2002 Dodge Dakota complaints

BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS. *AK

2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB, HAD NOISE IN FRONT END STARTING AT ABOUT 25000 MILES. COMPLAINED TO DEALER AT THE FOLLOWING 2 OIL CHANGES ABOUT FRONT END PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND NOISES IN FRONT END, DIAGNOSED AS "NORMAL". FINALLY, I TOLD DEALER THAT I WOULD PAY FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT, AND BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS DIAGNOSED AS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THE ALIGNMENT COULD HAPPEN. BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AFTER A 4 WEEK WAIT FOR THE BALL JOINTS THAT WERE ON "BACK ORDER", 32,000 MILES AT REPLACEMENT TIME.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 40 MPH TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO A LOW GEAR, AND VEHICLE'S SPEED DECELERATED TO 8 MPH. THIS OCCURRED WHILE CONSUMER SWITCHED LANES TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER MOTORIST. DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE FAILURE CODE READ A CATASTROPHIC INTERNAL FAILURE.*AK

DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE SEVERELY WORN. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM *MR

REPEAT WARPING OF BRAKES. ROTORS AND DRUMS WARPED AT 30K. TURNED. AGAIN WARPED AT 36K. NO HILLS, TRAILERING, ABNORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS.

AT JUST 22,200 MILES TRUCK IN FOR THIRD TIME FOR ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON. THIS TIME THE THERMOSTAT WAS BROKEN. LESS THAN 1000 MILES SINCE THE LAST TIME IT WAS ON, LAST TIME THE CANISTER HOSE WAS CRACKED. *JB

UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

CLUNKING AND EXCESSIVE SQUEAKING COMING FROM THE FRONT-END. SLOW 90 DEGREE OR U - TURNS CONSISTENTLY REVEAL CLUNKING. 18000 MILES CURRENTLY ON DAKOTA QUAD CAB. STEERING SHIMMY INADVERTENTLY APPEARS WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. THESE SYMPTOMS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING FOR 3+ MONTHS. I AM EXPERIENCED WITH FRONT-END WORK, AND RECOGNIZE THESE SYMPTOMS TO BE FAMILIAR WITH UPPER BALL-JOINTS FAILURE. I REFUSE TO HAVE THE SAME PRODUCT INSTALLED. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM. *JB

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT BALL JOINTS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

FOUR MONTHS AGO WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER HEARD NOISE COMING THROUGH THE FRONT END. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND TECHNICIAN DETERMINED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. FOUR MONTHS LATER AND WITHOUT WARRANTY DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THE NEED TO REPLACE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. *AK

2002 DAKOTA PK FRONT BRAKE ROTORS POOR QUALITY CASTINGS , PITTTED CAUSING SHIMMY ON BRAKING . VEHICLE STILL IN WARRANTY . COMPANY ADVISES VEHICLE NOT IN WARRANTY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER MORE THAN ONCE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION FRONT END PRODUCES A KNOCKING NOISE. *AK

FRONT END AND WHEEL VIBRATED WHILE DRIVING. UPON INSPECTION BY THE DEALERSHIP THEY INDICATED THAT THE BUSHINGS DETERIORATED, AND ONLY BOLT REMAINED. ALSO, FRONT END WAS LOOSE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THERE'S A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. *AK

WHILE MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED. STARTED AT APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES. WAY TO EARLY TO BE WARPED. HAVE READ OF MANY OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. ALSO HEARD NOISE FROM FRONT SUSPENSION, THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE BALL JOINT OR SUSPENSION PROBLEM, BUT DEALER STATED THAT IT IS OK. READ QUITE A BIT ABOUT BALL JOINT PROBLEMS ON SAME VEHICLE. *JB

POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT BALL JOINTS OF MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. I NOTICED THIS THE DAY I BOUGHT THIS UNIT. AND JUST TODAY (3-4-04) I FOUND OUT ON CBS THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. AND WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RESOLVED BEFORE SOMETHING BAD DOES HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY. *JB

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER LOST CONTROL. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO THE FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS. *AK

I OWN A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP. AFTER HEARING AND READING CBS NEWS PIECE ON THE DURANGO AND DAKOTA HAVING FAULTY BALL JOINTS, I HAD MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER CHECK THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON MY TRUCK. ONE UPPER JOINT WAS LOOSE AND THEY RECOMMENDED IT BE REPLACED. THE COST WAS $188. I FEEL SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 700 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, THAT DAIMLER CHRYSLER SHOULD RECALL AFFECTED VEHICLES AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THE FACT THAT DODGE HAS HAD SO MANY COMPLAINTS AND IT TOOK A CBS NEWS REPORT TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC IS TRAGIC. WHAT'S MORE TRAGIC IS THAT IT PUT THE LIFE OF MYSELF AND MY SON IN DANGER. I FEEL THAT DODGE SHOULD REIMBURSE MY $188. *JB

VEHICLE HAS DEFINITIVE CLUNK WHEN CROSSING OVER SMALL BUMPS OR TURNING TIGHTLY. WORN BALL JOINTS ARE TO BLAME. VEHICLE HAS 50,000 MILES.

I BOUGHT MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA NEW IN MARCH OF 2002. EVER SINCE APPROXIMATELY JULY OF THAT SUMMER, I HEARD THE NOW INFAMOUS CLUNKING NOISE IN MY FRONT END. IT WASN'T UNTIL LAST FALL OF 2003 AND SEVERAL VISITS TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, THAT THEY FINALLY SOMEWHAT FIXED MY VEHICLE. I HAVE SINCE SEEN THE REPORTS BY CBS NEWS IN REGARDS TO THE BALL JOINTS AND THAT HAS PUT FURTHER CONCERN IN THE RELIABILITY OF MY VEHICLE. EVEN THOUGH SEVERAL PARTS, INCLUDING THE BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIPS (NONE OF WHOM SAID THEY COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, OR EVEN CLAIMED THAT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN I SAID I HEARD THE NOISE), I STILL HEAR THE CLUNKING AND FEEL THAT IT WILL NEVER BE FIXED. I HAVE PUT IN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS AT CHRYSLER, SO MY PROBLEMS SHOULD BE VERY WELL DOCUMENTED, BUT FEEL IT IS CHRYSLERS RESPONSIBILTY IF ANYTHING FUTHER WOULD HAPPEN TO MY VEHICLE, OR ANY OTHER FOR THAT MATTER. PLEASE CONTINUE TO DO YOUR INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET SERIOUSLY HURT.

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE IN THE STEERING. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT SECTOR, RACK AND PINION, AND UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. *AK

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES FOR POPPING AND CRACKING SOUND HEARD IN THE FRONT OF VEHICLE WHEN MAKING TURNS. ALSO, CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING AND CRACKING NOISE WHEN DRIVING ON BUMPY ROADS. BALL JOINTS WERE CHANGED. HOWEVER, AFTER 500 MILES THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS BAD AT 21000. HEATER SWITCH BAD AT 21000K AND ALSO CANISTER HOSE CRACKED AT 21000. MY MAIN CONCERN IS FAULTY, FAILING BALL JOINTS. *AK

NOISY AND UNPREDICTABLE SOUND COMING FROM SUSPENSION. WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON. STALLS AND SURGES UNPREDITABLEY. REDUCED GAS MILEAGE. ERATIC ELECTRONIC BEHAVIOR, STOPS AND RESTARTS. EVEN HAS ERATIC ALARM RESPONSES.*AK

2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB, VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END, TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP MULT TIMES WITH NO LUCK, VIBRATION HAS LASTED SINCE TRUCK WAS NEW, NOW 24000 MILES LATER SAME PROBLEM. TRUCK JERKS IN GEAR 1ST TO 2ND AND POPPING WHEN TURNS, TAKEN IT 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS, 1 SAID BALANCE TIRES (3-4 TIMES) NO HELP, OTHER SAID POWER STEERING PUMP BAD, FIX DID NOT HELP. WHAT CAN I DO 30K+ TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN FIXED SINCE DAY ONE! WHAT DO I DO FROM HERE . *AK

MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4 HAS 21,000 MILES AND NOW ALL FOUR UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE BAD.*AK

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH UPPER BALL JOINTS FELL OUT. *AK

WITH 23,359 MILES ON MY DODGE DAKOTA THE RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINT EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE PLAY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND ALL THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS SHOULD BE REPLACED ON ALL DAKOTAS AND DURANGOS. *JB

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BALL JOINT PROBLEM. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE TIRES REPLACED WHEN IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE GREASE WAS ABLE TO WASH OUT AND THERE WAS NO PLACE TO GREASE THE BALL JOINTS. THE DEALER FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *SC

AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY WHEN AN ACCIDENT OCCURED AT 43 MPH. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHEN MY SON HIT THE BRAKES TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT.*AK

WHILE PARKING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY REPLACED THE UPPER BALL JOINT. *AK

UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE FAILING PREMATURELY. PASSENGER SIDE IS WORSE.*AK

BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES ON TRUCK. THE BRAKES HAD BEEN CHECKED REGULARLY DURING THE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE AND NO INDICATION OF TROUBLE HAD BEEN MADE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE.*AK

FOR A VEHICLE SUPPOSEDLY WITH AN ABS BRAKE SYSTEM, THIS DAKOTA'S WHEELS LOCK UP AT THE SLIGHTEST PRESENCE OF WATER. THIS CAUSED ME TO SLIDE INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE DURING A RAINSTORM AT SOMETHING LESS THAN 20 MPH. I SUSTAINED $5,000 DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS IS THE ONLY ACCIDENT I HAVE EVER HAD IN OVER 40 YRS OF DRIVING. TESTING STOPPING DISTANCES ON WET PAVEMENT ARE AT BEST, SCARY. THIS THING LOCKS WHEELS TOO EASILY IN MY OPINION, CAUSING UNCONTROLLABLE SKIDS THAT I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED IN MY 1990 DODGE CARAVAN, OR ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. *LA

THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK *SC *JB

RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM FAILED WHICH CAUSED KNOCKING IN THE FRONT END. *PH *NM

UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE WORN OUT AND ARE POPPING AND CAUSING FRONT TIRES TO CUP,AND TRUCK WILL NOT DRIVE STRAIGHT.YOU CAN REALLY HEAR POPPING NOISES WHEN TURNING SHARP AND GOING IN A DRIVEWAY.

MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT 4X2 HAS APPROXIMATELY 15,200 MILES ON IT. AT APPROXIMATELY 13,000 MILES I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT THE FRONT END STARTED TO RATTLE AND SEEM LOOSE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH AND HAVING SOMEONE LOOK AT IT, I FOUND THAT THE BALL JOINTS ARE FAILING PREMATURELY.

BALLJOINTS BAD ON MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 AT 35,000 MILES.*AK

BALL JOINT FAILURE AT 25,000 MILES. *AK

PREMATURE FAILURE AT 34,000 MILES ON BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS ON MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. FRONT-END NOISES (AT TURNING, ROUGH PAVEMENT, SPEED BUMPS) STARTED OCCURRING BEFORE 10,000 MILES AND CONTINUED TO GROW WORSE UNTIL REPLACEMENT.*AK

PREMATURE WEAR OF BALL JOINTS ON 2002 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP. THIS WEAR COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT IF NOT REPAIRED.*AK

BOUGHT TRUCK NEW. ROTORS WORN BEYOND REPAIR AT 25000 MILES. BRAKES PADS WERE LESS THEN HALF WORN. SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. *CB

CONSUMER WANTED TRANSMISSION REPLACED. *PH NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK AND BACK INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WENT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED, PLACED IN PARK, THEN RESTARTED. *SC

THE TRUCK HAS HAD SEVER PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION AND STALLING. IT ALSO MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF PROBLEMS WITH AT LEAT 15 DAYS TOTAL IN THE SHOP.

TRUCK HAD PROBLEMS OF SWITICNG INTO 2ND WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH PLUS. HAD IT LOOKED AT THREE TIMES. IN APRIL THE TRANSNISSION WENT. THE REVERSE GEAR BLEW UP AND BLEW INTO THE CASE AND ASLO RUNINED THE RADIATOR. THANKS DODGE !!

RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LOCKED UP. DEALER SAID BRAKE FLUID IS COMTAMANATED. I AM DOING MY OWN REPAIR WITH MASTER MECHANC. IAM GOING TO HAVE THE BRAKE FLUID CHECKED DAKOTAS HAVE BEEN HAVING FRONT BRAKE PROBLEMS FOR A FEW YEARS. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH BRAKE FLUID. THEY SAID THE LINES ARE SWELLED UP THEY SAID ALL RUBBER LINES AND SEALS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT MY COST, THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY WORK