2004 Dodge Dakota complaints

2004 DODGE DAKOTA POWER STEERING GOES STIFF, LOOSE, STIFF, LOOSE, ETC. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG AND JUDGING BY THE COMPLAINTS I'VE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. IT IS PUTTING PEOPLE'S LIVE IN DANGER AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUES ASAP. *TR

1) NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, JUST REGULAR DRIVING 2) ITS VERY HARD TO STEER SOMETIMES, ITS LIKE STIFF-LOOSE-STIFF-LOOSE WHEN I TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND GUYS ON DODGEFORUM.COM HAVE PINPOINTED THE PROBLEM BUT DEALERS WONT CHANGE THE PART, THEY WANT TO CHANGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHEN THE PROBLEM IS IN THE INTERMEDIATE ARM, ITS EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND WHY SHOULD WE PAY FOR A MANUFACTURER DEFECT? THE CONSEQUENCES UNFORTUNATELY CAN BE DEADLY. SOMETIMES ITS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER OR MAKE A QUICK TURN, IF SOMEONE CUTS YOU OFF AND YOU CANT TURN, WELL BAD THINGS CAN HAPPEN. 3)I CANNOT GET THE PART (INTERMEDIATE ARM) BECAUSE THEY ARE ON BACKORDER, COINCIDENCE?? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WAS TOWED TO THE DRIVER'S RESIDENCE. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED DUE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

FROM THE VERY BEGINNING I KEPT HEARING NOISES FROM THE BRAKES AND FRONT END. THIS WAS GOING INTO THE 2ND YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. MY DODGE DAKOTA HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP AT LEAST 15 TIMES FOR THE SAME THING. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE STEERING PARTS, SWAY BAR, BRAKES ROTORS, CALIBER AND STILL MAKE A A MOANING GROANING NOISE WHEN EVER I TURN OR GO OVER BUMPS. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA SLT IS A PIECE OF CRAP. FIRST I HAD TO REPLACE THE VALVE BODY AT 53,000 MILES, NOW THE TORQUE CONVERTER TRIES TO LOCK TOO SOON (AT 30 MPH), WHICH RESULTS IN THE TRUCK SHUDDERING BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH. IT ONLY OCCURS UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION. HEAVY ACCELERATION KEEPS THE CONVERTER FROM LOCKING. *TR

WHILE HAVING MY TIRES ROTATED AT SEARS, THE TECH INFORMED ME THAT THE BALL JOINTS ON MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA WERE VERY BADLY WORN, BOTH UPPER AND LOWER. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 54,000 MILES AND IS DRIVEN ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON PAVEMENT. I CONTACTED THE DEALER, LITHIA DODGE OF ROSEBURG OREGON, I SPOKE WITH SERVICE MANAGER PHIL TYLER AND LOT MANAGER WAYNE KNOWLES, AND DODGE CORPORATE, BUT BOTH REFUSED TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE FURTHER. *TR

INTERMITTENT HARD STEERING. SEEMS LIKE THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING. HAD THE POWER STEERING UNIT REPLACED BUT THAT DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEM. SEEMS TO BE THE U-JOINTS ON THE STEERING SHAFT. HAVE TO REPLACE SHAFT. *TR

STEERING ERRATIC AND CHOPPY. STEERING WHEEL FAILS TO CENTER SMOOTHLY WHEN RELEASED. STEERING IS HARD AT TIMES. WHEEL STAYS IN TURNED DIRECTION UNLESS MANUALLY TURNED TO CORRECT. *TR

STEERING WHEEL WOULD STIFFEN AS IF THERE WERE NO POWER STEERING ABILITY. WHEN HE TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL, IT DOES NOT TURN BACK UNLESS HE DOES IT MANUALLY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT COULD LEAD TO THE STEERING WHEEL DISCONNECTING FROM THE RACK UNIT. I BELIEVE THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS THE LOWER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. IF I SPRAY THE U JOINTS OF THE STEERING SHAFT WITH WD 40 OR PB BLASTER IT STEERS GREAT, BUT WEARS OFF WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT!! NOW TRUCK HAS 57,000 MILES. HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE HAD IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD STIFFEN AS IF THERE WERE NO POWER STEERING ABILITY. WHEN HE TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL, IT DOES NOT TURN BACK UNLESS HE DOES IT MANUALLY. THE FAILURE BEGAN APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AGO. THE CONTACT FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT COULD LEAD TO THE STEERING WHEEL DISCONNECTING FROM THE RACK UNIT. HE BELIEVES THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS THE LOWER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 43,000.

