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 2000 record →
THE RIGHT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE THEN THE FRONT AXLE BROKE AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF. CAUSING MY HUSBAND TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ENDING UP IN A 10-12 FT DEEP DITCH WITH WATER. *LA
DEFECTIVE OIL PUMP ON THE 4.7L DODGE DAKOTA ENGINE CAUSES ENGINE TO SEIZE WITHOUT WARNING AND NEED REPLACEMENT.
TIE ROD BROKE ON A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA.*MR WHEN RETURNING HOME, THE CONSUMER TURNED THE CORNER AND THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO SLIDE. IMMEDIATELY IT BEGAN TO SHAKE SIDE TO SIDE LIKE A WASHING MACHINE WITH AN UNEVEN LOAD. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO GET OFF THE ROAD ONTO A PARKING LOT. CONSUMER FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS A FLAT TIRE, BUT IT WASN'T. A MAN AND WOMAN WHO SAW THE VEHICLE SHAKING, STOPPED TO SEE IF THE CONSUMER NEEDED HELP. THE MAN WENT TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE TIE ROD WAS BROKEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER REPORTED THE FAILURE TO THE MANAGER ON AUGUST 4,2003 AND HE STATED THERE WASN'T A RECALL AND HE WASN'T SURE IF OTHER DODGE DAKOTA'S EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *PH *JB
UPPER BALLJOINTS ON MY 2000 DODGE DAKOTA WERE BADLY WORN OUT AND TOOK IT TO KIRKWOOD DODGE SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY DID NOT FIX IT. THEN TOOK IT TO NEWARK DODGE AND THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM AND FIXED IT BUT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED SO I HAD TO PAY FULL PRICE. I WAS LUCKY THAT NOTHING BAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING BUT STILL THE DANGER WAS THERE. I WANT CHRYSLER TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE CAR RENTAL AND THE COST OF THE WORK THAT GOT DONE TO MY TRUCK.*AK
THE POWER STEERING COOLER LINE WAS CHAFFED(RUBBED A HOLE) FROM A BIGGER POWER STEERING HOSE WITH A GUARD ON IT. CHAFFED LINE TURNED INTO A LEAK OF THE POWER STEERING FLIUD, WHICH IN TIME WILL CAUSE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE TO THE SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE THIS IS ON, IS A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB PICKUP. HAS A 4.7L V-8 ENGINE W/ AUTOMATIC. HAS ABOUT 60,000 MILES ON IT AT TIME OF LEAK BEING NOTICED . *AK
I HAVE A SAFETY CONCERN WITH MY FRONT SUSPENSION ON MY 2000 DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4. I HEAR A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SHOCK AND CONTROL ARM AREA. I ALSO NOTICE EXCESSIVE ABNORMAL WEAR ON RECENTLY NEW TIRES. I ALSO HEAR A LOT OF TIRE NOISE WHEN DRIVING AND SOME FRONT END SHAKE.*AK
WHEN MAKING A STOP OR TURNING A CORNER VEHICLE MADE NOISE IN THE FRONT END. *AK
SHUDDERING AND VIBRATION IN BRAKES WHEN STOPPING AT ALL SPEEDS. HAVE REPLACED PADS, AND ROTORS TWICE. HAD ROTORS TURNED ONCE IN BETWEEN CHANGES. HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS AND SERVICE BULLETINS ISSUED ON THIS. WHY IS NO ONE DOING A DEFECT INVESTIGATION?*AK
2000 DODGE DAKOTA, BOUGHT WITH 27,200 MILES, BALL JOINTS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE IN TWO YEARS TIME AND UNABLE TO REPLACE PARTS VEHICLE NOW HAS 74,000 MILES A VEHICLE THIS YOUNG SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEMS. *LA
2000 DODGE DAKOTA WITH ONLY 13,531 MILES HAS UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE. *LA
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THERE WAS A LOUD THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT IT WAS DUE TO FRONT BALL JOINT FAILURE. *AK FRONT ALIGNMENT SUDDENLY WENT OUT OF WHACK. VEHICLE WAS 6 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP DENIED THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. AFTER FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY, DODGE RECOMMENDED AND REFUNDED THE REPAIR COST. *PH
UPPER CONTROL ARMS LOOSE, DEFECTIVE, PLUS STEERING LINKAGE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *LA
2000 DODGE DAKOTA- SPORT W/ EX-CAB. I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THROUGH AUTOMAX IN MELBOURNE, FL AND OVERALL AM QUITE HAPPY WITH THE VEHICLE. BUT, THE FRONT BRAKES ARE SINGING A HIGH SHRILL SONG TO ME. I WENT TO WWW.DODGEDAKOTAS.COM, AND WAS EVEN MORE SURPRISED TO SEE THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THE DAKOTA BRAKING SYSTEM. PLEASE, I KNOW FROM READING THE COMPLAINTS THAT YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS SITUATION... PLEASE ACT ON THIS! *LA
THE SPARK PLUGS KNOCK IN THE ENGINE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE INTAKE GASKET. DEALER REPLACED THE INTAKE GASKET. *AK
RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINT WORN AT 32,000 MILES. *AK
DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB, 2000 UPPER AND LOWER FRONT BALL JOINTS FAILED. *AK
THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS (ALSO CALLED THE LATCH ASSEMBLY) ON MY 2000 DODGE DAKOTA BOTH ARE DEFECTIVE AND THE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED EVEN WITH A KEY FROM THE OUTSIDE IF THE DOORS ARE LOCKED. MY VIN # IS 1B7GL22XYS592928. AN ONLINE SEARCH SHOWED THAT OTHER 2000 DODGE DAKOTA OWNERS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS AS WELL. *LA
THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK *TS *JB
TRUCK SHAKES WHEN BRAKING AT SLOW OR MODERATE SPEED. REPLACED FRONT ROTORS AND PADS THREE MONTHS AGO AT 38,000 MILES. NOW WITH 43,000 MILES THE SHAKING HAS RETURNED. *LA
SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF ELECTRICAL FAILURE (DATE BELOW FIRST INCIDENT) SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK; ABS LIGHT STAYS ON; COMPUTER SHORTED OUT; DEALER FOUND COMPUTER BOLTED ON TOP OF WIRES; FAN STAYED ON; DATES VARY OVER LAST 1 1/2 YEARS NUMBER OF FAILURES IS A BEST GUESS. *LA
CONSUMER COMPLAINS ABOUT BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE ROTORS WARPED AT 10309 AND 15,000 MILES THE CONSUMER EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE BRAKE SYSTEM WITH AN AFTERMARKET SYSTEM. ON ONE OCCASION THE FRONT BRAKES STARTED SMOKING. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE CALIPER HAD STUCK AND OVERHEATED. BRAKES LOCK UP/ SMOKE, AND HAVE EVEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. NO ONE SEEMS ABLE TO REPAIR THEM. WHILE DRIVING AND WANTING TO STOP, CANNOT STOP. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE FOR A WHILE. *AK *NLM
I OWN A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA - HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS 3 TIMES AND PADS ONCE IN 26,000 MILES AND NOW AT APPROX 29,000 MILES THE ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.
BRAKE ROTORS ON DODGE DAKOTAS. MINE HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES IN 50,000 MILES. THE ORIGINALS WERE REPLACED UNDER WARANTEE IN 2000 MILES. I CAN'T KEEP A SET OF ROTORS ON THE TRUCK WITHOUT THEM WARPING.
POWER STEERING FAILS. LOSE CONTROL OF STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AFTER ABOUT 1.25 HOURS. FIRST OCCURANCE IN AUGUST 2002, THEN OCTOBER, 2002. DID NOT DRIVE ON HIGHWAY FOR EXTENDED PERIOD UNTIL AUGUST 2003 - FAILED AGAIN AND AGAIN ON MOUNTAIN ROADS, EXITS, STRAIGHTAWAYS WHILE PASSING, GENTLE CURVES. NOVEMBER 2002 DEALER REPLACES RACK AND PINION AND BUSHINGS AT 23,997 MILES. AUGUST 18, 2003, 31424 MILES, DEALER REPLACES COLUMN, INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND BOLT PER STARLINE. SEP 3, 2003, 31904 MILES, DEALER REPLACES ALL FOUR CONTROL ARMS - CANNOT REPLICATE PROBLEM AS THEY WILL NOT DRIVE THE REQUIRED MILES, I'M THEIR TEST DUMMY. THE KNOBS FOR AIR CONDITIONING ALSO BROKE AT THIS TIME - CHARGED TO FIX THIS. MANUFACTURER SAYS TO CONTACT DEALER, DEALER WON'T DRIVE NECESSARY MILES - I STILL HAVE TO CHECK THE SEP 3 REPAIR TO SEE IF IT REALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM. EACH TIME THE ALIGNMENT IS OUT AND THEY WILL NOT FIX THIS AS PART OF THE WARRANTY ITEM ALTHOUGH I MAINTAIN MY VEHICLES' ALIGNMENT. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN RELINED AT 26K MILES BECAUSE THE DEALER SAID THEY WERE SHUDDERING - WHICH I HAD NOT EXPERIENCED UNTIL THEY REPAIRED THEM. SHOCKS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE REAR STRUTS REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE SWAY AND LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN CARRYING A LOAD, ANOTHER THING THEY CLAIM NOT TO REPLICATE.
CONSUMER STATES BOTH UPPER BALL AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS RUNNING WITHOUT WARRANTY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *TS
WHILE TRAVELING AT 20 MPH DRIVER BEGAN TO HEAR CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL. STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOT LOOSE CONTROL, AND THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL WAS TURNING, BUT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BUCKLED UNDER VEHICLE. TIRES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY DUE TO UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE. *AK
BRAKE ROTOR ON MY 2000 DODGE DAKOTA HAVE BEEN TURNED DOWN TWICE AND REPLACE ONCE IN 30,000 MILES. THE WAS DUE TO EXCESSIVE PULSATING AND DEGRADATION OF STOPPING ABILITY. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE OCCURRENCE OF REDUCED BRAKING POWER. THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURING ONCE AGAIN AND NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DODGE THAT IS IS NORMAL WEAR AND WILL HAPPEN. A WARPED BRAKE ROTOR IS NOT CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR. THE PULSATION OF THE BRAKES CAN EASILY CAUSE SOMEONE TO LOSE CONTROL ON A SLIPPERY SURFACE. IT IS ALSO CONCIEVABLE THAT THE ABS SYSTEM MAY NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN THE ROTOR IS WARPED. PLEASE LOOK FURTHER INTO THIS, THANK YOU. *AK
FRONT ROTORS WARPED CAUSING VIOLENT PULSATIONS UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS. ROTORS WERE TURNED AND THEN FINALLY REPLACED AT 30K MILES. NEW ROTORS LASTED 5000 MILES BEFORE SHIMMY RETURNED. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ONGOING PROBLEM.*AK
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE'S DRIVER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED AT THE BEAD. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *PH. THE CONSUMER STATED ALL FOUR TIRES SEPARATED AT THE BEAD. *JB
ALL FOUR TIRES SPLIT AT THE BEAD. *MR THE TIRES HAD ALL BROKEN AT THE BEAD. THE LEFT UPPER BALL JOINT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REFUND. *SCC *JB
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE DRIVER PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OPENED THE HOOD. THE HOT LIQUID BLEW OUT ONTO THE CONSUMERS FACE, CHEST, ARM AND HAND. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED BUT SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK *NLM
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ON THE 2000 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK ARE OF INADEQUATE DESIGNED, THEY WARP TOO OFTEN..NO SUPPORT FROM THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER.*AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD SNAPPED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD INTO A PARKING LOT, THEN BACKED UP, AND THE TIE ROD SNAPPED OFF. THE TIE ROD HAD GONE THROUGH THE RIM ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WHICH ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO DODGE AND THEY DID NOT RESPOND. *SCC *JB
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN 3RD GEAR IT WENT TO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE RPM'S INCREASED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE CHANGED TO 4TH GEAR. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER 6 TIMES FOR REPAIRS. THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO WARPED ROTORS. FAULTY WHEEL BEARINGS CAUSED A POPPING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE LEFT TURNS. *SCC *NLM
I AM HAVING MY BALL JOINTS REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS THE EXACT SAME VEHICLE, AND THEY HAVE HAD THEIRS DONE FOUR TIMES. I ALSO KNOW AT LEAST THREE OTHER PEOPLE WITH SAME TRUCK (YEAR,MAKE,MODEL) THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS IS NOT MERE COINICIDENCE- SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE SUSPENSION OF THESE TRUCKS.*AK
I HAVE A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA R/T. IT ONLY HAS 25K ON IT. I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM AT PROBABLY 20000. THE PROBLEM IS THE ROTORS. WHENEVER I SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AT A LIGHT/INTERSECTION THE WHOLE TRUCK SHAKES.*AK
REPEATED REPLACEMENT OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS DUE TO WARPING. DEALERS KEPT SAYING NEVER HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH DODGE DAKOTA BRAKE PROBLEMS.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT UPPER BALL JOINT IS WEARING PREMATURELY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT UPPER CONTROL ARM HAS FAILED.*AK
THE ROTORS ON MY 2000 DODGE DAKOTA CONTINUE TO WARP. I HAVE REPLACED THEM AT MY EXPENSE (BECAUSE THE DEALER WON'T RECOGNIZE THE OBVIOUS ENGINEERING PROBLEM) VARIOUS TIMES. AFTERMARKET PARTS DON'T SEEM TO HELP THOUGH IT DOES SLOW THE PROCESS DOWN. *PH
VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED OUT.*MR ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *CB
MY 2000 DODGE DAKOTA HAS HAS FRONT ROTOR PROBLEMS CONTINUALLY. DEALER TEMPORARLY CURED THE PROBLEM BY CHANGING FRONT PADS, TURNING DOWN FRONT ROTORS AND REAR DRUMS. WARRANTY RAN OUT AND I HAD SAME PROBLEM. WARPED FRONT ROTORS. I HAD HEAVY DUTY ROTORS INSTALLED AND CERAMIC PADS INSTALLED AT DIFFERENT TIMES. NOTHING HAS HELPED THE PROBLEM. WHEN I STEP ON THE BREAKS THE FRONT END SHIMMYS UNTIL I TAKE IT TO A REPAIR FACILITY TO HAVE MORE WORK DONE. OKAY FOR ABOUT 5,000 OR LESS MILES. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS BESIDES SETTING THE THING ON FIRE AND GETTING A NEW ONE?*AK
I HAVE A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA, I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER A COUNTLESS AMOUNT OF TIMES COMPLAINING ABOUT MY FROM, EVERY FROM NOISE TO INSTABILITY, EXCESSIVE BOUNCE. I AM GIVEN EVERY EXCUSE IN THE WORLD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM , I HAVE EVEN TOLD THEM WHAT IT IS , THE BALL JOINTS, THE TELL ME THAT IT WHEELL AND THEY REPLACED THEM, BUT HAVE SAME TRBL OVER AND OVER AGAIN , I BELIEVE SOMETHING JSUT NEED TO BE DONE, IT YOU NEED PROFESSIONAL ADVISE OR COMPLAINT GO TO DODGEDAKOTAS.COM. *AK
I CURRENTLY HAVE A HEAVY SURGING SENSATION WHILE BRAKING. I WAS TOLD MY ROTORS WERE WARPED. MY DODGE DAKOTA 4X2 QUAD CAB HAS 40000 MILES. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE ABLE TO RELY ON MY VEHICLE TO STOP WITHOUT SHAKING ME OR MY FAMILY LIKE A RAG DOLL. THE HEAVY SHAKING MAY LEAD TO MY ABILITY TO CONTROL MY TRUCK WHILE STOPPING, WHICH CONSTITUTES A SERIOUS SAFEY ISSUE.*AK
BRAKE ROTORS WARP PREMATURELY AND THERE IS SHAKING AND VIBRATION INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
THE UPPER DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT SEPARATED. THE MALE END OF THE BALL JOINT CAME APART FROM THE FEMALE PART. DODGE, UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY REPLACED ALL 4 BALL JOINTS AND THE TWO UPPER CONTROL ARMS.*AK
MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE DISC BRAKES IN MY DAKOTA. ORIGINAL ROTORS WARPED ONCE, I HAD THEM TURNED (PAID FOR BY ME), THEY WARPED A SECOND TIME. I PAID THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE WITH NEW ROTORS. THESE ROTORS WARPED. THE DEALERSHIP PAID TO REPLACE THIS SET OF ROTORS. I WAS ON MY 3RD SET OF ROTORS BY 75000 MILES.*AK
NUMEROUS FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. BAD BALL JOINT/CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES/ BAD TIE-RODS/BAD SHOCK ABSORBERS, AND BAD STRUT BUSHINGS. ALL OF THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER. MOST OF THE PROBLEMS STARTED AT ABOUT 15000 MILES, AND HAVE CONTINUED. WAY TOO MANY PROBLEMS AT LOW MILES. I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS AT 51000 MILES.*AK
2000 DODGE DAKOTA,4.7L AOUT TRANSMISSION/UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY DEFECTIVE.REPLACED AT 1.100 MILES,LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY BALL JOINT CAME APART AT 9,200 WHEEL CAME OFF. *AK
2000 DODGE DAKOTA BALL JOINTS FAILED PREMATURELY AND WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY CAME LOOSE.
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.
Full record for the 2000 Dodge Dakota → · Every Dakota year → · How the figures are calculated →