1997 Dodge Dakota complaints

AT 40 MPH A DEER CROSSED CONSUMERS PATH, CONSUMER HIT BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR.THEN, CONSUMER HIT A TREE. CAUSE WAS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

SECOND RECALL THAT HAS BEEN SERVICED. AFTER EVERY SERVICE PROBLEM GETS WORSE. CONSUMER STATES THIS IS SECOND TIME PROBLEM OCCURS.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE OVER AND SAW INSULATION OF ENGINE WAS BURNING.*AK. *JB

WE DISCOVERED A DEFECTIVE ENGINE ASSEMBLY TICKET #311914 STUFFED NEXT TO THE ENGINE. THE TICKET INFORMATION IS BUILD. NO 107, SHIFT 2, H/T PUNCH G , REJECT 1 DATE 3/5/97 NATURE OF DEFECT #5 M/F INSPECTOR 64274, NATURE OF REPAIR 03052654 NDF. WE CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND WERE TOLD THEY DO NOT SELL TRUCKS WITH DEFECTIVE ENGINES. CAN YOU HELP US FIND OUT WHY OUR DAKOTA PICKUP WOULD HAVE THE INSPECTION COPY OF A DEFECTIVE ENGINE TICKET ROLED UP AND TIED WITH TIE WIRE TICKET ON THE ENGINE?*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE WILL BE A VIBRATION COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS A FAULTY LEFT/FRONT WHEEL BEARING. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

HEADLIGHT SWITCH BROKE INTERNALLY AND STARTED TO SPARK WHILE TURNING IT ON. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER STATED THAT SWITCH WOULD SOMETIMES TURN LIGHTS ON BY ITSELF WHEN DRIVING.*SLC

THERE IS A LOUD POPPING NOISE WHEN BACKING UP, FOUND RIGHT UPPER CONTROL ARM FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. *YD

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE ENGINE LIFTERS WOULD TAP. HAD LIFTERS REPLACED TWICE . PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN VEHICLE DID NOT HIT ANY OBJECT(S). DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *CONSUMER INFORMED HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY RECALL CAMPAIGN 97V080000.*AK *YH

BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD THEN VERY SOFT (PUSHED TO FLOORBOARD), ABS & BRAKE LIGHT STAYED ON. DEALER SAID REPLACE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR & BRAKE MODULE @ COST OF $1425 + TAX. GOT 2ND OPINION @ INDEPENDENT SHOP: CABLE BROKE NEAR SENSOR. SPLICED BREAK/TESTED SYSTEM FOR $56. SYSTEM OK. *AK

CONSUMER'S SON HAD A REAR END ACCIDENT AND SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HIM. SUSTAINED LEG AND CHEST INJURIES. *AK

CONSUMER'S SON HAD A REAR END COLLISION AND SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HIM. SUSTAINED LEG AND CHEST INJURIES. *AK

RIGHT FRONT HUB WAS READY TO BREAK. WHEEL WAS LOOSE WHEN IT CAN BE WIGGLED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND HAD TO REPLACE HUB. *AK

WAS DRIVING WHEN TRANSMISSION BECAME HARD TO SHIFT INTO GEARS. WOULD DOWN SHIFT INTO 3RD FROM OVERDRIVE ON ITS OWN. TOOK TO TRANSMISSION MECHANIC. WAS INFORMED THAT GEARS WERE MADE OF PLASTIC AND WERE STRIPPED, BREAKING GEAR TEETH OFF. *AK

SEATBELT DID NOT HOOK...THIS PART HAS BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES (WITH THE DEALER PICKING UP THE COST)SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN DEC 1996. IT SEAMS TO HAPPEN ABOUT EVERY 30,000 MILES. *AK

FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM VEHICLE. DEALER SAID FUEL LINES WERE LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS RECALL 00V199000, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED DUE TO VIN. *AK

ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON SEVERAL OCCAISIONS. BRAKE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATES. ABS PULSATION EVEN ON DRY ROADS. FRONT PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED AT APPRX. 40000 MILES. SERVICE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT "DODGE ROTORS DO NOT LAST VERY LONG." ENGINE RATTLE BEGAN ABOUT 30000 MILES. DIAGNOSED AS A HEAT SHIELD RATTELING. SUBSEQUENTLY DIAGNOSED AND A LOOSE TIMING CHAIN. *AK

