Dodge Dakota Complaints (2004)

206 consumer complaints on file.

#10247518November 3, 2008
STEERING
2004 DODGE DAKOTA POWER STEERING GOES STIFF, LOOSE, STIFF, LOOSE, ETC. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG AND JUDGING BY THE COMPLAINTS I'VE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. IT IS PUTTING PEOPLE'S LIVE IN DANGER AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUES ASAP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247199October 29, 2008
STEERING
1) NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, JUST REGULAR DRIVING 2) ITS VERY HARD TO STEER SOMETIMES, ITS LIKE STIFF-LOOSE-STIFF-LOOSE WHEN I TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND GUYS ON DODGEFORUM.COM HAVE PINPOINTED THE PROBLEM BUT DEALERS WONT CHANGE THE PART, THEY WANT TO CHANGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHEN THE PROBLEM IS IN THE INTERMEDIATE ARM, ITS EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND WHY SHOULD WE PAY FOR A MANUFACTURER DEFECT? THE CONSEQUENCES UNFORTUNATELY CAN BE DEADLY. SOMETIMES ITS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER OR MAKE A QUICK TURN, IF SOMEONE CUTS YOU OFF AND YOU CANT TURN, WELL BAD THINGS CAN HAPPEN. 3)I CANNOT GET THE PART (INTERMEDIATE ARM) BECAUSE THEY ARE ON BACKORDER, COINCIDENCE?? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244876October 8, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WAS TOWED TO THE DRIVER'S RESIDENCE. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED DUE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242546September 17, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SUSPENSION:FRONT, STEERING
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING I KEPT HEARING NOISES FROM THE BRAKES AND FRONT END. THIS WAS GOING INTO THE 2ND YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. MY DODGE DAKOTA HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP AT LEAST 15 TIMES FOR THE SAME THING. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE STEERING PARTS, SWAY BAR, BRAKES ROTORS, CALIBER AND STILL MAKE A A MOANING GROANING NOISE WHEN EVER I TURN OR GO OVER BUMPS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237838August 12, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA SLT IS A PIECE OF CRAP. FIRST I HAD TO REPLACE THE VALVE BODY AT 53,000 MILES, NOW THE TORQUE CONVERTER TRIES TO LOCK TOO SOON (AT 30 MPH), WHICH RESULTS IN THE TRUCK SHUDDERING BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH. IT ONLY OCCURS UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION. HEAVY ACCELERATION KEEPS THE CONVERTER FROM LOCKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237741August 11, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHILE HAVING MY TIRES ROTATED AT SEARS, THE TECH INFORMED ME THAT THE BALL JOINTS ON MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA WERE VERY BADLY WORN, BOTH UPPER AND LOWER. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 54,000 MILES AND IS DRIVEN ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON PAVEMENT. I CONTACTED THE DEALER, LITHIA DODGE OF ROSEBURG OREGON, I SPOKE WITH SERVICE MANAGER PHIL TYLER AND LOT MANAGER WAYNE KNOWLES, AND DODGE CORPORATE, BUT BOTH REFUSED TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE FURTHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237380August 7, 2008
STEERING
INTERMITTENT HARD STEERING. SEEMS LIKE THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING. HAD THE POWER STEERING UNIT REPLACED BUT THAT DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEM. SEEMS TO BE THE U-JOINTS ON THE STEERING SHAFT. HAVE TO REPLACE SHAFT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234830July 18, 2008
STEERING
STEERING ERRATIC AND CHOPPY. STEERING WHEEL FAILS TO CENTER SMOOTHLY WHEN RELEASED. STEERING IS HARD AT TIMES. WHEEL STAYS IN TURNED DIRECTION UNLESS MANUALLY TURNED TO CORRECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234273July 14, 2008
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL WOULD STIFFEN AS IF THERE WERE NO POWER STEERING ABILITY. WHEN HE TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL, IT DOES NOT TURN BACK UNLESS HE DOES IT MANUALLY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT COULD LEAD TO THE STEERING WHEEL DISCONNECTING FROM THE RACK UNIT. I BELIEVE THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS THE LOWER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. IF I SPRAY THE U JOINTS OF THE STEERING SHAFT WITH WD 40 OR PB BLASTER IT STEERS GREAT, BUT WEARS OFF WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT!! NOW TRUCK HAS 57,000 MILES. HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE HAD IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231862June 20, 2008
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD STIFFEN AS IF THERE WERE NO POWER STEERING ABILITY. WHEN HE TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL, IT DOES NOT TURN BACK UNLESS HE DOES IT MANUALLY. THE FAILURE BEGAN APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AGO. THE CONTACT FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT COULD LEAD TO THE STEERING WHEEL DISCONNECTING FROM THE RACK UNIT. HE BELIEVES THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS THE LOWER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 43,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230291June 8, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT, SUSPENSION
CAN HEAR A POPPING NOISE FROM RIGHT FRONT END WHEN GOING INTO DRIVEWAYS OR MAKING RIGHT TURNS. ON 6/4/08 TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER AND THEY STATED THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS WERE WORN OUT AS WELL AS THE SHOCKS. 1500$ LATER THEY REPLACED THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS, SHOCKS, AND A FULL ALIGNMENT. ALL OF THIS AT ONLY 37K MILES! AS SOON AS I GOT THE VEHICLE HOME THE NOISE IS STILL THERE ALBEIT LESS NOTICEABLE. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO SAME DEALER ON 6/6/08 AND NOISE COULD NOT BE HEARD AND DEALERS MECHANIC STATED IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND TO BRING IT BACK IF THE NOISE IS REPRODUCIBLE. BE READING OTHER COMPLAINTS AND SUSPECT THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ARE BAD OR GOING BUT DEALER SAID THEY WERE OK. SOMETHING IS WRONG WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THEIR FRONT ENDS GO OUT AT SUCH LOW MILES. PLEASE CONTACT ME SO WE CAN GET THIS FIXED THROUGH A RECALL. DEALER SAID HE KEPT THE BROKEN PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229971June 4, 2008
STEERING
IN REFERENCE TO ODI COMPLAINT 10224785... I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE ON MY VEHICLE TWICE. IT IS THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL, THAT BEING 04' DAKOTA. I BELIEVE THE ISSUE IS KNOWN TO DODGE AS THEY HAVE A VERY SMALL NOTATION IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL IN REFERENCE TO THE STEERING SHAFT. AT PRESENT THIS FAILURE SEEMS TO OCCUR EVERY 2ND SPRING (AFTER SPRING THAW AND WET ROADS), AND IN MY OPINION IT'S DUE TO A LACK OF GREASE FITTINGS ON THE STEERING LINKAGE. AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE THESE "GREASE TIPS", HOWEVER THE STANDARD DODGE SUPPLIED PARTS DO NOT. IT IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE AS IT OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND SIMULATES THE FEELING OF COMPLETE POWER STEERING LOSS. PERSONALLY IT ALMOST RESULTED IN 2 ACCIDENTS, HOWEVER I WAS ABLE TO CORRECT MY VEHICLE BEFORE ANY ONCOMING TRAFFIC BECAME INVOLVED. AS I AM CANADIAN I HAVE FILED A REPORT WITH TRANSPORT CANADA, HOWEVER FELT IT IMPORTANT TO REPORT TO ODI AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227887May 15, 2008
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE CONTACT TO TURN THE VEHICLE IN ANY DIRECTION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURS EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226549May 3, 2008
AIR BAGS
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A TOTAL LOSS AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.... *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10224785April 17, 2008
STEERING
I AM REPORTING THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING. MY METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED 2004 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB EXHIBITED INTERMITTENT BINDING OF THE STEERING MAKING THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED MY SUSPENSION THAT IT WAS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT THAT WAS BINDING DUE TO ?RUST? AND REPLACED THE COMPONENT AT A COST TO ME OF $310.00 PARTS AND LABOR. THIS COMPONENT HAD SURFACE RUST ONLY ON A SEALED NON-GREASY FITTING AND SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED WITH A VEHICLE LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD WITH ONLY 58,000 MILES OF USE. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER DIRECTLY TO ADDRESS THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY INDICATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223309April 3, 2008
AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR HAS BEEN RECALIBRATED ONE TIME. WHEN A PASSENGER OR OBJECT IS SEATED IN THE SEAT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT DIMS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE RECALIBRATED EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, ACCORDING TO A FEDERAL LAW. THE DEALER CHARGED $100 FOR EACH RECALIBRATION. THE POWERTRAIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,129. UPDATED 06/09/2008. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219674February 29, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
OUR TRUCK IS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA WITH 40,000 MILES ON IT. MY HUSBAND WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, GETTING READY TO GET ONTO I-95 AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF. THESE SAME VEHICLES WERE RECALLED FOR 2000-2003 BUT NOT 2004. IF THE WHEEL HAD FALLEN OFF ONCE ON I-95 AT 75 MPH MY HUSBAND OR SOMEONE ELSE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE. THIS WAS A BALL JOINT PROBLEM. $1300 LATER BOTH SIDES ARE REPLACED. CHRYSLER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL AND IF THERE IS A FUTURE RECALL THEN WE MAY BE REIMBURSED. WE WILL NEVER BUY A CHRYSLER PRODUCT AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216356January 29, 2008
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH FAILED, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UNLESS PUSH STARTED, WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AND SHIFT NORMALLY. VEHICLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY UPUNTILL THE FAILURE. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER. THE PEDAL ROD WAS BENT, AFTER TAKING MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER AND SLAVE "FELL APART IN THEIR HANDS" THIS IS A PART THAT DOES NOT FAIL, SHOULD NOT FAIL. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 3.5 YRS OLD. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE THERE ARE NO AVAILABLE PARTS TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE. TO QUOTE THE SERVICE MANAGER "THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A RUN ON THE PARTS" I BELIEVE THIS WARRENTS LOOKING INTO TO SEE IF THIS IS A FAULTY PART. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210184November 28, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
TEMP GAUGE WILL PEG FOLLOWED BY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. P# IS 0118--EXCESS VOLTAGE FROM SENSOR. 4 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. CALLS CHRYSLER AND THEY WERE NO HELP AT ALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208672November 12, 2007
SEATS
I OWN A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. THE PROBLEM IS THERE IS NOT ENOUGH HEIGHT FOR MY OLDEST SON'S CAR SEAT TO FIT CORRECTLY AND ALSO THE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT TIGHTEN UP ENOUGH TO MAKE THE SEAT SIT TIGHTLY. MY YOUNGEST SON'S CAR SEAT IS WEDGED BEHIND THE PASSENGER SEAT BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SPACE FOR IT TO SIT AND THE SEAT BELTS WON'T TIGHTEN UP ON IT EITHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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