CAN HEAR A POPPING NOISE FROM RIGHT FRONT END WHEN GOING INTO DRIVEWAYS OR MAKING RIGHT TURNS. ON 6/4/08 TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER AND THEY STATED THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS WERE WORN OUT AS WELL AS THE SHOCKS. 1500$ LATER THEY REPLACED THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS, SHOCKS, AND A FULL ALIGNMENT. ALL OF THIS AT ONLY 37K MILES! AS SOON AS I GOT THE VEHICLE HOME THE NOISE IS STILL THERE ALBEIT LESS NOTICEABLE. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO SAME DEALER ON 6/6/08 AND NOISE COULD NOT BE HEARD AND DEALERS MECHANIC STATED IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND TO BRING IT BACK IF THE NOISE IS REPRODUCIBLE. BE READING OTHER COMPLAINTS AND SUSPECT THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ARE BAD OR GOING BUT DEALER SAID THEY WERE OK. SOMETHING IS WRONG WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THEIR FRONT ENDS GO OUT AT SUCH LOW MILES. PLEASE CONTACT ME SO WE CAN GET THIS FIXED THROUGH A RECALL. DEALER SAID HE KEPT THE BROKEN PARTS. *TR

IN REFERENCE TO ODI COMPLAINT 10224785... I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE ON MY VEHICLE TWICE. IT IS THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL, THAT BEING 04' DAKOTA. I BELIEVE THE ISSUE IS KNOWN TO DODGE AS THEY HAVE A VERY SMALL NOTATION IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL IN REFERENCE TO THE STEERING SHAFT. AT PRESENT THIS FAILURE SEEMS TO OCCUR EVERY 2ND SPRING (AFTER SPRING THAW AND WET ROADS), AND IN MY OPINION IT'S DUE TO A LACK OF GREASE FITTINGS ON THE STEERING LINKAGE. AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE THESE "GREASE TIPS", HOWEVER THE STANDARD DODGE SUPPLIED PARTS DO NOT. IT IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE AS IT OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND SIMULATES THE FEELING OF COMPLETE POWER STEERING LOSS. PERSONALLY IT ALMOST RESULTED IN 2 ACCIDENTS, HOWEVER I WAS ABLE TO CORRECT MY VEHICLE BEFORE ANY ONCOMING TRAFFIC BECAME INVOLVED. AS I AM CANADIAN I HAVE FILED A REPORT WITH TRANSPORT CANADA, HOWEVER FELT IT IMPORTANT TO REPORT TO ODI AS WELL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE CONTACT TO TURN THE VEHICLE IN ANY DIRECTION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURS EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A TOTAL LOSS AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.... *TR

I AM REPORTING THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING. MY METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED 2004 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB EXHIBITED INTERMITTENT BINDING OF THE STEERING MAKING THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED MY SUSPENSION THAT IT WAS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT THAT WAS BINDING DUE TO ?RUST? AND REPLACED THE COMPONENT AT A COST TO ME OF $310.00 PARTS AND LABOR. THIS COMPONENT HAD SURFACE RUST ONLY ON A SEALED NON-GREASY FITTING AND SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED WITH A VEHICLE LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD WITH ONLY 58,000 MILES OF USE. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER DIRECTLY TO ADDRESS THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY INDICATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR HAS BEEN RECALIBRATED ONE TIME. WHEN A PASSENGER OR OBJECT IS SEATED IN THE SEAT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT DIMS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE RECALIBRATED EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, ACCORDING TO A FEDERAL LAW. THE DEALER CHARGED $100 FOR EACH RECALIBRATION. THE POWERTRAIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,129. UPDATED 06/09/2008. *LJ

