1996 Dodge Dakota complaints

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK IT WILL JUMP OUT OF PARK AND INTO REVERSE. ALSO, WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A DOWN HILL INCLINE VEHICLE WILL ROLL FORWARD, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK *SLC

5 TIMES WITHIN THE LAST 5 YEAR VEHICLE WILL SPUTTER AND WILL DIE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL ALSO COME ON AT THE SAME TIME AND 4 TIMES VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHO KEEPS TELLING CONSUMER BATTERY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE 5TH TIME DEALER CLAIMS THROTTLE HOUSING NEEDED TO BE CLEANED BUT 2 MONTHS LATER DEFECT HAS REOCCURED.*AK CONSUMER STATES TIRESHAVE BEEN REBALANCED ON NUMEROUSE OCCASSIONS, DURING INSTALLATION OF THE LAST SET OF TIRES, MECHANIC FOUND THAT ALL FOUR WHEELS/RIMS WERE BENT, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THAT NUMEROUS WHEELS HAD BEEN REPLACED DUE TO A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, ALSO THE ID PLATE THAT IS SUPPOSE TO BE LOCATED ON THE DOOR JAM HAS BEEN MISSING SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE.*JB

I LOST CONTROL WITH THE FIRST TIRE SEPARATION AND RAN OVER TWO SIGNS ENDING UP IN A DITCH.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HFAT5287 TIRESIZE: P215/75R15)

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE CAME OFF BODY OF TRUCK. THERE WAS ONLY ONE HINGE ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

I HAVE A 1996 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUUP TRUCK THAT EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE AT LESS THAN 60,000 MILES. THE CAUSE FOR THIS ENGINE FAILURE WAS INADEQUATE OILING BECAUSE OF SLUDGE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE OIL PAN. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED FROM A CAR DEALER WITH APPROXIMATELY 33,000 MILES ON IT AND HAVE MAINTINED IT PROPERLY SINCE THAT TIME. I AND THE MECHANIC I TOOK IT TO BELIEVE THAT PART OF THE REASON FOR SLUDGE ACCUMULATION IN THE OIL PAN IS POOR OIL PAN DESIGN. THE WAY THE DRAIN PLUB IS SITUATED IT DOESN'T ALLOW FOR COMPLETE DRAINAGE OF THE OIL DURING AN OIL CHANGE. THIS PROBLEM IS PROBABLY AGGRAVATED BY THE FACT THAT THIS VEHICLE IS 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND THE SLUDGE GETS RESUSPENDED WITH OFF-ROAD USE ON STEEP TERRAIN OR ROUGH ROADS. ON CONFERRING WITH AN ATTORNEY, SHE SUGGESTED ABOUT THE ONLY LEGAL RECOURSE IS IF IT OCCURRED IN A NUMBER OF SITUATIONS SO I AM LOOKING FOR RECORDS OF RELATED INCIDENTS. MY MECHANIC INDICATED HE HAD ONE OTHER SIMILAR CASE. ALTHOUGH THIS DID NOT CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, IT COULD HAVE IF I HADN'T CAUGHT THE PROBLEM IN TIME.*AK

WAS PULLING INTO INTERSECTION WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CAME AROUND CORNER AND HIT DAKOTA HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT WITH OTHER VEHICLE, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE HAD SPUN AROUND, AND WAS HIT AGAIN BY SAME VEHICLE. DRIVER SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND INTERNAL BLEEDING. WAS HOSPITALIZED. *AK

WELD SPLITTING AT RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM. DEALER SAID NOT UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THE WELD SHOULD BE THE STRONGEST PART.I WAS ASLO TOLD THEY HAD SEEN ONE OR TWO OTHER TRUCKS WITH THIS PROBLEM.THIS ALSO CAUSED RIGHT FRONT BRAKE PAD/ROTOR TO FREEZE UP AS IN METAL TO METAL WITH NO WARNING REQUIRING ME TO REPLACE ROTOR AND PADS. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILLNOT HOLD TOGETHER WHEN PRESSURE PUT ON, IT WILL LOCK. SEATBELT WILLNOT HOLD TOGETHER.*AK

ABS AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY COME ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COVER UNDER A RECALL, AND VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY AND NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK CONSUMER STATES WIRE IN COLUM IGNITION SWITCH WAS BROKEN, THIS WIRE WAS HOT TO THE FUSE BLOCK AND POWERED, AIRBAG,BLOWER FAN, WINDOWS AND DOOR LOCKS. *JB

BUSHINGS ON FRONT RIGHT OF VEHICLE WERE BECOMING WORN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP, WHO EXAMINED IT AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK LOCATED ON LOWER RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL AREA OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

WHEN FAN IS ON HIGH WIRING HARNESS HEATS UP, RENDERING FAN AND HORN INOPERABLE. DEAELR HAS BEEN NOTIFIED*AK. *JB

TRANSMISSION IS LOCKED IN 3RD GEAR. PREVIOUS TIMES COULD CUT VEHICLE OFF FOR 1 MINUTE, IT STARTED IT BACK UP, AND IT WOULD BE FINE. A NORMAL TRASMISSION STARTS OFF IN 1ST GEAR WHICH VEHICLE STARTING OFF SLOWLY AND GOES THROUGH GEARS, WORKING ITS WAY UP TO SPEED. ONCE VEHICLE LOCKS, IT WILL MOVE VERY SLOW. DEALER HAS MANY THINGS, BUT REMEDY HAS NOT BEEN FOUND FOR PROBLEM. PROBLEMS HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 1996 FOR THIS VEHICLE.*AK

FUEL PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. *AK THE BRAKES FAIED COMPLETELY AT 16,000, 19,000 AND 20,000 MILES. ALSO, THE BATTERY FAILED AT 28,000 MILES. *YH

HEATER CORE IS LEAKING FLUID INTO PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. *AK THE HEATER CORE STARTED LEAKING AT 35,000 MILES. *YH

DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO GO UP OR DOWN. *AK WINDOWS, RADIO, DEFROSTER AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. *YH

TRANSMISSION PREMATURELY FAILED AT 63,000 MILES DUE TO A DEFECTIVE INTERNAL PART. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL STICKS WHEN TRYING TO DISENGAGE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

CONSUMER'S INSIDE DOOR LATCHES WILL NOT LOCK IF NOT PUSHED DOWN. PASSSENGER SIDE IS FAR MORE RUSTED. DEALER WILL LOOK AT DOORS & FIX THEM FOR $200. VEHICLE 4 YEARS OLD SHOULDN'T BE RUSTED. *AK

TIMING CHAIN HAS STRETCHED 3 TIMES. I FIRST CHANGED THE TIMING CHAIN ON 24 MARCH 2000, ON THE ADVICE OF 2 DIFFERENT DODGE DEALERS. CHAIN STRETCHED AGAIN AND WAS CHANGED ON 20 SEPT. 2000. AND HAS STRETCHED AND NEEDS REPLACING AGAIN. DODGE DID NOT TELL THE OWNERS ABOUT TSB 09-07-97 STATING THAT A TENSIONER FOR THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED THE DATE OF THE TSB IS 27 JUNE 1997. IF THE TIMING CHAIN BRAKES WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING THE ENGINE WILL STALL AND COULD CAUSE INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. WHEN I CONTACTED CHRYSLER THEY TOLD MR IF I NEEDED THE WORK DONE AAAI HAD TO PAY FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. THIS IS WRONG BECAUSE THEY KNOWINGLY BUILD DEFECTIVE ENGINES AND FAILED TO NOTIFY THE OWNERS AND THEY KNEW THAT THER WERE PARTS MISSING THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NO SUMMARY

THIS TIRE WAS THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE FIRST FIRESTONE TIRE THAT BLEW OUT. TIRE SHOWS SIGNS OF TREAD TO SIDEWALL SEPARATION & DRIVER STATED THAT SIDEWALL OF TIRE "BUBBLED OUT" ALONG THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL OF TIRE APPROXIMATELY 4-5 INCHES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDW81XL TIRE SIZE: 265/75R16 )

WHILE CHANGING THE TIRE JACK BROKE, AND VEHICLE FELL OFF THE AXLE. ALSO, BUMPER WAS DAMAGED WHILE TOWING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

LOCKS ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE GET STUCK. THIS PROBLEM STARTED A YEAR AGO. CONSUMER CANNOT NOT GET OUT OF VEHICLE UNLESS THERE IS ANOTHER PERSON TO HELP FROM THE OUTSIDE. LATCHES WERE RUSTED. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *ML

VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK POSITION ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, UPON EXITING FOR A BRIEF SECOND, VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS, INJURING THE CONSUMER. ALSO, AFTER THE INCIDENT VEHICLE WAS STILL IN THE PARK POSITION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *ML

THE DOOR LATCH MECHANISMS HAVE RUSTED, CONSUMER COULD NOT OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR DUE TO PROBLEM. *MJS

CORROSION/RUST DEVELOPED INSIDE THE INNER LOCKING MECHANISM UNDER DOOR PANEL. DOOR PANEL HAD TO BE REMOVED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN ORDER TO OIL THE INNER LOCKING MECHANISM ON EITHER SIDE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACT. *AK

SECOND FAILURE ON EXHAUST STUD ALLOWING EXHAUST GASES TO ENTER CAB. *AK

CRANK BROKE AND BROKE BLOCK OF THE ENGINE. *AK

SPEED CONTROL CAN NOT BE DISENGAGE MANUALLY AT THE STEERING COLUMN, MUST DEPRESS BRAKE TO DISENGAGE. *MJS

CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT DISENGAGE WHEN MANUALLY TRYING TO DISENGAGE. DRIVER HAS TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES. CONSUMER SAYS THIS IS UNSAFE. IF SOMEONE WOULD PULL OUT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER, IT COULD RESULT IN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. *AK

BACK OF SEATS DO NOT LATCH AND UNLATCH PROPERLY THIS IS CREATING A DANGER IF THERE WAS A CRASH OR SUDDEN STOP. *AK

PARKING BRAKE FELL APART. MJS

LOWER BOLT THAT HOLD SEATBACK BROKE, CAUSING SEAT TO TIP BACKWARDSWHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK

A TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE INOPERATIVE; BELIEVED THIS CONDITION WAS DUE TO MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 69,000 MILES OF WEAR AND SHOULD BE FIXED AT MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE, NOT CONSUMER'S. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER . *AK

DRIVER'S SEAT BRACKET BROKE, CAUSING SEAT TO MOVE BACKWARDS WHEN APPLYING ACCELERATOR . DEALER REPLACED COMPLETE BRACKET. *AK

WHILE AT A STOP A VEHICLE COMING FROM THE REAR AND TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH REAR ENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO FORWARD AND SLAM INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT CONSUMER IN CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TILTED UP OR DOWN THE VARIOUS LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, SUCH AS, BRAKE LIGHT/POWER STEERING LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT LIGHT UP. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS/TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT QUIT WORKNG. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEMS HAVE NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY PULSATE, CAUSING EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR. THE DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

TRANSMISSION - EXCESSIVE RUMBLE NOISE FROM PURCHASE (5/8/1999). DEALER SAID NO PROBLEM FOUND SEVERAL TIMES, LATER AFTER SEVERAL REQUESTS, CONFIRMED PROBLEM, REPLACED (THEY SAID) THE TRANSMISSION. WITHIN A YEAR, TRUCK BEGAN TO HAVE SHIFTING TROUBLE @ 28,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION HAD LOST IT'S FLUID. DEALER GAVE US A GALLON OF FLUID TO KEEP IT "TOPPED OFF" - LATER REPLACED A TRANSMISSION SEAL. TRUCK HAS CONSISTENTLY SHIFTED FROM OVERDRIVE TO 2ND GEAR ON HILLS OR MODERATE INCLINES, INSTEAD OF 3RD GEAR, CAUSING ENGINE TO RACE (RED LINE) AND CRUISE CONTROL TO DISENGAGE. SIMILAR PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING, TRUCK WILL DOWNSHIFT FROM O.D. -OR- 3RD GEAR, ENGINE RACES, MAKING SIMPLE PASSING ON HIGHWAY VIRUTALLY IMPOSSIBLE. PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED FROM ORIGINAL PURCHASE (BY US) AND RECENTLY GOTTEN WORSE.

WAS GOING 50MP WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO HYDROPLANE, HIT AN 18 WHEELER. TIRE BLEWOUT, AND FRONT END OF TRUCK HIT GROUND. RAN INTO CULBRECHT AT 50MPH. UPON IMPACT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT WORK. AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. INSURANCE INSPECTOR CHECKED VEHICLE. CHRYSLER INSPECTOR INFORMED OWNER NOT ENOUGH FORCE FOR AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED THE FOLLOWING INJURIES, FRACTURED NOSE/DISORIENTATION AND BRUISES.*AK

THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR HAS FAILED--I FEEL THAT THIS MUST BE A DEFECTIVE PART FOR THIS TO BREAKDOWN AT THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND MILEAGE. I HAVE NOT HEARD OF AN AIR COMPRESSOR BREAKING DOWN AT SUCH LOW MILAGE AND AGE OF VEHICLE. *AK

DRIVER SIDE DOOR FALLS OFF WHEN OPENED. DEALER SAID METAL FATIGUE. TIMING BELT IS GOING BAD FOR THE THIRD TIME.

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN REAR END OF TRUCK STARTED TO BOUNCE UP AND DOWN AND SHAKING FOR A BLOCK. THE UNIVERSAL JOINT BROKE, AND SOUNDED LIKE GOING UP AND DOWN. CONSUMER HAD TO COAST THROUGH TRAFFIC, NEARLY CAUSING NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS. CONSUMER WASTOLD BY DEALER THAT DRIVESHAFT FAILED, AND DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE WHOLE DRIVESHAFT ASSEMBLY. CONSUMER CONTINUED TO DRIVE AFTER REPLACEMENT OF DRIVESHAFT, AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO VIBRATE. AFTER CHRYSLER IN GA. STATED THAT ONE OF THE HUBS ON THE LEFT REAR AXLE WAS NOT STRAIGHT, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO TIRE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A BADLY BENT RIM. PUT VEHICLE ON THE BALANCE MACHINE AND THERE WAS A WALP. WENT BACK TO DEALER WHERE EVEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT BECAUSE THE 36,000 MILE FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED. ALSO, THEY DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECTS. *AK

BOTH THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND PASSENGER'S DOOR UNABLE TO BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE. PASSENGER DOOR WAS FIXED BY DEALERSHIP. DRIVER'S DOOR WAS FIXED BY MECHANIC. TRUCK CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP AS BOTH DOORS NEED TO BE FIXED AGAIN. THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE TIGHTLY UNLESS YOU LOCK THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. THE PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED. NLM

TWO SERVICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES AT LOCAL DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED THEY ALSO HAD EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER MOTORS PRODUCTS.

1. THE POWER STEERING HIGH- PRESSURE HOSE HAS AN O-RING INSIDE OF THE FITTING THAT CONNECTS TO THE GEARBOX. THE O-RING COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING DIFFICULT STEERING, WHICH WAS VERY UNEXPECTED. REFILLING THE RESEVOIR RESULTED IN A HIGH PRESSURE SPRAY OF HYDRAULIC FLUID COVERING THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND LASTING LESS THAN TWO MILES WITH NO TURNS. 2. THE CLUTCH DOES NOT DISENGAGE WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS PRESSED TO THE FLOOR, THERE IS PLENTY OF FLUID IN THE RESEVOIR, AND THERE IS RESISTANCE WHEN PRESSING THE PEDAL. TO DOWN SHIFT, I HAD TO STOP THE ENGINE, PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN 1ST GEAR PUSH IN THE CLUTCH, THEN START THE ENGINE. THERE IS JUST ENOUGH CLUTCH TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING IF THE BRAKE IS ON. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS WARNINGS OR INDICATIONS THAT THIS FAILURE WAS PENDING.

VEHICLE INDICATED THAT THE TRUCK WAS IN PARK. BUT AFTER OWNER GOT OUT FROM VEHICLE WHILE THE TRUCK WAS STILL RUNNING, IT JUMPED INTO REVERSE AND HIT OWNERS BOAT. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN.

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING INSTRUMENT PANEL GOES OUT, AND DRIVER COULD NOT SEE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IN THE DARK. ALSO, PROBLEMS WHEN REVERSING GEARS, WHICH FELT LIKE GOING "OVER A SACK OF POTATOES". DEALER IS WILLING TO PAY HALF OF THE COST FOR TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK