Dodge Dakota Complaints (1997)

446 consumer complaints on file.

#10050284January 27, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SUSPENSION
UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED AT 77,000 MILES. *AK THE VEHICLE STARTED SQUEAKING OVER SLIGHT BUMPS AND WORSENED TO SQUEAKING ALL OF THE TIME, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO MAKE UNUSUAL NOISES WHEN TURNING, AND COOLANT LEAKED FROM THE ENGINE. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070823January 15, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AIR CONDITIONING--STILL WORKS BUT AT TIMES IT SHUTS OF THE UPPER AIR DUCTS AND I HAVE TO SHUT IT OFF ON RESTART IT TO MAKE IT WORK RIGHT. ENGINE--- MAKES A NOISE ( STARTED AT 20,000 MILES) TOOK IT TO A DEALER THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS. AFTER WARRANTY WAS UP TOLD ITS THE TIMING CHAIN.AT 92,000 STILL MAKES THE SAME NOISE POWER WINDOW-- PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT WORK OTHER--1. RADIO (TAPE DECK) TAPE DECK TURNS THE WIND AND REWIND ON BY ITSELF. HAVE TO TURN THE MOTOR OFF AND RESTART TO GET IT TO QUITE. 2.HAVE ALL KINDS OF WIRE PROBLEMS, ALL THE PLASTIC COATING COMES OFF AND WIRES BREAK 3.TAIL LIGHT PLUGS WON'T STAY PLUGGED IN PAINT-- CHIPS EASILY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069298January 15, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PAINT DELAMINATION
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
#10052584January 7, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
1997 DODGE DAKOTA UPPER AND LOWER BALLJOINTS HAVE FAILED PRE-MATURELY. I CURRENTLY AM EXPERIENCING LOUD NOISES FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN RIDING OVER SMALL BUMPS. MY MECHANIC STATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALLJOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. I AM THE ORGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN USED OFF PAVED ROADS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046179January 7, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE. WHEN RIDING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD THERE IS A RATTLING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. MECHANIC SAYS THERE IS EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE BALL JOINTS. *AK THE RUBBER BOOT ON TOP OF THE BALL JOINTS WERE BUSTED. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052531January 6, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
I OWN A 1997' DODGE DAKOTA V8 LONG BED STANDARD CAB PICK-UP WITH ONLY 32000 ORIGIONAL MILES. THE BALL JOINTS ARE BAD AND I HAVE TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. I WENT TO LOOK UP HOW TO REPLACE THEM AND DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM IS WIDE SPREAD. SEARS MECHANICS WERE SUPRISED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE SO WORN WITH SO FEW MILES ON THE VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053368January 5, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, TIRES:SIDEWALL
THE FRONT TIRES EXPERIENCED UNEVEN TREAD WEAR. DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM A FRONT END ALIGNMENT BECAUSE ALL 4 BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051245December 29, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
I HAD TO REPLACE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS IN MY 1997 DODGE DAKOTA @ 72,000 MILES. I BELIEVE THIS FAILURE WAS PREMATURE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051283December 29, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
AUTO MATIC TRANSMISSION LACK OF FLUID CAUSED BY CHECK VALVE AND TRANS COOLANT LINE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050908December 22, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
FAILURE OF UPPER BALL JOINTS AT APPROX. 80000 MILES. FAILURE IDENTIFIED BECAUSE OFSEVERE FRONT TIRE WEAR. HAD UPPER BALL JOINTS REPLACED, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT TIRE WEAR. TOOK TRUCK TO ANOTHER DEALER, AND THEY EXPLAINED THAT I HAD TO HAVE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED ALSO BECAUSE "YOU NEVER JUST REPLACE THE UPPER, YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE LOWER ONE'S ALSO" THIS CORRECTED THE TIRE WEAR PROBLEMS. THE DATES ARE ESTIMATES, I WOULD HAVE TO SEARCH THRU MY RECORDS OR THE RECORDS OF THE DODGE DEALERS FOR EXACT DATES. I KEEP ALL THE PAPER WORK, SO A SEARCH IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. VIN IS AVAILABLE, I JUST DON'T HAVE IT HERE AT WORK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050911December 22, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
MY 1997 DODGE DAKOTA HAS HAD TO HAVE BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES, TWICE SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN 1999. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050754December 19, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
REPLACE BOTH SIDES OF UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AT 60K AND 120K DESPITE USING THE BEST GREASE IN THEM SYNTHETIC. I'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SEAT BACK BEFORE SINCE NEW IT FALLS BACK. FRONT BUCKET. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051845December 19, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
VEHICLE VIBRATED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT UPPER BALL JOINT TWICE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050744December 18, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLY AT 40000 MILES ALSO ALL RUBBER SEALS ON TOP AND ON ALL STEERING ARMS ARE GONE, TRUCK HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THEY WOULD ONLY REPLY THE LOWER JOINTS BECAUSE THEY WERE READY TO FAIL, WARRANTY COMPANY WOULD NOT REPLACE UPPER BALL JOINTS OR ANY OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE DRY AND WILL PROBABLY FAIL WITH-IN THE NEXT 5000 MILES/ TRUCK HAD ONLY 100 MILES LEFT ON WARRANTY... ALSO HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE CATALITIC CONVERTER REPL 3 TIMES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029575December 10, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS AT A DEAD STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK *SCC *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10046789November 12, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
WE HAD TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS ON OUR '97 DODGE DAKOTA AFTER 49,000 MILES BECAUSE IT BECAME DANGEROUS TO DRIVE OUR TRUCK. THIS ALSO AFFECTED THE WEAR OF OUR TIRES WHICH WE HAD TO REPLACE AT THE SAME TIME. ALSO, THE BRAKES HAVE NEVER WORKED RIGHT, THEY WERE REPLACED AT JUST OVER 30,000 MILES. WE WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS WE HAD REPLACED. IDEALLY, WE'D LIKE TO ALSO BE COMPENSATED FOR THE PREMATURE WEAR ON THE TIRES, BUT REALIZE THAT MIGHT BE ASKING TOO MUCH. HOW DO WE FIND OUT HOW TO BECOME PART OF THE CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST DAIMLER-CHRYSLER? (IT WAS STILL DODGE WHEN WE BOUGHT THE DAKOTA) FORTUNATELY, MY HUSBAND WAS AWARE OF THE DANGER THE BALL JOINTS CREATED AND WE HAD THEM REPLACED BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HELP! THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10045788November 9, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, EQUIPMENT
1997 DODGE DAKOTA, VIN#[XXX]: DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 8000 MILES. THE FIRST REPLACEMENT WAS NEEDED @ 30,000MI, BUT NOT DONE UNTIL 55,668MI. 2ND SET WORE BEYOND .19" 8000MI LATER. LITHIA DODGE'S REMARKS: NOT LIFE THREATENING, JUST KEEP THEM GREASED.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10045583November 6, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
I HAVE A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT WITH FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, A V8 ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I NOTICED MY FRONT TIRES WEARING ON THE INSIDE. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER ON 12-20-01. I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED LOWER BALL JOINT AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS. ON 1-31-03 I RETURNED TO THE DEALER COMPLAINING OF A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END, AGAIN I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED LOWER BALL JOINTS AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS. NOW I AM NOTICING THE TIRES WEARING ON THE INSIDE AGAIN AND THE DEALER TELLS ME IT AGAIN NEEDS UPPER BALL JOINTS BUT THAT THE NEW REDESIGNED PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THESE FAILURES HAVE HAPPENED AT TEN THOUSAND MILE INTERVALS, THE FIRST REPAIR WAS AT 46,261 THE SECOND AT 56,125 AND NOW IT HAS 67,261 MILES ON IT. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD AND IS USED AS A DAILY COMMUTER VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM AT 46,261 MILES IS EARLY FOR THIS TYPE OF FAILURE BUT I GUESS IT COULD HAPPEN HOWEVER TWO MORE TIMES IN 21,000 MILES IS PREMATURE FAILURE. I'VE WORKED IN THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR BUSINESS FOR TWENTY FIVE YEARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM ON MY OWN VEHICLES WHICH ARE METICULUSLY MAINTAINED. THIS IS DEFINATELY A SAFTEY ISSUE AS THIS CAN CAUSE SEPARATION OF THE CONTROL ARM FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10045338November 3, 2003
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
GLASS IN REARVIEW MIRRORS CRACKED. *LA
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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