OUR TRUCK IS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA WITH 40,000 MILES ON IT. MY HUSBAND WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, GETTING READY TO GET ONTO I-95 AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF. THESE SAME VEHICLES WERE RECALLED FOR 2000-2003 BUT NOT 2004. IF THE WHEEL HAD FALLEN OFF ONCE ON I-95 AT 75 MPH MY HUSBAND OR SOMEONE ELSE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE. THIS WAS A BALL JOINT PROBLEM. $1300 LATER BOTH SIDES ARE REPLACED. CHRYSLER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL AND IF THERE IS A FUTURE RECALL THEN WE MAY BE REIMBURSED. WE WILL NEVER BUY A CHRYSLER PRODUCT AGAIN. *TR

CLUTCH FAILED, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UNLESS PUSH STARTED, WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AND SHIFT NORMALLY. VEHICLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY UPUNTILL THE FAILURE. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER. THE PEDAL ROD WAS BENT, AFTER TAKING MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER AND SLAVE "FELL APART IN THEIR HANDS" THIS IS A PART THAT DOES NOT FAIL, SHOULD NOT FAIL. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 3.5 YRS OLD. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE THERE ARE NO AVAILABLE PARTS TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE. TO QUOTE THE SERVICE MANAGER "THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A RUN ON THE PARTS" I BELIEVE THIS WARRENTS LOOKING INTO TO SEE IF THIS IS A FAULTY PART. *CN

TEMP GAUGE WILL PEG FOLLOWED BY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. P# IS 0118--EXCESS VOLTAGE FROM SENSOR. 4 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. CALLS CHRYSLER AND THEY WERE NO HELP AT ALL. *TR

I OWN A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. THE PROBLEM IS THERE IS NOT ENOUGH HEIGHT FOR MY OLDEST SON'S CAR SEAT TO FIT CORRECTLY AND ALSO THE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT TIGHTEN UP ENOUGH TO MAKE THE SEAT SIT TIGHTLY. MY YOUNGEST SON'S CAR SEAT IS WEDGED BEHIND THE PASSENGER SEAT BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SPACE FOR IT TO SIT AND THE SEAT BELTS WON'T TIGHTEN UP ON IT EITHER. *TR

AT 20K MY 2004 DAKOTA TRUCK NEEDS NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY ARE BLUE FROM GETTING TOO HOT. MY 1999 DAKOTA JUST HAD NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS AND STILL HAD PLENTY OF PAD ON THEM AT 84K. *TR

WHEN BRAKING FOR A STOP, WITH THE GAS TANK BETWEEN HALF AND FULL, THERE IS A LOUD "THUMPING" NOISE A FEW SECONDS AFTER BEGIN STOPPED. THE ORIGINAL GAS TANK HAS BEEN REPLACED BUT THE NOISE STILL EXISTS. PER THE DEALER, 2005 AND LATER MODELS THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED. WHY CAN THIS NOT BE CORRECTED ON THE 2004 MODELS? *TR THE CONSUMER STATED IT IS TO HIS UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE GAS TANK ON 2004 DODGE DAKOTA'S. THE CONSUMER IS QUESTIONING WHY THE LATER MODELS WERE CORRECTED AND NOT THE MODEL HE POSSESS WHICH HAS THE SAME DEFECT? THE DEALER STATED KNOCKING NOISE ON FLOOR THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON A LIFT AND THE AXLE NUTS WERE RE-TORQUED. WATER LEAKED OVER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AND THE HOLE WAS SEALED. THE DEALER STATED CLICKING NOISE CAME FROM THE REAR WHEN COMING TO A STOP. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR UPDATED 09/06/07. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION HIMSELF. THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER FAILURES SINCE THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

AFTER MAKING A TURN THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING LINK,BOTH THE TIE ROD AND THE STEERING LINK WERE STRIPPED OUT,LOSS OF STEERING LUCK WOULD HAVE IT THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC NEXT TO ME AND MY SPEED WAS SLOW ABLE TO GET VEHICLE OFF ROAD WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE STEERING STILL ATTACHED,HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO A SHOP WHERE THE LINK AND THE TIE ROD WERE REPLACED,AFTER INSPECTION THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THE PASSENGER SIDE BE DONE DUE TO WEAR NOT AS BAD.*AK

DRIVER'S SIDE VIEW MIRROR (MANUALLY OPERATED)FROZEN IN POSITION. ATTEMPTS TO ADJUST RESULTED IN CRACKED MIRROR GLASS.

THE RECALL ISSUE ON MY VEHICLE WAS NOT CORRECTED AND NOW AS A RESULT OF TEH SERVICE DEPT ERRO MY CAR IS NOW OVER-HEATINGA ND TEHY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBLITY AND REPAIR THE ISSUE, THEY STATED IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TEH RECALL EVEN THE IT CLEARLY STATED THAT TEH CLUSTER OF MY VEHICLE COULD OVER HEAT AND RESULT IN AN INSTRUMENT PANEL FIRE.

ON 3/25, MY TRUCKS INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. ALL OF MY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND MY ODOMETER QUIT WORKING. IT SAID "NO BUS". I CONTACTED SAVANNAH DODGE ABOUT THE ISSUE ON 3/26, 7:45 AM. AN APPOINTMENT FOR 2:00 WAS SCHEDULED. UPON DROPPING THE TRUCK OFF, I WAS TOLD THAT MY TRUCK WOULD BE DIAGNOSED AND READY FOR ME THE NEXT MORNING. MY RECEIPT ALSO STATES THAT THE PROMISED COMPLETION DATE WOULD BE 3/27. ON 3/27, I CALLED SAVANNAH DODGE AT 2:00 PM TO CHECK ON THE STATUS OF MY TRUCK. I WAS TOLD BY A SERVICE MEMBER THAT ** WAS OUT ON LUNCH AND THAT MY CALL WOULD BE RETURNED. MY CALL WAS NEVER RETURNED SO I CALLED BACK AT 3:00 P.M. ** TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE HAVING A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING OF MY STEREO SYSTEM. SHE ASKED WHEN IT WAS INSTALLED. I TOLD HER THAT IT WAS INSTALLED 1.5 YEARS AGO, AND SHE TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS AFTERMARKET SPEAKER WIRES WERE SPLICED INTO A FACTORY WIRING HARNESS AND THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED OVER TIME. SHE ALSO SAID THAT THE ONLY FIX WAS TO REPLACE IT WITH THE ORIGINAL FACTORY HARNESS. I THEN TOLD THEM TO GO AHEAD AND FINISH THE JOB AND I WOULD BE UP TO PICK IT UP THAT EVENING. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS NOT AN OPTION. THEY HAD TO WAIT ON PARTS (NEW FACTORY HARNESS) TO ARRIVE AND IT WOULD BE AVAILABLE 3/28 (ONE DAY AFTER THE PROMISED DATE). AFTER RECEIVING THE TRUCK AND LOOKING AT THE BILL, IT STATES NO NEW WIRING HARNESS WAS USED AND THEY REWIRED THE AFTERMARKET WIRES. I CALLED AND QUESTIONED ** ABOUT THE ISSU

2004/DODGE TRUCK/DAKOTA, REAR CALIPERS FAILED BY SEIZING. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH OF THEM BEFORE EVEN REPLACING THE BRAKE PADS. TOTAL MILEAGE ON THE TRUCK WAS 45,518.*AK

VIBRATING AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 50 MPH. SPOKE TO DODGE REFERENCE #15238936 THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO VIBRATE AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR TRUCK AT DEALERS. TIRES BALANCED AND ROTATED, THEN TIRES REPLACED, BRAKES REPLACED, SHOCKS REPLACED. SWAPPED RIMS. SERVICED TRANSMISSION, REPLACED DRIVESHAFT AND U JOINTS. PRESSURE BALANCE THE TIRES. REPLACED AXEL BEARINGS AND POSSIBLY THE AXEL. REPLACED RING GEAR AND PINION AND ALL BEARINGS. MULTIPLE ALIGNMENTS.*JB

