1998 Dodge Dakota complaints

DURING INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WARPED AND MUST BE REPLACED. *AK

1998 DODGE DAKOTA, UPPER ARM BALL JOINT DEFECT. A STORY ON CBS NEWS LAST NIGHT HAS PROMPTED ME TO SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT. SEPTEMBER 2000, NOISE ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF TRUCK PROMPTED ME TO STOP AT A DODGE DEALER TO CHECK IT OUT, FOUND THE RIGHT UPPER ARM BALL JOINT WAS SO BAD THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID I COULD HAVE LOST THE WHEEL ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE SPEED LIMIT CAUSING POTENTIALLY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE ARM WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY (34853 MILES). I RECENTLY PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES FOR THE TRUCK AND ASKED THE DEALER TO DO A FRONT END ALIGNMENT (59423), HE TRIED AND SAID HE COULD NOT BECAUSE THE BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. I HAD NO INDICATION AT THIS TIME THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BALL JOINTS UNTIL I TRIED TO GET AN ALIGNMENT TO PROTECT THE NEW TIRES, I GOT A SECOND OPINION WITH THE SAME RESPONSE. I WENT TO THE DODGE DEALER AND CONFIRMS THAT ALL 4 BALL JOINTS IN THE FRONT END WERE BAD, LOWER AND UPPER. DEALER SAID IT HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY, BUT I HAVE LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK AND IT IS MY THIRD BALL JOINT ON THE UPPER FRONT. THIS TIME THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM AND IT COST ME OVER $1100 TO FIX AS IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY WAS LUCKY SINCE THE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENTS, THE PROBLEM WAS CAUGHT IN TIME. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THE BALL JOINTS USED ON THE DODGE DAKOTA ARE DEFECTIVE AND DO NOT LAST, IN MY CASE THE REPLACED BALL JOINT IN SEPTEMBER 2000 LASTED LESS THAN 24,000 MILES UNDERSTAND THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT IN PROGRESS, CAN Y

THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES BROKE, CAUSING THE GREASING FIT TO LEAK. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FRONT END WILL COLLAPSE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE WAS MAKING A LOUD PINGING NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER SAID ENGINE WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL. *AK

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON MY TRUCK TWICE SINCE IT WAS BOUGHT IN 1998 BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT THE NOISE MY TRUCK WAS MAKING WAS DUE TO THE SUSPENSION AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. THE TRUCK WAS NOT EVEN EVALUATED, I WAS JUST TOLD THAT I WAS WRONG, AND IT WAS NOT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND WAS SENT ON MY WAY. WHEN I WENT BACK AFTER THIS INCIDENT 2 DAYS LATER I REQUESTED TO SPEAK WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND PROCEEDED TO TELL HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY THEN PUT MY TRUCK ON THE LIFT AND FOUND IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND FIXED IT. IT THEN HAPPENED AGAIN AND IT'S NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I KNOW THAT THE FEDERAL EMISSIONS LAW STATES THAT THEY HAVE TO COVER IT UP TO 80,000 MILES FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, BUT MY TRUCK CURRENTLY HAS 76,000 MILES ON IT, THUS I AM GETTING CLOSE. I HAVE HEARD MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS WITH THE DODGE DAKOTAS AND I FEAR THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN AND WILL END UP TO COST A LOT OF MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET FOR A MISTAKE ON THE PART OF DODGE WHICH THEY WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR TO TRY AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM INSTEAD OF IT BEING ONGOING. *LA

UPPER BALL JOINT PREMATURE WEAR. *JB

WHILE TURN A CORNER IN MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA I HEARD A BANG. LOOKED AROUND UNDER THE TRUCK I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING BROKEN. TOOK TRUCK TO TIRE SHOP TO HAVE FRONT TIRES RPLACED AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION BY YOUR STAFF INTOP THE DODGE DURANGO (PE03032). THE DURANGO AND DAKAOTA HAVE THE SAME FRONT ENDS UNDERNEATH THEM. IF THERE IS A FINDING OF DEFECTIVE PARTS IN THE DURANGO IS SHOULD ALSO APPLY TO THE DAKOTA.*AK

