Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1998 record →
CONSUME R WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE. VEHICLE WAS GOING LEFT TO RIGHT. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDERS . THREE OUT OF FOUR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. TIRES WERE GOODYEAR. *AK
CONSUMER TOOK VECHICLE IN FOR A RECALL ON REAR BRAKES HOSE AND REPOSITION AXLE HOSE, WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUIMER RAN INTO A ROCK, AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK
THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT HAS BEEN IN SERVICE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DUE TO NOISE, REPLACED UNIT AND COMPONENTS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, HOWEVER THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT CONTINUES TO MAKE NOISE, DEALERSHIP IS NOW REFUSING TO CONTINUE TO REPLACED PARTS IN THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT. *MJS
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL (00V-193) COMPONENT PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION DUE TO LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. *MJS
GOODYEAR WRANGLER TIRES HYDROPLANED ON VEHICLE. THIS HAS CAUSED VEHICLE TO SLIDE INTO A DITCH AT 30MPH IN WET WEATHER. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
THIS GOING TO BE THE FITH CATALETIC CONVERTER I HAVE HAD REPLACED.*AK
HAVE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION ESP. UPHILL. DEALER FINALLY (AFTER WARRANTY WAS UP AND WE HAVE HAD IT IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AT LEAST THREE TIMES NOW WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD) FOUND THAT THERE WAS AN AIRLEAK SOME WHERE. ALSO PERFORMED A TUNE UP. STRAPS ON BACK OF CONSOLE ARE BOTH BROKE, SCRATCH LEGS WHEN SITTING IN BACK SEAT. RAN OUT OF GAS TWICE ON 1/8 OF A TANK, THEN RAN OUT AT 1/4 TANK. THEY REPLACE THE "SENDING UNIT"? AT A COST OF 170.00 APPROX. (NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY BY 3000 MILES)
RECALL 00V193 WASN'T THOROUGHLY COMPLETED WITH THE RECALL LETTER CONSUMER RECEIVED, CUSTOMER DISSATISFIED. *SLC
THIS TRRUCK HAS BEEN A LEMON FROM BEGINNING AND CHRYSLER SERVICE CENTER TOLD ME TO GET A LAWYER AND THEY DO NOT CARE HELP ME!! I HAVE ONLY DRIVE MY TRUCK 1/2 THE TIME THAT I HAVE HAD IT, BECAUSE IT ALWAYS HAS BROKEN DOWN. *AK
TIE RODS ON BOTH ENDS ARE WORN OUT WITH ABOUT 48,000 MILES WHICH MAY CAUSE THE TIE RODS TO BREAK. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
LOOSE CLUNKING EMINATING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKE PEDAL. THIS OCCURS WHEN TURNING, ACCELERATING AND APPLYING THE BREAKS. APPEARS TO BE A LOOSE FITTING IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLOM OR THE MID SHAFT. GETTING WORSE ALL THE TIME. ONLY 21K ON THIS TRUCK. ALSO, TRUCK SLIDES ALL OVER THE ROAD WHEN SURFACE IS DAMP OR WET. THIS HAPPENS EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. ANTILOCK SYSTEM DOES NOT APPEAR TO WORK. TRUCK ALSO BURNS UP TIRES AFTER 15K MILES. ENGINE MISS-FIRES AND UTILIZES WAY TO MUCH FUEL. APROX. 12 MPG. OVERALL, MY TWO MAIN CONCERNS ARE THE STEERING AND BRAKES. PROBLEM. THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY AN UNSAFE VEHICLE WHICH SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BEFORE SOMEONE LOOSES THEIR LIFE. THE TIME IS NOW, NOT LATER. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH SEVERAL OWNERS OF THIS YEAR AND MODEL. THEY TOO REPORT THE SAME SITTUATION WITH RESPECT TO THE STEERING AND BRAKE SYSTEM.*AK
A WHEEL CHAIR SLID BACK AND HIT THE TAIL GATE, CAUSING IT TO OPEN WITH THE CONSUMER'S PROPERTY FALLING ONTO THE ROAD, CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE CONSIDERING THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE GATE OR TO THE LATCH OF THE DOOR AND THERE WAS LESS THAN 600 POUNDS OF UNRESTRAINED MATERIAL, WHICH ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL IS A SAFE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT. *SLC
TIRE BLOWOUT- THE TIRES HAVE LESS THAN 8000 MILES ON THEM FIRESTONE FIREHAWK P2257015 THESE ARE NOT ON THE LIST YET BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THEM. IS ANYBODY DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS TIRE? CAN I GET THEM REPLACED AT A LOWER COST, IF THEY ARE NOT ON THE LIST? I DO NOT WANT THESE TIRES ON MY TRUCK.( DOT NUMBER: HYUUJBA489 TIRE SIZE: P2257015 )
NO SUMMARY
KNOCKING SOUND IN ENGINE, CASA DEALER REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOREMAN SAID THAT IT WAS IGNITION TIMING CAUSING THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE TO KNOCK AND COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DODGE DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF SERVICE BULLITENS OUT FOR THIS PROBLEM INDICATING THAT IT COULD BE AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET OR A COMPUTER FAILURE. THE DODGE DEALER ALSO INFORMED ME THAT A LOT OF THESE LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS WERE COMING IN WITH THIS PROBLEM. IF THE PROBLEM WILL NOT BE FIXED BY THE DEALER THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM IS THERE ANY WAY TO MAKE THEM TAKE IT BACK AND PAY OFF THE FINANCE COMPANY SO THAT I WILL NOT OWE ANYTHING ON IT? THIS IS THE SECOND VEHICLE THAT I HAVE TRIED TO PURCHASE IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS THAT HAS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM.*AK
VENT WAS NOT BLOWING OUT COOL AIR, TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY PLACED THE MODE DOOR AND THE DUCT. DEALER REPLACED IT AND IT BROKE AGAIN.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE TRIED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, ENDING ON HEAD FIRST COLLISION WHERE NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK
THE TRUCK WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY TO THE HOUSE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND IN THE "PARKED" POSITION. NOBODY WAS IN THE TRUCK AND IT AUTOMATICALLY RAN INTO THE GARAGE AND RAN INTO THE HOUSE. IT DAMAGED THE HOUSE, LAWNMOWER, POWER WHEEL CAR AND RADIATOR. THE TRUCK WAS THEN TURNED OFF WITH THE TRANSMISSION STILL IN THE "PARKED" POSITION.
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND COMING TO A STOP SIGN, CONSUMER TRIED TO STOP AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES, ALMOST HIT A DUMP TRUCK, CONSUMER STOPPED WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE. *AK
VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN IT WAS IMPACTED BY A MID SIZE GM AUTO TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME SPEED. IMPACT DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE EXTENDED FROM THE FRONT GRILL AREA TO THE LEFT SIDE ENDING AT THE DRIVER DOOR. EXTENSIVE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND FRONT DRIVELINE DAMAGE OCCURED. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED.
THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE TANSFER CASE HAS A DEFECT WITH THE OUTPUT SHAFT BEARING WHICH CAUSES THE SHAFT TO BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION DRIVE GEARS. NLM
NO SUMMARY
BRAKE LINE WHICH RUNS AGAINST THE VENT HOSE FOR THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS CAUSED A HOLE THROUGH THE BRAKE LINE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKES.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
PRE MATURE BALL JOINT WEAR, EVEN THOUGH SERVICED AND GREASED REGULARLY, WHICH IF NOT CHECKED VERY OFTEN, COULD RESULT IN COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND INJURIES. *AK
STEERING COUPLER WEARS, FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS WEAR EXCESSIVELY, SERIOUS BALL JOINT WEAR EVEN THOUGH GREASED REGULARELY,(GREASED EVERY 2,000 MILES)
FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON OR IMPACT. FIRST TIME AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE GOING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS AT A SLOW PACE. SECOND TIME VEHICLE WAS GOING OVER A DIP IN THE ROAD AND AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER REPLACED AIRBAGS THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. BUT, AFTER THE SECOND TIME, DEALER WANTED CONSUMER TO CONTACT THE INSURANCE COMPANY.*AK
VEHICLE PURCHASED AUG. 24, 1999. RECEIPT OF CERTIFIED LETTER FROM NATIONAL DISPUTE CENTER-DALLAS, TEXAS. SIGN THIS LEMON DISCLOSURE PAPER NOT SIGNED WHEN YOU BOUGHT TRUCK. DEALER SIGNED CONTRACT WITH CHRYSLER TO DISCLOSE TO NEXT BUYER THEY WERE PURCHASING A LAUNDERED LEMON. THE DEALER, FINANCE OFFICER, NOR THE SALESMAN DISCLOSED THIS INFORMATION TO ME AT ANY TIME. IF I DIDN'T RECEIVE FORM FROM TEXAS, IT WOULD STILL BE COVERED UP. NUMEROUS TRANSMISSION FAILURES - HAULED IN TWICE WITH NOTHING SHOWING AT THE DEALERSHIP. I WORRY EACH TIME I GET BEHIND THE WHEEL. WHO WILL GET MAIMED OR KILLED? DEALER COMMITTED FRAUD BY FAILURE TO DISCLOSE. PLEASE HELP. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
I HAVE GONE THRU 3 SETS OF TIRES FOR THE FRONT RH SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. I HAVE DONE 3 ALIGNMENTS ON MY TRUCK ALREADY. I TOOK THE TRUCK INTO A 2ND DEALER TO CHECK OUT THE FRONT END 2 WEEKS AGO AND THE CONCLUSION WAS THAT I NEEDED A 4TH ALIGNMENT FOR THIS TRUCK. THIS TRUCK HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT, MAINLY COMMUTING BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. I AM GOING TO BE TRAVELING 4,000 MILES NEXT MONTH AND AM VERY LEERY OF TAKING THIS VEHICLE. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE IN MY 15 YEARS OF DRIVING NEED 4 ALIGNMENTS IN 2 YEARS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P21575S15 )
VEHICLE REQUIRED UR & LL CONTROL ARMS REPLACED AT 27,500 MILES FOR FAILED BALL JOINTS, NOW AT 66,500 MILES UL BALLJOINT HAS FAILED. 2WD, VIRTUALLY ALL HIGHWAY MILES, NO HEAVY USAGE, ALTHOUGH NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED THIS A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CONDITION. IN ADDITION TO THE 3 FAILURES OF BALL JOINTS ON MY VEHICLE MY FATHERS 1997 DODGE DAKOTA REQUIRED A CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENT FOR THE SAME PROBLEM @ ~13000, MILES. FRANKLY, I BELIEVE THIS MAY WARRANT A RECALL, OR AT LEAST EXTENDED COVERAGE OF REPLACEMENT PARTS BY DAIMLER-CHRYSLER. *AK
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN FRONT END COLLISION. *AK
RIGHT FRONT CALIPER HAS NEVER BEEN USED. THERE WAS NEVER ANY PULLING FROM THAT SIDE. MECHANIC FOUND CALIPER TO BE WORN OUT COMPLETELY. DEALER DIDN'T SEEM TOO CONCERNED WHEN CONSUMER MADE CONTACT. *AK
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED CONTINUED GRINDING AND BRAKE FADING, BRAKE FADING HAS RESULTING IN THREE SEPARATE ACCIDENT INCIDENTS, SEVERL REPAIR ATTEMPTS HOWEVER, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH SYSTEM. *MJS
WHILE DRIVING A DRUNKEN DRIVER HIT CONSUMER ON DRIVER'S SIDE, AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK
THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT THE FREQUENCY OF EVERY 6000. MILES WITHOUT EXCEPTION. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN THE SUMMARY. *AK
NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN VEHICLE LEFT THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK A UTILITY POLE (PASSENGER WENT FORWARD STRIKING RIGHT TEMPLE OF HER HEAD ON THE REARVIEW RESULTING IN FATAL INJURY TO PASSENGER). NLM
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTALCOLLISION AT 70 MPH, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *ML
EXHAUST LEAKAGE DUE TO A BROKEN MANIFOLD BOLT; DEALER NOTIFIED. MANIFOLD STUD REPLACED AT NO COST TO OWNER. *AK *ML
WHILE DRIVING ON A STATE ROUTE, TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT.UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. CONTACTED THE DEALER . *AK
DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL OVERLOAD RELAY LIGHT SWITCH BURNED OUT AND MELTED, CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO GO OUT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR DODGE RAM 1995 ON THIS PROBLEM. BUT THE 1998 DAKOTA IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ALTHOUGH IT HAS SAME PART. DEALER IS ORDERED PARTS TO FIX VEHICLE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. RECALL 99V024000. *AK
RECALL 97V170 000/ABS BRAKES: ABS BRAKES WOULD NOT OPERATE WHEN APPLIED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. OWNER REPAIRED VEHICLE HIMSELF BY MANUALLY ADJUSTING THE BRAKES. NEITHER CHRYSLER NOR DEALER PROVIDED HELP. *AK *ML
ROTORS WERE OUT OF PLACE AND WOBBLING CAUSING THE FRONT BRAKES TO FAIL. YH
WHEN MAKING A SHARP TURN LEFT OR RIGHT TURN ON AN INCLINE SUCH AS A DITCH THERE IS A LOUD POPPING NOISE FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION. *AK
ENGINE KNOCK,POOR GAS MILEAGE, ROUGH IDLING, STALLING,TRANSMISSION CLUNK WHEN SHIFTING.WORST TRUCK I'VE EVER OWNED!!!
NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE SHOULD REPLACE VEHICLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK
THIS HAPPENED 1 DAY AFTER AN OIL CHANGE. A QUALIFIED MECHANIC SHOULD HAVE NOTICED THIS. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN THE SUMMARY. *AMK
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 60-65 MPH BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. VEHICLE DID NOT HIT OR BUMP ANYTHING. CONDITION ALMOST CAUSED A COLLISION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
1. FRONT CRANK SEAL LEAKING AT FIRST OIL CHANGE, DEALER FINALLY REPLACED. 2. LEAKING FRONT RIGHT SHOCK ABSORBER NOTICED AT FIRST OIL CHANGE. DEALER REPLACED BOTH AT OWNERS REQUEST. 3. THERE IS A LOUD POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT STEERING COMPONENTS WHEN THE VEHICILE IS IN MOTION AND YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK TO LOCK. THE SOUND IS MADE WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. 4. WATER LEAK THROUGH BACK SLIDER WINDOW RESULTED IN TWO NEW CARPET/PAD ASSEMBLIES TO INSTALLED. DEALER FINALLY FIXED AFTER 4TH VISIT AND THREAT OF FILING FOR LEMON LAW PROTECTION. 5. DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AT 25 MPH IN A FRONT END COLLISION.
I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED TWICE SO FAR IT IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT AGAIN , SO I WILL BE IN TO HAVE THEM REPLACE THE BRAKES FOR THE THIRD TIME, I WAS TOLD BYE THE DEALER PERSONEL, THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF MY TYPE OF TRUCK HAVEING TROUBLES WITH THE FRONT AXLE BRAKES, REFERING TO THE HEAVY DUTY MODELS WITH DANA 60 AXLES , I WAS TOLD THAT THE V10 AND THE DEISLE 4X4 TRUCKS HAVE THE SAME TROUBLES , IM WORRIED THAT ONCE MY WARRENTY EXPIRES I WILL BE LEFT WITH A TRUCK THAT PULLS TO THE RIGHT, I LOVE THE TRUCK , BUT NOW IM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO , IT SEEMS TO BE NEEDING REPLACEMENT EVERY 7 TO 10,000 MILES.THEY ALSO SAID THEY NOTICED A SLIGHT LEAK OF POWER STEERING FLUID , BUT I WAS TOLD THAT WAS NORMAL , (MY THOUGHT) WAS IT WAS LEAKING BECAUSE THE TRUCK IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND IM TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO COMPINSATE , AND TO ME THAT PUTS PRESHURE ON THE POWER STEERING THATS NOT NORMAL , BUT IM NOT THE MACANIC , PLEASE NOTE THE DEALERSHIP IS NICE AND FREINDLY, I THINK I JUST GOT A BAD FRONT BRAKE SET UP ON MY TRUCK. *AK
RIGHT REAR BRAKE LINE IS RUBBING ON THE FRAME DUE TO POOR LOCATION CAUSING THE LINE TO WEAR. NLM
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
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