1997 Dodge Dakota complaints

I'VE HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT END ALIGNED TWICE NOW & UPON HAVING IT IN FOR THE 3RD TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT THE LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINT WAS OUT. THIS IS WHY I'VE GONE THROW 2 SETS OF TIRES ALREADY, NEEDING THE 3RD SET. I'VE HAD PROBLEMS TRYING TO FIND THE BALL JOINT. THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH MY TRUCK. THE TRANSMISSION STILL DOES NOT SHIFT RIGHT. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS THAT I AM IN THE COMPUTER SO IF ANYTHING DOES HAPPEN, IT WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF. I RAN ACROSS A WEB SITE THAT DISCUSSES THE PROBLEMS OTHER DAKOTA OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING & I KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH. THIS IS THE 1ST BRAND NEW VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED & I'VE HAD MORE PROBLEMS WITH IT THAN I EVER HAD ANY OT THE OTHERS I HAVE OWNED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/75R15 )

WHEN TURNING ON THE TRUCK OR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GOES DEAD. DODGE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE INSTUMENT CLUSTER, DASH WIRING HARNESS AND AN ENGINE CONTROLL MODULE. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY BECAUSE THE PROBLEM BURNED IT OUT TWICE. $2000.00 AND MOUNTING. ANOTHER PART ON ORDER. 5TH TIME TO DEALER.

SITTING AT A STOP SIGN ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE A WIDE TURN AND HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. DIDN'T CONTACT DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER.*AK

WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES THE CLUTCH, CLUTCH DOESN'T ENGAGE. *AK

TRANSMISSION ACTING SLUGGISH. WAS NOT SHIFTING INTO GEAR PROPERLY. WOULD BUCK SEVERELY. PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING, VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT FOR NO REASON. HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4-5 TIMES. AT DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC CHANGED BATTERY, MAP SENSOR & THE COMPUTER CHIP. PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED. FINALLY INDICATED TRANSMISSION WAS WORN OUT & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH A REBUILT ONE. *AK

BELIEVE THIS A LEMON TRUCK, 6 OWNERS IN 3 YRS. WHY ISN'T MY TRUCK INCLUDED IN RECALLS? HELP! MASTER CYLINDERS EMPTY AFTER 1 MONTH. *AK

MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COME ON WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALER 6 TIMES AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE .I HAVE TRIED TO GET IT REPLACED FROM THE MANUFACTURER,BUT WITH NO LUCK

THE CRUISE CONTROL (97 DAKOTA) HAS PROVEN INTERMITTENT ON EVERY LONG TRIP. FOUR ATTEMPTS BY THE DEALER TO LOCATE AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CRUISE CONTROL QUITS AFTER 1 - 3 HOURS. SHUTTING THE VEHICLE DOWN AND RESTARTING RESTORES NORMAL OPERATION FOR A WHILE. THE OEM TIRES (GOODYEAR WRANGLERS) HAVE POOR DRY AND VERY POOR WET TRACTION AND ARE DANGEROUS. REPLACED WITH MICHELIN TIRES, EXCELLENT NOW. *AK

52000 MILES AND I HAVE REPLACED THESE ITEMS: BELT TENSIONER, A/C COMPRESSOR, 3 SETS OF FRONT TIRES (THE TIRES ARE WEARING ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE-THE TRUCK HAS BEEN ALIGNED EACH TIME THE TIRES WERE REPLACED), 2 SETS OF ROTORS, 2 BRAKE CALIPERS, 4 SETS OF BRAKE PADS, THE STEERING KNUCKLE THAT BROKE INTO THREE (3) PIECES WHILE THE TRUCK WAS GOING 65 MPH, AND NOW I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP BECAUSE THE TRUCK JUMPS FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WHILE THE TRUCK IS IN MOTION. ALL OF THESE REPAIR COST HAVE BEEN PAID BY MYSELF. DEALER SAID THERE HAS BEEN NO OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DODGE DAKOTA I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT21575R15 )

TRUCK WAS PURCHASED NEW/NO OFF ROAD TO SPEAK OF AND WELL MAINTAINED. NO DEFECT (S) LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD END BROKE, CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. ALSO, BALL JOINTS LOOKED WORN OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE FILLER NECK ASSEMBLY FELL UNDER MY TRUCK WHILE I WAS PUTTING GASOLINE IN THE TANK. IT IS ONLY HELD BY 4 SCREWS WHICH HAD FALLEN OUT AND THERE IS NO FLANGE TO KEEP THE FILLER LINE FROM FALLING BENEATH THE TRUCK. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER IF IT HAD HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND IT COULD HAVE CAUSED MY TRUCK TO CATCH ON FIRE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY HAD NO "FIX" FOR IT OTHER THAN TO PUT NEW SHEET-METAL SCREWS BACK ON IT. *AK

BOTH PASSENGER & DRIVER BACK REST COLLAPSED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *YC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLW. *AK

MY BRAKE SYSTEM WORKS FINE EXCEPT ON WET PAVEMENT. THEN ALL WHEELS LOCK UP AND THE TRUCK BEGINS TO SKID. I EXERCISE EXTRA CAUTION ON WET PAVEMENT BUT I AM NOT REALLY IN CONTROL DURING WET WEATHERR.

EXCESSIVE OUTER TIRE WEAR( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P22515RS )

THE BRAKE PAD ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL PREMATURELY DISINTEGRATED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. ALSO, BOTH WHEELS FELL OFF. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING 35 MPH CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLSION IN WHICH NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, MANUFACTURER STATED THIS WAS NORMAL OPERATION. *AK *ML

BOTTOM OF THE TRANSMISSION PAN FILLED WITH METAL FLAKES RESULTING IN FAILURE OF THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. MJS

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO JERK WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER HAD TURNED OFF IGNITION WITH KEY STILL IN SWITCH. VEHICLE FAILED TO TURN OFF. WOULD IDLE 2600-3200 WHEN VEHICLE FIRST TURNED ON. WOULD KEEP STALLING OUT IF NOT HIGH IDLING. WOULD KEEP PRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO SLOW IT DOWN. BEEN TO DEALER AT LEAST 5 TIMES FOR PROBLEM THAT'S NOT SOLVABLE.*AK

GRINDING NOISE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. WHEN BRAKES ARE PRESSED THEY BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH. THE SPINDLE IS OUT AND IS THE CALIBER. THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE THE SPINDLE IS NOT RIGHT. *AK

PLEASE LIST ALL CURRENT PROBLEMS WITH 1997 DODGE DAKOTA 2WD

LOUD NOISE IS COMING FROM FRONT END. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF DEFECT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AN D WHILE STOPPING IN TRAFFIC VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED ,AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED. *AK

STRANGE NOISE IS COMING FROM FRONT END . DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE GOING 55MPH ANOTHER CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT. CONSUMER WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, BUT DID NOT STOP IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THIS HAPPENED ON ANY ROAD CONDITION. BRAKES LOCKED UP. *AK

FIFTH GEAR CAME APART AR 65MPH CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE POWER AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANOTHER GEAR.

THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RESTRAINT IS INOPERABLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

FRONT END SHAKES INTERMITTENTLY AND OFTEN TIMES CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE DEALER HAS ALLIGNED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. *AK

THIRD SET OF TIRES DUE TO INNER WEAR FROM FRONT END PROBLEMS.THE TRUCK IS BEING SENT BACK AGAIN FOR FRONT END PROBLEM. THESE PROBLEMS ARE ALL LISTED IN YOUR SERVICE BULLETINS DATABASE AND ALSO CONFIRMED IN THE COMPLAINTS DATABASE. AS MY VEHICLE IS NEARING THE END OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PHASE THESE FRONT END PROBLEMS ARE GOING TO BE VERY EXPENSIVE SINCE THERE DOSEN'T SEEM TO BE A FIX.

