1999 Dodge Dakota complaints

FLAT TIRE. SIDE WALL HAS SLITS RIGHT NEXT TO THE RIM OF THE WHEEL. AFTER OBTAINING A FLAT TIRE I HAD MY GARAGE MAN CHECK THE OTHER 3 TIRES AND THEY ALL WERE THE SAME , WITH SLITS IN THE SIDEWALLS. UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON. *AK

THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHED USED WITH LESS THEN 30,000 MILES AT THE TIME I NOTICED A SHIMMY IN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE WHEELS NOW HAVE AN EXCESSIVE SHIMMY AND GRINDING WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN. THE SHIMMY CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL AS WELL AS NOTICED FROM THE OUTSIDE WHEN THE TRUCK IS MOVING. HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DODGE IS AWARE OF AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AS THE SERVICE MACHANIC SAID ITS JUST DODGE, THEN HE WENT ON TO SAY HE WOULDN'T OWN A DODGE DAKOTA AND HE SERVICES THEM!!!*AK

BECAUSE I HEARD OF ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH FRONT ENDS ON THESE VEHICLES I HAVE IT CHECKED EVERY TIME I GET MY OIL CHANGED. WITH ONLY 35,000 MILES ON MY DODGE DOKOTA SPORT I HAD THEUPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT REPLACED, THE TIE ROD ENDS AND LAST WEEK THE U-JOINT. HARD TO BELIEVE THERE<S NOT BEEN A RECALL ON SUCH A DANGEROUS DEFECT, GUESS NOT ENUOUGH INJURIES AND DEATHS YET! PLEASE CAMPLAIN IF YOU'VE HAD THESE PROBLEMS, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *JB

I HAD NOTICED THE FRONT TIRES CUPPING AND BROUGHT IT TO A DEALER FOR AN ALIGNMENT, THERE THEY TOLD ME IT NEEDED UPPER BALL JOINTS, LOWER BALL JOINTS, AND A TIE ROD END. I THEN BROUGHT IT BACK THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY TOLD ME THE AMOUNT OF "PLAY" IS ACCEPTABLE ACCORDING TO DODGE MEASUREMENTS, HOWEVER THEY DID RECOMMEND TO REPLACE THE TIE ROD END, WHICH I HAD THEM DO AND HAD TO BRING IT ELSEWHERE FOR AN ALIGNMENT AS THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN ALIGNMENT RACK. I THEN BROUGHT IT TO A PLACE THEY RECOMMENDED CLOSE TO WHERE I LIVE FOR THE ALIGNMENT, WHERE I WAS TOLD THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE SHOT AND THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ALIGN IT. I THEN HAD THE SHOP REPLACE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS THAT CAN BE LUBED AND HAD A WARRANTY ALONG WITH AN ALIGNMENT. THE TRUCK IS A '99 CLUB CAB V8 4X4 W/47500 MILES.*AK

NOISE IN FRONT END OF 1999 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK WITH ONLY 51,000 MILES ON IT . AD TO REPLACE BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS AND ONE TIE ROD END.*AK

PRIOR TO THE PART REPLACEMENT, I EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING WITH MY 1999 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP (MANUAL TRANSMISSION). THE ENGINE STALLED, THE SPEEDOMETER ACTED ERRATICALLY AND DROPPED TO ZERO, AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS STILL IN GEAR AND MOVING AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH, 35 MPH, 25 MPH, AND WHEN JUST STARTING OUT AFTER BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THOSE TIMES WHEN I HAD SUFFICIENT SPEED, THE ENGINE WOULD RESTART WITHIN 10 SECONDS - IF I LEFT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR. AT OTHER SPEEDS, THE TRUCK STOPPED DEAD IN THE ROADWAY - WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND ME HAVING TO SLAM ON THEIR BRAKES. THE INTERNET IS LITTERED WITH STORIES OF THE FAILURE OF THE ABS/REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR IN DODGE VEHICLES. (FOR EXAMPLES, SEE WWW.DODGEDAKOTAS.COM). THERE ARE, HOWEVER, NO INDICATIONS OF RELATED ACCIDENTS. I SUSPECT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM VIA THE INTERNET AND TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND HAD THEM REPLACE THE PART (AT A COST OF $85 +$36.10). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT EXHIBITED ANY OF THE ABOVE SYMPTOMS SINCE REPLACING THE SENSOR. I RETAINED THE FAILED PART. THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT THIS SENSOR SHOULD NOT CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL. THERE ARE NO DIAGNOSTIC CODES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FAILURE. MY BELIEF IS THAT THE FIRMWARE FOR THE ONBOARD COMPUTER MUST BE FLASHED FOR ALL MODELS (AND THE ISSUE CORRECTED FOR ANY FUTURE MODELS) SO THAT THE ENGINE IS NOT TOLD TO SHUT DOWN. I WOULD ADD THAT, SINCE THIS SENSOR IS ASSOCIATED WITH EMISSIONS,

WHILE DRIVING, THE HUB ASSEMBLY WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER AND THE DEALER DENIED THE CLAIM. THE WHOLE FRONT TIRE BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AND FRONT END ASSEMBLY. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

BOTH UNPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES OF MY 1999 DODGE DAKOTA FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED THIS MARCH WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC SAID THE BALL JOINTS WERE RUINED AND THAT IT WAS IN LARGE PART TO THERE BEING TO SMALL AND ALSO HAVING NO GREASE FITTINGS.*AK

FRONT END STEERING MECHANISM HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK BOTH OF THE VEHICLE'S LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. THE STARTER ASSEMBLEY WAS REPLACED. THE BATTERY TERMINALS WERE ALSO REPLACED. *NM

BAD BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD ENDS

WHEN DRIVING 1999 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP IN TEMPERATURES BELOW -10 DEGREES F OVERDRIVE MALFUNCTIONS. DEALER AT FIRST CLAIMED THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED DO THIS. LATER THEY ADMITTED THAT IT WAS A DESIGN DEFECT, BUT, DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. MANY OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN SOLD IN THE NORTHERN STATES UNDER FALSE PRETENCES. *AK

1999 DODGE DAKOTA 77,250 MILES. FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE. HAVING BALL JOINTS REPLACED.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE REAR AXEL SEAL LEAKED AND WAS DRIPPING FLUID ONTO THE REAR BRAKES. THIS PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED TWICE, PROBLEM RECURRED. ALSO, BALL JOINTS WORE OUT EXCESSIVELY ON BOTH SIDES, UPPER AND LOWER.*AK

I PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND HEARD A LOUD THUMP COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE TRUCK. I GOT OUT AND PULLED ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE WHEEL BECAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE THE WHEELS WANTED TO COME OFF. WHEN I PULLED THE TIRE MOVED AN INCH. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THE BALL JOINT BOOT SPLIT IN HALF AND NO SIGHT OF THE BACK SIDE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. *LA

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD CRACKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM ONCE, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED FOR A SECOND TIME. *SC

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A ROUTINE GENERAL MAINTENANCE, AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WORN OUT PREMATURELY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *LA

1999 DODGE DAKOTA WE BOUGHT IT NEW ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES FOR CRACKING TIE ROD ENDS ARE BAD THE FIRST SET OF TIRES LASTED 14000 MILES. FRONT TIRES ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BALL JOINT PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RUBBER BUSHINGS WORE OUT. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE LOWER BUSHINGS WERE GONE AND THAT THE UPPER ONES WERE FAILING. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. THERE WAS A SCREECHING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THE SERVICE DEALER FOUND THE LEFT PLATE RUBBING THE ROTOR. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. UPON HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE BALL JOINT WERE WORN. THE UPPER AND LOWER JOINTS WERE LOOSE AND NOISY, AND THE FRONT BRAKES HAD RUSTED. *SC *JB