TRANSMISSION THROTTLE VALVE ADJUSTMENT...KEEPS THE TRANSMISSION FROM SHIFTING AT THE PROPER TIME... WONT DOWNSHIFT WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED TO THE FLOOR. ALSO... SHIFTER LEVER CABLE ADJUSTMENT.... WRONG GEAR SHOWS UP ON CONSOLE.*AK

FRONT BALL JOINT EARLY FAILURE ON 1998 DAKOTA. FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE EXPERINCING EARLY FAILURES. SAME SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AS DURANGO.*AK

BRAKE ROTOR WARPAGE AFTER LOW MILES. *AK

I OWN A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT WITH PAINT FADING ON THE HOOD IN SEVERAL PLACES. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THESE AREAS THAT WOULD CAUSE A PAINT PROBLEM. I AM VERY DISSAPOINTED THAT I AM HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. I HAVE SEARCHED FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL SINCE THIS APPEARS TO BE A FACTORY PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER OWNERS REPORTING SIMULAR PROBLEMS BUT NO RECALL AT THIS TIME. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF DODGE IS PLANNING ON RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM SOON. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD AND STAYED ON. THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM RESURFACED. THE CONSUMER SAW RECALL 01V-153000 WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING DEALER THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN THE RECALL, BUT IT HAS THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR. CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR COST OF REPAIRS. *JB *CB

ADVISED BY AUTHORIZED CHRYSLER SERVICE TO REPLACE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND LEFT AND RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARMS FOR EXCESSIVE WEAR AT 46059 MILES. COST $1478 PLUS TAX. ONE MECHANIC SAID THIS IS SAME PREMATURE PROBLEM EXPERIENCED ON DDODGE DURANGO.*AK

WHITE SPOTS WERE SHOWING THROUGH THE BLACK PAINT ON THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS MADE WITH FAULTY PRIMER. MANUFACTURER WAS WILLING TO PAY HALF OF THE COST. *AK

A CLICKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AS I DRIVE. A MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS RELATED TO THE AIR BAG. HE SAID IT COULD MALFUNCTION IN AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE YET COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.*AK

IN WINTER TIME TRANSMISSION DOES NOT WANT TO SHIFT OUT OF LOW GEAR WHEN IT SHOULD WILL EVENTUALLY USUALLY AT ABOUT 1500 TO 2000 RPM AFTER GETS REALLY WARM STILL WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. CHANGED FLUID MYSELF WITH ATF 3 OR 4. HAVE HAD AT SHOPS NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHAT CAUSES THIS THEY GUESS A LOT. *NLM

THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER BRAKES AND STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

THE ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE INOPERATIVE. *JB

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT IDLING FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THE FLOOR BOARD OVER HEATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DUE TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD BECOME EXTREMELY HOT. SEVERAL ITEMS THAT WERE LEFT ON THE FLOOR MELTED, WHICH INCLUDED SOME PORTIONS OF THE SEAT BELT. *JB

1998 DODGE TRUCK DAKOTA. TRANSFERED TO TIS. *PH *JB

THE FRONT 4 WHEEL DRIVE CV SHAFT BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO PULL HARD TO THE RIGHT. *JB

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN THE HEATER WAS TURNED ON. SCC

PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG HAD BEEN REMOVED, DEALERSHIP DID NOT INFORM CONSUMER BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *JB..*AK

NAR 02/28/2003 MR THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM. *CB

I HAD CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACE LAST SUMMER BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTIVE . I HAVE AN EXHASUST LEAK KNOW AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID I HAVE 3 BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST 65 TO 75 DOLLARS APIECE TO FIX. I WORK FOR DAIMLER CHRYSLER AT TWINSBURG STAMPING AS A MACHINE REPAIRMAN. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF EXHAUST BOLTS JUST BREAKING.I BELEIVE THERE IS A PROBLEM HERE THEY OUGHT TO FIX. THERE MORE PEOPLE AT WORK THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THANK YOU

