2001 Dodge Dakota complaints

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM FOUR TIMES, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

THE BRAKES ON MY DAKOTA HAVE BEEN CAUSING PROBLEMS SINCE THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK NOW HAS ABOUT 20,000 MILES AND THE ROTORS NEED TURNED DOWN AND NEW BRAKES. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM THAT WOULD CAUSE THEM TO GO BAD SO QUICKLY.*AK

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA AND MY BALL JOINTS ARE ABNORMALLY WORN AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THEM HERE SOON. I KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BALL JOINTS NOT BEING LUBED AND I'M ASKING THAT YOU GUYS PUSH DAIMLER/CHRYSLER INTO RECALLING THE DODGE DAKOTA 2001 WITH THE DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS. I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE, THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED WITH DODGE DURANGOS BUT THE DAKOTAS USE THE SAME BALL JOINTS. RECALL PLEASE. I DON'T WANT MY WHEELS TO FALL OFF BECAUSE OF THE BALL JOINTS. RECALL. URGE DAIMLER/CHRYSLER PLEASE, PROTECT US THE CONSUMER. 2001 DODGE DAKOTA CABPLUS 35000 MILES4X4 THANK YOU. *JB

FAILURE OF UPPER BALL JOINT/SOCKET ASSEMBLY. *AK

I'M A LITTLE DISTURBED AT THIS PAGE...."NUMBER OF DEATHS"? DOES SOMEBODY HAVE TO DIE BEFORE CONSUMERS ARE PROTECTED? MY COMPLAINT IS FOR THE BRAKES ON MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. I NO LONGER EXPECT MY BRAKES TO STOP ME WHEN I NEED THEM WHICH MEANS TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, I HAD BETTER ALWAYS BE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO STEER AROUND AN OBSTACLE! ON TWO OCCASIONS I CAN REMEMBER, I HAD TO STEER AROUND A STOPPED VEHICLE BECAUSE MY TRUCK WOULD JUST NOT STOP IN TIME. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON MY OWN AND THERE IS ENOUGH EVIDENCE ON THE INTERNET THAT PROVES THERE IS A REAL DEFECT IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM USED ON DODGE DAKOTA TRUCKS FROM 1999 TO 2002 FROM WHAT I'VE READ. WHEN YOU READ OF ONE PERSON COMPLAINING ABOUT WARPED ROTOR'S AND HAVING NO BRAKES WHEN YOU NEED THEM, THAT'S ONE THING. BUT WHEN YOU READ COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS OF THESE SAME THINGS..WHAT HAS TO BE DONE? HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE? OBVIOUSLY IT'S ABOUT MONEY...YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO FIGURE THAT OUT. CHRYSLER WOULD RATHER IGNORE PROBLEMS AND TAKE A HIT ON A COUPLE LAW SUITS EVERY YEAR AFTER SOMEONE DIES. IT MUST BE CHEAPER FOR THEM TO OPERATE THIS WAY BECAUSE OTHERWISE THEY WOULDN'T BE DOING IT. NOW IT'S YOUR JOB TO PROMOTE SAFETY...IS IT NOT? IF IT IS, THEN YOU SHOULD MAKE OUR HIGHWAY'S SAFER BY REMOVING DANGERS FROM THEM..SUCH AS DANGEROUS VEHICLES WITH BRAKES THAT FAIL.*JB

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE FRONT END COLLAPSED. THE DEALER STATED THAT UPPER BALL JOINT FAILED. *AK *NM

WHEEL AND ASSEMBLY CAME OFF WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. CV JOINT, BALL JOINTS, BRAKE REMOVED.*AK

