2001 Dodge Dakota complaints

CONSUMER STATED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, THE POWER SWITCHES, AIR BAGS, AND HORN VBECAME INOPERABLE. *AK

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE 4X2 DAKOTA'S ARE NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. MY 2001 RT HAS ALWAYS MADE A POPING SOUND WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS AND IS STARTING TO "WANDER" AND PULL TO THE LEFT. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN VERY HARD ON TIRES. LAST TIME IN, DEALER SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. OF COURSE THAT WAS JUST BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. ALL DAKOTAS SHOULD BE COVERED BY THIS RECALL, NOT JUST THE 4X4 MODELS.*AK

2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB WAS SERVICED ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR CLUNKING IN THE FRONT END WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS AND DURING TURNS. SEVERAL PARTS WERE REPLACED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY BUT DEALERSHIP INSISTED THAT BALL JOINTS AND CV JOINTS WERE FINE. THEY ALSO STATED THAT NO OTHER COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN FILED AND THAT THERE WAS NOT A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM BECAME APPARENT WITHIN THE FIRST 17,000 MILES AND CONTINUES TO PERSIST.*AK

ROTORS ARE WARPING AND BEING SEVERELY SCORED. MY CAPLIPERS WERE BADLY RUSTED WITH IN A YEAR WHICH DID NOT LET IT SLIDE PROPERLY AND CAUSE UNEVEN PRESSURE ON THE PADS. THIS CAUSE A PAD TO DISINTEGRATE WHILE BRAKING. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED MY BRAKE PADS WITH PERFORMANCE FERRO CARBON PADS AND CROSS DRILLED VENTED ROTORS. THE ROTORS NO LONG WARP BUT THEY ARE STILL BEING BADLY SCORED. AND I HAVE TO KEEP A CONSTANT EYE ON PAD WEAR. *JB

ON APRIL 16, 2004 I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA "SPORT" 4X4, AT APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH WHEN IT APPEARED MY HAD "FALLEN OFF", BUT WAS STILL SOMEHOW ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE. THE WHEEL COLLAPSED INSIDE THE WHEEL WELL WITH THE TOP OF THE WHEEL TOWARDS THE ENGINE. THE BRAKE LINE WAS RIPPED OUT AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HAD NO BRAKE POWER. THE VEHICLE SLID TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED. THE RESULT WAS THE UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATED IN THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE CAUSING THE SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FALLING OFF, THE BRAKE LINE BEING RIPPED OUT AND LOSING BRAKING ABILITY, AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, THE TRUCK HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, REPLACED THE UPPER FRONT RIGHT BALL JOINT, BRAKE LINE WORK, AND THE COST OF LABOR. THE TOWING COST $45, THE BALL JOINT COST $56.80, AND THE LABOR COST $75 FOR A TOTAL OF $187.41. *JB

THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE FACT THAT ONLY THE 4X4 DODGE DAKOTAS HAVE BEEN RECALLED ABOUT THE BALL JOINTS. THE FACT IS THAT THEY ALL USE THE SAME BALL JOINTS AND WELL HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE 4X2 ARE NOT GOING TO GO. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE GET HURT BEFORE THEY RECALL THE 4X2? I DON'T THINK THAT IS RIGHT THAT THEY ONLY RECALL THE 4X4 THEY SHOULD RECALL ALL THE DAKOTAS AND DURANGOS OF THOSE YEARS. I AM NOT ONE FOR THAT I BUY A TRUCK AND THE MANUFACTURE HAS DON'T WRONG BY GIVING FAULTY PARTS AND I WOULD HAVE TO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCE. THAT JUST IS NOT RIGHT IF THEY ALREADY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE FAULTY PARTS ON THE TRUCKS. SO THIS IS A COMPLAINT THAT THEY SHOULD RECALL ALL THE DAKOTAS IF NOT ALL THEN ALSO THE 4X2.. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT AS OF DECEMBER 11, 2004 BUT THE COMPLAINT REQUIRED THAT I PUT A DATE IN BUT THERE WAS NO INCIDENT. THIS IS JUST A COMPLAINT. *JB

RECENTLY THE BALL JOINTS WERE RECALLED FOR DODGE DAKOTAS/DURANGOS 2000-2003, BUT ONLY FOR 4 WHEEL DRIVE. MY 2001, DODGE DAKOTA NEEDS NEW BALL JOINTS. IT ALSO USES THE SAME BAL JOINT AS THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE. IF THERE'S ARE BAD, WHY ISN'T MINE? *JB

MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 2WD HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT AND ALREADY NEEDS 3 BALL JOINTS REPLACED.*AK

PASSENGER SIDE FRONT END BALL JOINT FAILURE. BALL JOINT REPLACED BY LOCAL DODGE DEALER.*AK

FRONT END VIBRATION AT 65MPH. HAVE REPLACED ALMOST EVERY COMPONENT IN THE FRONT END, INCLUDING RACK AND PINION. THE VIBRATION HAS NOT GONE AWAY AND THE DEALERSHIP BLAMES THE TIRE COMPANY, AND THE TIRE COMPANY BLAMES THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

DODGE DAKOTA BALL JOINT PROBLEM. I HAVE ONCE HAD THEM REPLACED AT 30,000 MILES DUE TO AN AWFUL SOUND. THE SOUND IS BACK, THIS IS A PROBLEM DODGE SHOULD BE DEALING WITH. AFTER RESEARCH IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT DODGE DOES NOT WISH TO DEAL WITH, AND THERE HAS BE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS TO WHICH I WANT NO PART OF. I'M GUESSING AT THE DATE OF THE FIRST PROBLEM ON THIS SURVEY.*AK

I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL REPORTS OF THE US GOVERNMENT ASKING DAIMLERCHRYSLER TO RECALL 2000-2004 DODGE DURANGOS AND DAKOTAS, 4 WHEEL DRIVE. THE 2 WHEEL DRIVE DAKOTAS HAVE THE EXACT SAME BALL JOINT AND FAILURE! WILL THESE ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL? MINE HAVE YET TO FAIL BUT MAKE A HORRIBLE POPPING/RUBBING NOISE WHEN I MAKE TURNS AT A SLOW SPEED. THIS IS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 2 WHEEL DRIVE WITH 50,000 MILES.*AK

I JUST REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS ON MY 2001 DAKOTA. THEY WERE VERY LOOSE AND HAD ALOT OF "PLAY". I'M LUCKY I GOT MINE REPAIRED BEFORE IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT LIKE OTHERS I'VE RECENTLY HEARD ABOUT. I'VE ALSO REPLACED THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT, REAR U-JOINTS AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL ALL WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT ALL THIS IS RELATED. I'M PROBABLY UP OVER $3,000 IN REPAIRS FOR THESE THINGS.*AK

2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4, VIN NO. [XXX] - FAILURE OF THE FRONT BALL JOINT AND THE TIE ROD END THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT MY COST AND WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE THE OTHER SIDE NEXT YEAR ACCOURDING TO THE DEALER THAT REPLACED THE THE BALL JOINT.. THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK HAS BEEN MAKING NOISE FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT THE TRUCK WITH 59 MILES FOR THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS BECUASE OF THE GREASELESS BALL JOINT AND THE ONLY WAY TO HAVE IT . *AK UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

TIRES ON THE FRONT END OF MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 4WD 3.9L V6 WERE WEARING REALLY UNEVENLY. COME TO FIND OUT THAT I HAD ONE UPPER AND ONE LOWER BALL JOINT ON OPPOSING SIDES THAT WENT BAD. MY TRUCK ONLY HAD 40,000 MILES ON IT AND THEY WERE ALL HIGHWAY. BOTH BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND WAS DONE IN DECEMBER 2003. IT WORE OUT TWO BRAND NEW TIRES.*AK

I BOUGHT MY TRUCK WITH 5,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION HITS THE REV LIMITER FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR WHEN PASSING OR GOING AROUND VEHICLES UNDER THE SPEED OF 30 MPH. FROM MY RESEARCH THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF DAKOTA OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I'VE TAKEN MINE TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX IT. MY WARRANTY RAN OUT AND I GOT TIRED OF TAKING IT TO THEM. I NOW HAVE 55,000 MILES ON MY DAKOTA AND IT STILL HITS THE REV LIMITER EACH TIME I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOOR FROM A STOP OR AT 30MPH. THE ONLY TIME IT SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR IS WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD. AFTER THAT, IT HITS THE REV LIMITER EVERYTIME. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM?? THERE'S BEEN NUMEROUS TIMES I HAVE ALMOST HAD A WRECK DUE TO THE TRANNY NOT SHIFTING TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. ONE DAY I MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY.*AK

I OWN 2 DODGE DAKOTAS ONE 1997 AND ONE 2001. I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS, BUT THEY ARE MAKING POPING AND CRACKING NOISES. THE 2001 ONLY HAS 24000 MILES ON IT. WHEN MAKING A HARD TURN BOTH DAKOTAS SEEM TO WOBBLE LIKE SOMTHING IS LOOSE. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS YET BUT SOMTHING IS WRONG. ALSO THE FRONT TIRES HAVE WARN UNEVEN ON BOTH TRUCKS. FRONT END ALIGNMENT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSABLE ON THE 2001 MODEL.*AK

THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED AN OIL TANKER WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED KNEE INJURIES, AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A HAIR LINE FRACTURE TO LEFT FOOT, ANGLE, AND RIBS. SHE ALSO SUFFERED FROM BACK PAINS. THIS WAS THE SECOND COLLISION WHERE THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK *TC THE CONSUMER'S HUSBAND APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE BRAKES FELT LIKE THEY WERE SLIPPING. *SC *JB

WHEN COLD MY 2001 DAKOTA STUTTERS FROM 2300 TO 2500 RPM. WHEN I TALK TO OTHER DAKOTA OWNERS THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS FOR SOMEONE NOT INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

HEADLIGHTS TURNING OFF AND ON AND FLASHING WHILE DRIVING, POWER DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING DURING THIS TIME. IF INTERIOR LIGHTS ARE ON AT THIS TIME THEY WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF ALSO. FOUND PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS OF DODGE RAM'S AND DAKOTA'S HAVE SAME PROBLEM WHICH WAS RECALLED. CENTRAL TIMER MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED. A VEHICLE WITH 60,000 MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. COULD ONLY DRIVE IN DAYLIGHT HOURS UNTIL PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED AT MY EXPENSE.*AK

BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO HAVE THE ROTORS TURNED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY.*AK

I PURCHASED MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA CLUB CAB BACK IN FEB. 2002 AS A DEMO VEHICLE WITH 5000 MILES ON IT. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED TWICE AND HAVE HAD THE DRUMS AND ROTORS REPLACED 4 TIMES DUE TO WARPING. ABOUT EVERY THREE THOUSAND MILES MY DRUMS AND ROTORS NEED TO BE TURNED OR REPLACED.MY TRUCK HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS USED PRIMARILY ON THE HIGHWAY.*AK

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUADCAB. DURING MY WARRANTY PERIODY THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO STATED IT WAS A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM. IT WAS FIXED. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN, SAME SHORT. DEALER FIXED IT UNDER WARRANTY. NOW IT'S HAPPENED AGAIN. TRUCK IS NOT COVERED NOW FOR THIS PART. DEALER SAYS THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. SAID TO COMPLAIN TO DODGE ABOUT DEFECT.*AK

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. DRIVER'S SIDE GOODYEAR TIRE BLEW WOUT, CAUSING A COLLISION AND BODILY INJURIES ON INTERSTATE 94. VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT A CONCRETE MEDIAN HEAD-ON. *AK

THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA EXTENDED CAB 4X4 PICKUP HAVE HAD MASSIVE DETERIORATION WITH ONLY 17,500 MILES ON THEM. THEY CAUSE TREMENDOUS STEERING AND TRACKING PROBLEMS, AND HAVE CAUSED ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF SAFETY CONCERNS. BECAUSE THESE CANNOT BE LUBRICATED OR ADJUSTED, THEY MUST BE REPLACED. I WILL EITHER DO THESE REPAIRS MYSELF IN THE NEAR FUTURE OR HAVE THEN DONE AT A QUALIFIED GARAGE, BUT I WILL SAVE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING EXCESSIVE WITH THE VEHICLE SUCH AS OFF-ROADING, TRAILERING, HEAVY LOADS, OR ANY "NON-STANDARD" USE. ALL EQUIPMENT (TIRES INCLUDED) ON THE TRUCK IS FACTORY, I.E. NO AFTERMARKET MODIFICATIONS THAT WOULD CAUSE NON-STANDARD LOADS OR STRESSES. THIS TYPE OF PREMATURE FAILING AT ONLY 17,500 MILES IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, AND FROM MY RESEARCH I UNDERSTAND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE YEAR AND MODEL OF VEHICLE.*JB

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4 X 4. THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS BEEN MAKING A LOUD POPPING NOISE WHEN I GO OVER BUMPS OR MAKE TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A DODGE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY CONTINUE TO SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. WELL NOW MY TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST AT 50000 MILES. I HAVE REPLACED ALL FOUR SHOCKS AND THERE STILL IS A PROBLEM WITH POPPING AND CLUNKING. NOW I HAVE RESORTED TO TAKING IT TO FIRESTONE/MASTER CARE AND WITHIN MINUTES OF BEING ON THE HOIST THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE BALL JOINTS WERE SHOT. HE SAID THIS IS THE FIRST THING HE LOOKED AT BECAUSE HE HAS HAD MORE THAN HIS FAIR SHARE OF DAKOTAS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. DODGE HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM ON THERE HANDS AND NEEDS TO ADDRESS IT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. PLEASE HELP! THANK YOU, RYAN ARCHEY

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH UPPER BALL JOINT FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. *AK

BALL JOINTS MAKE LOUD METALLIC NOISE, WEAR TIRES QUICKLY, REQUIRING EXCESSIVE ALIGNMENT/BALANCING. *JB

BALL JOINTS ON 2001 DAKOTA NEED REPLACEMENT AT 60,000 MILES. CAUSED UNEVEN TIRE WEAR, SOME DIFFICULTY WITH VEHICLE TRACKING. WILL REPLACE OLD PARTS, AND KEEP PARTS AVAILABLE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AND UPON HITTING ANYTHING IN THE ROAD VEHICLE WILL MAKE A CLANKING NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE LOOKED AT. CONSUMER HAD THE SHOCKS CHANGED. HOWEVER, IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. CONTACTED THE DODGE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THEY NEEDED THE UPPER CONTROL ARM. *AK

2001 DODGE DAKOTA HAD A CLUNK IN THE FRONT END WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE BALL JOINTS HAD FAILED AT LOW MILEAGE. *BF *NM

2001 DODGE DAKOTA HAD SEVERAL BALL JOINT REPLACEMENTS AT LOW MILES. *BF ALL THE BALL JOINTS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *NM

I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW IN 2001. I COMPLAINED ABOUT CLUNKING NOISES COMING FROM THE WHEEL AREA WHEN I MADE TURNS. SLOW AND USUALLY AT INTERSECTIONS. NOW IT IS MORE ADVANCED AND NOISY ON BUMPS.*AK

UPPER BALL JOINT FAILED ON THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE; ENTIRE WHEEL ASSEMBLY FELL OFF THE DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK. FORTUNATELY MY WIFE WAS ONLY DRIVING AT ABOUT 5 TO 10 MPH WHEN IT HAPPENED. NO ONE WAS INJURED. MY WIFE HAD JUST BEEN ON THE PA TURNPIKE 30 MINUTES EARLIER  SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THE UPPER BALL JOINT HAD FAILED WHEN SHE WAS ON THE TURNPIKE. 2 001 DODGE DAKOTA 4-WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK, V8 ENGINE. DEALER CAN FIX THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY, WE HAVE YET TO GET THE BILL, THE TRUCK IS STILL IN THE SHOP.*AK

UPPER AND LOWER BALL WENT BAD AFTER ONLY 40,000 MILES.

WHILE DRIVING APPROX. 10 MPH IN PARKING LOT THE CONSUMER WAS ABOUT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, BUT THEN A NOISE WAS HEARD A NOISE AS IF TIRE WAS GOING FLAT. THE CONSUMER STOPPED AND CHECKED TIRES AND NOTICED THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD DEVELOPED A CRACK ALONG THE OUTSIDE TREAD AREA. THE CRACK WENT AROUND ENTIRE TREAD. THE OTHER THREE TIRES WERE OKAY. *JB

MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE FELL OFF MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY BALL JOINT. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKE LINE AND AXLE ALSO NEEDED REPLACING. I NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP AND DODGE. I WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, NOR WAS IT RECALLED. *JB

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THEY DID NOT RESPOND. AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER RAN INTO THE BUSHES. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

FACTORY ROTORS ARE DEFECTIVE. ROTORS WARP AT LOW MILEAGE CAUSING PARTIAL BRAKE FAILURE. DAIMLER CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF DEFECT AND CHOOSES NOT TO ADDRESS. *NM

I HAVE 44,000 MILES ON MY 2001 QUAD CAB DAKOTA 4X4 AND THE STEERING HAS GOTTEN REALLY BAD. IT CLUNKS AND POPS ON TURNS AND BUMPS SO BAD TO THE POINT I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. THERE IS NO REASON THIS NEW OF A VEHICLE AND LOW MILEAGE SHOULD HAVE THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT SINCE MY WARRANTY IS UP AND THE DEALER WANTS $930 TO REPLACE THE RACK & PINION STEERING WHICH MIGHT NOT BE BAD.*AK

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY DODGE HAS NOT RECALLED THE DODGE DAKOTAS FOR DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS AND DISC ROTORS. I HAVE SCANNED THE INTERNET AND FOUND A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS I. MY 2001 DAKOTA WAS PURCHASED IN DECEMBER. OF 01 AND HAS 44,000 MILES . I AM 54 YEARS OLD AND THIS WAS MY FIRST NEW VEHICLE. UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS A DODGE. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER DODGE PRODUCT,AND IF ASKED MY OPINION WILL NOT RECOMMEND DODGE TO ANYONE !!!!!!!!! PLEASE SEND THIS TO THE DODGE CORP.*AK

VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN BRAKE WERE BEING APPLIED AT ANY SPEED. CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSES BY WARPED ROTORS. *AK

2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB - FAULTY FRONT AND REAR BRAKE DESIGN I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER BY TRAINING. THE FRONT ROTORS AND REAR DISC BRAKES ARE OF POOR DESIGN AND FUNCTION. THEY OVERHEAT, WARP AND BEGIN TO PULSE. THIS OCCURS AS A RESULT OF SMALL BRAKES COUPLED WITH THE LARGE DIAMETER TIRES AND HEAVY WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL BRAKES TWICE WITHIN 3 YEARS (60,000 MILES) AS A RESULT. THESE BREAKS DO NOT BRAKE WELL AND ARE EXTREMELY SOFT. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS AS A RESULT OF THESE BRAKES. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT WHEN COUPLED WITH THIS ABS SYSTEM MOST VEHICLES CONTINUE TO "LOCK-UP" AND SLIDE CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENTS.*AK

MAIN CONCERN IS BRAKES. THE FRONT CALIPERS ARE STICKING AND THE ROTORS ARE WARPING WHICH IS CAUSING THE TRUCK TO PULL ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WHEN STOPPING. ON SLICK ROADS THE TRUCK WILL TURN SIDEWAYS ON A FAST STOP AND NOW THEY HAVE TO BE PUSHED ALMOST TO THE FLOOR BOARD TO GET THEM TO WORK. I TOLD THEM SOMETHING WAS WRONG THE DAY I BOUGHT IT AFTER ABOUT 20 MILES OF OWNERSHIP IT TOOK MANY PHONE CALLS AND 8 MONTHS TO GET THEM TO FIX IT AND THE DAY I PICKED IT UP WE DROVE IT AND STILL WAS NOT RIGHT SO THEY KEPT IT 2 MORE DAYS AND LATE IT IS NOT WORKING AGAIN. WINDSHIELD WIPER ON RIGHT SIDE AT VERY END DOES NOT TOUCH WINDOW ON ALL OF THE DAKOTA TRUCKS WHICH WHEN IN USE IT SKIPS ACROSS THE WINDOW. IT MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN USING AND CAN NOT SEE OUT THAT SIDE OF FRONT WINDOW BECAUSE OF THE SKIPPING. THERE ARE MANY OTHER THINGS WRONG WITH THIS TRUCK BUT THE BRAKES, WIPER AND DRIVETRAIN ( MORE SO ON THE BRAKES ) IS A LOT OF PEOPLES PROBLEMS. WITH THE BRAKES LIKE THEY ARE IT MAKES FOR A VERY UNSAFE TRUCK. I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT COULD NOT LIVE WITH MYSELF KNOWING HOW UNSAFE THE BRAKES ARE ON THIS TRUCK. I THINK I GOT A LEMON AND WISH THEY WOULD JUST TAKE THIS TRUCK BACK. IF I KNEW HOW TO DO IT I WOULD. I AM DISABLE AND CAN'T TRUST THIS TRUCK. I CAN SHOW YOU ON THE WEB WHERE MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING BRAKE AND OTHER PROBLEMS. THE FIX THEY CAME UP WITH IS QUALITY AFTERMARKET BRAKE PARTS. I DID NOT BUY A 20K TRUCK TO FIX MYSELF. IT SHOULD AT LEAST LAST A YEAR. I HAVE ANOTHER DODGE TRUCK W

NOTICED A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR WHEELS OF MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. DEALER STATED THAT BOTH REAR U JOINTS FAILED. THE TRUCK HAS ONLY 42000 MILES ON IT AND SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS KIND OF FAILURE. *AK IN ADDITION, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I HAD PURCHASED WAS NO LONGER VALID BECAUSE THAT PARTICULAR WARRANTY COMPANY HAD GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET!

I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I NEED TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED ON MY 01 DAKOTA. THE DEALER STATES THAT FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN THE WHEELS FALLING OFF AT ANY TIME. *AK

THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONSUMER THOUGHT THAT THE BRAKES WERE BAD WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS NOT THE BRAKES BUT THE BALL JOINTS HAD FAILED. THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED AND HAD TO COME OUT OF POCKET TO DO SO. *JB

DRIVER SIDE FRONT OF P/U STARTED 'KNOCKING' WHEN TRAVERSING BUMPS OR MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS AT 12000. PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE BEGAN TO FEATHER AT 30000. AT 37775 WITH NEW SHOCKS AND TIRES, ALLIGNMENT WAS NEEDED TO CORRECT PULLING TO THE RIGHT. WAS DISCOVERED THAT LOWER PASSENGER AND UPPER DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINTS WERE "HORRIBLY SHOT. *AK

WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION FRONT END PRODUCED A CRACKING AND SQUEAKING NOISE. DEALERS STATED UPPER BALL JOINTS BROKE. *AK

NOTICEABLE GRINDING AND STRESS SOUND ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING A SHARP TURN OVER AN UNEVEN SURFACE, SUCH AS TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY WHILE TRAVERSING A SHALLOW CURB. WHILE GETTING VEHICLE INSPECTED, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY UPPER BALL JOINT WAS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT BEFORE TOTAL FAILURE. THIS SEEMS RATHER A PREMATURE FAILURE OF SUCH A PART SEEING AS HOW THE TRUCK IS A 2001 WITH THEN AROUND 55,000 MILES ON IT. *AK