1999 Dodge Dakota complaints

I WAS RECENTLY NOTIFIED THAT THE TOW RATING OF THE DODGE DAKOTA R/T ONLY WAS LOWERED FROM 6400 LBS TO 2000 LBS. I FOUND OUT ON A WEBSITE. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS TRUE, THAT IT WAS LOWERED IN FEB 99 AND I WOULD RECEIVE A LETTER IN THE MAIL REGARDING MY OPTIONS. THEY WOULD NOT TELL ME WHY IT WAS LOWERED. I ASKED IF IT WAS A SAFETY OR PERFORMANCE ISSUE. THEY WOULD NOT SAY. IT TOOK 2 MONTHS TO GET THE LETTER AND ALL IT WAS A YELLOW CARD TO PUT IN MY OWNER'S MANUAL SAYING THAT THE TOW CAPACITY WAS NOW 2000 LBS. ALL THE LITERATURE I HAVE ALONG WITH MY OWNER'S MANUAL SAYS 6400 LBS AND APPARENTLY, CHRYSLER IS STILL ADVERTISING 6400 LBS.

TRUCK WAS ADVERTISED TO BE ABLE TO TOW 6400LB AS EQUIPED, LETTER WAS SENT STATING TOWING WAS NOW MAX OF 2000LB.

WHEN I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK (JAN. 99) THE TOW RATING WAS 6400 LBS. RECENTLY, DIAMLER CHRYSLER CORP. SENT ME A CARD TO INSERT INTO MY OWNERS MANUAL THAT SAYS 2000# IS ALL THIS VEHICLE WILL TOW SAFELY. WHAT THEY DON'T EXPLAIN IS WHY THE TOW RATING IS DECREASED! IT SEEMS TO ME IF DC IS CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY ASPECT OF THIS ISSUE THAN THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED DURING THEIR OWN TESTING BEFORE RELEASE TO THE CONSUMER. THIS IS THE SECOND MODEL YEAR THAT THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN IN PRODUCTION AND THEY JUST NOW REALIZED THERE IS A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THERE ORIGINAL ADVERTISED TOWING FIGURE? WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS TRUCK THAT DC DOESN'T WANT TO TELL IT'S LOYAL CUSTOMERS ABOUT? I HAVEN'T TRIED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER BUT SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THE SAME MODEL TRUCK HAVE AND DC IS BEING VERY TIGHT LIPPED CONCERNING THE REDUCED TOWING ISSUE, BASICALLY THEY WOULD RATHER "BUYBACK" THE VEHICLE THAN SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE CAUSE FOR THE WEIGHT REDUCTION.

MANUFACTURER LOWERED TOW CAPACITY FROM ADVERTISED 6400LBS TO 2000LBS

NO SUMMARY

TOWING CAPACITY LOWERED TO 2000 POUNDS WITHOUT NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS.

ACCORDING TO REPORTS ON THE INTERNET, DAIMLERCHRYSLER HAS ISSUED A LETTER RENEGING ON THE TOWING CAPACITY ADVERTISED FOR THE DODGE DAKOTA R/T \V8 FROM 6,400 LBS TO 2,000 LBS. THIS REDUCTION ANNOUNCEMENT LETTER HAS NOT BEEN SENT TO ME OR MANY OTHER NEW VEHICLE OWNERS, HOWEVER I HAVE SEEN AND HAVE A COPY OF THE LETTER PROVIDED TO ME BY OTHERS.

TOWING CAPACITY DOWNGRADED FROM 6400 TO 2000 LBS. NO CONTACT FROM CHRYSLER

TOWING ISSUE - TRUCK WAS ADVERTISED AND SOLD AS HAVING 6000# TOWING CAPACITY. AFTER DELIVERY THE OWNERS MANUSL WAS MODIFIED TO 2000# TOWING CAPACITY. THIS CAUSES A LOSS IN THE VALUE OF THE AS I PAID FOR A FEATURE THAT WAS NOT ON THE TRUCK AT TIME OF DELIVERY. I FEEL I WAS OVER CHARGED FOR THE TRUCK AND THE TRUCK HAS LOST RESALE VALUE.

I BOUGHT A DODGE DAKOTA RT IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR. AFTER OWNING THE TRUCK FOR APPROXIMATLY 3 MONTHS I WAS MADE AWARE OF A REDUCTION IN TOWING CAPACITY FROM 6400 POUNDS TO ONLY 2000 POUNDS. I CALLED DAIMLER CHRYSLER A NUMBER OF TIMES AND WAS TOLD THAT ONLY TRUCKS BUILT AFTER FEBUARY 1ST WERE ELIGIBLE FOR A BUYBACK, MY TRUCK WAS BUILT FEBUARY 6. THE REPRESENTITIVE I SPOKE WITH FROM CHRYSLER TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE HAD A YELLOW CARD PLACED IN MY OWNERS MANUAL STATING THE REDUCTION. I BROUGHT THE MANUAL TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE SERVICE MANAGER LOOK THROUGH MY MANUAL, AND HE TOO DID NOT SEE THE YELLOW CARD. I WAS NEVER TOLD OF THE REDUCTION WHEN I BOUGHT THE TRUCK AND I WAS NOT ON ANY MAILING LIST FROM CHRYSLER TO RECEIVE A LETTER STATING THE REDUCTION.

