Dodge Dakota Complaints

6,628 consumer complaints on file.

#10185039March 14, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICL THE DRIVER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER, AND THE HEADLIGHTS WERE TURNED OFF. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185068March 14, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKES WOULD NOT APPLY AND CONSEQUENTLY RAN THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION AT 50 MPH BARELY AVOIDING CROSSING TRAFFIC AND STOPPED TRAFFIC. FOUND MISSING CALIPER PAD. REPLACED ALL PADS ON FRONT AND TURNED THE ROTORS. ALSO REPLACED THE REAR CYLINDER SEALS. 1 WEEK LATER RIGHT FRONT BRAKE SEVERELY OVERHEATED AND WAS RED HOT AFTER A SEVEN MILE COMMUTE HOME WITH ONLY SEVEN STOPS AT LOW SPEED (NORMAL BRAKING). MECHANIC FOUND EVIDENCE OF BURNED OUTER EDGE OF ROTOR. PADS ACTUATED NORMALLY. RE-TURNED RIGHT ROTOR TO VERIFY NO WARPING HAD OCCURRED. NO PARTS REQUIRED. BRAKES HAVE LOST SOME STOPPING POWER SINCE BEFORE THE FIRST INCIDENT AND MY CONFIDENCE HAS BEEN EFFECTED. COST OF REPAIRS $400+. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184998March 13, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FORTHE 2006 DODGE DAKOTA TO HAVE THE CAB COMPARTMENT NODE REPAIRED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR 4 HOURS, AND ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE HAND HELD COMPUTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP A SECOND TIME, AND AFTER WAITING FOUR HOURS THE CONTACT REQUESTED THE VEHICLE, AND STATED HE WOULD RESCHEDULE. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 29,000 MILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184715March 10, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I BOUGHT A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 4WD A MONTH AGO. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, TIMING CHAIN, WATER PUMP AND NOW THE TRANSFER CASE HAS GONE BAD. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 55000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE ONLY MADE ONE PAYMENT ON THE TRUCK AND HAVE PAID THE REPAIR SHOP OVER $1500 IN REPAIR COSTS. THEY ONLY TIME THAT I HAVE GOT TO DRIVE THE TRUCK IS TO THE REPAIR SHOP EXCEPT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, A TRUCK WITH LOW MILES LIKE THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT THIS TIME PUT THEY COULDN'T MAKE ANY PROMISES. WE PAID FOR EVERYTHING ELSE TO GET FIXED AND I REFUSE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING ELSE. I PAID $10,000 FOR A TRUCK THAT I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE, I'M ACTUALLY SCARED TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. APPARENTLY DODGES ARE PIECES OF CRAP TO PUT IT POLITELY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184459March 7, 2007
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
WHEN SWITCHING FROM 4H TO 2H ON 89 DODGE DAKOTA ON FLOOR SHIFTER IT TAKES A FEW MINUTES TO ENGAGE AND WHEN IT DOES IT JARS THE VEHICLE TO A SIDE JERKING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT SUDDENLY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184319March 6, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TRUCK FUEL LEAK. 2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB PURCHASED NEW DECEMBER 1999; MILEAGE 66,000 + ; EXTENSIVE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON VEHICLE, ALSO GARAGED WHEN NOT IN USE; TRUCK IS NOT 4WD AND IS ONLY DRIVEN OVER PAVED ROADS. . STARTED SMELLING FUEL IN GARAGE, THEN COULD SMELL FUEL WHEN TRUCK PARKED IN OPEN, FINALLY COULD SMELL FUEL WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH WINDOWS CLOSED AND AIR / FAN NOT ON RECIRCULATE. WENT TO DEALER, FOUND FUEL DRIPPING FROM VEHICLE TANK. DEALER SAYS IT IS A MOLDED FUEL LINE FROM THE TANK, AND IT IS BEING REPLACED NOW. THIS IS THE SECOND FUEL LEAK IN THIS VEHICLE!! JUST OVER 2 YEARS AGO, THE TRUCK INTERMITTENTLY QUIT WHILE DRIVING,AND IT TOOK 4 VISITS TO 3 DEALERS TO GET THE FUEL PUMP / FILTER DIAGNOSED AS THE PROBLEM. THAT REPAIR LEFT A FUEL LEAK WHICH REQUIRED 2 SUBSEQUENT TRIPS TO DEALER [ AND ONE OTHER REPAIR FACILITY] TO GET REPAIRED. DRIVER / OWNER IS 60+, WITH EXTENSIVE DRIVING EXPERIENCE, HAVING OWNED 3 TRUCKS, AND AT LEAST 10 OVER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IN THE US, JAPAN, AND GERMANY, AND IS A PILOT BY TRAINING. DRIVER / OWNER HAS NEVER EXPERIENCED A FUEL LEAK IN A PREVIOUS VEHICLE; HE ALSO THINKS THAT HIS EXPECTATIONS ARE NOT OUTRAGEOUS , AND THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184330March 6, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BOUGHT THE TRUCK USED AND THE TEMPERATURE AND OIL PRESSURE GAUGE STARTED TO FLUCTUATE AND ENGINE KILLED OVER. NOW, REPAIR SHOPS ARE STATING THAT THEY ARE NOW SEEING THIS PROBLEM QUITE FREQUENTLY FOR THE 4.7L DODGE DAKOTA ENGINES BECAUSE OF THE OIL PAN PROXIMITY TO THE ENGINE. REPAIR SHOPS STATED A NEW/REBUILT ENGINE IS NEEDED: ~$3,500-$5,000 JUST FOR THE ENGINE AND ~$1,000 FOR LABOR! *JB
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
#10184097March 3, 2007
SUSPENSION, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
VIBRATING AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 50 MPH. SPOKE TO DODGE REFERENCE #15238936 THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO VIBRATE AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR TRUCK AT DEALERS. TIRES BALANCED AND ROTATED, THEN TIRES REPLACED, BRAKES REPLACED, SHOCKS REPLACED. SWAPPED RIMS. SERVICED TRANSMISSION, REPLACED DRIVESHAFT AND U JOINTS. PRESSURE BALANCE THE TIRES. REPLACED AXEL BEARINGS AND POSSIBLY THE AXEL. REPLACED RING GEAR AND PINION AND ALL BEARINGS. MULTIPLE ALIGNMENTS.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184058March 2, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE DOOR LOCKS ON MY 2000 DODGE DAKOTA HAVE FAILED TO WORK. THEY LOCK BUT DO NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE. THEY HAVE BEEN REPAIRED 2 TIMES AND HAVE FAILED A THIRD . I WAS TOLD THE DOOR LATCH/LOCK ASSEMBLY IS THE PART THAT IS FAILING ALSO THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE IS ALSO IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. THE DOORS WILL UNLOCK FROM OUTSIDE WITH THE REMOTE BUT WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184056March 2, 2007
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, STEERING:RACK AND PINION
NOISE FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND VIBRATION FROM STEERING WHEEL. SOUNDS AS IF POWER STEERING PUMP WAS LOW ON FLUID. MAKES A LOAD NOISE WHEN STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. DROVE SHORT DISTANCE TO REPAIR FACILITY AND WAS SHOCKED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE HOSES HAD SPLIT. ALSO THE RACK AND PINION STEERING WILL HAVE TO BE REBUILT IF POSSIBLE IF NOT REPLACED. ALSO A BOOT WAS TORN AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. WORK HAS NOT BEEN STARTED AS I FIND IT IS NECESSARY TO GET MORE THAN ONE ESTIMATE. THE LOCAL GARAGE WANTS IN EXCESS OF $1200 FOR THE REPAIRS WHILE THE DEALER WANTS OVER $2000. APPROXIMATELY 12 MONTHS AGO I HAD THE UPPER BALL JOINTS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND HAD TO GET A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AT AN EXTRA CHARGE. NO VISUAL SIGNS OF WEAR WAS NOTICED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183811February 28, 2007
STEERING:LINKAGES
I AM THE OWNER OF A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. WHEN I BROUGHT IN THIS VEHICLE FOR THE MANDATORY SAFETY INSPECTION IN 2006 I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE MANIFOLD BOLTS HAD BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE VEHICLE TO PASS THE SAFETY INSPECTION. WITHOUT REPLACING THE BOLTS IT WOULD BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. COST TO ME WAS $561.18. I HAD THE REQUIRED SAFETY WORK COMPLETED. THIS YEAR I BROUGHT THE SAME VEHICLE IN FOR THE REQUIRED SAFETY INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE WARN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS THE SAFETY INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE HAS 63,736 MILES ON IT. I TALKED WITH SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT BALL JOINTS SHOULD BE WARN OUT AT THIS LOW MILEAGE. I ALSO WENT TO THE CONSUMERS AFFAIRS COMMISSION WEB SITE AND THERE WAS NUMEROUS ARTICLES REGARDING THE PROBLEMS WITH THE DODGE DAKOTAS SUSPENSION AND STEERING ASSEMBLIES. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE DEFECTS WITH THESE PARTS. ANY HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183398February 24, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
TRANSMISSION DEFECT, WILL NOT GO INTO FOURTH AND THIRD GEAR AFTER INITIAL COLD START, TRUCK JERKS AND MAKES NOISE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183314February 23, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
