2002 Dodge Dakota complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE, THE FRAME THAT HELD THE FRONT LEFT TIRE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN THEN DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRAME WAS BEYOND REPAIR AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED ANY OF THE MESSAGES THAT THE CONTACT HAS LEFT FOR THEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT CALIPERS LOCKED UP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED; AS A RESULT, THE CALIPERS BEGAN TO SMOKE AND THE BRAKE PAD CRACKED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP SEVERAL TIMES WHERE BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES. ON OCTOBER 11, 2010, WHILE IN REVERSE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER (DETAILS OF WHAT WAS DISCUSSED WAS UNAVAILABLE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT WAS BRAKING FROM 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNING OF THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS A DEFECTIVE OXYGEN SENSOR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR AND ADVISED THAT THE REPAIR POSSIBLY WOULD NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUADCAB. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE AT A VERY LOW SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN EXTREMELY STRONG BURNING RUBBER SMELL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE AND WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 73,000. UPDATED 11/19/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP. UPDATED 11/23/10. *JB UPDATED EVOQ 12/22/10*JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AGAIN ON JULY 18,2011. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED WHILE UNDER THE 30 DAY WARRANTY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. UPDATED 08/31/11 UPDATED 10/20/11,. *JB

ONE FRONT BRAKE FAILED TO RELEASE RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE HEAT AND SMOKE, DIFFICULT STEERING AND STOPPING. WILL REPLACE CALIPERS, PADS AND ROTORS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR END SHACKLES HAD DETERIORATED FAILED. THE LEAF SPRINGS WERE CAUGHT IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND PARKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND CLAIM FILE#19831058 WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 11/15/10 UPDATED 11/24/10

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA RT. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT STATED THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT MOVE INTO PARK. HE MOVED THE GEAR SHIFT AS FAR AS IT WOULD GO AND ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. HE PARKED ON A INCLINE AND USED SOME BLOCKS TO SECURE THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS TRANSMISSION HAS ALSO STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. HE REFERENCED RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V555000, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LEVER AND LINKAGE COLUMN SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 73,000. UPDATED 10/21/10. *LJ UPDATED 10/26/10*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENTIRE FRAME HAD BEGAN TO SHOW SIGNS OF RUST AND THE ENTIRE REAR BUMPER WAS RUSTED THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA HAS LOW POWER AND DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY DOESN'T ALWAYS DOWN SHIFT WHEN I COME TO A FULL STOP & DOWN SHIFT OUT OF FOURTH GEAR TO THIRD ON ITS OWN. SEEMS TO BE MORE OFTEN WITH AGE OF VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE HAVING THE TIRES CHANGED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED AT THE UPPER BALL BEARING JOINTS AS THE VEHICLE WAS LOWERED WITH THE NEW TIRES INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE FRONT SUSPENSION REPLACED BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 39,500.

WE HAVE A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA AND A 2007 DODGE CALIBER THAT BOTH HAVE SEVERE FRONT END PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLES BOTH SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY, ESPECIALLY WHEN HITTING A BUMP OR APPLYING THE BRAKES. WE'VE TRIED TO GET THIS FIXED BUT CHRYSLER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. A MECHANIC TOLD US ITS OUR ROTORS BUT WE'VE HAD THEM TURNED AND HAVE HAD THE ROTORS ON THE TRUCK REPLACED TWICE. IT AFFECTS THE BRAKING SPEED AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE BRAKING AND WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. I KNOW OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, IS IT GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE GETTING INJURED OR KILLED TO FIX IT? *TR

I HAD JUST FILLED THE GAS TANK IN MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK AND WAS DRIVING NORTH AT 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE 93 IN NEW HAMPSHIRE THIS PAST FRIDAY WHEN THE STRAPS HOLDING THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE UNDER THE TRUCK BROKE AND THE GAS TANK LITERALLY FELL OFF THE TRUCK. I PULLED OVER AND SAW THAT THE TANK WAS BEING SUSPENDED ONLY BY THE HOSES CONNECTING THE TANK TO THE FUEL FILLER OPENING. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK WHICH LOADED THE TRUCK ONTO ITS TILT BODY. BY THE TIME WE HAD GONE 10 MILES TO A GARAGE, THE GAS TANK HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE HOSES AND HAD FALLEN TO THE FLOOR OF THE TOW TRUCK BED, SLOSHING GAS EVERYWHERE. THANKFULLY, WE WERE ABLE TO UNLOAD THE DAKOTA WITHOUT SETTING OFF THE FUEL, BUT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A HUGE ACCIDENT. THE TWO STRAPS HOLDING THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE WERE MADE OUT OF METAL AND HAD RUSTED THROUGH. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE DESIGN FLAW. MY VEHICLE COULD HAVE LOST ITS GAS TANK AT FULL SPEED. THE GAS COULD HAVE IGNITED, BLOWN UP ME AND MY TRUCK AND CAUSED COLLATERAL DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. *TR

THE PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM HAS BECOME INOPERATIVE. *TR

DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEED, VEHICLE STARTED ABRUPTLY PULLING HARD TO THE LEFT. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES WERE HOT, AND I NEEDED TO ACCELERATE GREATER THAN NORMAL TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE. LET THE TRUCK SIT UNTIL BRAKES COOLED OFF, AND THE PROBLEM DIDN'T RE-OCCUR EVEN AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DODGE DEALER. THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SAID THEY COULD START REPLACING BRAKE PARTS IN HOPES OF FIXING IT. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS AT 37,000MILES, AND JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. (SEPT. OF 2005 WAS FIRST TIME) THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 8 TIMES IN THE 54,000 MILES I HAVE ON IT NOW. NO MECHANIC CAN TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG, AND IT OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY OUT OF THE BLUE. I'M FINDING OUT THAT MANY, MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MAKE/MODEL OF VEHICLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR INCIDENTS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA 55 MILES PER HOUR I WAS THROWN TO THE LEFT PUSHED ON BRAKE PEDAL AND THE TRUCK SHOT RIGHT WHEN I GOT OUT THE FRONT ROTORS WERE RED HOT AND SMOKING TRUCK WOULD NOT MOVE HAD IT TOWED HOME WHERE IT STILL SITS I THANK GOD I WAS NOT KILLED OR HURT OR KILLED SOME ONE ELSE COME TO FIND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK AND TO TRY AND REPAIR IT THAT IT WILL ONLY RETURN. *TR

MY WINDSHIELD IS BEING SCRATCHED BECAUSE OF DRY WIPER BLADES CONTACTING THE INITIAL DRY GLASS BEFORE THE WASHER PUMP ENGAGES, THEN THE BLADES WILL OSCILLATE ABOUT 6 TIMES BEFORE EVEN A DRIBBLE OF WATER WILL SHOW UP. THE LINES WERE PRESSURIZED AND JETTED BOTH WITH AIR AND WATER. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE PUMP. THE VISIBILITY IS GOOD WHEN IT RAINS. NEW ARMS AND BLADE ASSEMBLIES WERE INSTALLED. VISION IS NOT SAFE AT 25MPH. AT 55MPH WHEN THE PUMP IS ENGAGED IT SEEMS THAT WATER IS BEING SIPHENED AND A BETTER COVERAGE OF THE GLASS OCCURS. *TR

HIT A TREE HEAD ON AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND I HIT THE TREE VERY HARD THE TRUCK IS UNDRIVEABLE. *TR

FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS,BRAKE LINES,BRAKE PADS,AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. BRAKES WERE BINDING UP AND WOULD NOT LET THE BRAKE PADS TO RELEASE. *TR

HAVE A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA WITH A 4.7 LITRE ENGINE ,ENGINE HAS SEVERE OIL SLUDGE WHICH CAUSE MY VEHICLE TO BREAK DOWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE ,THE FIRST TIME I NOTICE ENGINE RUNNING HOT,TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE REMOVED THE VALVE COVERS AND NOTICED SEVERE OIL SLUDGE ,PROCEEDED TO TAKE THE ENGINE APART AND CLEANED IT AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER,THIS WAS LESS THAN 20,000 MILES AGO.WE WENTON A TRIP THAT WAS A BOUT 260 MILES AWAY ,IT WAS A COLD MORNING ,ENGINE GOT HOT AND STARTED RUNNING ROUGH THEN WE HEARD A LOUD NOISE THEN THE TRUCK START CLANKING UNDER THE HOOD. I TOOK THE VALVE COVERS OFF AND IT WAS CLOGGED AGAIN. NOW I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS ENGINE IS FAMOUS FOR THIS PROBLEM AND CHRYSLER KNOWS IT CAN YOU HELP. *TR

AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHEN PANIC STOPPING AT HIGHER SPEEDS REAR WHEELS ABS WILL LOCK UP. AT 40MPH APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION LIGHT TURNED YELLOW AND I HIT THE BRAKES AND REAR LOCKED UP, I LET OFF AND APPLIED/LOCKUP/SKID, LET OFF APPLIED/LOCKUP/SKID, LET OFF APPLIED/LOCKUP/SKID THEN STOP, LUCKY I HAD SUFFICIENT ROOM TO STOP. SIMPLY TRYING TO PARK HAS BECOME AN ADVENTURE. TOOK IT TO A DEALER BEFORE ABOVE INCIDENT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKES ARE FINE BUT THAT REAR WERE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, AND THEY SWAPPED DRUMS LEFT TO RIGHT AND ADJUSTED THE BRAKES AND IT MADE IT BETTER FOR MAYBE A WEEK OR TWO. *TR

FAN QUIT WORKING. REPLACED BLOWER MOTOR AND FAN SPEED RESISTER DUE TO MELTING OF COMPONENTS. POSSIBLE FIRE RISK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION LETTER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER, 03V389000, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND NOTIFIED AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE NO RECALLS THAT WERE APPLICABLE TO HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. HE SPECULATED THAT THERE WAS AN ERROR IN THE MANUFACTURERS VIN DATABASE. THERE ARE NO FAILURES AT THIS TIME.

PAINT ON THE HOOD, ROOF AND FENDERS IS PEELING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH HE CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE. UPON IMPACT THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. AS A RESULT HE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS BACK, SHOULDER AND HIP ON THE LEFT SIDE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING INSPECTED BY AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER. HE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED BY A REPRESENTATIVE THAT UNLESS THE ENGINE COMES INTO THE CAB, THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 93,120. UPDATED 10/19/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED HE SUDDENLY STEERED TOWARDS THE POLE TO AVOID BEING HIT BY VEHICLE #2. THE MANUFACTURER SENT THE CONSUMER A LETTER STATING THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REACH THE CORRECT DECELERATION SPEED AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE SYSTEM AND NO CODES WERE PRESENT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY HAD BEEN DISCONNECTED AT THE SCENE DUE TO THE UTILITY POLE AND THE POSSIBILITY OF ELECTROCUTION. UPDATED 10/19/09. THE CONSUMER STATED CHRYSLER HAS NOT DONE NOTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 04/12/10.

LOWER U JOINT IN THE STEERING SHAFT BREAKS. MINE LUCKLY BROKE IN MY DRIVEWAY BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN BAD. THE PART IS UNAVAILBLE AFTERMARKET. DEALER IS BACK ORDERD FOR WEEKS. I HAD TO DRIVE OVER 2 HOURS AWAY TO GET THE SHAFT AT THE CLOSEST DEALER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE STEERING COMPONENT ON HER VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE WEARING QUICKLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CV JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFUSED TO SERVICE THE CV JOINTS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS OWNER ALREADY HAD IT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 127,000.

2002 DODGE DAKOTA FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS STICKING. LEFT, RIGHT OR BOTH CALIPERS WILL NOT FULLY RELEASE AFTER MULTIPLE BRAKE APPLICATIONS RESULTING IN HEAT BUILD UP IN ROTORS, PADS & CALIPERS. THIS CAN BE REDUCED BY USING THE BRAKES LESS OR EXPEDITED BY USING THEM MORE. THE FAILURE OCCURS CONSISTENTLY WITH MULTIPLE BRAKE APPLICATIONS. THE RESULT IS HOT BRAKES AND WHEELS WITH SPEEDS <40MPH OR VERY HOT, ONCE IGNIITED BRAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. PAD ROTORS, AND BRAKE FLUID HAVE BEEN CHANGED & SLIDERS GREASED, ZERO CHANGE. FIRST INCIDENT OCCURED AT APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE, THEN EXPONENTIALLY MORE FREQUENTLY AFTER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFT INTERLOCK WOULD NOT ALLOW HIM TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE POWER TRAIN TRANSMISSION LINKAGE, WHICH HAS FAILED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. WHEN THIS OCCURS, IT SOMETIMES TAKES MORE THAN THIRTY MINUTES TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V555000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT). THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,300.

FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. OCCURRED ONCE, WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. HAD TO REPLACE FRONT L&R, ROTORS, CALIPERS, PADS, HOSES AND FLUID. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT BRAKES LOCK ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 3 TIMES. THE MOST RECENT TIME, I WAS DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THEN I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND ALLOW THE BRAKES TO COOL DOWN. AT 60 DEGREES OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE, THIS TOOK ABOUT AN HOUR. *TR

BOUGHT A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA NEW. TOOK IT BACK 3 TIMES FOR COLUMN MOUNTED SHIFTER PROBLEMS WITHIN DAYS OF IT JAMMING, COULD NOT GET IT OUT OF PARK,THEN IT WOULDN'T STAY IN PARK, MAKING A CRUNCHING SOUND WHEN YOU TRY TO SHIFT THREW THE GEARS. EACH TIME I TOOK IT BACK, ANOTHER PROBLEM CAME UP CAUSED BUY THE DEALERS NEGLECT DAMAGING THE TRUCK, I COMPLAINED TO CHRYSLER CORP AND THEY BLEW ME OFF AND TOLD ME I WAS A TROUBLED CUSTOMER AND THEY NEVER WOULD RETURN MY CALLS. I PARKED THE TRUCK IN THE GARAGE AND NEVER TRUSTED IT FOR ANY LONG TRIPS AND SUCH. GOT STUCK 250 MILES FROM HOME WHEN THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK, AND THEN NOT STAY IN PARK. NOW I WAS SENT A RECALL NOTICE OF THIS ISSUE ( RECALL G28 IGNITION/PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM) I TOOK THIS TRUCK TO GLENN E THOMAS DODGE IN LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA FOR THE RECALL AND THEY ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THIS, I DID NOT EVEN GET OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY WHEN I NOTICED THE SHIFTER STILL DID NOT WORK CORRECT AND STILL WAS HAVING AN PROBLEM. I ASKED FOR THE SERVICE PERSONNEL TO LOOK AT THIS AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL, IT CLEARLY WAS NOT ! THEY ATTEMPTED TO TAKE IT IN AGAIN, AND STILL IT DID THE SAME THING, THIS 3 TIME REPEAT REPAIR BEFORE I EVEN GOT OFF THE LOT. I GOT DISGUSTED AGAIN AND LEFT BUT WHEN I GOT DOWN THE STREET I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS OFF CENTER AND NOT EVEN STRAIGHT ANYMORE. THIS TRUCK HAS ONLY 11,250 MILES ON IT AND IS LIKE MINT NEW CONDITION ( EXCEPT FOR THIS PROBLEM) NOT A SCRATCH, MARK OR DIRT ANYWHERE ON IT. I

LEFT FRONT BRAKE OVERHEATED, VEHICLE PULLS HARD TO THE LEFT AND VERY POOR BRAKING. NEARLY HAD A BAD ACCIDENT AT AN INTERSECTION. LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAD SAME PROBLEM. WILL DO MY OWN MAINTENANCE WHEN I FOUND OUT THE TRUE FIX. *TR

LIGHTS BLINK ON AND OFF CONTROL MODULE BAD AND WAS RECALLED FOR 03 MODEL DAKOTAS BUT NOT 02 MODELS. DODGE DEALER SAYS 02 AND 03 ARE THE SAME. WHEN THE WHEN THE CENTRAL TIMING MODULE FAILS YOU HAVE NO LIGHTS OF ANY KIND. *TR

THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM SINCE APPROXIMATELY 8,000 MILES ON THE NEW VEHICLE. SINGLE OWNER/REPORTING COMPLAINT. HEATER BLOWER FAN HAS STOPPED WORKING NUMEROUS TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE BLOWER FAN ITSELF. THE NEXT TIME THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR FAILED AND CONSUMER REPLACED PAYING OUT OF POCKET. A THIRD TIME THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR FAILED AND AGAIN THE CONSUMER REPLACED IT PAYING OUT OF POCKET. THE FAN NOW OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY AND IF YOU WIGGLE THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTING TO THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR THE FAN WILL COME ON AND OPERATE ON 3 OF THE 4 SPEEDS. CLOSE EXAMINATION OF THE HARNESS CONNECTOR REVEALS THAT THE HARNESS CONNECTOR IS MELTED AS IS THE WIRING AT THE CONNECTOR. CONTACT WITH TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS REVEALS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN CONCERN AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS A REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE PART# 5017124AB. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND SHOULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN GIVEN THAT THE HARNESS FAILURE CAN PREVENT THE HEATER FAN FROM FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND CAUSE IMMEDIATE VISIBILITY CONCERNS AS WELL AS POTENTIAL OVERHEATING OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT RESULTING IN A FIRE. DEALERS ADVISE THIS IS A FREQUENTLY SEEN CONCERN YET NO ASSISTANCE FROM MANUFACTURER IS AVAILABLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK HEAD-ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE CONTACT'S AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. TWO OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000. UPDATED 03/04/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/06/09. *JB

2002 DODGE DAKOTA, LESS THAN 60,000 MILES, CORRODED POWER STEERING FLUID TUBING, CAUSING FLUID LOSS AND LACK OF NORMAL STEERING CONTROL. REPAIR PART NOT AVAILABLE FOR MORE THAN 5 WEEKS. HAS THERE BEEN A LOT OF POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILURES FOR THESE AND SIMILAR VEHICLES? I HAVE PARKED THE VEHICLE UNTIL REPAIRS ARE COMPLETED. I'VE OWNED 13 VEHICLES SINCE 1971 AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. IS THERE AN UNANNOUNCED VOLUNTARY RECALL BY CHRYSLER FOR THIS? IT SEEMS ODD THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE, LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS MORE WIDESPREAD THAN ACKNOWLEDGED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE DAMAGES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THERE WERE NO RECALLS PERTAINING TO THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS NOT WORKING DUE TO THE HORN FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

BOUGHT TRUCK NEW IN 2002. SINCE THEN, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT CALIPER HAS SEIZED UP AND LOCKED THAT BRAKE 4 TIMES. THE CALIPER SQUEEZES THE PAD AGAINST THE ROTOR CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO PULL HARD LEFT, THEN THE ROTOR OVERHEATS AND SMOKES. I PULL OVER BEFORE A FIRE STARTS. HAVE REPLACED CALIPERS, PADS, HOSES, BUT SYMPTOMS STILL PERSIST. I HAVE TO STOP AND WAIT UNTIL THE BRAKES COOL DOWN (ABOUT AN HOUR) BEFORE THEY FUNCTION NORMALLY. ONCE I GET TO A REPAIR SHOP, THE BRAKES FUNCTION NORMALLY AND THEY TELL ME EVERYTHING IS FINE. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS IS HAPPENING TO. ON ONE SITE ALONE (HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/DODGE/DAKOTA/2002/BRAKES/BRAKE_CYLINDER_LOCK-UP.SHTML) THERE ARE 15 OTHERS WHO ARE DEALING WITH BRAKE FAILURE. *TR

ON MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AT NIGHT BY FLICKERING A LOT THEN JUST SHUTTING OFF ALL THE WAY. THE FOLLOWING DAYS RANDOM THINGS WOULD START GOING OFF LIKE WINDSHIELD WIPERS GOING OFF, HORN HONKING, AND SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AT ALL. FURTHER INVESTIGATION LEAD ME TO THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE (CTM) FAILING POSSIBLY DUE TO THE SAME DEFECT THAT LEAD TO A 2003 RECALL. WHY NOT 2002? I NOW CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT BECAUSE I HAD TO DISCONNECT IT RESULTING TO CERTAIN THINGS NOT BEING ABLE TO WORK RIGHT DUE TO THE ERRATIC BEHAVIOR. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OTHER MODEL YEARS BEING INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAUSE THIS PART IS WELL OVER $200 TO REPLACE. IT IS SUFFERING FROM THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS THAT THE RECALL FOR 2003 STATES. *TR

DRIVER SIDE POWER SEAT HAS ABOUT HALF AN INCH FREE TRAVEL FORWARD AND BACKWARD. THIS GIVES YOU THE FEELING WHEN YOU PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL THE SEAT MAY GO ALL THE WAY BACK AND PREVENT THE ABILITY TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND POSSIBLY CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE AND POSSIBLY SEVERE BODILY INJURY TO ALL PEOPLE INVOLVED. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL OF CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY MANUFACTURER AT NO CHARGE. I PURCHASED THE TRUCK NEW AND IT NOW HAS A TOTAL OF 54,412 MILES ON IT. *TR

WENT TO THE STORE AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK IT DID NOT HOLD HAD TO APPLY PARKING BRAKE. GOT HOME AND TRUCK LOCKED IN PARK. THREE DAYS LATER THE TRUCK WOULD NOT LOCK IN PARK AND HAS NOT LOCKED IN PARK SINCE. CHECKED THE SHIFTING MECHANISMS AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH ANY PARTS. TRIED TO ADJUST SHIFT CABLE AND THERE WAS NO ROOM TO ADJUST. *TR

SINCE I'VE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, ABOUT SIX MONTHS INTO DRIVING IT, I BEGAN EXPERIENCING FRONT END PROBLEMS WITH THE CONTROL ARMS & BALL JOINTS. I'VE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER(BIG VALLEY DODGE) AT LEAST 10 TIMES(@75.00 A VISIT) FOR THEM TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS/CONTROL ARM. NOW IT'S NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND WILL COST $1500.00-$2500.00 FROM DIFFERENT QUOTES I RECEIVED. I CAN NO LONGER ENJOYABLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE. AND I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE IT ON THE FREEWAY AS THE WHOLE FRONT-END SHAKES THE ENTIRE TRUCK ABOVE 50MPH. PLEASE HELP ME. I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THE TRUCK OTHERWISE. I JUST WANT DODGE TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND FIX THEIR PROBLEM. THEY MADE A RECALL FOR THE 4X4, WHY NOT THE 2X4 WITH A VERY SIMILAR ISSUE. PLEASE HELP! THIS IS NOT FAIR. OUT OF ALL THE NEW TRUCKS I COULD HAVE BOUGHT, I HAD TO BUY THE ONE WITH A PROBLEM THE MANUFACTURE REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE, EVERYONE I'VE TALKED TO WITH THE SAME TRUCK FROM SIMILAR YEARS (2000-2003) SAYS THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP! ALSO, FRONT TIRES BECOME EXCESSIVELY WORN ON THE OUTSIDE TO WHERE I HAVE TO REPLACE AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR WHEN I DRIVE 10000-12000 MILES A YEAR(RIDICULOUS). PLEASE HELP! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE VEHICLE HAS CENTERLINE WHEELS, MODEL TOMAHAWK SERIES-ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND PROCEEDING TO TURN LEFT, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL EXPLODED. THERE WAS MASSIVE AIR LOSS FROM THE WHEEL. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CHANGED THE WHEEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THE WHEELS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECTIVE WHEELS AND PROVIDED REIMBURSEMENT. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE STREET WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, THE GEAR SHIFTER AUTOMATICALLY MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS STATIONED BEHIND THE MOVING VEHICLE, BUT WAS ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. HE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TO CHANGE THE GEAR SHIFTER AND WAS STRUCK BY THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER HIS RIGHT LEG, STRUCK A CURB, AND CRASHED INTO THE TREES. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE WERE NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES. THERE WERE NO DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

JUNE OF 2006, MY FIFTEEN YEAR OLD SON WAS SITTING IN MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA LISTENING TO THE RADIO. MY WIFE HEARD A CRASH AND WHEN WE RAN OUT TO INVESTIGATE, THE TRUCK WAS DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. WHAT KEPT THE TRUCK FROM FLIPPING OVER WAS THAT IT SLAMMED INTO A TREE FROM THE REAR AND WAS PINNED. POLICE, EMS AND AN AMBLUANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE TO RESCUE HIM THE TRUCK. MY SON WAS UNCONSCIOUS AND ONLY SLIGHTLY RESPONSIVE TO VOICE COMMANDS. HE WAS TAKEN TO WILLIAM BEAUMONT HOSPITAL IN ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN WHERE HE WAS ADMITTED FOR TESTS AND X-RAYS. HE HAS A CLOSED HEAD INJURY AND SUFFERS FROM HEADACHES AND HAS TO EXAMINED AND TREATED PERIODICALLY. I DID NOT THINK ANYTHING MORE ABOUT THE ACCIDENT UNTIL A TELEVISION NEWS REPORT CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR CHRYSLER (TRUCKS) JUMPING OUT OF GEAR. I WAS NOT GETTING ANY COOPERATIONFROM THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP OR FROM CHRYSLER. I HAVE THE CHRYSLER RECALL NUMBER OF G28 THAT I RETRIEVED FROM YOUR WEBSITE. I CALLED CHRYLSER TODAY AND THEY STILL DENY THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE "LEVER AND LINKAGE-COLUMN SHIFT FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS".

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT WOULD SPORADICALLY HEAR A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE ALIGNMENT AND TIRE ROTATION. UPON INSPECTION, A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD SEVERE WEAR AND MOVEMENT, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE RUBBER GROMMETS SUPPORTING THE TIE RODS FAILED AND CREATED A METAL TO METAL CONDITION, WHICH CREATED A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE COMPONENTS HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AS WELL. UPDATED 09/16/08. *JB

HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/DODGE/DAKOTA/2002/BRAKES/BRAKE_CYLINDER_LOCK-UP.SHTML JUST VIEW THE WEB SITE ABOVE. THE BRAKES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA LOCK-UP AND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE WHEEL WELL. I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS OCCURRING ON MANY OTHER DAKOTAS. DO A SEARCH ONLINE FOR DODGE DAKOTA SMOKING BRAKES AND YOU WILL BE AMAZED AT THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS OUT THERE. I TRULY THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *TR

TRUCK OPERATING NORMAL UNTIL BRAKING AT INTERSECTION. TRUCK THEN PULLED VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT UPON BRAKING. SMELLED AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM FRONT OF TRUCK. UPON STOPPING HAD SMOKE COMING FROM PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT WHEEL/ROTOR. GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS CONCERNED THAT A FIRE WAS IMMINENT DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE HEAT. THE TIRE/WHEEL ON THE FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE WAS EXTREMELY HOT. NEXT MORNING, THE TRUCK DROVE NORMAL, NO SIGN THAT THE BRAKE/ROTOR WAS DAMAGED. PLAN ON TAKING IN FOR THOROUGH INSPECTION. NOTICED FIFTEEN (15) SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR 2002 DODGE DAKOTA WITH UNEXPLAINED MASTER CYLINDER LOCK-UP. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/DODGE/DAKOTA/2002/BRAKES/BRAKE_CYLINDER_LOCK-UP.SHTML. *TR

GOING DOWN A SLIGHT GRADE AND FRONT LEFT BRAKE LOCKED UP SLIGHTLY PULLING ME TO THE LEFT, WITH NOWHERE TO PULL OFF I HAD TO GO A MILE OR MORE TO GET STOPPED, THE ROTOR WAS VERY HOT AND HAD TO WAIT CLOSE TO AN HOUR BEFORE THEY BROKE OFF, CHANGED BRAKES SANDED ROTORS AT ANGLE AND ALMOST DID IT AGAIN. APPARENTLY ON AUTO BEEF, THERE ARE 15 OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME THING. I KNOW IT SUCKS BUT DODGE NEEDS TO SUCK THIS ONE UP AND NOT LOSE THEIR LOYALTY TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. THANK YOU. *TR

.. FRONT PASSENGER BRAKE SEIZED. OCCURRED DURING HIGH TRAFFIC TIME WITH ALONG WITH PULL TO RIGHT/COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT..CAME CLEAR THE NEXT MORNING/ OCCURRED AGAIN 1 MO. LATER.. I REPLACED BRAKE HOSE ,CALIPER ,ROTOR AND BRAKE PAD, ONLY BEEN ABOUT 3 DAYS SINCE REPLACING. *TR