I OWN A DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 2001 5.9 V8 THE BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS SUCKED. THE FRONT ROTORS WARPED OVER AND OVER AGAIN I'M FORCED IN BUYING A BIGGER KIT THAT WILL COST ME $3,000. THE REAR END LEAKS AND THE DEALER SAYS ITS NATURAL. THESE TWO PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN WITH ME FOR 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER DODGE AGAIN. I THINK THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING NOW AND THE STEERING PUMP IS GOING TOO. THE TRUCK HAS 66,000 MILES NOW. IT LOOKS NICE BUT HP , BRAKES AND OVER ALL PERFORMANCE SUCKS. IF I WAS IN THE CREATIVE END WORKING FOR DODGE I COULD IMPROVE THEIR VEHICLES GREATLY. *JB

2001 DAKOTA CLUB CAB BALL JOINTS WORN COMPLETELY OUT AT 59K MILES. 1 JOINT HAD 7/8 OF UP AND DOWN MOVEMENT, ALMOST COMPLETELY OUT OF SOCKET. ALL MILES HWY MILES.SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS SINCE NEW ALSO. VERY POORLY BUILT. WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT, NEVER. *JB

1.REAR END MAKING ALOT OF NOISE. 2.REAR END LOCKED UP, TRUCK WENT OFF THE ROAD. .REAR END REBUILT.*AK

PE 03-032 , FRONT SUSP. UPPER BALL JOINT:THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN. *JB THE VEHICLE'S ROTORS WERE ALSO WARPED. *NM

WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS RELEASED, THE ENGINE IDLED HIGH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB WHEN MOVING SLOWLY OR ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO IDLE HIGH A WHILE BEFORE IT WOULD IDLE DOWN. THE VEHICLE'S THROTTLE SENSOR AND AIR SENSOR WERE REPLACED. *NM

WITHIN SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES OF OWNERSHIP VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HEAVY VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT. SEVERAL PARTS WERE REPLACED, EXCEPT THE ORIGINAL BALL JOINTS. VEHICLE WAS BACK AT DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO CHANGE IN CONDITION OR REPLACEMENT OF THE ORIGINAL BALL JOINTS. *AK

MY TRUCK STARTED TO TAKE LONGER TO GET IT TO START AFTER TAKING IT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP IT WAS FOUND TO BE THE FUEL PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE ON THE FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING BACK INTO THE FUEL TANK THIS WAS NO SURPRISE BECAUSE WHEN THE SYMPTOMS FIRST STARTED I INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM ON SOME DAKOTA GROUPS ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND IT TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS. YOU WOULD THINK DODGE WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THEN AGAIN THEY CHARGE $442 FOR A FUEL PUMP SO WHERE IS THE INCENTIVE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE INNER TIE ROD END CAME OUT OF THE SOCKET AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE TURNED TO THE LEFT. THIS RESULTED IN VEHICLE CRASHING INTO A CONCRETE PHYLUM. THE INNER TIE ROD , FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT, FENDER, BUMPER, BLINKER AND RIM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO WHEN MAKING A SHARP RIGHT TURN DRIVER'S SIDE INSIDE RIM WAS RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT WILLING TO REPLACE ANY COMPONENT UNTIL THEY WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 50 MPH RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE APART, CAUSING THE RIM TO PIVOT INTO WHAT WAS REMAINING. IT DESTROYED THE RIM AND BROKE THE BRAKE LINE. LUCKILY, NO OTHER TRAFFIC WAS CLOSE SO NO ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE OCCURED. THE TRUCK WAS HAULED (WRECKER) TO THE DEALER AND A NEW BALL JOINT, RIM, AND BRAKE LINE WERE INSTALLED.*AK

I OWN A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4 SLE THAT WE PURCHASED NEW. IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, AND WITH ONLY 49000 MILES ON THE TRUCK CURRENTLY, THE FOLLOWING FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED: (1) (FROM FEBRUARY 2004 TO PRESENT) THE FACTORY-INSTALLED EXTERNAL WIRING HARNESS (FOR TOWING A TRAILER) MELTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT, SHORTING OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. (2) BRAKES WOULD PULSATE ANYTIME BRAKES WERE APPLIED. DEALER ATTRIBUTED THIS TO WARPING OF ROTORS AND REPLACED PADS AND TURNED THE ROTORS. DEALER NOTED A SPRING ON DRIVER-SIDE CALIPER WAS MISSING AND REPLACED IT AS WELL. (3) THE HEATER/AC CONTROLS FAILED. (4) WENT FOR STATE INSPECTION AND INSPECTOR FAILED TRUCK DUE TO FAILURE OF UPPER BALL JOINTS AND BRAKES. THE SAME BRAKES I JUST HAD FIXED IN FEBRUARY. PREMATURE FAILURE OF BALL JOINTS ATTRIBUTED TO "TYPICAL PROBLEM FOR DAKOTAS/DURANGOS". WELL IF IT'S TYPICAL, WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL?? THE DEALER HAD NO ANSWERS. FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF CALIPERS NOT RELEASING PROPERLY CAUSING THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS TO "GLAZE". DEALER OPTED TO PICK UP THE TAB FOR THE NEW ROTORS AND THE NEW PADS, ONLY AT MY REQUEST. THE NEW CALIPERS AND BRAKE LINES STILL COST ME $800. AGAIN I'M WONDERING WHY I'M PAYING FOR SO MUCH ON A TRUCK THAT IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WITH ONLY 49000 MILES. (5) UNKNOWN PROBLEM AT STARTUP WHEN ENGINE IS COLD. PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SPUTTER. PROBLEM EXISTS UNTIL ENGINE IS WARM THEN GOES AWAY. TWO DODGE DEALERSHIPS AND NEITHER CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AS THERE IS NO

PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. *MR EACH TIME THE ENGINE WAS ON, THE WIPERS WOULD COME ON AND THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON BUT NOT GO OFF. THE CONSUMER HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT CHRYSLER CORPORATION SHOULD PROVIDE A FIX FOR THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *SC THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL, REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT HIS PROBLEM WAS NOT APART OF THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER TOLD THE DEALER HE PURCHASED A WARRANTY, BUT THE DEALER TOLD HIM THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ONLY POWER TRAIN ISSUES.*JB

CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE, AFTER LOADING THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE CONSUMER EXAMINED THE UNDER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE ,AND NOTICED NOTHING WAS WRONG. AFTER A SECOND EXAMINATION OF THE VEHICLE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE REAR SPRING BROKE IN HALF. DEALER EXAMINED THE PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT REPAIR IT FOR FREE. *AK *NM

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK TWO WEEKS BEFORE TALKING TO THE DEALER, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS WERE COMING APART AND COULD NOT BE TURNED. (DEFECTIVE STEEL, BIG CHUNKS OF METAL MISSING, LAMINATED STEEL) THE DEALER STATED THAT IT SEEMED LIKE POCKETS WERE IN THE ROTORS. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AND MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINT DISENGAGED. VEHICLE WAS MOVING ABOUT 5 MPH AT TIME OF INCIDENT.*AK

ROTORS WARPED AT 25000 MILES. HAD DEALER REPLACE ROTORS WITH BREMBO ROTORS AND PADS WITH RAYBESTOS CERAMIC PADS. RECEIVED FROM DEALER AFTER REPLACEMENT- BRAKES DRAGGED. TOOK BACK TO DEALER TWICE- FINALLY, DEALER DISCOVERED THAT ABS SYSTEM IS NON-FUNCTIONAL. DC PAID FOR THE PARTS TO REPAIR SYSTEM- LABOR WAS MY EXPENSE ( I HAD TIMED OUT OF WARRANTY). DEALER SAYS THAT NEW PADS ARE CRACKED FROM DAMAGE DONE AFTER REPAIR. HAVE TO REPLACE PADS. *AK

AT 42,000 MILES THE FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY FAILED. AS A RESULT, WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BOUNCED UP AND DOWN. ALSO, A GRINDING NOISE WAS PRODUCED AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE DEALER STATED TIRE LOOSENED ON THE AXLE. *AK