WHEN PURCHASED NEW THIS VEHICLE, DAKOTA R/T, WAS CLEARLY ADVERTISED AS HAVING A TOWING CAPACITY OF 6400 LBS. DAIMLERCHRYSLER NOW ANNOUNCING A DOWNGRADE OF THAT TO 2000 LBS.. I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER OF THIS FACT THE ONLY REASON I KNOW OF THIS IS FROM OTHER DOKOTA R/T OWENERS. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL NOT STATE WHY THEY ARE REDUCING THIS. I THINK THIS MUST BE A REAL SAFTEY HAZZARD. I DID RECEIVIE AN E-MAIL THAT A NOTHER R/T OWNER LOST CONTROL WHILE TOWING AND HADE A MINOR WRECK. BEING THAT DAIMLERCHRYSLER HAS NOT CONTACTED ALL R/T THIS MUST MEAN THAT OTHERS ARE TOWING MORE THAN 2000 LBS. I HAVE TOWED NEER TO 2000 LBS BEFORE I FOUND OUT. (NOT FROM DAIMLERCHRYSLER) THEY NEED TO THE STAND UP AND LET ALL OF US KNOW BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT OR KILLED.

TOWING ISSUE

WHEN I BOUGHT THE TRUCK, I WAS TOLD THAT CAPACITY WAS 6400LBS. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT IT WAS CHANGED TO 2000LBS WITH NO REASON WHY.

THE FACTORY ORIGINALY APPROVED THE DAKOTA R/T FOR 6400 LBS TOWING CAPACITY, AND THEN SUDDENLY REDUCED THAT TO 2000 LBS, FAILING TO NOTIFY MANY OF THE PROBLEM, NOT CHANGING ANY ADVERTISEMENTS, AND NOT TELLING NEW BUYERS.... THEY REFUSE TO DISCLOSE INFO ON WHY THEY CHANGED THE RATING, AND DO NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM

IN WET PAVEMENT AND PANIC STOPS, THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

WHEN I ORIGINALLY BOUGHT THE DAKOTA R/T, I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD TOW UP TO 6400LBS. I JUST FOUND OUT FROM OTHER SOURCE THAT THE TOWING WAS REDUCED TO 2000LBS. CALLED CHRYSLER SENDING SOME LETTER AND A YELLOW CARD. IS THIS A SAFTY ISSUE?

MANUFACTURER WHO SOLD VEHICLE, AND ALSO OWNER'S MANUAL STATE THAT VEHICLE CAN PULL UP TO 6000 TOWING POUNDS, BUT IT CAN ACTUALLY PULL ONLY 2000 POUNDS . *AK

WHEN PURCHASED NEW THIS VEHICLE, DAKOTA R/T, WAS CLEARLY ADVERTISED AS HAVING A TOWING CAPACITY OF 6400 LBS. DAIMLERCHRYSLER NOW ANNOUNCING A DOWNGRADE OF THAT RATING TO 2000 LBS, RETROACTIVE TO ALL 1999 AND 1998 MODELS INCLUDING THOSE ALREADY SOLD AND TITLED. FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL VOID WARRANTY.

THE MANUFACTURER SENT OF A CHANGE THAT DROPPED TOW RATING FROM 6400LBS TO 2000LBS ON THE R/T MODELS. THEY GIVE NO REASON FOR THE CHANGE. THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION. *AK

DAIMLER CHRYSLER ADVERTISED AND SOLD THE DAKOTA R/T VEHICLES AS HAVING A 6400 LB. TOWING CAPACITY. THEY HAVE NOW DOWNGRADED THIS TOWING CAPACITY TO 2000 LBS. MANY OF THESE VEHICLES ARE BEING USED TO TOW CONSIDERABLY MORE THAN 2000 LBS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

DODGE DAKOTA R/T'S WERE ORIGINALLY SAID TO BE AT 6400LBS TOWING CAPACITY PROPERLY EQUIPPED. IT HAS BEEN DOWNGRADED TO 2000 LBS MAX AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE.

DAIMLERCHRYSLER HAS ARBITRARILY REDUCED THE RATED TOWING CAPACITY TO 2000 LBS, ALTHOUGH ALL THE PRODUCT LITERATURE FOR THESE VEHICLES STATES 6400 LBS TOWING CAPACITY. THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN A REASON AND REFUSE TO WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR FAILURES DUE TO TOWING MORE THAN 2000 LBS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 265/55HR17 )

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

DEFECTIVE BOLTS FELL OFF RACK AND PINION CAUSING RACK AND PINION TO MOVE UP AND DOWN, RESULTING IN STEERING WHEEL GETTING STUCK, AND CAUSING A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 35MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT. WAS BROADSIDED BY DODGE. UPON IMPACT, THE DODGE'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH DRIVER & PASSENGER WERE SLIGHTLY INJURED. POLICE REPORT FILED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING A FRONTAL IMPACT, AND SERIOUS DAMAGES TO THE FRONT END. DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS CRASH. AN INSPECTOR SAID A SHIELD WAS OVER THE AIRBAG SENSOR WHICH WONT TRIGGER THE SENSOR IF THERE WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

REDUCED THE TOWING CAPACITY WITHOUT NOTIFICATION OF OWNERS.SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

WHEN I ORIGINALLY BOUGHT THE DAKOTA R/T, I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD TOW UP TO 6400LBS. JUST RECENTLY CHRYSLER HAS ANNOUNED THAT TOWING MORE THAN 2000LBS WILL VOID OUR WARRANTY. THE R/T IS MEANT TO BE A FUN TRUCK TO DRIVE, BUT MANY OF US ALSO BOUGHT IT FOR THE ABILITY TO WORK AS WELL AS PLAY. MANY OF US ALSO BOUGHT THE HEAVY DUTY SERVICE GROUP AND THE TOW PACKAGE FROM DODGE AS WELL. THAT ALL AMOUNTS TO NOTHING NOW, SINCE IT CAN NOT TOW MORE THAN WHAT THE BUMBER CAN HANDLE. I BELONG TO A MAILING LIST OF 300 OTHER R/T DRIVERS AND SO FAR ALL THEY HAVE HEARD (AFTER CALLING CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE) IS THAT CHRYLSER MAY PAY US BACK FOR THE TOW PACKAGE AND HEAVY DUTY SERVICE GROUP. THAT IS TRULY UNACCEPTABLE SINCE WE BOUGHT THIS TRUCK FOR WORKING AND NOW IT CAN BARELY TOW A GOOD SIZED TRAILER. ALL THE DOCUMENTATION THAT I HAVE READ SAYS THAT THE DAKOTA R/T CAN TOW 6400LBS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT YOU GUYS CAN DO TO HELP US OUT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [email protected]

NO SUMMARY

WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN FOR NO REASON. WOULD HAVE NO WARNING. HAD BEEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR PROBLEM, BUT MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM OR DUPLICATE IT. *AK

DESIGN OF EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRRORS ARE TOO LARGE CAUSING THEM TO BLOCK DRIVERS VIEW.

ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK IN OPEN POSITION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. BRAKES DID NOT STOP VEHICLE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN CRASHING INTO A TREE, MOSTLY ON THE LEFT FRONT SIDE OF TRUCK, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD THE DRIVER AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS. OWNER NOT SURE IF TRUCK WAS TOTALLED. *AK

THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE REVERSE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AT ALL. THE ONLY REAR LIGHTS THAT WORK ARE THE HEAD LIGHTS. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK

HAD BEEN RUNNING ON CRUISE CONTROL FOR ABOUT 3 MILES WHEN VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED TO ABOUT 70 MPH. I DEPRESSEDED THE "COAST" BUTTON, REDUCING THE SPEED TO 60. I HAD NO FURTHER CRUISE CONTROL INCIDENTS/FAILURES. *AK

THE GOODYEAR TIRES (EAGLE LS P25569R15), THE TREADS WERE WEARING EXCESSIVELY. HAD NOTICED THE TREAD WEAR AFTER HAVING THE TIRES ROTATED 3 DIFFERENT TIMES. HAD CALLED THE MANUFACTURER & THE DEALER OF THE TIRES & BOTH REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

VEHICLE IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. DEALER HAS DONE AN ALIGNMENT, BUT DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING AND IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE, CAUSING THE TIRE TO WEAR OUT ON RIGHT SIDE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK

THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ED, CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO THE FLOOR AND NO BRAKING ABILITY, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO ACCIDENT, AND SAID IT WAS NOT DRIVEABLE UNTIL A PART WAS AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

HEADLIGHTS ARE UNSTABLE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY, CONSUMER ALSO HAVING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE VALVES KNOCKING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

DEALER MECHANIC FOUND THAT COMBINATION VALVE/SWITCH ON VEHICLE CAME APART.

TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR, THIS DID NOT OCCUR ALL TIME. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SEVERAL TIMES. WAS TOLD TO IGNORE THE LIGHT AND SHOULD ONLY BE CONCERNED IF THE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THEY AJUSTED THE THROTTLE PRESSURE CABLE. IT SEEMED TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM FOR APPROX 1 WEEK. THEN THE PROBLEMS STARTED AGAIN. THIS TIME IT STILL WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND NOW IT WAS BOGGING OUT. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND AS I STEPPED ON THE GAS THE TRUCK JUST BOGGED OUT. IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THE PROPER GEARS. I DROVE BACK TO THE DEALER, THE CHECK THE TRUCK AND SAID THE SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRANI, WOULD NOT LET ME DRIVE VEHICLE, GIVEN RENTAL.