WHEN MAKING SHARP TURN A POPPING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK THE REPORTS WERE MADE WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD RELATIVELY LOW MILES. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE BALL JOINTS INDICATED THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A QUOTE TO REPLACE THE UPPER BALL JOINT BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. THE LOWER BALL JOINT ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER ALSO HEARD A RATTLING NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH OR HIGHER THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF WIND NOISE. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR WEATHER STRIP. *NM

HAD TO RELACE FRONT BALL JOINTS AT 20,000 MILES. HAD TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN AT 60,000. THIS TIME HAD MECHANIC REPLACE THEM WITH ONES THAT HAVE NIP SO THEY CAN BE LUBRICATED. *MR

CONSUMER HAVE ROTORS REPLACED TWICE. *LA THE CONSUMER IS NOW BEING TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINTS ARE CRACKED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER DRIVEN OFF ROAD THEREFORE IT IS NOT NORMAL AND HIGHLY UNUSUAL FOR THESE TYPES OF ABNORMALITIES TO EXIST. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES A RECALL SHOULD BE INITIATED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *NM

BALL JOINTS ON 2000 DAKOTA FAILING WITH ONLY 35K MI. I WENT TO THE WEBSITEHTTP://WWW.DODGEDAKOTAS.COM/BOARDS/V8/208.HTML....I THINK IT PRETTY WELL SUMS UP THE PROBLEM...EXTREMELY CHEAP PARTS...HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR DODGE TO RECALL THESE WHEN PEOPLE START DYING FROM FRONT END FAILURE...YOU GUY'S NEED TO READ ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS AND LOOK AT THE MILEAGES SHOWN. BECAUSE OF THE PRICE I HAVE NOT YET REPLACED THE PART...I JUST STARTED DRIVING MY TRUCK LATELY AGAIN AFTER MY SON FINISHED DRIVING IT TO AND FROM COLLEGE AND HE DID NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I TRULY HOPE YOU DO SHARE THIS WITH CHRYSLER CORP BECAUSE WHEN I CAN GO ONLINE AND READ SO MUCH COLLECTIVE INFO AND SEE PEOPLE WITH CHEAP BALL JOINTS BREAKING DOWN AT AS LOW AS 7K MI. IF THEY DO NOT REACT ESP. WHEN SOMEONE DIES FROM A SERIOUS BREAKDOWN...I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR VEHICLES. *NM

WHILE DRIVING FRONT UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT. . THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SHIMMY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4. AT 50,000 I INSTALLED NEW TIRES AND TOOK MY TRUCK TO A MECHANIC FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. I RECENTLY MOVED AND THE MECHANIC WAS NEW, BUT HAD GOOD REPORTS. HE TOLD ME THAT HE COULD NOT DO THE ALIGNMENT BECAUSE OF BAD BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD ENDS. I WAS OUTRAGED, THINKING THAT HE MIGHT BE TRYING TO RIP ME OFF. I TOLD HIM AT 50,000 MILES I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GET NEW STEERING PARTS, BUT THE MECHANIC SAID THAT HE HAS REPLACED BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD PARTS ON SEVERAL DAKOTAS AND DURANGOS AT THAT MILEAGE. I TOLD HIM TO REPLACE THE PARTS AND DO THE ALIGNMENT. WHEN I PICKED UP MY DAKOTA, HE SHOWED ME THE PARTS, THEY WERE BAD. I HAVE WORKED FOR TWO LARGE AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY MANUFACTURERS AND HAVE SEEN THEM CUT COSTS BY INSTALLING CHEAP CHINESE PARTS. THE COST TO PRODUCE THE PRODUCT GOES DOWN AND THE CONSUMER PRICE OF THE PRODUCT GOES UP INCREASING THE MARGINS AND LINING THE POCKETS OF MR. CEO AND OTHER HIGHER UPS WITHOUT A CONCERN TO THE CONSUMER. IT HAPPENS EVERYWHERE. THIS ON THE OTHER HAND IS SERIOUS INVOLVING CHEAP PARTS ON THE STEERING COMPONENTS ON A HIGHWAY VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND I PRAY THAT DODGE DOES NOT HAVE BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS IF SOMEONE GETS IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THEIR NEGLEGENCE. I HAVE ALSO HAD BRAKE ISSUES WITH MY DAKOTA. THE DAKOTA WITH THE 5.2 GOES LIKE A BAT OUT OF HELL, BUT THE HANDLING COMPONENTS SUCH AS STEERING AND BRAKES ARE LESS THAN TO BE DESIRED.*AK

I HAVE A DODGE DAKOTA,1999, ALL THE BALL JOINTS ARE BAD AND DANGEROUSLY WORN. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THEY ARE THE SAME AS THE DURANGO!!!!! AND I CAN'T GET THEM. THEY ARE OUT OF STOCK ALL OVER AT A COST OF $2000.00APPROXIMATELY.!!!*AK I UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY FOR THE DURANGO BUT DID YOU REALIZE THE DAKOTA IS THE SAME PART.............. NOT ONLY CANT I AFFORD THIS REPAIR IT IS A 53,000 MILE VEHICLE THAT IS WELL CARED FOR AND THIS IS ABOSORBENT AND GOUGING THE PUBLIC. PLEASE CONSIDER INCLUDING THE DAKKOTA WITH THE DURANG INVESTIGATION. THANK YOU FRANK YUNITS SR.

BALL JOINTS ON 1999 DODGE DAKOTA EXCESSIVE TIRE REPLACEMENT(3)SETS OF TIRES ON FRONT VEHICLE HAS ONLY 65000 MILES ALSO HAD TO REPLACE ROTORS AND BRAKES I DON'T BELIEE THIS IS TYPICAL FOR THIS AMOUNT OF MILES.

VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY GETTING 17 MILES PER GALLON ,BUT IT WAS LOOSING MILES PER GALLON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP,AND TECHNICIAN CONFIGURED THE COMPUTER FUEL ECONOMY. THE CAR WAS IN WORSE SHAPE THAN IT EVER HAD BEEN. *AK *NM

DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION DEALERSHIPS INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT BRAKE LINE CRACKED, AND WAS CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. MECHANIC DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM

UPPER, LOWER AND INNER TIE RODS WERE WORN AT 92K MILES. *PH

WHILE TRAVELING CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. A TECHNICIAN SERVICED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT.*AK *LA

REPLACEMENT OF BALL JOINTS AND ADDITIONAL PARTS THAT WERE WORNOUT, AND THE TRUCK HAD ONLY 68,000 MILES, $900 REPAIR COSTS, DEFINITELY A HAZARD THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVERTED BY THE MANUFACTURER, AND I WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMNT FOR MY PROBLEM THAT ALOT OF VEHICLES OF CHRYSLER-DAILMER DODGE DAKOTA P/UHAS HAD.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN MAKING A TURN HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. CONSUMER COULD PULL THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HIS HANDS AND HEAR A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE TWICE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. AN ALIGNMENT SHOP WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REALIGN THE TIRES FOUND THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. *AK

DURING REPLACING BRAKES ON 1999 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 V8, (BRAKE EQUIPMENT FROZE ON ONE SIDE), MECHANIC HEARD NOISES AND FOUND THAT BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE SEVERELY WORN AND IN HIS OPINION, READY TO SEPERATE (DRIVERS SIDE BEING WORST). VEH. HAS 70,000 MILES AND IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. THE MECHANIC BELIEVES THIS TO BE UNUSUAL AND ABNORMAL WEAR TO THE VEHICLE. THE BALL JOINTS ARE GOING TO BE REPLACED TO AVOID ANY HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS AND I WILL SAVE THE PARTS IF YOU REQUEST FOR LATER EXAMINATION.*AK

LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON 99 DODGE DAKOTA AT 66,000 MILES.*AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH AND NOTICED THAT FRONT WHEELS WERE LOOSE AND WERE NOT RESPONDING WELL. ALSO, THERE WAS NOISE WHEN WHEELS HIT BUMPS OR CRACKS IN THE ROAD. TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, AND HAD THE FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS REPLACED. ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT LOWER BALL JOINTS ALSO NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONSUMER CAN FEEL A WOBBLE AND HEAR A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO THE FRONT TIRES BEGAN TO WEAR OUT UNEVENLY. A DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT ALL OF THE BALL JOINTS WERE WORN. *NM VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT FOR REPAIRS FOR BALL JOINTS, AND VEHICLE ONLY HAD 20,000 MILES. *LA

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINT FAILED. *AK LOWER BALL JOINT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE DEALER THAT IT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. IN ADDITION, WHEEL BEARING WERE REPLACED. *LA

PREMATURE WEAR TO UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON 1999 DODGE DAKOTA. DEALERSHIP QUOTED $1000.00 TO FIX! I PUT NEW TIRES ON THE TRUCK AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DO AN ALLIGNMENT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. IT'S SEEMS VERY UNSAFE. *AK

FAULTY BALL JOINTS AND BUSHINGS IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED BEFORE 50,000 MILES. THIS COULD CREATE A CONDITION WHERE THE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY BREAKS OFF FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT.*AK

DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINTS ON MY DODGE DAKOTA ARE BAD. WHEN I ASKED IF THIS WAS NORMAL WITH ONLY 56,000 MILES ON A VEHICLE THEY BECAME VERY EVASIVE AND WOULD NOT GIVE AN ANSWER. I ASKED IF CHRYSLER WAS HELPING THEIR CUSTOMERS ON THIS ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THEY WERE TAKING CARE OF SOME OF THEM BUT THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME. THE FIRST 2 YEARS I HAD THIS VEHICLE IT WAS IN THE SHOP 23 TIMES FOR REPAIRS. I HAD TO GO THROUGH ARBITRATION TWICE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE CHRYSLERS REGIONAL MANAGER TOLD THE DEALERSHIP NOT TO WORK ON IT ANYMORE. THEY REFUSED TO HONOR THE FACTORY WARRANTY. NOW THEY WANT $1,100 TO REPAIR A DEFECT THAT REQUIRES $150 WORTH OF PARTS.

MY 99 DAKOTA BEGAN HOWLING AND WHINNING IN THE REAR END. I HAD THE REAR END AND GEAR LUBE INSPECTED. GEAR LUBE WAS FULL, AND GEARS AND BEARINGS SHOWED NO SIGN OF WEAR. ABOUT 1 WEEK LATER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY ABS AND E-BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. BRAKE FLUID WAS NEARLY EMPTY. MECHANIC FOUND FRONT AND REAR BRAKE LINERS WORN, AND REPAIRED AS NECASSARY. THIS DID NOT FIX ANY LIGHT OR NOISE PROBLEMS. AS SOON AS THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON, MY SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT FUNCTION UNDER 40 MPH, AND ENGINE WOULD STALL AT STOPS. MECHANIC REMOVED DIFFERENTIAL, AND PINION GEAR. PINION BEARING WAS SHREDDED BADLY, CAUSING THE HOWLING. ALL BEARINGS IN REAR END WERE REPLACED, AND REAR END NOISE WAS CURED. THE BEARING SHAVINGS MAY HAVE DAMAGED THE REAR ABS SPEED SENSOR. I HAVE HEARD OF THE SAME SYMPTOMS FOR THE REAR END NOISE FROM OTHER DAKOTA OWNERS BOTH ON LINE AND IN PERSON. THIS WAS A COSTLY AND STRESSFUL DIAGNOSIS PROCEEDURE, AND MAY WARRANT SOME SORT OF POSSIBLE RECALL INVESTIGATION. IS THE MANUFACTURER USING AN INFERIOR LUBRICANT? THIS TRUCK'S FRONT BUMPER WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED BY 40,000MI. NOT THE FIRST I'VE HEARD OF THAT ISSUE EITHER.

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE STALLED 2 SECONDS LATER. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF OIL PUMP FAILURE. THE OIL PRESSURE WASN'T BEING EVENLY DISTRIBUTED, AND IT DESTROYED THE ENGINE. *AK

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE SEVERELY WORN OUT. WHILE PULLING ONTO SHOP PARKING LOT TO BE REPAIRED THE UPPER BALL JOINT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEPARATED. *AK

CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. NEXT DAY TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. THEY DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS BALL JOINTS.BOTH ARE COMPLETELY WORN OUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED A LONG TIME AGO. REPAIR ESTIMATE $1,000. THIS IS A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED OIL LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED.*AK

OIL PRESSURE LIGHT GOES TO 0 AND BACK TO 40 THEN STAYS AT 0. NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEMS WITH OIL PUMP AND OIL SENDING UNIT, SCREENS AND ETC. OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED FOR FREE. *JB

FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IN MY 99 DODGE DAKOTA WITH 38,900 MILES ON IT. CHRYSLER DAIMLER COVERED ONLY PARTS. IT COST ME 370 DOLLARS TO GET IT REPAIRED. I CONTESTED WHEN THEY SAID THEY WOULD ONLY COVER PARTS. CHRYSLER STATED THAT IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THIS IS ALL THEY WOULD DO. I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT VERY LOW MILES ON THIS CHRYSLER PRODUCT. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. CHRYSLER WON'T TALK TO ME ANYMORE. THEY STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY I COULD STILL FIGHT IT WAS TO PAY THE FULL PRICE FOR THE REPAIR AND THEN CONTEST IT. I NEEDED MY TRUCK BACK. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IT FAR DO TO THE OIL CONSUMPTION. I WAS STUCK. I PAID IT CAUSE I NEEDED A VEHICLE. AGE SHOULDN'T MATTER IN A CASE LIKE THIS. 38,900 IS WAY TO LOW OF MILES FOR A MAJOR REPAIR LIKE THIS. I AM WORRIED THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND THAT CHRYSLER WILL JUST SAY "TOUGH". I HAVE READ COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB WHERE PEOPLE HAVE HAD IT REPLACED 3 TIMES WITHIN 100,000 MILES. *NM

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED AND WHEN BRAKING VEHICLE VIBRATED FROM THE FRONT END. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONT ROTORS FAILED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS WERE ALREADY REPLACED. *AK

SINCE I BOUGHT THE DAKOTA I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH FRONT END ALIGNMENT, WERARING OF TIRES AND BREAKS AND OTHER ITEMS ASSOCIATED WITH SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. AS I DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE HAS A WOBBLE IN THE FRONT END,CAUSING ABNORMAL WEAR ON THE TIRES STRESS ON THE BREAKS AND HIDEOUS NOISE. PRESENTLY THE WHEEL SOUNDS AS IF IT IS GOING TO FALL OFF MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AS I DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD. I HAVE RECENTLY REPLACED THE FULL BREAK ASSEMBLY(ROTORS, SHOES,CALIPERS,BEARINGS ETC). THE NOISE IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. TH E NOIS MIGHT EVEN BE CONSIDERED A PUBLIC NUISANCE. THE NOISE IS SO BAD THAT INNOCENT PEDESTRAINS LOOK AT MY VEHICLE IN SHOCK AND AWE OF THE TERRIBLE RACKET AS I DRIVE PAST. THE DEALER CAIMS THAT I NEED CONTROL ARMS. THIS WILL COST QUITE A BIT IN ADDITION TO WHAT I HAVE ALREADY INVESTED IN THE DAKOTA (22K + REPAIRS TO SUSPENSION AND INTEREST). I COULD HAVE MADE A DECENT DOWN PAYMENT ON A NEW DODGE WITH WHAT I HAVE SPENT ON THE DAKOTAS FRONT END. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE ABOVE ISSUES AND BELIEVE THAT DODGE SHOULD DO THE RIGHT AND SAFE THING BY ISSUING A RECALL.. THE RECALL CANNOT COME SOON ENOUGH. AM I SAFE DRIVING THE DAKOTA? *AK