BRAKE DO NOT FUNCTION AS DESIGNED, TO APPLY EQUAL PRESSURE ON BOTH PADS, RESULTING IN (UNEVEN) WEAR OF BOTH ROTORS AND PADS. NLM

NO SUMMARY

THERE IS A FUEL LEAKAGE UNDER THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE CAB DUE TO THE FUEL LINE RUBBING AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF THE CAB. *AK

NO SUMMARY

LESS THAN 2,000 MILES AND BRAKES WERE SQUEALING. RETURNED 3 TIMES BEFORE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE DRUMS WERE WARPED. REPLACED DRUMS, PADS, ROTORS, CALIPERS. FIRST 2 TIMES, ALL THAT WAS DONE WAS TO SPRAY THE PADS.

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ON INSTRUMENT PANEL CAME ON. RETURNED TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. RETURNED OR REMAINED AT SERVICE 5 TIMES FOR REPAIR. ADDED BRAKE FLUID, RESET COMPUTER, REPLACED ABS VALVES, REPLACED COMPUTER. ALL THIS OVER A 2 1/2 MONTH PERIOD.

UNEVEN, EXCESSIVEE WEAR ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRONT TIRES, EVEN THOUGH TIRES WERE ROTATED APPROXIMATELY EVERY 6-8,000 MILES. ONLY DRIVEN ON HIGHWAYS. HAD TO REPLACE AT 19,000 MILES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215-75R15 )

VEHICLE RIM EXPERIENCING HAIR LINE CRACKS ALONG THEBASE OF WHEEL; CAUSING AIR TO LEAKS OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSE TO REPLACE WHEEL UNLESS COST GO TO CONSUMER. / ALSO VEHICLE WHEEL NEVER WAS INVOVLED IN A ACCIDENT....... SEEKING HELP OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER.

FACTORY FUEL LINES RUBBED AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK CAB, RESULTING IN WEARING THROUGH OF FUEL LINES AND MASSIVE LOSS OF FUEL NEAR HOT EXHAUST COMPONENTS. CLEARLY A FACTORY DEFECT. LINES WERE RESTRAINED IN THEIR ORIGINAL BRACKETS IN ORIGINAL POSITIONS ALONG THE FRAME OF TRUCK. YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE LINES RUBBED THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK AS WELL AS THE FAILED LINE THEMSELVES. THESE WERE METAL LINES. TRUCK WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO DEALER. THEY SAY THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS FOR THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE AGREED TO PAY FOR PARTS BUT I MUST PAY FOR LABOR. TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND I WILL BE OUT OF POCKET OVER $130 DOLLARS. I FEEL THIS REALLY IS A FACTORY PROBLEM, A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY SHOULD NOT ONLY TAKE CARE OF THE FULL COST OF REPAIR, BUT SHOULD INSPECT OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES AS WELL.. TRUCK IS CURRENTLY AT CARLIN DODGE IN COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. SERVICE ADVISOR KIRK CRIST, CLAIM CHECK NUMBER 989. PHONE # IS (719)475-8550. IT IS AN EXTENDED CAB MODEL USED PRIMARILY FOR HIGHWAY COMMUTING (HENCE THE HI MILEAGE FOR THE YEAR). THIS PARTICULAR DEALER WAS VERY HELPFUL AS THEY WERE THE 2ND ONE I WENT TO. THE FIRST ONE, PERKINS DODGE IN COLO. SPGS, WOULDN'T EVEN SEE US AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE, EVEN THOUGH THE TRUCK WAS POURING FUEL OUT OF IT. TRUCK WAS PURCHASED (LEASED) UNDER THE NAME REBECCA KESSLER (MY WIFE) FROM CASTLE DODGE IN CASTLE ROCK, COLORADO. I CAN GIVE YOU THE VIN AT A LATER TIME AS I DO NOT HAVE IT WITH ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP, I HOPE T

THE VEHICLE'S FAN BELT SQUEALED THE DAY I DROVE IT OFF OF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR. IT HAS BEEN FOR REPAIRS TO THE BELT SIX TIMES IT IS CLOS TO THE END OF THE WARRANTY AND CHRYSLER REFUSES TO COMMIT TO CONTINUED REPAIR UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED. THE BELT IS A CONCERN FOR ME BECAUSE IF IT FAILS WHILE I AM CALLED TO THE HOSPITAL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, I COULD BE STRANDED IN A VERY BAD NEIGHBORHOOD AND COULD BE DEALT GREAT BODILY HARM OR DEATH IF THE INDIVIUAL NEEDS DRUG MONEY DESPERATELY!! I ALSO DO NOT FEEL THE VEHICLE IS A RELIABLE FORM OF TRANSPORTATION. THE FIRST TWO TIMES IT WAS IN THE DEALER, THEY REPALCED CLUTCH PARTS, THE THIRD TIME THEY CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE FOURTH TIME THEY TOOK MY SUGGESTION AND SPRAYED THE BELT WITH WATER AND IT SQUEALED. THEY REPLACED THE BELT. THE FIFTH TIME, IT WAS SQUEALING ALL OF THE TIME. THEY REPLACED THE BELT AND THE BELT IDLER. THE SIXTH TIME, ANOTHER DEALER ADJUSTED THE IDLER AND REASSEMBLED WITH THE SAME BELT. THAT WAS TODAY. TONIGHT, THE BELT SQUEALED AT HOME WHEN I PUT WATER ON THE BELT. THE MICHIGAN ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IS WHERE I GOT TO THIS SITE. I JUST WANT TO GO AHEAD WITH THE MICHIGAN LEMON LAW AT THIS POINT. *AKCOULD YOU OFFER ANY SUGGESTIONS? THANK YOU. BETH DAVIS

WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN A HEAD WIND ( USING FULL GAS PEDAL AT TIME THE CENTER A/C VENT SWITCHS TO DEFROST NOTHING YOU DO WILL RE SWITCH TO CENTER VENT (YOU CAN TURN OFF THE A/C SYSTEM, AND WHEN YOU TURN IT BACK ON, IT STILL IS IN DEFROST. NO CONTROL WILL RETURN A/C BACK TO CENTER VENT) UNTIL YOU LET OFF GAS PEDAL AND SLOW DOWN, WHEN THIS HAPPENS FRONT WINDSHIELD FOGS UP, BLINDING THE DRIVERS VIEW OF THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALERS HAD TO CHECK THE VACUUM SYSTEM AND FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE VACUUM SYSTEM, THIS IS A OFF AND ON PROBLEM IT WILL NOT DO IT ALL OF THE TIME, BUT WHEN IT STARTS THERE IS NO WARNING, I NEARLY HAD A ACCIDENT WHILE TRAVELING BACK FROM MIAMI TO TAMPA. *AK

FRONT TIRES EXCESSIVELY WORN ON OUTSIDE EDGES. DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE ALSO EXCESSIVELY WORN ON INNER EDGE. PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE SLIGHTLY WORN ON INNER EDGE. ALL OF WHICH MAY CAUSE A TIRE BLOWOUT. SAME PROBLEM ON THE 1991 DAKOTA. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I FEEL THAT WHEEL BEARING/ FUEL PUMPS AND BRAKE ROTORS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO ALL BE REPLACED AT COST TO ME IN THE FIRST 2 YEARS/38,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE. SEVERAL OF THESE PARTS COULD CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD SUCH AS A CRASH. *AK

DON'T KNOW IF ANY PARTICULAR SPEED INVOLVED. SEE CHRYSLER'S TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 9/7/97 ISSUED JUNE 97 ENTITLED TIMING CHAIN NOISE. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE IS BACKFIRING/STALLING/VIBRATING, AND VEHICLE DIES OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO GET A NEW CLUTCH AND THIS IS THE THIRD TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN REPLACED WITHIN VEHICLE. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE GEARS, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WINDOW MOTOR FAILED, WINDOW SWITCHES FALLING OFF DOOR PANEL. MJS

3 OF 4 MOUNTING BOLTS FAILED CAUSING ALMOST COMPLETE LOSS IN STEERING. FORTUNATELY, WAS GOING SLOW BUT HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF FREEWAY, WHEW. *AK

EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRRORS ARE POSITIONED SO THAT THEY OBSTRUCT A DRIVER'S VISION OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC FROM THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES. DEALER SAYS IT'S NORMAL. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK