Dodge Dakota Complaints

6,628 consumer complaints on file.

#10053058January 13, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
SQUEAKING NOISES HEARD EMINATING FROM FRONT SUSPENSION AT 35000 MILES, UNABLE TO LUBRICATE SUSPENSION BECAUSE COMPONENTS LACK SERVICE/GREASE FITTINGS. DURING FOLLOW-UP INSPECTION AND TIRE ROTATION, IDENTIFIED PREMATURE WEAR TO RIGHT SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT CAUSING MISALIGNMENT, UNUSUAL WEAR TO FRONT TIRES AND WEAR TO LEFT WHEEL BEARING. DEALER REPLACED LEFT WHEEL BEARING AND RIGHT SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT AT 37336 MILES. DEALER ALSO RECOMMENDED THE REPLACEMENT OF MOST OF THE OTHER SUSPENSION COMPONENTS BEFORE THEY FAILED. DODGE WAS HELPFUL IN PICKING UP THE COST OF FAILED PARTS, NOT RECOMMENDED REPAIRS. MY COST $100.00, FOR GOING OVER THE WARRANTEE MILAGE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN A MAINTENANCE FREE SYSTEM. PLUS, I GET TO PAY FOR A RE-ALIGNMENT AFTER THE CURRENT REPAIRS AND MOST LIKELY THE COST OF ANY OTHER PREMATURE FAILURE OF THESE MAINTENANCE FREE PARTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053059January 13, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
PREMATURE WEAR ON LEFT BALL JOINTS FOR 1998 DODGE DAKOTA 2WD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053117January 13, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
I RECENTLY HAD MY TRUCK IN FOR PRE-WINTER MAINTENANCE CHECK, MY MECHANIC SAID THREE OUT OF THE FOUR BALL JOINTS ARE BAD AND NEED REPLACING. ALSO, WHEN I DO HAVE THEM REPLACED I MAY AS WELL DO ALL FOUR BECAUSE HE HAS SEEN "A LOT" OF DAKOTAS WITH BALL JOINTS GOING BAD. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST $490 TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. WITH JUST OVER 58K MILES, RARELY DRIVEN OFF OF BLACKTOP, AND GIVEN THE RECENTLY PUBLICITY BY THE NEWS MEDIA, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM HERE. I FIND THIS TO BE JUSTIFICATION FOR A RECALL OR AT THE VERY LEAST A MANUFACTURERS RE-IMBERSEMENT FOR THE COST OF THE PARTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053988January 13, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BALL JOINT PROBLEM. BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS PREMATURELY WORE OUT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052875January 12, 2004
STEERING
PURCHASED 2000 DODGE DAKOTA. QUAD CAB SUMMER 2002, APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES AT TIME OF PURCHASE. VEHICLE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AT THAT TIME. HAD PROBLEMS WITH STEERING. THE WHEEL WOULD JERK FROM SIDE TO SIDE AS IF THE POWER STEERING WOULD ENGAGE AND THEN DISENGAGE DURING A TURN. BROUGHT TO DEALER. THEY SAID THEY FIXED PROBLEM BY REPLACING STEERING COLUMN. PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. RETURNED TO DEALER. REPLACED BEARINGS IN COLUMN DURING SECOND REPAIR. DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. RETURNED AGAIN, DEALER(FORMERLY COURTESY DODGE, NORWICH, CT) STATED THAT THEY SOLD THERE WARRANTY TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT MAKE REPAIR. I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE TO OTHER DEALERSHIP. TAKEN TO OTHER DEALER SHIP BUT AT THIS TIME PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN FIXED AND VEHICLE WAS OVER 36,000 MILES. DEALER SAID I WOULD HAVE TO FILL OUT FORMS AND THAT IT WAS UNLIKELY THE REPAIR WOULD BE AUTHORIZED. HOW IS IT IF THE REPAIR WAS NEVER COMPLETED THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO WAIT UNTIL WARRANTY EXPIRES AND SAY TOO BAD. I WAS THEN RECALLED BY THE MILITARY AND HAD TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE TO NEW JERSEY SO THE REPAIR WAS NEVER COMPLETED. THANKS, NOW COURTESY KIA. I WISH I COULD CONDUCT MY BUSINESS LIKE THE DEALERS. JUST IGNORE THE PROBLEM AND IT WILL GO AWAY!!!!!!!. IM NOT FINISHED WITH THIS YET!!!! JPL. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052898January 12, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD 4X4, UPPER BALL JOINT FAILED AT 40,000 MILES. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, DID NOT RECEIVE A SATISFACTORY RESPONSE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053808January 12, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED AND CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS WAS DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR OF THE BALL JOINTS BECAUSE OF POOR LUBRICATION. THE PART WAS REPLACED, BUT CURRENTLY THEY WERE LOOSE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052902January 12, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
2000 DODGE DAKOTA 4.7L QUAD CAB BALL JOINTS STARTED MAKING SQUEAKING NOISES WHEN TURNING AT AROUND 40,000 MILES. NOISE IS NOW GETTING UNBEARABLE AND STEERING SOMEWHAT "LURCHES" WHEN TURNING TIGHTLY. NEEDS MAJOR WORK ON BALL JOINTS MUCH EARLIER THAN WOULD BE REASONABLE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052979January 12, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS MADE CLUNKING AND POPPING SOUNDS. BUSHINGS MADE LOUD SQUEAKING SOUNDS. ALL MENTIONED PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SOUNDS STARTED AS EARLY AS 10,000 MILES LOGGED ON VEHICLE. AFTER SEARCHING INTERNET FOUND BALL JOINTS COULD SEPARATE AND FINALLY TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER IS REPLACING PARTS UNDER WARRANTY BUT MY CONCERN IS THEY ARE REPLACING THEM WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE PARTS. *LA
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
#10047968January 12, 2004
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO INVESTIGATE THE NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE LEFT REAR TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT. *AK AFTER GOING TO SEVERAL TIRE DEALERS THEY OFFERED NO SUGGESTIONS BUT TO REPLACE THE TIRE AT THE CONSUMERS EXPENSE. *CB *JB
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
#10052793January 10, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT ARE BAD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052800January 10, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
IN OCT.2002 MY TRUCK SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IN THE PAST THE TRUCK HAD SHUT OFF IN REVERSE OR WHEN I WAS AT A DEAD STOP AND THEN PRESS THE GAS, BUT THIS TIME I HAD TO DRIVE WITH MY FOOT ON THE GAS AND THE BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME AND THEN PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AT A STOP TO KEEP THE GAS GOING. I HAD ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY BLINKERS. YOU TURN THE LEFT ONE ON AND OCCASIONALLY THE RIGHT ONE WILL BLINK TO-LIKE "HAZARD LIGHTS". MY DASH BOARD WOULD ALSO LIGHT UP WHILE DRIVING OR EVEN WHEN I COME TO A STOP AT A LIGHT. I PUT IT OFF UNTIL THE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A COMPUTER PROBLEM AND THE TRUCK HAD BEEN DOING IT SINCE DAY 1, THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM TO THE BLINKERS. ALSO THE A/C CONDESATION LINE HAD A CRACK IN IT AND WAS LEAKING INTO MY PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR-THAT WAS A SECOND TRIP. NOW MY TRUCK IS HAVEING THE SAME SHUT-OFF PROBLEM STARTING JUST LIKE IT DID LAST TIME-SO NOW I AM LOOKING INTO THE "LEMON LAW", IT SEEMS TO APPLY SO FAR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053738January 9, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052760January 9, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
BOUGHT USED 1998 DODGE DAKOTA IN JULY 2002. VEHICLE HAD 45,000 MILES. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD BEEN REPLACED. VEHICLE STARTED MAKING POPPING NOISES IN OCTOBER 2003 AND CONTINUED TO WORSEN. I COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. FINALLY TOOK IT TO DEALER IN DEC 2003 AND WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE SHOT. VEHICLE HAD 61,000 MILES AT TIME OF REPLACEMENT FOR SECOND SET OF LOWER BALL JOINTS. DEAL ER ADVISED THAT AT TIME OF FIRST REPLACEMENT AFTER MARKET BALL JOINTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT THEY WERE FACTORY REPLACEMENTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052657January 8, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
THE LOWER BALL JOINT ON MY 1999 DODGE DAKOTA FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE TO SLAM VIOLENTLY TO THE GROUND. THE RACK AND PINION WAS DAMAGED AS A RESULT. STEERING ALIGNMENT WAS GREATLY AFFECTED AS WELL. FRONT BUMPER WAS ALSO DAMAGED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE BALL JOINTS ARE A GROWING CONCERN WITH DAKOTAS AND DURANGOS AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME ACTION TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER. *LA
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052672January 8, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
I TOOK MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA TO GET STATE INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD THE LEFT UPPER BALL JOINT WAS WORN OUT. ONLY HAS 35000 MILES ON IT. I WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED ON DEC 29 2003 AND WAS TOLD THE BALL JOINTS ARE ON BACK ORDER UNTIL JAN 14 2004 AND WAS TOLD I MAY NOT BE ONE OF THE LUCK ONES TO GET IT EVEN THEN. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN SITTING SINCE DEC 31 2003 BECAUSE OF THE INSPECTION HAS EXP. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052688January 8, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
HAVE A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA 4 WHEEL DRIVE, 5.2L V8. HEARD KNOCKING SPORADIC NOISES IN FRONT SUSPENSION. TOOK IT TO DODGE DEALERSHIP WHO INFORMED ME THAT BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. IN DOING SOME RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH DAKOTAS. IF I WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN MINE IN TO BE LOOKED AT, IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE ASK DODGE FOR MY OLD BALL JOINTS SO THAT I CAN HAVE THEM AS EVIDENCE. DODGE IS CHARGING ABOUT $600 FOR THE REPAIR. IT DOESN'T SEEM FAIR THAT DODGE IS MAKING MONEY OF THE REPAIR OF A BALL JOINT THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE NEEDED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. DODGE SHOULD ISSUE A SERVICE ADVISORY AND THIS TYPE OF REPAIR SHOULD BE HANDLED FREE OF CHARGE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050352January 8, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BALL JOINTS. THE DEALERSHIP/MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE UPPER FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. *AK *PH *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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