CONSUMER STATE THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE WHEN APPLIED THE BRAKES AT 35MPH. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND REPLACES THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS. AGAIN AT 10 MILES WILL REPLACE ROTORS AND PADS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON MY DAKOTA KEEPS FALLING APART. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT 4 OR 5 TIMES NOW (THE FIRST TIME WAS NOT LONG AFTER I HAD BOUGHT THE VEHICLE). EACH TIME THEY PUT A NEW CONVERTER ON, IT FALLS APART WITHIN A YEARS TIME. I ASKED THEM ABOUT IT AND THEY BLAME IT ON FAULTY MANUFACTURING OF THE CONVERTER. I KNOW OTHER DAKOTA OWNERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND ARE GIVEN THE SAME STORY (JUST FAULTY MANUFACTURING). I E-MAILED DODGE, BUT THEY DIRECTED ME TO THE DEALER. IS ANYONE BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS? MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, I AM A SINGLE PARENT AND CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR A NEW CONVERTER WHEN THIS NEW ONE FALLS APART. I SEE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS IS ANYTHING BEING DONE??? MY BRAKES ALSO MAKE A TERRIBLE NOISE WHEN IT IS COLD AND/OR RAINS OR IF IT IS FOGGY. THE DEALER SAID "OH, ITS JUST MOISTURE" BUT THERE IS REALLY NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR BRAKES. WHEN IT IS RAINING, IT SEEMS THAT THE BRAKES DON'T WORK AS THEY SHOULD AND THE ANTI-LOCK DOES NOT SEEM TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. ONE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE ENGINE RACES AFTER THE TRUCK HAS SAT OVERNIGHT OR WHILE I AM AT WORK, AND IT TAKES AWHILE BEFORE IT IDLES AT THE NORMAL RPM. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, IT IS JUST THE COLD AIR SOLENOID. WHAT HAS NHTSA CONCLUDED IN REGARD TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER? OR ARE YOU THE WRONG CONTACT? DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WONDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER REPLACED THE TIE RODS, BALL JOINTS, UPPER CONTROL ARM. CONSUMER STATES SIX MONTHS LATER PROBLEM REOCCURED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE RIGHT CONTROL ARM BOLT BECAME LOOSE. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NLM CONSUMER COMPALINED OF A NOISE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BEFORE THE INCIDENT OCCURED.*JB

I HAVE HAD TO REDO THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS AND CALIPERS TWICE AND THEY NEED REPLACING A THIRD TIME DUE TO WARPING OF THE ROTORS. THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS CAUSED BY IMPROPER TORQUING OF THE WHEEL NUTS WHEN REPLACING THE WHEEL. I GOT THE MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDED TORQUE SETTING AND MADE SURE THE BOLTS WERE HAND TORQUED TO THAT POUNDAGE SINCE THEY CLAIMED "TORQUE STICKS" SEEMS TO BE IN QUESTION. THE ROTORS STILL CONTINUE TO WARP. THE BRAKES FUNCTION BUT THE FRONT BRAKE PEDAL TREMBLES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AND THE WARPING ACCELERATES THE FAILURE OF THE CALIPERS. OTHER LOCAL MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THEY SEE THIS PROBLEM ON DAKOTA TRUCKS ON A REGULAR BASIS. TS

CONSUMER HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELT EQUIPMENT NOT STAYING LATCHED. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

WHILE PERFORMING A BRAKE INSPECTION ON THIS VEHICLE I FOUND THAT THE DISC BRAKE PADS THAT ARE USED ON THIS VEHICLE INCLUDE WHAT THEY ARE CALLING A "SHIM" THAT GETS GLUED ONTO BOTH THE INBOARD AND OUTBOARD SHOES WHICH AS NEAR AS I CAN TELL ACTS AS SOME SORT OF CUSHION BETWEEN THE PHENOLIC (PLASTIC) BRAKE CALIPER PISTON AND THE BRAKE PAD IN ORDER TO KEEP THE BRAKE PAD RIVET HEADS FROM COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE PHENOLIC (PLASTIC) CALIPER PISTON AND CAUSING THE CALIPER PISTON TO WEAR PREMATURELY OR EVEN CRACK. THIS "SHIM" IS MADE OF FERROUS METAL AND IS ONLY ABOUT A 32ND OF AN INCH THICK. WITH THE COMBINATION OF HEAT,STRESS AND SALT THAT IS USED ON MICHIGAN ROADWAYS THIS FERROUS METAL "SHIM" IS ENTIRELY INADEQUATE FOR THE INTENDED PURPOSE AND HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY IN LESS THAN FOUR YEARS CAUSING THE CALIPER PISTON TO CRACK. A CRACKED CALIPER PISTON IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND CAN LEAD TO COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. IF THIS PART WERE MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL RATHER THAN FERROUS METAL IT WOULD GREATLY REDUCE THE CORROSION OF THIS PART AND INSURE THE SAFETY OF ALL CONCERNED. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE NHTSA IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE AS EVEN THE AFTERMARKET BRAKE PADS INCLUDE THE SAME TYPE OF SHIM.*AK

THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE DUE TO WEAR ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE FRONT TIRES. HAD THE FRONT END ALIGNED EACH TIME AND THE MECHANIC STATED MINOR ADJUSTMENT. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THE CAMBER, THE LAST MECHANIC I TALKED TO (8/29/202) STATED THAT HAS HAD SEVERAL DOGDE DEKOTAS IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE DEALERS STATE THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH A TRACTOR-TRAILER. I HIT THE TRAILER AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CAN HEAR A HUMMING SOUND. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED IT WAS RACK AND PINION STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS GO OUT, MAKING IT HARD FOR CONSUMER TO SEE, AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND RUNNING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND WENT BACKWARD INTO THE STREET. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK.*JB

CONSUMER RAN A STOP SIGN AT 30 TO 35 MPH, T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE, FULL FRONTAL INPACT, AND NONE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN ENGAGING TURN SIGNAL THERE WAS NO SIGNAL LIGHT, AND THERE WAS A LOUD GEAR GRINDING NOISE. WHEN DISENGAGING SIGNAL NOISE STOPPED. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS KEEPS WEARING OUT. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE VIBRATES. ALSO WHEN MAKING A SHARP LEFT TURN THE FRONT WHEEL FEELS AS THOUGH IT SKIPS. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NLM

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH WATER THE THROTTLE SENSOR AND VEHICLE STARTS TO RUNS ROUGHLY. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER INDICATED TO REPLACE SENSORS. NLM

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER TURNED THE HEAT ON AND BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THE DRIVER WAS INJURED, THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AND THE DEALERSHIP CAN NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE, THE DEALER IS UNWILLING TO ASSIST CONSUMER IN REPAIRS OR MEDICAL BILLS. *SLC

THE FRONT BRAKING SYSTEM IS EXTREMELY UNDERSIZED. THE ROTORS WARP QUICKLY DUE TO OVERHEATING. MATERIALS USED ARE VERY CHEAP. THE RIGHT SIDE CALIPER PINS HAVE BOTH STIPPED OUT THEIR THREADS REQUIRING ME TO INSTALL OVERSIZED SELF-TAPPING CALIPER PINS. THE DODGE DEALER I TOOK IT TO CALLED ME A LIAR AND SAID THAT I STRIPPED OUT THE PIN THREADS. I COMPLETED THE REPAIRS MYSELF AND INSTALLED AFTERMARKET ROTORS AND PADS. DODGE REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, SHE TURNED THE HEAT ON, AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND CAUSED INJURY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *NLM *YD

CONSTANTLY REPLACING BRAKES AND ROTORS ON FRONT OF VEHICLE. GROOVES ARE WEARING INTO BRAKES. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *YH

I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON MY 1998 DAKOTA 3 TIMES SINCE I BUY THE TRUCK. EACH TIME THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO LOOK INTO THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. AND EACH TIME THEY WOULD SAY "WE DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO LOOK AT WHAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM BUT, IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN WE WILL". WELL, IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON 3/09/02. NOW THEY REFUSE TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CONVERTER. THEY SAY THIS IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE EMISSIONS WARRENTY HAS RUN OUT. I FIND THIS RIDICULOUS, DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO LEARN THAT CONTRARY TO WHAT THE DEALERSHIP AND CHRYSLER CLAIM, I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCKUP AND NO TURN. HEARD POPPING NOISE AND STEERING WORKED AGAIN. REPLACED RACK AND PINION

WHILE DRIVING 20MPH APLLIED BRAKES, RUBBER CAME OFF BRAKES AND FOOT SLIPPED ON GAS, AND ACCELERATED VEHICLE, HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. AIRBAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK *SLC