2003 Dodge Dakota complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. THE HEADLIGHTS AND AUTOMATIC LOCKS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WERE INOPERABLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. TWO MONTHS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC THEN STATED THAT THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MODULE WAS REPAIRED ON THE VEHICLE. SINCE THE REPAIR NO OTHER FAILURES OCCURRED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER REGARDING RECALL #02V322000. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 60,000.*AK UPDATE 05/10/07*TR

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I OWN A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB SLT. AND I HAVE RUN INTO A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRUCK THAT PEOPLE I KNOW SAY THEY HAD VERY SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME MAKE OF VEHICLE. TO START WITH MY TRUCK ONLY HAS ABOUT 62,184 MILES ON IT, FOR A 2003 MODEL TRUCK, THAT IS CONSIDERED LOW MILEAGE. THE PROBLEMS I HAVE RUN INTO IS AS FOLLOWS: BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUB BEARING SETS HAVE PREMATURELY FAILED, IN PARTICULAR, THE RIGHT FRONT HUB TRIED TO LOCK UP ON ME AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE TRUCK, I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THAT HUB BUT STILL NEED TO REPLACE THE LEFT FRONT BEFORE IT LOCKS UP:SECOND IS THAT THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION SYSTEM HAS NO PROVISIONS FOR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, I.E. NO GREASE ZIRCS FOR THE BALL JOINTS, TIE RODS,UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS, WHEEL BEARINGS, ETC...CAUSING RAPID WEAR AND FAILURE:THIRD BIG ISSUE, I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED ALL FOUR BRAKE ROTORS DUE TO WARPAGE. THE BRAKE CALIPERS WERE BUILT WITH SOME TYPE OF COMPOSITE PLASTIC PISTONS THAT DISTORT DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD UP IN THE BRAKES. WHICH IN TURN CAUSES UNEVEN PAD CONTACT, THAT THEN CAUSES EXCESSIVE HEAT, ACCELERATED PAD WEAR, BRAKE FADE, ROTOR WARPAGE, AND AN AWFUL "SQUEAL" WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY BRAND NEW BRAKE PADS ARE ACTUALLY CRACKED NOW BECAUSE OF A COMBINATION OF THE CALIPERS AND THE HUBS GOING BAD: FOURTH ISSUE IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION CAUSES THE ENGINE TO OVER "REV" IN THE HIGHWAY PASSING GEAR ESPECIALLY WITH THE O

2003 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 PICKUP 1D7H32N03S124289 LOUD CLUNKING NOISES, FRONT END, STEERING LOOSESNESS,SKITTISHNESS, SEVERE VIBRATION AND POOR HANDLING FELT IN FRONT END SECTION OF VEHICLE. (PURCHASED FROM MITCHELL SIMSBURY,CT )BROUGHT TO LOCAL DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED & REPLACED (2)BAD /DEFECTIVE UPPER BALL JOINTS 17011019 BUT CHARGED FOR PARTS/SERVICE. APPROX MILEAGE:48,318 VERY PREMATURE FOR GOOD PRODUCT DESIGN & RELIABILITY. DANGEROUS SAFETY RELATED DEFECTS. *NM

2003 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 4.7 AUTOMATIC: STEERING/HANDLING LOOSENESS, INSTABILITY, SKITTISHNESS ON ROADWAYS WORSE AT HIGHER SPEEDS, VERY PRONOUNCED OVER BUMPS. INCONSISTENCIES IN ROADWAYS. VEHICLE "WALKS" SIDEWAYS WHEN GOING ACROSS ROAD DISCONTINUITIES. DEALER SERVICE RETURN FOR DIAGNOSIS: MAJOR SAFETY COMPONENT INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT DEFECTIVE/WORN. *NM

POPPING NOISE IN FRONT END ENTERING DRIVEWAY OR OVER SPEED BUMPS HAD DEALER INSPECT AND PERFORM TSB. ON UPPER BALL JOINTS PER LETTER FROM CHRYSLER CORP. THEY DID REPAIR AND TOLD ME THE HUB BEARINGS WERE ALSO BAD NOT COVERED, 552.00 I REPLACED THEM MYSELF I CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM THE HUBS . THE NOISE IS STILL THERE ! *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A LOSS OF ALL OIL PRESSURE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE OIL PUMP FAILED, AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.

I WAS DRIVING ALONG WHEN MY TRUCK LOST POWER FOR NO APPARENT REASON, IT JUST STALLED OUT. I DID GET TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND TURN IT OFF, THEN STARTED IT UP AGAIN. I CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD WHEN IT DID IT AGAIN. I WAS 80 MILES FROM HOME AND 30 MILES FROM THE NEAREST TOWN IN A TRUCK THAT ONLY HAD 40K MILES OF IT AND IT LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE BECAUSE OF A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. THIS MUST BE A PROBLEM SINCE THERE WAS A RECALL ON REPLACED FUEL PUMPS IN THIS YEAR OF VEHICLE. A VEHICLE BETWEEN 03' AND 06 SHOULD ONLY HAVE ABOUT 12K TO 36K SO WHY ARE THE PARTS NOT STAYING TOGETHER? IT WAS A FUEL PUMP, IN THE GAS TANK WHICH YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO UNLESS ITS AT HOME OR IN A SHOP, WHY ARE THEY BUILDING VEHICLES WITH FAULTY PARTS THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN CHANGE. I HAD TO PAY $763.00 TO GET IT FIXED, AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED 125 MILES FROM WHERE I LIVED, SO I WAS WITH OUT A VEHICLE AND THEN HAD TO GET A RIDE OVER TO GET IT A WEEK LATER. *NM

GAS CAPS ARE DEFECTIVE ON DODGE DAKOTA'S 2003 SERIES...THIS CAUSES COMPUTER TO FIRE AN ERROR THAT THEIR IS A LEAK IN THE POLLUTION SYSTEM..TAKE TO DEALERS AND THEY CHARGE 90 DOLLARS TO RESET AND THEN TELL YOU GAS CAP IS ALL RIGHT AND IF IT DOES IT AGAIN BRING IT BACK...AGAIN AT A 90 DOLLAR CHARGE. ON THE INTERNET I WAS ABLE TO DISCOVER THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVING EXACTLY THE SAME BAD GAS CAPS......THEN I WROTE THE MANUFACTURER AND BACK AND FORTH ON 3 REPLIES..EACH TIME THEY SIMPLY TELL ME GO TO A DEALER ...APPARENTLY THEY DO NOT EVEN PROPERLY READ E MAILS THEY RECEIVE...THESE ARE AVAILABLE IF NEEDED! THE POLLUTION CONTROL SYSTEM IS MAJOR ON THE NEWER VEHICLES, AND CERTAINLY A KNOWN CONTINUOUS FAILURE OF FAULTY GAS CAPS EFFECTS THE ENTIRE SYSTEM AND IS A HIGH COST ITEM FOR THE CONSUMER TO TRY WORKING OVER AND OVER WITH THE DEALERS..WHEN THE MANUFACTURE IS OR MUST BE AWARE OF THE DEFECTIVE GAS CAP FAILURES. *JB

BALL JOINT FAILURE ON DODGE DAKOTA 4X4. RECALL ON OTHER VINS NOT MINE. FAILURE AT 30000 MILES. THE DEALER SAID 1200 DOLLARS AND THEY WOULD PUT ON THE NEW MODIFIED ONES. WHY AM I PAYING FOR A DODGE DEFECT. *NM

ON SEPTEMBER 8 2006 MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS I WAS DRIVING HOME. WHILE CLIMBING A HILL THE ENGINE STARTED TO MISS FIRE AND THE TRUCK WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH. WHEN I CRESTED THE HILL THE VEHICLE STALLED AND I LOST POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. THERE WAS NO TRAFFICE SO I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP THE VEHICLE SAFELY. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SEEN THAT THE VACUUM LINE WAS ROTTED IN HALF. I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT RUN. I SPLICED THE LINE AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME. I WAS THEN LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE VACUUM BOOSTER FOR THE BRAKES HAS RUST ON IT. I CALLED THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CARE LINE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPING ON A 2003. THEY ASKED ME THE MILAGE AND I TOLD THEM IT HAD 45000 MILES ON IT. I WAS THEN INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A CHRYSLER DEALER AND HAVE IT CHECKED SO THEY COULD SEE IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO RICHLAND COUNTY CHRYSLER IN RICHLAND CENTER WI. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT AS SEE IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THEY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND TOLD ME THAT YES THE VACUUM LINES ARE ROTTED AND THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER IS RUSTING. THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND CHARGED ME $80.00 TO LOOK AT IT. I HAVE THE OLD VACUUM LINES THAT ARE ROTTED AND I ALSO HAVE THE RUSTED VACUUM BOOSTER.

OIL GAUGE DROPPED TO 0 WHILE DRIVING. STOPPED TO CHECK THE OIL AND IT WAS FINE. DROVE ABOUT 3 MILES AND THE TRUCK DIED. EVERY THING LOCKED UP AND UNABLE TO START AGAIN. TOWED IT TO THE MECHANICS AND HE SAID THAT WE HAD SLUDGE. WE CHANGED THE OIL AS RECOMMENDED. THE WARRANTY SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER BUYING A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE IT WAS OUR FAULT. I HAVE THE RECEIPTS TO PROVE THAT WE DID THE OIL CHANGES. THEY HAD POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. WHAT'S THE SENSE OF GETTING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IF IT WON'T HELP. OUR TRUCK HAS 50,000 MILES. *JB

WENT TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THERE WAS NO HOLDING OF THE BRAKE. TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR AND IT WAS FOUND THAT ON BOTH WHEELS THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LININGS HAD FALLEN OFF THE BACKING PLATES. REPLACED THE BRAKE LININGS IN BOTH WHEELS. *JB

OIL PRESSURE DROPPED WITHIN SECONDS, WITHIN 8 MINUTES ENGINE DIED, COULDN'T START UP AGAIN. OIL LEVEL WAS FINE, DID THE OIL CHANGES PRIOR TO THIS WHEN IT WAS RECOMMENDED. CHRYSLER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THIS. OIL SLUDGE. OTHERS HAVE GONE THROUGH THE SAME THING. *JB

ON JUNE 5, 2006 THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN OUR 2003 DODGE DAKOTA (APPROX. 25,500 MILES). WE TOOK IT TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED A HOSE FOR THE FUEL LINE AT A COST OF APPROX. $250. ON JUNE 7, 2006 THE ENGINE LIGHT AGAIN CAME ON AND DODGE SAID AN O2 SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (AT A COST TO US OF APPROX. $300). WITH IN THE NEXT 3 WEEKS OUR DODGE WAS IN THE SHOP 2 MORE TIMES (FOR A TOTAL OF 4 ITEMS IN A MONTH) DUE TO THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. THE LAST TIME THEY TOLD US THE O2 SENSOR THAT WAS REPLACED WAS FAULTY AND WAS THE PROBLEM. THIS CONCERNS ME AS THE CAR WAS 5 WEEKS OVER THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY SO NOTHING WAS COVERED AND THE SERVICE WE RECEIVED AT DODGE WAS THE WORST I HAVE EVER RECEIVED. *NM

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB

ON OCTOBER 20, 2005 I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD-CAB 4WD PICKUP BACK FROM VISITING A FRIEND WHEN I SUSTAINED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TRANSFER CASE. THIS RESULTED IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DODGE DEALER AND REPAIRED. DEALER CLAIMED CASE WAS STRUCK BY SOMETHING (IMPLYING ABUSE) WHICH IS UNSUPPORTED BY ANY PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. THE DEALER'S POSITION PREVENTED REPAIRS BEING MADE UNDER WARRANTY. INVESTIGATION BY AN INDEPENDENT SHOP IDENTIFIED THE SOURCE OF THE DAMAGE TO BE THE COUPLING BETWEEN THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT AND THE TRANSFER CASE. DAIMLERCHRYSLER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACTUAL CAUSE AND ADHERES TO THE DEALER'S (ERRONEOUS) POSITION. *NM

EVENING RAIN CONDITIONS HEADLIGHT FAILURE INTERIOR LIGHTS STUCK ON. (CAUSED VISION IMPAIRMENT) BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS NOT FUNCTIONING. *NM

I WAS CAUGHT IN AN ICE STORM IN MY 2003, DODGE DAKOTA, 4X4 QUAD CAB. THE TRUCK WENT INTO A SLIGHT SPIN AND BUMPED A SMALL CURB THEN SLID UP OVER THE CURB. I WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT APPROX. 5 MPH WHEN I BUMPED THE CURB. THE AXLE SHEARED OFF AND BROKE THE HUB, ROTOR, WHEEL, TIRE, AND BENT THE AXLE HOUSING. THE TRUCK WAS RENDERED UNDRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. I CALLED DAIMLERCHRYSLER AND ASKED FOR THE PARTS TO BE TESTED FOR DEFECTIVENESS. I HAD SEEN SEVERAL WEB SITES DEVOTED TO AXLES PUT INTO DODGE TRUCKS THAT WERE KNOWN TO DAIMLERCHRYSLER TO BE DEFECTIVE DUE TO POOR HEAT TREATING. I WAS TREATED VERY RUDELY AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT ADDRESSED. SINCE THE ACCIDENT, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL MECHANICS AND MACHINISTS LOOK AT THIS AXLE AND ALL SAY THAT IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BROKEN UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES IT WAS SUBJECTED TO. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, FEARING THAT THE REST OF THE AXLES ARE ALSO DEFECTIVE. I AM GETTING NO SATISFACTION IN SOLVING THIS PROBLEM AND MY OWN INSURANCE HAD TO PAY THE $3,000. DAMAGE CAUSED BY A 5 MPH BUMP. *NM

EXPERIENCED CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT SUSPENSION. BALL JOINT SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED CAUSING FRONT WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE OPERATING. *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS NOISE COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE BUSHINGS AND THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN. THERE IS A RECALL WITH THE NHTSA # 04V596000. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE I NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID 04V596000 CONCERNING THE UPPER BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE.*AK

DT: CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BRAKES MAKING NOISES. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP SIX OR SEVEN TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE MADE NOISES WHEN BRAKING AT ANY SPEED. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INSPECTOR TO INVESTIGATE THIS VEHICLE. NO PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN FOUND WITH THE BRAKES. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THIS TIME. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY.*AK

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED 2003 DODGE DAKOTA'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A CRASH. THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING AT 30 MPH. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SOME CUTS, BRUISES AND PULLED MUSCLES FROM THE SEAT BELT AND HITTING THE DASH. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THIS HAPPENED ON AUGUST 18, 2005. THE LOCATION THE CONSUMER SAYS, WAS ON THE FRONT RIGHT BUMPER. THE CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW IF ANY OF THE AIR BAG SENSORS WERE HIT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT HE AIR BAG SENSORS WERE HIT. *NM

MY 18 MONTH OLD SON AND I WERE IN A SINGLE CAR ROLLOVER, ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2005. I WAS DRIVING A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA WHEN MY TRUCK STARTED TO MAKE A NOISE, THEN WE WERE SENT INTO A ROLLOVER. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS GONE WHEN WE STOPPED. I WAS SENT INFORMATION FROM MY UNCLE AFTER I SENT HIM PICTURES OF THE ACCIDENT AND HE SENT ME INFORMATION ON THE POSSIBLE RECALL. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE AND WHAT DO I DO NOW. *NM

MY HUSBAND TOOK HIS 2003 DODGE DAKOTA TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL WORK TO BE DONE. A FRONT BALL JOINT HAD TO BE REPLACED (TO KEEP THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK FROM FALLING APART WHILE DRIVING AND KILLING EVERYONE.) WHEN HE TOOK IT IN IT DROVE FINE. AFTER THE WORK WAS DONE, IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT. I CALLED ANOTHER DODGE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO ASK THEM ABOUT PROCEDURE, THEY SAID THAT AN ALIGNMENT IS STANDARD PROCEDURE WHEN COMPLETING THAT TYPE OF WORK, BUT THAT THE CAR OWNER IS SCREWED WHEN IT COMES TO RECALL WORK. I THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOLD ME BASICALLY THE SAME THING. THAT'S NOT RIGHT!! I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FORK OVER MONEY TO HAVE FIXED WHAT THEY SCREWED UP! PLEASE FIX THIS. *JB

WATER SATURATING FLOOR ON PASSENGER SIDE. CARPET SMELLS MOLDY DUE TO RECURRING PROBLEM. TAKEN TO DEALER 2 TIMES PREVIOUS AND TRUCK AT DEALER NOW FOR THE 3RD TIME TO ATTEMPT A POSSIBLE REPAIR. SEALED DRAIN HOLE IN FIREWALL WHERE EVAPORATOR HOUSING DRAIN HOSE GOES THROUGH TO OUTSIDE OF BODY AND CHECKED A/C LINES FOR LEAKS. TRUCK LEAKS FROM INSIDE THE FIREWALL, DEALER IS NOT SURE WHERE. *NM

DT: 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S 35190558 CONCERNING UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILURE. CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER URGED THE CONSUMER TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID TO CALL THE DEALER BACK. THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED, WAS GETTING THE RUN AROUND FROM BOTH PLACES. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE MUST BE A CERTIFIED MECHANIC TO HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE. THE ONLY CERTIFIED MECHANIC WAS IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA . THERE WERE NO ROADS TO THE VILLAGE WHERE CONSUMER LIVED, COULD ONLY GET THERE BY AIRPLANE. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A RECALL ON 2003 DODGE DAKOTA CONCERNING THE UPPER BALL JOINT. THE CONTACT FEELS THE PROBLEM IS GOING TO CONTINUE BECAUSE WATER RUNS DOWN BETWEEN WHERE THE DOOR OPENS LEADING TO THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED TWO SERVICE DEALERS . THE CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

EMAIL FM MR. ROBIN SUGGS (NC) RE AN OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM WITH HER 2003 DODGE DAKOTA PICK UP TRUCK.*MR THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE CONSUMES ABOUT 2 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED IT WAS NORMAL. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED, HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WAS A COSMETIC DEFECT AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

2003 DODGE DAKOTA UPPER LEFT BALL JOINT HAD TO BE REPLACED.*MR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT THE DEALER ALSO REPLACE THE UPPER RIGHT BALL JOINT BUT THEY REFUSED STATING THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULDN'T COVER THE REPLACEMENT UNTIL IT FAILED. *NM

TRUCK WAS SITTING IN DRIVEWAY AND CAUGHT FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT FIREWALL AND WINDSHIELD.IT HADNOT BEEN DRIVEN IN ABOUT 36 HOURS.

CONSUMER SEEKING HELP FOR 2003 DODGE DAKOTA AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING REPAIRS. *MR THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT. *SC THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT SINCE THE PROBLEM WAS SAFTEY RELATED HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REAPIRS. *JB

1) AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES MY FRONT DRIVERS SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT STARTED MAKING AN EXTREMELY LOUD CRUNCHING NOISE AS IF METAL WERE GRINDING WITH METAL. 2) I SUBSEQUENTLY TOOK MY TRUCK TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO NOTIFIED ME THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS LOOSE AND THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE PREVIOUS RECALL WHICH COVERED THE UPPER BALL JOINT ONLY. 3) THE PARTS AND LABOR TO REPLACE THIS PART COST IN EXCESS OF $270.00 NOT INCLUDING THE $40 INSPECTION FEE

2003 DODGE DAKOTA EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BALL JOINTS AS WELL AS THE WELDS OF THE TRUCK BED AT THE UPPER PART NEAR THE REAR WINDOW.*MR A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE UPPER BALL JOINTS (04V596000) BUT THE DEALER WANTED THE CONSUMER TO PAY TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE PLASTIC RIVETS ON BOTH SIDE PANELS THAT ATTACH TO THE REAR PANEL TRUCK BED. THE REAR PANEL TRUCK BED IS SO WEAK THAT ABOUT FIVE POUNDS OF PRESSURE BENT THE PANEL. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE PLASTIC BED LINER IS STRONGER THAN THE REAR TRUCK BED PANEL *NM

WITH REGARDS TO THE RECAL # 04V596000 ON THE 4X4 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK. I AM HAVING THE SAME NOISES AND PROBLEMS ON THE 2X4 TRUCK WILL THIS RECALL BE EXSPENDED TO 2X4?

CONSUMER STATES: LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT RIGHT FRONT SEPARTED AND WHEEL AND CAME OFF VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION

THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT SEPARATED CAUSING MY 2003 DODGE DAKOTA TO RUN OFF THE ROAD AND SWERVE TO THE RIGHT. THE TRUCK HIT A PARKED CAR AND BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTALED. THERE WAS NO NOISE OR INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. MILEAGE WAS 31,600.*AK

I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND THEN LEFT IT TO CLEAR SNOW FROM ITS EXTERIOR. THE VEHICLE LOCKED ME OUT. I WAS AT HOME AND GOT THE SPARE KEY TO LET MYSELF IN. WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE REPEATEDLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED THE DOORS BY ITSELF. THIS HAS CONTINUED, AND THE VEHICLE ALSO NOW LOCKS AND UNLOCKS EVEN WHEN THE KEY IS NOT IN THE IGNITION.*AK

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO CRASH INTO A GUARD RAIL AND HIT DEBRIS ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. LIGHT STAYED ON WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED. EALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

REAR BRAKES HOWL IN REVERSE. DEALER STATED NEEDS BREAK IN. AT 41.000 MILES, STILL HOWLS. RECALL ON UPPER BALL JOINTS RECEIVED IN FEBRUARY. AS OF 03-29-05, DEALER STATES THERE IS A 2 MONTH BACKORDER ON PARTS FOR REPAIR.

2003 DODGE 1500 QUAD CAB, CONSUMER CONCERN ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF ACCIDENT YOU MUST HAVE FOR THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY PROPERLY. *BF THE CONSUMER DID NOT STATED IF HE HAD AN ACCIDENT. *JB

BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ABS LIGHT PARKING BRAKE LIGHT' NO FUSE READ IN MILEAGE INDACATOR BOX FLASHING ALL AT THE SAME TIME. *AK

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 30 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING SOUND. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A TIE ROD NEEDED REPLACEMENT. CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, EVEN AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE. *AK *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REFUSED REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL. *JB

DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB PICKUP 2003, BRAKE FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. *BF THE CONSUMER HIT A PARKED VEHICLE ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE, THE PEDAL SIMPLY COLLAPSED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE DEALER CHECKED OUT THE BRAKES AND STATED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS, HOWEVER ON THE THIRD OCCASION THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MIDAS WHO TOLD THE CONSUMER THERE WAS INTERNAL FAILURE WITHIN THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND IT WAS A WARRANTY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE HANDLED BY THE DEALER. *JB

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V596000; DAIMLER CHRYSLER ISSUED A FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THE LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT FELL OFF.*AK

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V596000; DAIMLER CHRYSLER ISSUED AN UPPER BALL JOINT RECALL. THIS VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE IN ORDER TO REPAIR, WHICH IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE WHEELS CAN FALL OFF. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND SLID INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS FORCED OVER TWO LANES. THE CONSUMER STRUCK A CONCRETE DIVIDER. THE CONSUMER WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELT, BUT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES AND DID NOT NEEDED TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED. *JB

TRUCK SHIFTS OUT OF GEAR WHEN STOP AND IS LEFT RUNNING. 1)EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE: STOP TO GET SOME INFORMATION ON A NEIGHBORHOOD STORE, STOP THE TRUCK SHIFT THE TRUCK INTO PARK, OPEN THE DOOR GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK, CLOSE THE DOOR, AS I WAS WAKING TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE TUCK AND I WAS APPROXIMATELY 5? FEET AWAY FROM THE DOOR OF THE TRUCK STARTED TO MOVE IN REVERSE. I QUICKLY CHASE THE TRUCK BACK, OPEN THE DOOR JUMP INTO THE TRUCK (WHILE THE TRUCK WAS MOVING) APPLY THE BRAKES AND STOP THE TUCK. THE SHIFT INDICATOR IT SHOWED THAT HE TRUCK WAS IN PARK. 2) FAILURES AND CONSEQUENCES: IF THE TRUCK START TO MOVE WHILE YOU GETTING OUT OF THE TRUCK THE OPEN DOOR CAN PUSH YOU DOWN AND KILL YOU. IF SOME ONE IS BEHIND THE VEHICLE THE PERSON KILL OR THE OBJECT/PROPERTY DAMAGE. 3)WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT FAILURE: TRUCK WILL BE TAKING TO THE DODGE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR ANALYSIS AND CORRECT FAILURE. *NM

I OWN A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 HAS PROBLEM WITH BALL JOINTS. FRONT END ALIGNMENT PULLING TO THE RIGHT. CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR TIME AND LABOR. *BF THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER FOUND THAT THERE WAS AN EVAPORATOR LEAK WHICH WAS CAUSED BY AN AFTERMARKET FUEL CAP. *JB