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB AND WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR, AND NEARLY CAUSED ME TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER THEY STATED TO ME THAT THE THE BRAKE PAD WAS SHEARED OFF BY THE RIVETS, CAUSING A METAL TO METAL CONTACT WITH THE ROTOR.*AK

MY PICK-UP PASSED VIRGINIA STATE VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION ON 28 OF MAY 2004. ON JUNE 9, I WAS DRIVING HOME ON A BUMPY ROAD AND THE UPPER RIGHT BALL JOINT SEPARATED. *LA

2001 DODGE DAKOTA HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN AND BRAKES.*MR THE CONSUMER HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, REVERSE, ETC. THE REAR TIRE ON THE RIGHT SIDE STUCK OUT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVESHAFT SEEMED TO HAVE ALOT O SLACK IN IT. THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN MAKING SHARP SLOW TURNS. THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE IN THE STEERING AND REAR END WHEN TURNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS. THE BRAKE, ROTORS, CALIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED BETWEEN 55-8000 MILES. *NM

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 20,000 MILES. KNOWN ISSUE ON DODGE DURANGOS THAT SHARE THE SAME SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. BALL JOINTS ARE THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE WHEELS IN LINE AND FAILURE COULD RESULT IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT. *NM

PREMATURE BALL JOINT FAILURE. *AK

WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS BEING USED,MY 2001 DAKOTA QC WILL SURGE. THE TACHOMETER WILL JUMP A LITTLE AND THE VEHICLE WILL JERK SLIGHTLY. THE PICKUP HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 6 WEEKS WITH NO ANSWERS!*AK

WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB AT NIGHT, ALL OF THE LIGHTS (EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR) STARTED FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY. THIS COULD EASILY STARTLE THE DRIVER OR THE DRIVERS OF OTHER VEHICLES, AND COULD LEAVE THE VEHICLE WITH NO LIGHTS. DEALER DIAGNOSIS REVEALED A BAD CENTRAL TIMER MODULE (CTM) WHICH CONTROLS THE LIGHTING SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE. ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE GATHERED ON VARIOUS DODGE FORUMS REVEALED SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THIS SAME PROBLEM. DAIMLER CHRYSLER SHOULD BE QUERIED ON HOW MANY OF THESE MODULES THEY ARE REPLACING ON 1998-2004 DODGE DAKOTAS.

2001 DODGE DAKOTA HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH BAD BALL JOINTS. *MR *NM

WHILE SITTING, INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO FALL BACKWARDS. NO INJURIES REPORTED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRAME TO SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A WORN OUT PART. *AK

WHILE SITTING INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO FALL BACKWARDS. DRIVER DROVE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE SEAT. *AK

BRAKE ROTORS WARPING ON 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. CAUSE UNEVEN WHERE ON BRAKE ROTOR AND EVENTUAL REPLACEMENT LESS THAN 10K.

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY LOCKED UP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED THEM FIVE TIMES. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE WENT OUT OF GEAR, ROLLED BACKWARD, AND HIT A TREE. *AK

FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AT 50,000 MILES.*AK THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN ON A TEST DRIVE AND THE NOISE COULD BE HEARD FROM THE LEFT FRONT BEARING. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS PLAY IN THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING. THE HUB AND BEARING WERE REPLACED. FOUR MONTHS LATER THERE WAS A HUMMING NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND PLAY IN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

DODGE DAKOTA ROTOR WARPS. I HAVE LESS THAN 16,000 MILES AND THE CAR BEGAN SHAKING UPON APPLYING BRAKES. INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD MY ROTORS WERE WARPED. OFFERED TO TURN AT MY EXPENSE. NO OTHER SOLUTIONS OFFERED. RESEARCHED PROBLEM AND FOUND TO BE WIDESPREAD. TAKING VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER. ALSO LIFTGATE IMPROPERLY LATCHES UNLESS SLAMMED HARD. A/C BLOWER MOTOR WENT OUT IN WINTER AND WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR WINDOWS.

WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED THE PINON GEAR SHAFT BROKE CAUSING THE DRIVE SHAFT TO FALL OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROADWAY. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL LOCKED SHORTLY AFTER THE DRIVESHAFT FELL INTO STREET. THE TRUCK HAD 56,000 MILES ON IT AND CHRYSLER/DODGE REFUSED TO COVER ANY PART OF THE REPAIR. *AK

VEHICLE SHUT COMPLETELY DOWN WHILE DRIVING. (NAR) *PH

WHILE MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED BY A TECHNICIAN, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT AXLE WAS DEFECTIVE, BUT FAILED TO FIX IT UNTIL IT WOULD BE RECALLED. A FEW MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING SOUND AGAIN. VEHICLE SLID SIDEWAYS AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON IS 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 QUAD CAB. *PH THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED BUT THE FRONT END NOISE RETURNED AFTER A FEW WEEKS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION IS NOT DESIGNED OR THE EXTRA WEIGHT THAT IT CARRIES OVER THE STANDARD OR EXTRA CAB MODELS. *NM

THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE REAR-END LOCKING UP. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE REAR END PINION GEAR LOCKED UP, SHEARED THE BOLTS OFF THE DRIVESHAFT, BROKE THE REAR OF THE TRANSMISSION, AND LEAKED OIL EVERYWHERE. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMED THE CONSUMER ABOUT ANOTHER DODGE VEHICLE THAT EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A CLANKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FRONT BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE PASSENGER SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS. *AK THE SWAY BAR SQUEAKED. THE BROKEN SEAL CAUSED THE BALL JOINTS TO DRY. *SC *JB

UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT. DEALER STATED THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER AND NOT AVAILABLE. *AK

2001 DODGE DAKOTA EQUIPPED WITH A 4.7 LITER EIGHT CYLINDER ENGINE WITH 46024 MILES BEGAN TO HAVE A LIGHT KNOCK. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO METROLINA DODGE WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SPUN A ROD, DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH A EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT I WAS INFORMED THAT THE DAMAGE WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY BECAUSE THE OIL HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED BY DODGE CERTIFIED MECHANICS. MY HUSBAND AND FATHER HAVE CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3500 MILES, BUT ACCORDING TO THE PEOPLE AT METROLINA IF DODGE DID NOT PERFORM ALL THE MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE THEN THE WARRANTY IS VOIDED. MY HUSBAND WENT TO METROLINA DODGE TO HAVE THE SERVICE WRITER SHOW HIM THE SLUDGE BUILD UP THAT THEY WERE TELLING ME ABOUT. WHILE HE WAS THERE THE SERVICE WRITER KEVIN ST.CLAIR TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL 4.7 AND 2.7-LITER ENGINES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. KEVIN SAID THAT IT WOULD COST $6500.00 TO REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT, ONE ROD, AND THE BEARINGS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SLUDGE BUILT UP. *AK

BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED AFTER 29,000 MILES. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE COMPLAINING OF THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM AND DID NOT FIX IT. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO ANOTHER MECHANIC HE DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A BALL JOINT ISSUE. THE VEHICAL IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTEE, AND I AM AFFAID THAT THE DEALERSHIP IS GOING TO ASK ME TO PAY FOR THE FIX. I AM WAITING FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO CONTACT ME. *AK

WHILE MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS CONSUMER NOTICED A POPPING NOISE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED BY A TECHNICIAN , WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT AXLE HAD PROBLEMS, BUT FAILED TO FIX IT UNTIL IT WAS RECALLED A FEW MONTHS LATER. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING SOUND AGAIN WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE SLIDING SIDEWAYS AND CRASHING INTO A TREE; VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK