2003 Dodge Dakota complaints

CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS, BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED. *AK

DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP TWICE BUT THE SAME PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. LOUD NOISE CAME FROM INSIDE FUEL TANK. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INDICATED THAT FUEL PUMP COULD CATCH ON FIRE AND MELT THE WIRES. *AK

I RECENTLY SAW A CBS NEWS STORY CONCERNING THE UPPER BALL JOINTS OF DODGE DAKOTAS WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. MY DAKOTA IS A 2002. I HAVE TAKEN IN INTO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALORSHIP REPEATEDLY BECAUSE I HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN MAKING A TURN, ESPECIALLY ON AN INCLINE. EVERY TIME I HAVE TAKEN IT IN, THEY ARE NEVER ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE EVEN TAKEN THE MECHANIC FOR A RIDE WITH ME AFTER THEY HAD IT ALL MORNING AND THE NOISE, SURE ENOUGH, CAN'T BE DUPLICATED WHILE HE IS IN THE TRUCK. BUT SURE ENOUGH, 3 OR 4 DAYS LATER THE NOISE COMES BACK. AND THE PORCESS REPEATS AGAIN. I TAKE IT, THEY CAN'T FIND IT, I TAKE THE MECHANIC AND THE NOISE IS GONE, 3 OR 4 DAYS LETTER - HELLO - ITS BACK! CAN YOU HELP ME? FYI: FOR THE INCIDENT DATE, I JUST PUT TODAY'S DATE. I TOOK THE TRUCK IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT ON 5/24/2002; 12/6/2002; & 9/3/2003 . *AK

ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TRANMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT FROM THIRD GEAR. DEALER CONFIRMED PROBLEM, ORDERED REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION MODULE. REPLACEMENT DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FROM DEALER FOUND BROKEN WIRE IN WIRING HARNESS LEADING TO TRANSMISSION.*AK

AIRBAG FAILURE ON 2003 DODGE DAKOTA SXT. FORCE WAS SUCH THAT FRAME OF TRUCK IS BENT AND WILL BE REPLACED BUT NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SIDE SHOULDER HARNESS ON SEAT BELT ALSO FAILED. A VISIT TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS.COM QUICKLY MADE ME AWARE THAT DAIMLER HAS THIS PROBLEM ON MANY OF ITS VEHICLES BUT SENDS THE SAME "FORM" LETTER TO EACH CONSUMER REPORTING THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PERFORM THE WIRING HARNESS RECALL 03 V 389 000 BECAUSE THE CONSUMER DIDN'T PURCHASE THE VEHICLE FROM THEM. *AK *SCC *JB

WATER LEAKING ON PASSENGER SIDE. DEALER ATTEMPTED REPAIR 4 TIMES. DEALER SAID FIRST TIME AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSATION LEAKED. FILLED UP WITH WATER AFTER RAIN, RUINED CARPET AND MUSTY SMELL.*AK

AT 6,000 MILES THE UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. WHEN RIDING OVER ANY SIZE BUMP IN THE ROAD THE FRONT END COLLAPSED. *AK THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN BRAKING, THE FLAPPER DOOR FOR THE FUEL FILLER NECK WAS MISSING AND OR FELL INSIDE THE TANK, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY, THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS WERE GROOVED, WORN UNEVEN AND PITTED. *SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE LEFT WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE TO HIT A TREE AND ROLLED OVER. THE DEALER BELIEVED THAT THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO FRONT END SUSPENSION FAILURE, HOWEVER THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. *AK *SCC

RH SIDE - UPPER BALL JOINT NEEDS REPLACEMENT AT 15,700 MILES. DEALER FOUND BALL JOINT TO BE "OUT OF SPEC" AFTER AN INSPECTION WAS REQUESTED DURING ROUTINE SERVICE. *LA

WHILE DRIVING A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE WIRE HARNESS. DEALERSHIP/ECHANIC TRIED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES BEFORE, BUT HAD NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM.*AK

MY BALL JOINTS HAVE WORN OUT AT ABOUT 55,000 MILES. IT IS NOT COVERED IN MY 7 YEAR 70,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. *LA

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD HEARD A BANG LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK AND HIT A PARKED CAR. CAR WAS TOWED AWAY AND FIXED BODY SHOP AND FRONT END SHOP SAID TIE ROD AND BALL JOINT SNAPPED OFF CLEAN THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 5000 MILES ON IT, ALSO I HAVE ALL THE DAMAGED PARTS IF ANY BODY WANTS TO TEST THEM. *LA

PURCHASED A 2003 DAKOTA QUAD CAB IN JULY 2003. WHEN I TEST DROVE THE TRUCK I NOTICED A HOWL IN THE REAR BRAKES WHEN BACKING UP. THE DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THAT IT WAS AN ISSUE BUT THAT DODGE WAS WORKING ON A SOLUTION AND THAT THEY WOULD ADD ME TO THEIR LIST. MY TRUCK WAS WORKED ON PER TSB 0050603. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER THE NOISE RETURNED. I TOOK MY TRUCK INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS INFORMED THAT DODGE HAS TOLD THEM TO NOT WORK ON THE TRUCKS THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON A SOLUTION BUT DO NOT KNOW WHY THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *LA

WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, A SQUEAKING NOISE CAN BE HEARD. THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *PH

WHEN THE TRUCK IS STARTED AND ALLOWED TO WARM UP FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 4 MINUTES AND THEN PUT INTO REVERSE THE TRUCK DIES. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES NOW. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO GET THE PROBLEM TO REPLICATE. I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT TRUE BECAUSE I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK FOR THREE MONTHS AND IT HAS DIED EVERY TIME I HAVE PUT IT INTO REVERSE. THE LAST TIME THEY CALLED ME TO TELL ME THAT THEY COULD NOT GET THE TRUCK TO DIE SO I MADE A TRIP TO THE DEALERSHIP AND REPLICATED THE PROBLEM FOR THEM. THE DEALERSHIP THEN CALLED CHRYSLER AND CHRYSLER TOLD THEM TO PUT A "CO-PILOT" ON THE TRUCK AND HOPEFULLY THAT WOULD CATCH THE PROBLEM. I PICKED THE TRUCK UP YESTERDAY AFTER THEY INSTALLED THE CO PILOT AND TODAY WHEN I WENT OUT TO START IT, DIED SIX TIMES WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE. I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS MORNING AND THEY REMOVED THE CO PILOT AND SAID THAT THEY WOULD SEND THE INFO TO CHRYSLER. I AM HOPING TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW I AM NOT GOING TO HOLD MY BREATH. *LA

WHEN HITTING ANY SIZE BUMP IN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE LOOSES CONTROL. DEALER STATES THAT UPPER CONTROL ARM BOLT MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

FRONT ROTORS ON MY 2002 DODGE CC 4X4 DAKOTA WARPED AT 18,000 MILES. HAD THEM TURNED AND THE REAR BRAKES ADJUSTED. WARPING AGAIN AFTER 8000 MILES. DODGE DEALER (SAM LEMAN DODGE IN MORTON ILLINOIS)WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM. THEY OFFERED TO CUT ROTOR AT MY EXPENSE.*AK

ON 2003 AND 2004 DODGE VEHICLES, THE PIECE OF TRIM AND WEATHER STRIPPING ARE NOT BEING PUT AT THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE GAP BETWEEN THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THE CAR BODY RANGES FROM NONE TO 3/8 INCH WIDE BY 1/2 INCH DEEP. WATER COULD GET IN THIS GAP AND FREEZE CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO COME LOOSE, CRACK, OR SHATTER. WATER EXPANDS AS IT FREEZES AND THE PRESSURE FROM THE EXPANSION COULD CAUSE SEVERE PROBLEMS IF THE WINDSHIELD CAME LOOSE, CRACKED, OR SHATTERED WHEN DRIVING. WATER IS NATURALLY GOING TO COLLECT IN THIS GAP EITHER FROM RAIN, CAR WASHING, OR SNOW MELTING. THE MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE WOULD CAUSE THE WATER TO FREEZE FASTER IN BELOW FREEZING CONDITIONS. I NOTIFIED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER AND THEY SAID TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER, WHICH I DID AND THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS DONE BY THE FACTORY STARTING WITH THE 2003 MODEL YEAR. CUSTOMER SERVICE AT DAIMLER-CHRYSLER ACTS AS IF YOU ARE BOTHERING THEM WITH PROBLEMS LIKE THIS BUT I FEEL IT COULD BE A REAL SERIOUS PROBLEM IN THE COLDER NORTHERN STATES LIKE OHIO. THE GAP RUNS THE FULL WIDTH OF THE BODY. THANKS.*AK

I KEEP HEARING A LOUD "BANG" AND LOUDING CREAKING NOISES IN THE FRONT END OF MY 2003 DODGE DAKOTA WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DODGE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY HAVEN'T FOUND ANYTHING. I KEEP TELLING THEM IT SOUNDS LIKE A CRACKED COIL SPRING OR BODY MOUNT. THEY SAID IF I BRING IT IN AGAIN AS WARRANTY WORK, THEN THEY'LL CHARGE ME FOR THE TIME. ALSO, THE TURN SIGNALS KEEP SHORTING OUT AND WHEN YOU TURN THE LEFT ONE ON, THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS COME ON. FINALLY, THE LEFT POWER WINDOW SLOWS DOWN EXCESSIVELY WHEN I ATTEMPT TO PUT THE WINDOW UP. IT GOES DOWN FINE, BUT IT WON'T GO UP AT NORMAL SPEED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE DRIVER WAS INJURIED AND TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL.A POLICE REPORT WAS DONE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC DETECTED THAT BOTH FRONTAL BALL JOINTS CRACKED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HESITATED THEN LOST TOTAL POWER. *AK THERE WAS POOR IDLING, HESITATION AND SUDDEN STOPS AT INTERSECTION'S, LOSS OF POWER AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD SHUT OFF. *SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OR STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL DETAILS. *NLM

THE DAY I BROUGHT MY 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB HOME, I NOTICED A HOWLING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES WHEN IN REVERSE. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS THE CAUSE AND FOR IT TO BE REPAIRED. SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THE BREAKS NEEDED TO BE BROKEN IN AND THEN THE NOISE WOULD STOP. TOOK TRUCK BACK FOR OIL CHANGE AFTER 3000 MILES AND INFORMED SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE TRUCK WAS STILL MAKING HOWLING NOISE. TOLD ME THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM AND THAT AS SOON AS THE PARTS CAME IN HE WOULD CALL . I'M STILL WAITING. ALSO I AM HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WHEN I AM CLIMBING A GRADE THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO GET STUCK IN SECOND GEAR. I HAVE TO LET OFF THE GAS FOR IT TO SHIFT. SOMETIMES THE SHIFT IS VERY HARSH AND AT OTHER TIMES IT MISSES A GEAR ALTOGETHER. TRUCK HAS A HARD TIME MAINTAINING SET SPEED WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS SET. SEEMS TO WAIT TOO LONG TO SHIFT TO BRING THE TRUCK UP TO SPEED

VEHICLE (1)SHIFTS HARSHLY, (2)DOES NOT UPSHIFT SMOOTHLY/UPSHIFTS AT EXCESSIVE RPM, (3)STALLS WHEN MAKING LOW-SPEED LEFT-HAND TURNS, (4)IDLES ROUGHLY, (5)FAILS TO MAINTAIN SPEED IN CRUISE CONTROL, (6)DOWNSHIFTS HARSHLY AFTER LOSING SPEED IN CRUISE CONTROL, (7)TRANSMISSION GEAR INDICATOR DID NOT INDICATE ACTUAL GEAR VEHICLE WAS IN, (8)VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO PARK, AND FROM PARK TO REVERSE, AND (9)VEHICLE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED TO RELEASE, THEN FAILED TO HOLD.

WATER LEAKING ONTO PASSENGER'S SIDE FLOOR, MOLDY CARPETING, SMELLS BADLY. DEALER ATTEMPTED REPAIRS, BUT DEFECT CONTINUES.*AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, ENGINE LOCKED UP WITH ONLY 665 MILES. OIL PRESSURE GAUGE ALSO WENT TO ZERO.*AK

UPON PARKING TRUCK OWNER NOTICED A GLOWING UNDER CAB. A TECHNICIAN SERVICED VEHICLE AND NOTICED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK

REAR BRAKES MAKE A HOWLING SOUND WHEN IN REVERSE. *AK

BRAKES SQUEAL AND HOWLING SOUND.*AK

BRAKES SQUEAL AND HOWL, ENGINE IDELS ROUGH WITH A/C OFF IN DRIVE (WANTS TO STALL).*AK

BRAKES SQUEAL AND ENGINE IDLE PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER TAPPED THE GAS PEDAL ,AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. CONSUMER RESET CRUISE CONTROL, AND 2 MILES LATER VEHICLE ACCELERATED AGAIN WHILE IN CRUISE CONTROL. *AK *TS

AFTER DRIVING APPROX. 4 HOURS FROM FRESNO TO RENO ON JULY 6, 2003 WE WERE COMING OVER INTERSTATE 80 AT 70-75 MPH, WHEN OUR TRUCK SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, MAKING THE TRUCK SOUND AS IF IT HAD DOWNSHIFTED. WE PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY THINKING THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND CHECKED FLUID LEVELS. THEY WERE FINE. WE GOT BACK ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOT 5 MILES LATER IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN. WE THOUGHT WE MIGHT BE STRANDED.THE DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRUCKS COMPUTER AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING ON ITS MEMORY. WE GOT THE TRUCK BACK WITH NO REPAIRS. TODAY, AUGUST 2, 2003, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO SLIP AGAIN AT 70MPH TRYING TO PASS A SLOWER VEHICLE. LOOKING THROUGH THE TSB'S THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS I DISCOVERED(OVERHEATING) STATED EVERY TRANSMISSION ON A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB EXCEPT THE ONE IN MY VEHICLE A 45RFE. COULD THE PROBLEM STATED FOR THE OTHER TRANSMISSIONS POSSIBLY BE A PROBLEM FOR MINE? IF SO HOW DO I GET THE DEALER TO FIX IT BEFORE IT GETS WORSE?. *AK

WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO TAP THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE. ABOUT TWO MILES LATER THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. *AK *CB *NLM

WHILE DRIVING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND THE TIRES BOUNCED UP AND DOWN. *AK *CB *NLM

I HAVE A 2000 DAKOTA -- ROTORS WARPED @11,000 DEALER REPLACED -- ROTORS WARPED AGAIN 8 MOUNTHS LATER @24,000 DEALER WOULDNT REPLACE, OVER 12K SINCE THEY INSTALLED THEM,SO I TURNED AND NEW PADS -- @38,000 WARPED AGAIN REPLACED ROTERS AND PADS --@53,000 WARPED AGAIN TURNED AND NEW PADS --WARRPED AGAIN @71,000 BUT HAVENT REPLCED ROTORS TILL THIS WEEKEND @76,000 . *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WATER POURING INTO PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD THAT SOAKS AND RUINS CARPETING. UNKNOWN SOURCE, FIREWALL AREA.*AK

THE ENGINE OVER HEATED EXCESSIVELY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY 1 WEEK OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 500 MILES. *JB

WHEN THE VEHICLE MADE A TURN OR BACKED UP, THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE NOISE COULD BE CAUSED BY RUST ON THE BRAKES. *JB

WHEN THE VEHICLE TURNED OR BACKED UP, THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE NOISE COULD BE CAUSED BY RUST ON THE BRAKES. *JB

WHEN THE VEHICLE MADE A TURN OR BACKED UP THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE NOISE COULD BE CAUSED BY RUST ON THE BRAKES. *JB

PURCHASED A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD 4X4. DAY OF DELIVERY THE SALESMAN NOTICED THE REAR MAKES A LOUD SQUEEKING NOISE WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE AND BACKING. TOOK IT IN FOR INSPECTION AND THEY ADJUSTED THE REAR BRAKES. WE HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE MOST RECENT THEY REPLACED PADS ALONG WITH SOME ADDITIONAL ADJUSTEMENTS. WE DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND IT DID IT THIS TIME GOING FORWARD. NOW IT DOES IT IN EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER IT IS A DESIGN PROBLEM BUT THE MANUFACTURE STATES IS NOT A POTENTIAL SAFTEY HAZARD BUT SOMETHING THE CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO TOLERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN NOV OF 02 AND HAS APROXIMATELY 3,000 MILES ON IT.*JB

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WIT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING GEARS THE WHEEL WILL SPIN BY IT SELF. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT IF THE CONSUMER DOES NOT GIVE A GOOD REFERENCE ON THE DEALER SURVEY THEY WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. TS

LOCATION OF GEAR SHIFT LEVER IS POSITIONED, WHERE IF REACHING OVER TO AJUST RADIO OR AIR CONDITIONING UNIT AND PUTTING HANDS BACK ON STEERING WHEEL, CAN KNOCK SHIFT LEVER OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL/ PARK WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK