERVICE DEALERS OVER THE CUSTOMER'S OPINION. THROUGH RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THE BALL JOINTS ON DAKOTAS AND DURANGOS PREMATURELY FAIL. I INFORMED DODGE THAT I KNEW THIS AND THAT I WOULD LIKE THEM TO RETHINK THEIR ORIGINAL DECISION. THEY SAID THAT NOTHING IN MY RESEARCH PROVIDED REASON TO CHANGE THEIR CONCLUSION. MY TRUCK HAS PREMATURELY FAILED BALL JOINTS AND NEITHER DODGE NOR THE DODGE SERVICE DEALER WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065414April 1, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH AN ALARM SOUNDED WARNING THE CONSUMER TO CHECK THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. OIL PRESSURE GAUGE REGISTERED VERY LOW OIL PRESSURE. CONSUMER CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL WITH THE DIP STICK AND FOUND IT TO BE UP TO PAR. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND A SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE. A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064367April 1, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
HEADLIGHT SWITCH AN WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT. TOOK TO DEALER AN HAD REPAIRED, MECHANIC SAID ALL 1995 AN 1996 DAKATAS AN RAMS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING, DO TO TO TOWING IT PUT TO MUCH OF AN OVER LOAD ON THE WIRING WHICH SHORTED IT OUT THE WIRES AN SWITCH NO WOULDN'T THIS BE A SAFETY HAZARD AN DODGE SHOULD REMEDY THIS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062825April 1, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED A NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END. THE DEALER DETERMINED, THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061317April 1, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT UPPER FRONT BALL JOINT WERE WORN OUT. CONSUMER WAS NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS AT THIS TIME. DEALERSHIP HAD NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER RECEIVED A COPY OF A CONSUMER REPORT REGARDING THE PROBLEM WITH BALL JOINTS ON VEHICLE, BUT MANUFACTURER SAID THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE EXISTING PROBLEM. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061376April 1, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A POPPING METAL NOISE IN THE FRONT END. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE UPPER THEN THE LOWER BALL JOINTS BECAUSE THEY WERE WORN OUT. *AK THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AT 27K MILES AND AGAIN AT 65K MILES. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061392April 1, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE FOR AND INSPECTION AND IT FAILED. FAILURE WAS DUE TO EXCESSIVE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT WEAR.*AK*MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061413April 1, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. CONSUMER HAD THE PROBLEM REPAIRED. *AK *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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