2002 Dodge Dakota complaints

MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA'S UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED AT AROUND 48,000 MILES OF REGULAR HIGHWAY DRIVING, AND NOW AT 58,000 IT FEELS AS IF THEY ARE GOING AGAIN. THEY WERE REPLACED WITH DODGE PARTS, AND CHRYSLER TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE NOT RECALLING IT. AFTER ALL THE NEWS I'VE SEEN ON DAKOTA/DURANGO BALL JOINT PROBLEMS, I FIGURED I'D FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOU GUYS, I'M JUST FED UP I GUESS.THANK YOU . *AK

THE MODULE CONTROLLING MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA'S HEADLIGHT'S, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, INTERIOT LIGHTS FAILED. SYMPTOMS ARE SHOCKINGLY CLOSE TO THOSE OF THE RECALL (I DO HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION). HEADLIGHTS FAILED, BRIGHTS FAILED, WIPERS FAILED. ONLY TURN SIGNALS HORN AND CAUTION LIGHTS REMAIN. DEALER REFUSES TO ADMIT IT IS RELATED TO RECALL. SYMPTOMS ARE THE SAME! WHAT DO I DO ABOUT THIS!?*AK

DUE TO THE WORN FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS, THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *NM

THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS CONTINUED TO WEAR PREMATURELY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMTION. *JB

REPORTED A POPPING SOUND ON THE RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP APPRO. ONE YEAR AGO, INFORMED NOTHING WAS WRONG. UPON A PERSONAL INSPECTION DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE I NOTED THAT THE RIGHT UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT HAD PREMATURELY FAILED. *AK(CURRENT VECHICLE MILEAGE 16,000) PURCHASED REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARM AND INSTALLED PER MANUFACTUERS INSTRUCTIONS. I HAVE SAVED THE OLD PART. MY CONCERN IN THIS MATTER IS, IF THESE SAME PARTS ARE USED ON BOTH DODGE DAKOTAS AND DODGE DURANGOS AND THIS PART IS PRONE TO PREMATURE FAILURE, WHAT WILL BE THE END RESULT?

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE, BOTH SIDES. REPLACEMENT ESTIMATED AT $1100.00.*AK

UPPER BALL JOINTS OF A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4 NEEDING REPLACED WITH ONLY 15,153 MILES ON TRUCK. *NM

UPPER CONTROL ARM. *NM

MY HUSBAND'S TRUCK WAS STRUCK ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE. ALMOST @ THE BUMPER. POLICE REPORT STATED DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE "NEGLIGIBLE". MY HUSBAND WAS KILLED. HE WAS PARTIALLY EJECTED. THE TRUCK ROLLED OVER ON HIM. GREAT ROAD/WEATHER CONDITIONS. LIGHT TRAFFIC-JUST THE 2 VEHICLES. 45 MPH SPEED LIMIT. HIS BACK TIRES WERE BOTH RIPPED FROM THE VEHICLE. ALL HE EVER HIT WAS A CURB. HE WAS KILLED INSTANTLY. *NM

FRONT BRAKE DISC WERE CAST IN LAYERS, AND THEY CAME APART. MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED THAT CONSUMER CALL THIS OFFICE.*AK

NOISE IN FRONT END PICKUP MOVES SIDE TO SIDE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING HOME AFTER HAVING TRANSMISSION REBUILT MY BRAKES STARTED TO SOUND AS IF THERE WAS DIRT ON THE PADS. AS THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 19000 MILES AT THE TIME THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVED. THE NOISE OVER THE NEXT WEEK GOT LOUDER AND THE TRUCK HARDER TO STOP SAFTLY. CONTACTED DEALER BROUGHT IN AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ROTORS WERE SCARED AND THE PADS WERE GONE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE ROTOR WAS PITTED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. DEALER REFUSES TO FIX EXCEPT AS A MAINTENCE ISSUE. THEY DID HOWEVER REPLACE UPPER BALL JOINTS . I BELIEVE THE LOOSE FRONT END CAUSED THE VIBRATION IN WHEELS WHICH LED TO BRAKE FAILURE. I HAVE READ MANY COMPAINTS OF BRAKES ON THE WEB. DODGE NEEDS TO RECAL THIS VEICLE -- SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT.*AK

WORN BALL JOINTS AND RELATED SUSPENSION NOISE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH HEARD NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT. HAD NO DIFFICULTY WITH THE DRIVING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT SIDE LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DID NOT NEED TO REPLACE BALL JOINTS ON THE LEFT. HAD PREVIOUSLY FILED COMPLAINT #12187283. *AK *NM

2002 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK EXHIBITS PREMATURE WEAR ON UPPER BALL JOINTS RESULTING IN LOUD POPPING NOISE DURING TURNS AND FRONT IN RATTLE ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT.*AK

PASSANGER SIDE FLOOR FLOODS WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. EVERYDAY I NEED TO SUCK OUT THE WATER WITH A VACCUME. INSIDE OF TRUCK SMELLS AS A RESULT OF THE PROBLEM. *JB

A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. DEALER STATED THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WILL BW AVAILABLE. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY THE BRAKES FAILED TO RELEASE FULLY AFTER BEING DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE PEDAL CAME BACK UP WHEN RELEASED, BUT THE BRAKES DRAGGED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE FRONT ROTORS OVERHEATED. THE DEALERSHIP TURNED THE FRONT ROTORS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED A MONTH LATER. THIS TIME THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS OVERHEATED. *AK *SC *JB

UPON TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, I WOULD HEAR "POPPING" COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. BROUGHT IT IN FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS BAD BALL JOINTS. REPLACED BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS (LEFT AND RIGHT). THE CONDITION OF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS INDICATED THAT THEY WERE READY TO POP OUT OF THE SOCKET.

HELLO, I HAVE A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA SXT. I NOTICED WATER ON THE PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD OF THE VEHICLE. I CLEANED THE WATER AND ASSUMED I HAD LEFT THE WINDOW DOWN AT SOME POINT AND RAIN GOT INTO THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. TODAY I NOTICED THE PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD WAS SOAKED WITH WATER. I THOUGHT THAT MY HEATER CORE WAS BUSTED BUT THE FLUID WASN'T ANTIFREEZE IT WAS WATER. I PULLED THE CARPET BACK AND TO MY DISMAY THERE WAS 2 GALLONS OF WATER ON THE FLOOR BOARD UNDER THE CARPET. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 41000 MILES AND I THOUGHT THIS TO BE STRANGE AT SUCH AN EARLY TIME OF THE VEHICLE. I DECIDED TO LOOK ON THE INTERNET AND TYPED THE WORDS " DODGE DAKOTA PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD WET" AT MY YAHOO SEARCH ENGINE. I WAS AMAZED WHEN AT LEAST 50 MESSAGE BOARDS WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ASKING THE SAME QUESTION AND PEOPLE REPLYING TO THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE A LOT OF UPSET DODGE DAKOTA OWNERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT APPEARS IN THE MESSAGE BOARDS THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS DEFECT WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSATION VENT TUBE CAUSING THIS PROBLEM IN MANY DAKOTAS. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP YET BUT INTEND TO. I BELIEVE THERE TO ALSO BE A HEALTH CONCERN ASSOCIATED WITH THIS APPARENT DEFECT. I HAVE NOTICED AN ODOR IN THE VEHICLE IN THE PAST AND IT WAS APPARENT WHEN I PULLED THE CARPET UP TODAY WHAT IT IS. THERE IS MILDEW AND MOLD ALL OVER THE FLOORBOARD OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THIS CONDITION/WATER DEFECT. PLEASE GIVE THIS MATTER THE ATTENTION IT DESERVE

CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED UP, AND THE HEADLIGHTS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE, WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO THE HOUSE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA A RECALL 04V21600 ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TWO MONTHS AGO. TWO MONTHS LATER, DEALERSHIP STILL DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO CONDUCT THE RECALL. THIS DEALERSHIP IS THE ONLY ONE IN TOWN. THE NEXT DEALERSHIP IS ABOUT 350 MILES AWAY. *AK

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT ABS LOCKED UP WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON WET ROAD SURFACE. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

FELT PULSING IN FRONT BRAKES DUE TO ROTOR OVERHEATING AND WARPING. BRAKE FAILURE, NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES.*AK

PREMATURE FAILURE ON LEFT UPPER BALL JOINT FOR 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4, 36,990 MILES. POPPING SOUNDS COMING FROM FRONT LEFT, SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR EVALUATION. I WAS CHARGED FOR THE BALL JOINT CHECK AND DEDUCTABLE ON EXTENDED WARRANTY.*AK

SHAKING IN FRONT END WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, ALSO RATTLE IN FRONT END. DODGE DEALER FOUND FRONT BRAKE ROTORS TO BE SEVERELY RUSTED AND PITTED AND THAT BRAKE PAD CLIPS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED OFF FRONT PADS CAUSING RATTLE. ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED AND OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. DODGE REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS.*AK

I HAVE HAD CLUNKING AND SQUEAKING NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB SINCE ABOUT 18,000 MILES. I HAVE MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS. AFTER VIEWING THE INTERNET I HAVE REALIZED THAT THERE IS MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. I WILL SOON BE RETURING TO THE DEALER WITH THE INFO TO TRY TO GET IT FIXED. *AK

I HAVE A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB--WITH 49000 ON IT AND IT NEEDS LOWER BALL JOINTS! IS THERE ANY TYPE OF RECALL OR COURSE OF ACTION I CAN TAKE ? THESE BALL-JOINTS SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 49000. *JB

TRAVELING APPROX 25 MPH ON WET ROADS. APPLIED BRAKES NOTHING HAPPENED. TRUCK DIDN'T SLOW DOWN WITH BRAKE TO FLOOR. COLLISION OCCURRED (REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE) AND FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WEARING SEAT BELT. *JB

BROUGHT 2002 DAKOTA TO DEALER CAUSE OF POPPING NOISES COMING FROM FRONT END ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING. DEALER SAID NO PROBLEM FOUND. TRUCK STILL MAKES NOISES. HEARD THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH BALL JOINTS. *JB

SAW ON A MESSAGE BOARD THAT THERE IS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION RE: DODGE DAKOTA BALL JOINTS. I HAVE A 2002 DAKOTA. AT AROUND 10,000 MILES, I STARTED HEARING A NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. IT WAS VERY INTERMITTENT, SO I DIDN'T PAY ANY ATTENTION. BUT IT GOT MORE AND MORE FREQUENT UNTIL AROUND 20,000 MILES, WHEN I FINALLY HAD IT FIXED. THE DEALER (ANDERSON DODGE IN ROCKFORD, IL) REPLACED BOTH OF THE FRONT BALL JOINTS. NOW, AT 45,000 MILES, IT'S STARTING TO MAKE SOME OF THE SAME SOUNDS - POSSIBLY FAILING AGAIN. *AK

THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN VEHICLE WENT OVER A PUMP IN THE ROAD THERE WAS A CLUCKING OR KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. *AK

AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AND ABOUT 15,000 MILES I TOOK MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA SLT QUAD CAB 4.7L V8 4X2 IN TO THE DEALER FOR A "CLUNKING" NOISE IN THE STEERING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN AND REPLACED THE PARTS UNDER WARRANTY. ON 4 JULY 2004, AFTER HAVING THE TRUCK FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS AND 32,000 MILES, WHILE GOING OVER A SPEED BUMP AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES PER HOUR, A LOUND CRASH WAS HEARD FOLLOWED BY A GRIDING NOISE. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE JUST SNAPPED AND THE STEERING ARM SLAMMED IN TO THE RIM OF THE WHEEL SCRAPING THE EDGE OF IT BARELY MISSING THE TIRE BY 1-1.5 INCHES. THE VEHICLE IS NOW HAVING THAT SAME "CLUNKING" NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND IT CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING.*AK

BRAKE ROTORS WARP EARLY DUE TO NORMAL WEAR. ITH 19,000 MILES I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ROTORS BEFORE REPLACING MY FIRST SET OF PADS.THER PEOPLE REPORT THE ME:HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/REVIEW_30410.HTML HTTP://WWW.DODGEDAKOTAS.COM/BOARDS/V6/924.HTML. *AK

I HAD A BRAKE AND ROTOR JOB DONE AT 36000 MILES BY A LOCAL MECHANIC AND FOUND THAT MY RACK AND PINION IS LEAKING AT THE BOOT AND THERE IS TO MUCH PLAY FROM TIE RODS. DEALER SHIP WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP EXEPT CHARGE ME $3750 TO FIX IT. I DO NOT NO HOW LONG THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THERE. ANOUTHER DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS A MESSY OIL CHANGE YA RIGHT!*AK

VEHICLE STALLED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO REPEAT THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER REPLACED THE VEHICLE CHIP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, BUT IT CONTINUED TO STALL. *AK

2002 DODGE DAKOTA 52000 MILES FIRST THE SEAT BELT LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING, THEN ALL THE GUAGES ON THE DASH GO DEAD FOR ABOUT THREE SECONDS. ODOMETER ALSO WILL NOT RECORD ANY MILEAGE ALSO. THEN THE GAUGES RESET NORMAL. THIS HAPPENS ONLY WHEN THE INSIDE GETS HOT FROM THE SUN. TURNING THE AIR ON AND COOLING THE INSIDE HELPS TO STOP OR SLOW DOWN THE PULSING OF THE GUAGES FROM DEAD TO NORMAL. REPLACED CENTRAL TIMING UNIT COMPUTER . DID NOTHING, OLD UNIT PUT BACK IN .NEXT STEP IS TO REPLACE DASH CLUSTER.*AK

MY ROTORS WERE TRASHED AT 20,000 MILES ON THE 2002 DODGE DAKATO. I DO BASIC DRIVING AND FOUND OUT FROM A FORUM WEBSITE ON DAKATOS THAT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. A MECHANIC FROM THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT HE FIXES DOUBLE THE ROTORS ON DAKATOS THAT HE DOES ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE.*AK

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS. *AK

I HAD LOSS OF CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE THIS MORNING WHICH I BELIEVE IS A DIRECT RESULT OF MY STEERING/BALL JOINT / RACK AND PINION FAILURE. IT'S AT THE DEALER NOW BEING LOOKED OVER THOROUGHLY. THE DEALER JUST REPLACED THE INTERMITTENT STEERING SHAFT LAST WEEK.*AK

BRAKE CALIPER GOT STUCK OPEN WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. NO ONE WAS INJURED. ALSO THERE WAS NO WARNING AND WE HAVE DONE REGULAR MAINTENANCE AS SUGGESTED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. *AK

2002 DODGE DAKOTA FRONT END FAILURE.*MR WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS MANEUVERING A CURVE THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE HIT A GUARD RAIL. THE TRUCK SUSTAINED SOME FRONT BUMPER DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT. THE CONSUMER STILL HEARS A POPPING NOISE WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS. THE CONSUMER PLANS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT SINCE DODGE IS HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR SUSPENSION THAT THE DEALER NEEDS TO LOOK AT THE BALL JOINT, TIE RODS, RACK AND PINION. *NM

WARPED DISC ROTORS ON 2002 DAKOTA WITH 16000 MILES. DODGE REFUSES TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY. IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE EXCESSIVE EARLY ROTOR FAILURES ON DAKOTA'S AS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA COMPLAINTS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND MAY BE RELATED TO DEFECTIVE CALIPERS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *LA

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ( ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE P265/70R16, DOT# 25.4 0FFSET) *JB

AT AROUND 15000 MILES I NOTICED THE BRAKES STARTING TO PULSE OR DRAG DURING NORMAL STOPPING. AT 18000 MILES I WAS TOLD BY MIDAS THAT ROTOR FAILURE IN THIS VEHICLE WAS A BIG PROBLEM, AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THEM MANY TIMES DURING THE LIFE OF MY TRUCK. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN BRAKE WERE DEPRESSED PEDAL PULSATED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND TECHNICIAN TURNED THE ROTORS AT 34, 000 MILES. *AK VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BALL JOINT IN THE PAST, WHICH CONCERNED THE CONSUMER. *LA

A POWER PORT INSIDE OF A CENTER CONSOLE HAD A DEVICE PLUGGED INTO IT AND THE VEHICLE STARTED ON FIRE. THE START OF THE FIRE WAS TRACED TO THE PLUG IN INSIDE OF THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE FUSIBLE LINK/FUSE NEVER BLEW AND SO THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED $4000 WORTH OF DAMAGE BEFORE THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT. *LA

UPDATE TO COMPLAINT 10028872. AFTER HAVING THE ROTORS TURNED (RECUT TO SAFE SPECIFICATIONS) AT 24,000 THE SAME SEVERE VIBRATIONS AND SHAKING CAME BACK AT 27,000. EVEN LIGHT BRAKING PRESSURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE TO THE LEFT AND ACROSS LANE MARKERS. I NOTICED THAT WHEN THE TRUCK WAS DRIVEN AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT ALL BRAKING FUNCTIONS WERE NORMAL. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MILES THE SHAKING AND PULLING TO THE SIDE CAME BACK WITHOUT WARNING. I HAD THE ROTORS, CALIPERS, AND PADS ALL REPLACED WITH HIGH PERFORMANCE PARTS (SLOTTED & CROSS DRILLED ROTORS, CERAMIC PADS). NOW AT 37,000 WITH NO FURTHER ISSUES (AS OF THIS WRITING) ON THE BRAKES. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLE RESULTING FROM THIS BRAKE SYSTEM DEFECT.*AK

ON OUR WAY TO THE HOSPITAL (AFTER DARK) WHEN THE OIL PRESSURE WENT TO '0' AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TRUCK STARTED SLOWING DOWN (AS IF DOWNSHIFTED) AND SMOKING. ABOUT THE TIME WE GOT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD IT BACKFIRED AND A FLASH CAME FROM THE BACK OF THE TRUCK AND IT DIED. I HAVE A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WE HAD TO CALL 911 AND GET A DEPUTY TO PICK US UP AND TAKE US TO THE HOSPITAL. *LA