CONSUMER WAS AT AN INTERSECTION WAITING FOR LIGHT TO CHANGE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN RED LIGHT TO SWITCH LANES WITHOUT LOOKING, AND RAN INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN TURNING OFF BRIGHT LIGHTS HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, CANNOT REMEDY BECAUSE THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM.*AK

AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITH NO CAUSE, INJURING PASSENGER WITH UP TO 2ND DEGREE BURNS AND CRACKING WINDSHIELD. TEMPE DODGE, TEMPE AZ WAS CONTACTED AND TECHNICIANS RAN DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND NO CAUSE FOR DEPLOYMENT. DODGE HOWEVER IS NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIR.*AK

WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE DROPPED, TIE ROD HAD BROKEN AND GONE THROUGH RIM OF WHEEL. DEALER REPLACED TIE ROD.*AK *SLC

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL (00V-199) NOTICE ON FUEL LINE. REGARDING TO THE RECALL CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED AND HE DO NOT KNOW WHO WOULD EVEN BE CALLED. *YH

STEERING IS UNRESPONSIVE IN CERTAIN SPOTS. NO MOVEMENT IN CERTAIN TURNS CAUSES WHEELS TO FLOAT. DEALER FOUND JOINTS CORRODED, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. *AK

DRIVERS SEAT BACK ADJUSTER IS STRIPPED. UPON ACCELERATION, SEATBACK WILL COLLAPSE INTO AN ALMOST FLAT POSITION. I HAVE LOST CONTROL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DEALER,MANUFACTURER,AND VEHICLE EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY ALL REFUSE TO REPAIR. WHAT PROMPTED ME WAS A REPORT ON TV ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM WHERE A GUY DIED FROM A MINOR REAREND COLLISION,HE WAS ALSO DRIVING AN EXTENDED CAB PICKUP AND HIS SEATBACK FAILED, HE HIT HIS HEAD ON THE BACK WINDOW FRAME AND DIED! REPAIR PART COST IS $700 NOT INCLUDING LABOR.

WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE TURNED ON IGNITION SWITCH, WITHIN SECOND A LOUD EXPLOSION CAME FROM UNDER HOOD. AFTER OPENING HOOD NOTICED TOP OF BATTERY WAS SHATTERED, AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS COVERED WITH ACID. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*AK

CONSUMER SMELT GAS FUMES. VEHICLE WAS LEAKING GASOLINE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED GAS LINE WAS IMPROPERLY ROUTED. CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND THEY DID NOTHING. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED 00V198000 RECALL LETTER. CALLED DEALER, DEALER TOLD CONSUMER TO COME IN. ONCE THERE, DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE PARTS FOR THAT PARTICULAR VEHICLE, WHEN PARTS WOULD COME IN, THEY WOULD CONTACT CONSUMER. CONSUMER HAS CALLED, AND STILL WAITING ON PARTS THAT WERE ORDERED IN OCTOBER OF 2000. *AK *SLC

THE UNIVERSAL JOINT ON THE STEERING COLUMN TOTALLY FAILED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO "FREE-WHEEL" THE VEHICLE VEERED OUT OF CONTROL SIDESWIPING TWO PARKED CARS. THIS IS A CRITICAL FAILURE; IF IT OCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED IT COULD HAVE CAUSED SEVERAL FATALITIES!!. *AK

A PART INSIDE THE FRONT SEAT BROKE EASILY IN REAR END CRASH, FRONT SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. DRIVER WAS GOING 12 MPH WHEN HIT IN THE REAR OF THE TRUCK BY A VEHICLE HIT BY A VEHICLE GOING 40 MPH. THE DIFFERENCE IS ONLY 28 MPH AND THE SEAT BROKE, THE DRIVER FELL STRAIGHT BACK AND WAS UNCONSCIOUS, SLIDING UNDER THE SEATBELT TOWARDS THE FLOOR. THE PART OF THE SEAT THAT BROKE WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK

WHEN STARTED TO TURN THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND. A FEW DAYS LATER, POPPING STOPPED, BUT THERE WAS A 2 TO 3 INCH PLAY IN STEERING BEFORE CAR WOULD EVEN START TO TURN IN THAT DIRECTION. FELT LIKE STEERING COLUMN WAS GOING TO FALL ON GROUND, AND CONSUMER FELT UNSAFE. *AK *SLC

ENGINE IS CAUSING A "PINGING" NOISE WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS PRESSED, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT PAN GASKET WAS SUCKING AIR AND CAUSING EXCESSIVE BURNING OF OIL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON FREEWAY.*AK

PREMATURE WEAR OF LOWER BALL JOINTS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF 5TH GEAR AND REMAINED IN NEUTRAL. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT "GEAR WAS CRACKED." PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 00-V-199-000. IN OCT. OF LAST YEAR. DEALER HAS NOT GOTTEN PARTS IN. *AK

SHIFTER CABLE BROKE WHEN DRIVER WAS SHIFTING GEAR. HE CONPLAINED THAT VEHICLE SHIFTER WAS PULLING HARD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT SHIFTER WAS OKAY.*AK

SEAT BACKS RANDOMLY COLLAPSES, NEVER SURE IF IT'S LOCKED.*AK

HEAD OF A BOLT BROKE FROM BASE OF ENGINE MANIFOLD. CONSUMER NOTICED THIS WHILE DRYING SOME PARTS ON ENGINE. BROKEN PIECE WERE NOT LEAKING ANYTHING YET. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED A GAS ODOR IN PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. PULLED OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD, AND NOTICED VEHICLE HAD LOST A LARGE AMOUNT OF FUEL. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER NOTICED FRONT FUEL LINE HAD COME APART, CAUSING PROBLEM, PART NUMBER 52127657. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD BE HARD TO CONTROL. VEHICLE WOULD JUMP TO LEFT OR RIGHT SUDDENLY. DEALER HAS REPLACED BALL JOINTS 9 TIMES, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *SLC

VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT BACKING PLATE. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND GOING OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER , PEDAL BECAME SOFT, AND VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

DRIVER SEAT RECLINES BACKWARDS, BUT FAILED TO RETURN TO ORIGINAL POSITION. WOULD SOMETIMES BECOME STUCK AND THEN SLAMS DRIVER FORWARDS.*AK

REAR WIRING HARNESS IS PINCHED BETWEEN FRAME AND THE BED ASSEMBLY WHICH HAS CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK THE DEALER SOLDERED THE THREE BROKEN WIRES. *YH

TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN PUT VEHICLE IN GEAR.*AK

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM VEHICLE , FUEL LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK FUEL SPRAYED WHEEL WELL AREA ADJACENT TO THE FUEL FILL AREA, THE LARGE CRACK IN THE LINE ALLOWED LARGE AMOUNTS OF GAS TO SATURATE TRUCK AND GROUND UNDER TRUCK. CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. *SLC

I AM IN VICTORIA, BC CANADA, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS BUILT IN THE US. THE FEMALE PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT USES THE SHEATH AS A GUIDE. THIS IS HELD IN PLACE BY A WEAK PLASTIC CLIP. EVENTUALLY THIS CLIP DETERIOTATES AND THE SHEATH SLIPS DOWN, NO LONGER FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AS A QUIDE AND ONE IS ABLE TO INSERT THE SEATBELT BETWEEN THE MECHANISM AND THE GUIDE THINKING IT IS DONE UP, WHICH IT ISN'T. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. THE REPLACEMENT PART IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE ORIGINAL. BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S HAVE FAILED ON MY VEHICLE. LUCKILY, I HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED AT 50,000 MILES WHICH COULD CAUSE OTHER DAMAGES. TSB WAS SENT OUT BY MANUFACTURER, BUT ONLY COVERED 4 WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES. *AK

PAINT ON FRONT BUMPER CHIPPED. DEALER REPAINTED INSTEAD OF REPLACED. CHIPPING AGAIN AND RUSTING. DEALER AND CHRYSLER REFUSED TO REPLACE. *AK

CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THE DEALERSHIP WILL TAKE FOR THE RECALL (00V-193) REPAIR. *MJS

CONSUMER WAS REFUSED RECALL REPAIR 00V-198 AT THE DEALER BECAUSE TECHNICIAN FOUND AN OPEN INVOICE ON THE COSUMERS VEHICLE. NLM