TRANSMISSION DEFECT, WILL NOT GO INTO FOURTH AND THIRD GEAR AFTER INITIAL COLD START, TRUCK JERKS AND MAKES NOISE. *NM

THE TIE ROD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION IS SEPARATING FROM THE STEERING RACK. TIE ROD BOOT IS TWISTED AND VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD KNOCKING AND CLICKING NOISE WHILE TURNING. DEALER SERVICE MECHANIC STATED THE STEERING RACK WAS SEPARATING AND A GEAR BOX NEEDED REPLACEMENT AS WELL. FAILURE OF TIE ROD COULD RESULT IN STEERING FAILURE AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. NEEDS REPLACEMENT, BUT WAS INFORMED AN ENTIRE STEERING RACK AND GEAR BOX MUST BE REPLACED. *NM

EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT IN FRONT SUSPENSION OF 2004 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4, SIDE TO SIDE LATERAL MOVEMENT AND STEERING DIFFICULTY. DODGE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOUND EXCESSIVE PLAY IN LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT WHEELS AND STEERING RACK COMING APART AT TIE ROD. FAILURE OF BALL JOINTS CAN CAUSE WHEEL TO DETACH FROM VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR UPPER BALL JOINTS WITH SAME ISSUE. PARTS MUST BE REPLACED. *NM

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED IN NOVEMBER 2005 WHILE TOWING A BOAT ON A BRIDGE THE BRAKES FAILED. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DODGE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE AND CALIPER. THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO BE FINE UNTIL DECEMBER 2006 WHEN HE HEARD A SCRAPING NOISE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FIRESTONE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD IT HAD TWO DIFFERENT CALIPERS ON IT, ONE WHICH BELONGED TO A DODGE RAM 1500. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DODGE DEALER. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE DODGE DEALER REPLACED THE CALIPER WITH AN INCORRECT CALIPER DURING THE BRAKE LINE REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THE DODGE DEALER WOULD NOT VERIFY THIS. THE CONTACT HAD NEW CALIPERS AND A ROTOR PLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD UNDER 36,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF FAILURE BECAUSE IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT HAS THE OLD PARTS, PICTURES AND REPAIR INVOICES. *AK UPDATED 02/06/07. *JB

MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA CLUB CAB HAS POPPING NOISES EMITTING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN MANEUVERING AT LOW SPEEDS. I'VE HAD THIS CHECKED AT 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS. THE FIRST VISIT RESULTED IN A "COULD NOT DUPLICATE" ANSWER. THE SECOND VISIT I WAS TOLD THE NOISES WERE PERFECTLY NORMAL NOISES COMING FROM THE STEERING RACK AS THE FLUID MOVES THROUGH THE SYSTEM. THE NOISES HAPPEN WHEN I STEER AT LOW SPEEDS AND THE WEIGHT OF THE TRUCK SHIFTS FORM SIDE TO SIDE. THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT HAS ALTERED AND THE TIRES ARE WEARING UNEVENLY. *NM

SQUEALING SOUND COMING FROM LEFT FRONT WHEEL. JACKED UP VEHICLE TO INSPECT AND WHEEL WAS WOBBLING BACK AND FORTH. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND LEARNED THAT THE BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS. VEHICLE HAS 38,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN ALMOST ENTIRELY ON PAVED ROADS. *JB

MY TRUCK HAD BEEN MAKING THE NOTORIOUS SQUEAKING SOUNDS FROM THE FONT END THAT THE DODGE DAKOTA HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. I KNEW NOTHING OF THE BALL JOINT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE UNTIL MY FIANCE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE TRUCK. THE ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED WAS FAULTED TO MY FIANCE'S FAULT. WHEN SPEAKING WITH HER, SHE STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE TRUCK AND THEREFORE STRUCK THE OTHER CAR 'WHILE GOING AROUND THE CORNER'. WHEN SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AFTER THE ACCIDENT, SHE FOUND THE TRUCK LOWERED TO THE GROUND ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DUE TO THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY POPPING OFF THE TRUCK. BY 'POPPING OFF' I MEAN THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT POPPED OUT OF ITS LOCATION AND THE RIVETS HOLDING THE TOP OF THE SPINDLE POPPED OUT OF THERE POSITION. YES I SAID POPPED. THERE WERE NO RIPPING OF PARTS ETC, THE ASSEMBLY JUST POPPED OFF THE TRUCK. THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT A LOW SPEED GOING THROUGH A TURN. THIS IS THE EXACT ENACTMENT THAT CHRYSLER HAS STATED THAT THE WHEEL WOULD FALL OFF IF THE PART FULL MALFUNCTIONED. CHRYSLER HAS BEEN USING THE SAME PARTS IN THE 04 DAKOTA TRUCK AS THAT USED IN THE 00-03. WHY IS THE PART NOT BEING CORRECTED? WHY IS CHRYSLER NOT TAKING CONTROL OF THIS ISSUE AND RESOLVING THE ISSUE WITH A RECALL? CHRYSLER IS PUTTING LIVES AT RISK EVERYDAY THAT THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THIS PART AND CORRECTING THE ISSUE. IS IT GOING TO TAKE THE DEATH OF AN INDIVIDUAL CAUSED BY THIS FAILING PART FOR THEM TO STEP UP AND ADMIT THEY HAVE MESSED UP? WE CANT WA

CONSUMER WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS TO THERE 2004 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT. *KB THE RADIATOR FAILED AND RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED. THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE, AXLE SHAFT ASSEMBLY WAS WORN. ELECTRIC ENGINE COOLING FAN FAILED WHICH DAMAGED THE NEW RADIATOR. *NM

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. AT ABOUT 70 MPH IMPACT, YOU THINK THERE WOULD BE SOME KIND OF PROTECTION. *JB

2004 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP 4X4 HAD CLUNKING FROM FRONT SUSPENSION. REPLACED UPPER BALL JOINT. *JB

ROTORS WARPED / DAMAGED. BRAKE ROTORS ARE SEVERELY WARPED. BRAKE PADS HAVE MORE THAN 35% LIFE AND THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT GIVE ANY EXPLANATION WHY THE ROTORS ARE DAMAGED. I CALLED DODGE CORPORATION CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY WILL NOT HELP. VEHICLE MAINTAINED ONLY AT DODGE DEALERSHIPS AND ALL SERVICE HAS BEEN PERFORMED ACCORDING TO DODGE RECOMMENDATION SINCE PURCHASED NEW. *NM

WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON 4/22/06. I WAS DRIVING 55 MPH AND A DELIVERY TRUCK PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT THE TRUCK ON HIS DRIVER SIDE AND SMASHED MY HOLE FRONT END IN. TRUCK WAS ALMOST TOTALED. MY AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. IF IT WASN'T FOR THE SEAT BELT MY INJURIES COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE THEN WHIP LASH. MY TRUCK IS IN THE PROCESS NOW OF BEING FIXED. NO ONE IS GIVING ME ANSWERS TO WHY THE BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. I CALLED THE DODGE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. NEVER HEARD A THING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS NOT TO HAVE THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY. MY MAIN WORRY IS THAT WHEN MY TRUCK IS FIXED AND IF I EVER HAVE ANOTHER ACCIDENT WILL THE AIR BAGS WORK? PLEASE HELP! *JB

THE CRUISE CONTROL ON MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB ACCELERATES GOING DOWN HILL. I'VE HAD IT TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND SIMILARLY EQUIPPED DURANGOS. THEY TELL ME THAT THERE IS NO FIX. I, THEN, CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND RECEIVED A CALL FROM A NICE LADY WHO TOLD ME THAT DODGE WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND REFERRED ME TO ANOTHER DODGE DEALERSHIP. I CONTACTED THEM. THEY SUGGESTED THAT I GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER AND FIND OUT IF THEY HAD CONTACTED DEALER SUPPORT. THEY DID AND WERE TOLD THAT DODGE IS INDEED AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT ISN'T GOING TO FIX IT. I CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND RECEIVED AN APOLOGY, BUT NO INDICATION THAT THEY WILL DO ANYTHING TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE. *JB

WARPING OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ON DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB WITH 16,000 MILES. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CURVE AT 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND DOWN INTO A DITCH. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER, GRILL, AND DRIVER SIDE TURN SIGNAL. THERE WAS PRIOR BRAKING. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEATBELT, BUT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES WHEN HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL. A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THERE HAS BEEN NO INSPECTION TO THE AIRBAGS.

2004 DODGE DURANGO. VEHICLE STALLS, NO SPUTTERING. WHILE ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. YOU CANNOT GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES. THE TRUCK DID RESTART BOTH TIMES AFTER BEING PUT IN PARK. *NM

I AM LOOKING FOR ALL PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO SPEAK TO MY ATTORNEY ABOUT PROBLEMS THEY ARE HAVING WITH THEIR 04 DAKOTA'S. I HAVE HAD CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END, WHIRLING NOISE AT IDLING GETS LOUDER WHEN BLINKER ON, WINDOWS MAKE CLUNKING NOISE WHILE ROLLING UP OR DOWN, SEVER E SHAKING WHILE BRAKING ( WARPED ROTORS), TRANSMISSION LEAKING, AND THE LIST GOES ON. I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF LEMON LAW AND IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO BE ABLE TO FIND AN ATTORNEY. THIS ONE IS EXCELLENT.*JB

I HAVE A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA 4 DOOR CAB 2 WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK. THE BRAKES FAILED AT LESS THAN 12,000 MILES. THEY WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER AND FAILED AGAIN LESS THAN 8,000 MILES LATER. I HAD TO PAY FOR THAT FAILURE. THE SYMPTOMS WERE SHIMMY/SHAKE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. I HAD NOT MADE ANY PANIC STOPS AND MOST OF THE DRIVING HAD BEEN ON INTERSTATE OR STATE HIGHWAYS. *NM

DT: CONTACT STATED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES A NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURN. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE CONNECTOR PART TWICE. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKE DID NOT HEAR THE NOISE. *AK UPDATED 12/7/2005. THE DEALER REPLACED THE UPPER SHAFT PER THE STAR HOTLINE AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS MORE PREVALENT IN WARM/HOT WEATHER. *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHIMMY/VIBRATION IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE SEPARATE TIMES FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. THE RACK AND PINION, FRONT SHOCKS AND ALL FOUR TIRES HAD BEEN CHANGED. THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. *AK (12/05/05) THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS WITH NO RESULTS. *SC

HERE'S WHAT I SUBMITTED TO THE DODGE WEBSITE: LAST NIGHT I RETURNED FROM MY DODGE DEALERSHIP AFTER HAVING NEW BRAKE PADS AND NEW ROTORS INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVING FINE AND THE BRAKES ARE OPERATING PERFECTLY. THE ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER, WES, WAS HELPFUL AND PROFESSIONAL. HOWEVER, I DON'T THINK SPENDING $900 ON NEW ROTORS SHOULD BE REQUIRED AFTER TWO YEARS OF OPERATION AND LESS THAN 50,000 MILES. I AM METICULOUS ABOUT MAINTENANCE AND TIRE ROTATION. I DO NOT RIDE THE TRUCK HARD AND ALL OF MY DRIVING IS COUNTRY, NOT CITY, MILEAGE. EVEN YOUR DODGE PERSONNEL COULD NOT GIVE ME ANY REASON WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN SO SOON. I AM NOT A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, BUT I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH EITHER THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKES OR THE MATERIALS OR COMPONENTS USED IN THE BRAKE DESIGN. I BOUGHT A NEW '91 DODGE DAYTONA AND SAID I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE DUE TO PROBLEMS AND MAINTENANCE COSTS. IN 2003, I THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE DODGE ANOTHER SHOT AND BOUGHT A NEW LOADED, DAKOTA TRUCK. REST ASSURED, THIS WILL BE THE LAST DODGE VEHICLE I EVER OWN. SINCERELY, WILLIAM WILSON. *JB