Dodge Dakota Complaints (2003)

296 consumer complaints on file.

#10185685March 20, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. THE HEADLIGHTS AND AUTOMATIC LOCKS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WERE INOPERABLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. TWO MONTHS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC THEN STATED THAT THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MODULE WAS REPAIRED ON THE VEHICLE. SINCE THE REPAIR NO OTHER FAILURES OCCURRED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER REGARDING RECALL #02V322000. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 60,000.*AK UPDATE 05/10/07*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184365March 6, 2007
WHEELS:HUB, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM), STEERING:LINKAGES, SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I OWN A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB SLT. AND I HAVE RUN INTO A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRUCK THAT PEOPLE I KNOW SAY THEY HAD VERY SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME MAKE OF VEHICLE. TO START WITH MY TRUCK ONLY HAS ABOUT 62,184 MILES ON IT, FOR A 2003 MODEL TRUCK, THAT IS CONSIDERED LOW MILEAGE. THE PROBLEMS I HAVE RUN INTO IS AS FOLLOWS: BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUB BEARING SETS HAVE PREMATURELY FAILED, IN PARTICULAR, THE RIGHT FRONT HUB TRIED TO LOCK UP ON ME AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE TRUCK, I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THAT HUB BUT STILL NEED TO REPLACE THE LEFT FRONT BEFORE IT LOCKS UP:SECOND IS THAT THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION SYSTEM HAS NO PROVISIONS FOR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, I.E. NO GREASE ZIRCS FOR THE BALL JOINTS, TIE RODS,UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS, WHEEL BEARINGS, ETC...CAUSING RAPID WEAR AND FAILURE:THIRD BIG ISSUE, I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED ALL FOUR BRAKE ROTORS DUE TO WARPAGE. THE BRAKE CALIPERS WERE BUILT WITH SOME TYPE OF COMPOSITE PLASTIC PISTONS THAT DISTORT DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD UP IN THE BRAKES. WHICH IN TURN CAUSES UNEVEN PAD CONTACT, THAT THEN CAUSES EXCESSIVE HEAT, ACCELERATED PAD WEAR, BRAKE FADE, ROTOR WARPAGE, AND AN AWFUL "SQUEAL" WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY BRAND NEW BRAKE PADS ARE ACTUALLY CRACKED NOW BECAUSE OF A COMBINATION OF THE CALIPERS AND THE HUBS GOING BAD: FOURTH ISSUE IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION CAUSES THE ENGINE TO OVER "REV" IN THE HIGHWAY PASSING GEAR ESPECIALLY WITH THE OVER DRIVE AND CRUISE CONTROL ON. WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND YOU GIVE IT A LITTLE MORE GAS TO GET AROUND SOMEBODY, THE ENGINE RPM'S SHOULDN'T GO UP TO SOMETIMES AROUND 7000, THAT IN TURN COULD CAUSE PREMATURE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH DAIMLER-CHRYSLER ABOUT THESE CONCERNS BUT THEY JUST KEEP GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND AND NOT ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS. I STILL HAVE THE OLD PARTS ALSO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179058January 18, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
2003 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 PICKUP 1D7H32N03S124289 LOUD CLUNKING NOISES, FRONT END, STEERING LOOSESNESS,SKITTISHNESS, SEVERE VIBRATION AND POOR HANDLING FELT IN FRONT END SECTION OF VEHICLE. (PURCHASED FROM MITCHELL SIMSBURY,CT )BROUGHT TO LOCAL DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED & REPLACED (2)BAD /DEFECTIVE UPPER BALL JOINTS 17011019 BUT CHARGED FOR PARTS/SERVICE. APPROX MILEAGE:48,318 VERY PREMATURE FOR GOOD PRODUCT DESIGN & RELIABILITY. DANGEROUS SAFETY RELATED DEFECTS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179068January 18, 2007
STEERING, SUSPENSION
2003 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 4.7 AUTOMATIC: STEERING/HANDLING LOOSENESS, INSTABILITY, SKITTISHNESS ON ROADWAYS WORSE AT HIGHER SPEEDS, VERY PRONOUNCED OVER BUMPS. INCONSISTENCIES IN ROADWAYS. VEHICLE "WALKS" SIDEWAYS WHEN GOING ACROSS ROAD DISCONTINUITIES. DEALER SERVICE RETURN FOR DIAGNOSIS: MAJOR SAFETY COMPONENT INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT DEFECTIVE/WORN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175264December 5, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
POPPING NOISE IN FRONT END ENTERING DRIVEWAY OR OVER SPEED BUMPS HAD DEALER INSPECT AND PERFORM TSB. ON UPPER BALL JOINTS PER LETTER FROM CHRYSLER CORP. THEY DID REPAIR AND TOLD ME THE HUB BEARINGS WERE ALSO BAD NOT COVERED, 552.00 I REPLACED THEM MYSELF I CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM THE HUBS . THE NOISE IS STILL THERE ! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174879December 1, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A LOSS OF ALL OIL PRESSURE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE OIL PUMP FAILED, AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173105November 10, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
I WAS DRIVING ALONG WHEN MY TRUCK LOST POWER FOR NO APPARENT REASON, IT JUST STALLED OUT. I DID GET TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND TURN IT OFF, THEN STARTED IT UP AGAIN. I CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD WHEN IT DID IT AGAIN. I WAS 80 MILES FROM HOME AND 30 MILES FROM THE NEAREST TOWN IN A TRUCK THAT ONLY HAD 40K MILES OF IT AND IT LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE BECAUSE OF A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. THIS MUST BE A PROBLEM SINCE THERE WAS A RECALL ON REPLACED FUEL PUMPS IN THIS YEAR OF VEHICLE. A VEHICLE BETWEEN 03' AND 06 SHOULD ONLY HAVE ABOUT 12K TO 36K SO WHY ARE THE PARTS NOT STAYING TOGETHER? IT WAS A FUEL PUMP, IN THE GAS TANK WHICH YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO UNLESS ITS AT HOME OR IN A SHOP, WHY ARE THEY BUILDING VEHICLES WITH FAULTY PARTS THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN CHANGE. I HAD TO PAY $763.00 TO GET IT FIXED, AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED 125 MILES FROM WHERE I LIVED, SO I WAS WITH OUT A VEHICLE AND THEN HAD TO GET A RIDE OVER TO GET IT A WEEK LATER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169831October 3, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
GAS CAPS ARE DEFECTIVE ON DODGE DAKOTA'S 2003 SERIES...THIS CAUSES COMPUTER TO FIRE AN ERROR THAT THEIR IS A LEAK IN THE POLLUTION SYSTEM..TAKE TO DEALERS AND THEY CHARGE 90 DOLLARS TO RESET AND THEN TELL YOU GAS CAP IS ALL RIGHT AND IF IT DOES IT AGAIN BRING IT BACK...AGAIN AT A 90 DOLLAR CHARGE. ON THE INTERNET I WAS ABLE TO DISCOVER THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVING EXACTLY THE SAME BAD GAS CAPS......THEN I WROTE THE MANUFACTURER AND BACK AND FORTH ON 3 REPLIES..EACH TIME THEY SIMPLY TELL ME GO TO A DEALER ...APPARENTLY THEY DO NOT EVEN PROPERLY READ E MAILS THEY RECEIVE...THESE ARE AVAILABLE IF NEEDED! THE POLLUTION CONTROL SYSTEM IS MAJOR ON THE NEWER VEHICLES, AND CERTAINLY A KNOWN CONTINUOUS FAILURE OF FAULTY GAS CAPS EFFECTS THE ENTIRE SYSTEM AND IS A HIGH COST ITEM FOR THE CONSUMER TO TRY WORKING OVER AND OVER WITH THE DEALERS..WHEN THE MANUFACTURE IS OR MUST BE AWARE OF THE DEFECTIVE GAS CAP FAILURES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169625September 29, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
BALL JOINT FAILURE ON DODGE DAKOTA 4X4. RECALL ON OTHER VINS NOT MINE. FAILURE AT 30000 MILES. THE DEALER SAID 1200 DOLLARS AND THEY WOULD PUT ON THE NEW MODIFIED ONES. WHY AM I PAYING FOR A DODGE DEFECT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168413September 15, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
ON SEPTEMBER 8 2006 MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS I WAS DRIVING HOME. WHILE CLIMBING A HILL THE ENGINE STARTED TO MISS FIRE AND THE TRUCK WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH. WHEN I CRESTED THE HILL THE VEHICLE STALLED AND I LOST POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. THERE WAS NO TRAFFICE SO I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP THE VEHICLE SAFELY. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SEEN THAT THE VACUUM LINE WAS ROTTED IN HALF. I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT RUN. I SPLICED THE LINE AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME. I WAS THEN LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE VACUUM BOOSTER FOR THE BRAKES HAS RUST ON IT. I CALLED THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CARE LINE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPING ON A 2003. THEY ASKED ME THE MILAGE AND I TOLD THEM IT HAD 45000 MILES ON IT. I WAS THEN INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A CHRYSLER DEALER AND HAVE IT CHECKED SO THEY COULD SEE IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO RICHLAND COUNTY CHRYSLER IN RICHLAND CENTER WI. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT AS SEE IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THEY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND TOLD ME THAT YES THE VACUUM LINES ARE ROTTED AND THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER IS RUSTING. THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND CHARGED ME $80.00 TO LOOK AT IT. I HAVE THE OLD VACUUM LINES THAT ARE ROTTED AND I ALSO HAVE THE RUSTED VACUUM BOOSTER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167682September 8, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL GAUGE DROPPED TO 0 WHILE DRIVING. STOPPED TO CHECK THE OIL AND IT WAS FINE. DROVE ABOUT 3 MILES AND THE TRUCK DIED. EVERY THING LOCKED UP AND UNABLE TO START AGAIN. TOWED IT TO THE MECHANICS AND HE SAID THAT WE HAD SLUDGE. WE CHANGED THE OIL AS RECOMMENDED. THE WARRANTY SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER BUYING A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE IT WAS OUR FAULT. I HAVE THE RECEIPTS TO PROVE THAT WE DID THE OIL CHANGES. THEY HAD POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. WHAT'S THE SENSE OF GETTING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IF IT WON'T HELP. OUR TRUCK HAS 50,000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164929August 8, 2006
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
WENT TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THERE WAS NO HOLDING OF THE BRAKE. TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR AND IT WAS FOUND THAT ON BOTH WHEELS THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LININGS HAD FALLEN OFF THE BACKING PLATES. REPLACED THE BRAKE LININGS IN BOTH WHEELS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164875August 7, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL PRESSURE DROPPED WITHIN SECONDS, WITHIN 8 MINUTES ENGINE DIED, COULDN'T START UP AGAIN. OIL LEVEL WAS FINE, DID THE OIL CHANGES PRIOR TO THIS WHEN IT WAS RECOMMENDED. CHRYSLER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THIS. OIL SLUDGE. OTHERS HAVE GONE THROUGH THE SAME THING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163316July 24, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, EQUIPMENT
ON JUNE 5, 2006 THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN OUR 2003 DODGE DAKOTA (APPROX. 25,500 MILES). WE TOOK IT TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED A HOSE FOR THE FUEL LINE AT A COST OF APPROX. $250. ON JUNE 7, 2006 THE ENGINE LIGHT AGAIN CAME ON AND DODGE SAID AN O2 SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (AT A COST TO US OF APPROX. $300). WITH IN THE NEXT 3 WEEKS OUR DODGE WAS IN THE SHOP 2 MORE TIMES (FOR A TOTAL OF 4 ITEMS IN A MONTH) DUE TO THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. THE LAST TIME THEY TOLD US THE O2 SENSOR THAT WAS REPLACED WAS FAULTY AND WAS THE PROBLEM. THIS CONCERNS ME AS THE CAR WAS 5 WEEKS OVER THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY SO NOTHING WAS COVERED AND THE SERVICE WE RECEIVED AT DODGE WAS THE WORST I HAVE EVER RECEIVED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155594April 18, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10154746April 6, 2006
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
ON OCTOBER 20, 2005 I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD-CAB 4WD PICKUP BACK FROM VISITING A FRIEND WHEN I SUSTAINED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TRANSFER CASE. THIS RESULTED IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DODGE DEALER AND REPAIRED. DEALER CLAIMED CASE WAS STRUCK BY SOMETHING (IMPLYING ABUSE) WHICH IS UNSUPPORTED BY ANY PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. THE DEALER'S POSITION PREVENTED REPAIRS BEING MADE UNDER WARRANTY. INVESTIGATION BY AN INDEPENDENT SHOP IDENTIFIED THE SOURCE OF THE DAMAGE TO BE THE COUPLING BETWEEN THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT AND THE TRANSFER CASE. DAIMLERCHRYSLER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACTUAL CAUSE AND ADHERES TO THE DEALER'S (ERRONEOUS) POSITION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153273March 20, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, INTERIOR LIGHTING
EVENING RAIN CONDITIONS HEADLIGHT FAILURE INTERIOR LIGHTS STUCK ON. (CAUSED VISION IMPAIRMENT) BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS NOT FUNCTIONING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152783March 15, 2006
POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION:REAR
I WAS CAUGHT IN AN ICE STORM IN MY 2003, DODGE DAKOTA, 4X4 QUAD CAB. THE TRUCK WENT INTO A SLIGHT SPIN AND BUMPED A SMALL CURB THEN SLID UP OVER THE CURB. I WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT APPROX. 5 MPH WHEN I BUMPED THE CURB. THE AXLE SHEARED OFF AND BROKE THE HUB, ROTOR, WHEEL, TIRE, AND BENT THE AXLE HOUSING. THE TRUCK WAS RENDERED UNDRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. I CALLED DAIMLERCHRYSLER AND ASKED FOR THE PARTS TO BE TESTED FOR DEFECTIVENESS. I HAD SEEN SEVERAL WEB SITES DEVOTED TO AXLES PUT INTO DODGE TRUCKS THAT WERE KNOWN TO DAIMLERCHRYSLER TO BE DEFECTIVE DUE TO POOR HEAT TREATING. I WAS TREATED VERY RUDELY AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT ADDRESSED. SINCE THE ACCIDENT, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL MECHANICS AND MACHINISTS LOOK AT THIS AXLE AND ALL SAY THAT IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BROKEN UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES IT WAS SUBJECTED TO. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, FEARING THAT THE REST OF THE AXLES ARE ALSO DEFECTIVE. I AM GETTING NO SATISFACTION IN SOLVING THIS PROBLEM AND MY OWN INSURANCE HAD TO PAY THE $3,000. DAMAGE CAUSED BY A 5 MPH BUMP. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10152277March 9, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
EXPERIENCED CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT SUSPENSION. BALL JOINT SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED CAUSING FRONT WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE OPERATING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148148January 19, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS NOISE COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE BUSHINGS AND THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN. THERE IS A RECALL WITH THE NHTSA # 04V596000. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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