FRONT BRAKE CALIBER LOCKED UP. STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182958February 19, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE CALIPERS LOCKED UP ON THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE BRAKES TO BE APPLIED WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE BRAKES. AFTER REPLACING THE RIGHT CALIPERS, ROTOR (WARPED FROM HEAT), AND BRAKE HOSE, 12 MILES AWAY, THE LEFT CALIPER LOCKED UP. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUES BECAUSE THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED WITHOUT THE INTENTION OF THE DRIVER.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182991February 19, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE AS MANY OTHER 2002 DODGE DAKOTA OWNERS IN WHICH THE LIGHTS STOP WORKING OR BEGIN TO FLASH WITHOUT WARNING. IN THIS INSTANCE, THE PARKING LAMPS, INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND COURTESY LAMPS FLICKER ON AND OFF. THE HEADLIGHTS ONLY SEEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FLASHING PART OF THE TIME. IT APPEARS LIKELY THE PROBLEM WILL BE THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE, HOWEVER DUE TO COST I HAVE NOT YET REPLACED IT. I HAVE DETERMINED THE PROBLEM IS NEITHER THE SWITCH, RELAY, OR LIGHTS. THE SYMPTOMS ARE IDENTICAL TO THOSE POSTING THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE DEFECT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182839February 17, 2007
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
A PART INSIDE THE HEATING SYSTEM FAILED; THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN THREE YEARS THAT THIS PART HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE HEATING SYSTEM TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD WILL NOT WORK. PART WAS REPLACED AGAIN; SERVICE COMPANY SAYS THAT THIS PART FAILS OFTEN. THE PART NUMBER IS 5174618-AA DESCRIBED AS A RESISTOR.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182794February 16, 2007
SUSPENSION
THE FRONT END STARTED MAKING POPPING AND OTHER METALLIC SOUNDING NOISES AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHEN I RAISED IT UP AND LOOKED, THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE BALL JOINTS WERE IN TATTERS! I WENT TO REPLACE THEM AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY ARE A "DEALER ITEM" AND THAT DAIMLER-CHRYSLER ONLY PROVIDES A WHOLE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS WITH BALL JOINT FOR REPLACEMENT AS A WHOLE UNIT. WHILE I HAVE NEARLY 45 YEARS OF AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE BACKGROUND THIS IS A TRAVISTY OF THE N'TH DEGREE!. YOU PRODUCE A DEFECTIVE UNIT AND THEN SCREW THE POOR SLOB WHO BOUGHT ONE BY MAKING HIM PAY AN ARM AND A LEG TO REPLACE A WHOLE CONTROL ARM THAT ONLY HAS A BAD BALL JOINT ON THE END OF IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182152February 9, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
THE BALL JOINTS ON THE DAKOTA SERIES P/U ARE A CHRONIC PROBLEM. I BOUGHT AN '02 DAKOTA 4X4 WITH 70K AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED NOISE AND A LOOSE FEELING FROM THE FRONT END. I VERIFIED THE BALL JOINT RECALL HAD BEEN COMPLETED. WHEN I WENT TO HAVE IT ALIGNED, I LEARNED THAT ALL FOUR OF MY BALL JOINTS ARE BAD, INCLUDING THE TOP TWO THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED ALREADY. WHILE RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I CAME ACROSS THIS SITE, HTTP://WWW.DODGEDAKOTAS.COM/BOARDS/DEA/140-1.HTML, WHICH IS A DAKOTA FORUM, WITH NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS EXACTLY THE SAME AS MINE. DODGE NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS FAILURE TO USE QUALITY COMPONENTS. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT BE SPENDING $600 EVERY YEAR TO KEEP THEIR VEHICLES ALIGNED ON THE ROAD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181494February 3, 2007
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
THE TIE ROD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION IS SEPARATING FROM THE STEERING RACK. TIE ROD BOOT IS TWISTED AND VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD KNOCKING AND CLICKING NOISE WHILE TURNING. DEALER SERVICE MECHANIC STATED THE STEERING RACK WAS SEPARATING AND A GEAR BOX NEEDED REPLACEMENT AS WELL. FAILURE OF TIE ROD COULD RESULT IN STEERING FAILURE AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. NEEDS REPLACEMENT, BUT WAS INFORMED AN ENTIRE STEERING RACK AND GEAR BOX MUST BE REPLACED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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