Dodge Dakota Complaints

6,628 consumer complaints on file.

#10256348January 26, 2009
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. WHEN THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE HEATER, HE SMELLED ANTIFREEZE. HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKS. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, THE OVERFLOW FOR THE ANTIFREEZE WAS EMPTY; HOWEVER, ANTIFREEZE WAS STILL PRESENT IN THE RADIATOR. THE CONTACT PERFORMS HIS OWN REPAIR WORK AND STATED THAT THE HEATER CORES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. UPDATED 2/23/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEATER CORE WAS LEAKING INTO THE HEATER BOX, WHEN THE HEATER WAS ON. UPDATED 02/26/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256067January 23, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE DAKOTA. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE MOTOR WOULD REV, BUT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD BARELY MOVE WHEN IT WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE ISSUE OCCURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER OVER THREE TIMES AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ONGOING FAILURE, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HIM TO TAKE HIS VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD ATTEMPT TO WORK SOMETHING OUT. THEY LATER CALLED BACK AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. A CLAIM WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 22,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000. UPDATED 03-06-09 *BF UPDATED 03/09/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255890January 21, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK HEAD-ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE CONTACT'S AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. TWO OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000. UPDATED 03/04/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/06/09. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10255727January 20, 2009
SUSPENSION, STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY. ONE YEAR LATER, THE FAILURE RESURFACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO MORE OCCASIONS AND THEY REPLACED THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR, RACK AND PINION, LOWER BALL JOINTS, AND TIE RODS. ALL OF THE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN INSUFFICIENT IN REMEDYING THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255534January 19, 2009
STEERING
2002 DODGE DAKOTA, LESS THAN 60,000 MILES, CORRODED POWER STEERING FLUID TUBING, CAUSING FLUID LOSS AND LACK OF NORMAL STEERING CONTROL. REPAIR PART NOT AVAILABLE FOR MORE THAN 5 WEEKS. HAS THERE BEEN A LOT OF POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILURES FOR THESE AND SIMILAR VEHICLES? I HAVE PARKED THE VEHICLE UNTIL REPAIRS ARE COMPLETED. I'VE OWNED 13 VEHICLES SINCE 1971 AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. IS THERE AN UNANNOUNCED VOLUNTARY RECALL BY CHRYSLER FOR THIS? IT SEEMS ODD THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE, LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS MORE WIDESPREAD THAN ACKNOWLEDGED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255300January 16, 2009
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING FOR APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN MINUTES WITH THE HEATED SEATS ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMANATING FROM HER VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, SHE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MODERATE DAMAGE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HEATED SEAT MECHANISM WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE COMPONENT WAS NOT DEFECTIVE. IN ADDITION, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILED INCIDENT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 99,000. UPDATED 03/17/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/17/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254678January 12, 2009
STEERING, SUSPENSION:FRONT
STEERING BEGAN TO FEEL LOOSE AND HEARD A CLUNK INFRONT END. BALL JOINTS WERE BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER WORK WAS COMPLETED STILL HAD STEERING ISSUES. DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL, LOCAL MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS FAILING. WHEN IT WAS REMOVED TO BE REPLACED THE LOWER U-JOINT CAME APART. IMAGINE THAT HAPPENING AT 55 MPH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254722January 12, 2009
STEERING
I STARTED HAVING DIFFICULTY TO STEERING MY VEHICLE. AS EACH DAY PASSED IT BECAME MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT FELT AS IF IT HAD NO STEERING WHEEL FLUID. AND BY JANUARY I COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL. I COULD BARELY MAKE A TURN. THIS OCCURRED EVERY DAY AND I WAS AFRAID I WAS GOING TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I CHANGED THE STEERING FLUID AND THE TIRES THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER LAST WEEK WHO REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A STEERING SHAFT FAILURE BEFORE IN A VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254328January 8, 2009
STEERING, SUSPENSION, WHEELS
GROANING OCCURS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE MOVES IN REVERSE AND THE WHEEL IS TURNED ONE ROTATION LEFT. ALSO RECENTLY, A LOUD SQUEAL HAS OCCURRED ON FORWARD VEHICLE MOVEMENT. I AM CONCERNED WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OF BALL JOINT FAILURE AND VEHICLE SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253694January 3, 2009
STEERING, WHEELS
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, STEERING WHEEL FELT A LITTLE LOOSE. LUCKILY ONLY WHILE BACKING INTO A PARKING SPOT - THE STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF INTO LAP. THE METAL BRACKET WAS CRACKED. CAR WAS BROUGHT TO A DEALERSHIP AND A NEW PART WAS ORDERED, CURRENTLY WAITING TO BE FIXED. DEALERSHIP DOES NOT SEEMED CONCERNED, NOR CAN THEY DETERMINE IF IT'S A MANUFACTURING DEFAULT. A CLAIM WAS STARTED WITH THE CHRYSLER CORPORATE OFFICE. WILL HAVE TO SEE IF RETRIBUTION WILL BE MADE. TRUCK HAS 125K MILES, HOWEVER REGULAR MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED. NO OTHER ISSUES OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY. A 9-MONTH PREGNANT WIFE AND HUSBAND COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. DODGE SHOULD INVESTIGATE BEFORE A TRAGIC ACCIDENT OR DEATH OCCURS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253436January 1, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS, THEY FAILED. NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE FRONT BALL JOINTS. WHY IS THIS NOT BEING RECALLED? IS MY SAFETY NOT A CONCERN TO DODGE OR NHTSA? I HAVE ALREADY BEEN STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY AT MIDNIGHT, THANKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253122December 29, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE DAMAGES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THERE WERE NO RECALLS PERTAINING TO THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS NOT WORKING DUE TO THE HORN FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252139December 17, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA. IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE CONTACT PLACED OIL IN THE VEHICLE. HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT BEGAN SHAKING EVEN WORSE. HE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND CALLED THE DEALER. THE DEALER RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE AND GAVE THE CONTACT HIS ORIGINAL VEHICLE BACK, BUT DID NOT RETURN HIS MONEY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,100.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251999December 16, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BOUGHT TRUCK NEW IN 2002. SINCE THEN, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT CALIPER HAS SEIZED UP AND LOCKED THAT BRAKE 4 TIMES. THE CALIPER SQUEEZES THE PAD AGAINST THE ROTOR CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO PULL HARD LEFT, THEN THE ROTOR OVERHEATS AND SMOKES. I PULL OVER BEFORE A FIRE STARTS. HAVE REPLACED CALIPERS, PADS, HOSES, BUT SYMPTOMS STILL PERSIST. I HAVE TO STOP AND WAIT UNTIL THE BRAKES COOL DOWN (ABOUT AN HOUR) BEFORE THEY FUNCTION NORMALLY. ONCE I GET TO A REPAIR SHOP, THE BRAKES FUNCTION NORMALLY AND THEY TELL ME EVERYTHING IS FINE. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS IS HAPPENING TO. ON ONE SITE ALONE (HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/DODGE/DAKOTA/2002/BRAKES/BRAKE_CYLINDER_LOCK-UP.SHTML) THERE ARE 15 OTHERS WHO ARE DEALING WITH BRAKE FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252051December 16, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DRIVING AT 35 MPH VALVE SPRING BROKE LOSING ALL COMPRESSION IN CYLINDER #1. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251080December 8, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT NOTICED A SMALL RED PUDDLE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE OBSERVED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL WAS LOW. HE ADDED TRANSMISSION FLUID TO THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V197000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE DEALER WOULD HAVE TO GET AUTHORIZATION PRIOR TO MAKING ANY REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 174,168.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250805December 5, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, INTERIOR LIGHTING
ON MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AT NIGHT BY FLICKERING A LOT THEN JUST SHUTTING OFF ALL THE WAY. THE FOLLOWING DAYS RANDOM THINGS WOULD START GOING OFF LIKE WINDSHIELD WIPERS GOING OFF, HORN HONKING, AND SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AT ALL. FURTHER INVESTIGATION LEAD ME TO THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE (CTM) FAILING POSSIBLY DUE TO THE SAME DEFECT THAT LEAD TO A 2003 RECALL. WHY NOT 2002? I NOW CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT BECAUSE I HAD TO DISCONNECT IT RESULTING TO CERTAIN THINGS NOT BEING ABLE TO WORK RIGHT DUE TO THE ERRATIC BEHAVIOR. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OTHER MODEL YEARS BEING INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAUSE THIS PART IS WELL OVER $200 TO REPLACE. IT IS SUFFERING FROM THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS THAT THE RECALL FOR 2003 STATES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250131November 29, 2008
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT(POWER) HEATER BURNT PADDING AND SCORCHED SEAT FABRIC. VEHICLE WAS LEFT IDLING TO WARM UP. I RETURNED TO FIND SMOKE COMING FROM SEAT. I FOUND WIRING CONNECTOR AND UNPLUGGED HEATER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249929November 26, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE TRUCK WAS BEING DRIVEN AT APPROX 25 MI PER HOUR. THERE WAS A LOUD THUMP. SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT OF THE HOOD. I PULLED OVER. FLAMES WERE VISIBLE UNDERNEATH. THE HOOD BLEW OPEN AND FLAMES POURED OUT. IN LESS THAN 4 MINUTES THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249557November 22, 2008
SEATS
DRIVER SIDE POWER SEAT HAS ABOUT HALF AN INCH FREE TRAVEL FORWARD AND BACKWARD. THIS GIVES YOU THE FEELING WHEN YOU PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL THE SEAT MAY GO ALL THE WAY BACK AND PREVENT THE ABILITY TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND POSSIBLY CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE AND POSSIBLY SEVERE BODILY INJURY TO ALL PEOPLE INVOLVED. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL OF CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY MANUFACTURER AT NO CHARGE. I PURCHASED THE TRUCK NEW AND IT NOW HAS A TOTAL OF 54,412 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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