2001 Dodge Dakota

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/2003· SUSPENSION,TIRES

  UPPER BALL JOINTS WORN TO THE POINT OF BREAKAGE

• 12/30/2004· SUSPENSION

  RECALL 04V596000 CONCERNING BALL JOINT WEAR: CONSUMER RECEIVED THIS RECALL NOTICE, AND CONTACTED HIS LOCAL DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT NO PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE UNTIL MARCH 2005.*AK

• 12/30/2003· SUSPENSION

  UPPER BALL JOINTS WORN OUT. ONLY 53435 MILES AND FRONT END SHAKES, POPS AND WOBBLES.

• 12/30/2003· TIRES

  ALL 4 TIRES HAVE CRACK AROUND THE BEAD OF TIRE. HAVE SPENT OVER $500.00 IN REPAIRS, ALIGNMENTS, AND TIRE BALANCING. PROBLEM I THINK IS FROM THE STEERING RESPONSE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS MODEL NEEDS UPGRADED TIRES.

• 12/29/2021· SUSPENSION

  The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, there was a wobble coming from the front passenger’s side tire. The contact was able to pull over and had the vehicle towed to a local mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the ball joints needed to be replaced however, the vehicle was not repaired. There was no warning light illuminated. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 300,000.

• 12/29/2004· SUSPENSION

  THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO PERFORM THE UPPER BALL JOINT WEAR RECALL 04V596000 BECAUSE THE CONSUMER DIDN'T PURCHASE THE VEHICLE FROM THEM. *JB

• 12/29/2004· SUSPENSION

  THE CONTROL ARM AND UPPER BALL JOINTS, WHEN IS THE RECALL GOING TO HAPPEN?? MY TRUCK IS REALLY REALLY BAD. THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT I GOT IS NO GOOD AND MY NEW TIRES ARE BEING EATEN UP BY THIS. I NEED MY TRUCK FOR WORK AND THIS IS SO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION. *NM

• 12/29/2003· SUSPENSION

  UPPER RIGHT BALL JOINT FAILURE. *AK

• 12/28/2004· VISIBILITY

  HEATER CORE FAILURE. TRUCK HAS 44,000 MILES ON IT AND THE HEATER CORE FAILED. COOLANT WAS SPRAYED THROUGHOUT ENTIRE VEHICLE. VISIBILITY WAS REDUCED TO ZERO. *JB

• 12/28/2004· SUSPENSION

  THE CONSUMER STATES THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

• 12/27/2007· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WITH HIS FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND HESITATE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO ALLOW THE FRONT DISC BRAKES TO COOL OFF SINCE THEY WERE DRAGGING. THE BRAKE LINES AND CALIPERS WERE REPLACED AT 50,000 MILES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 64000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30000. THE CONTACT WILL ADD THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE AND PURCHASE DATE.

• 12/27/2006· POWER TRAIN

  THE REARS IN DODGE TRUCKS FAIL WITH MILEAGE BETWEEN 65000 TO 10000 AND THEY TELL EVERYONE THAT IT IS FROM NORMAL WEAR. MINE FAILED AT 83000 RESULTING IN THE REAR HAVING TO BE REBUILT AT A COST OF 2200 DOLLARS

• 12/27/2004· VISIBILITY

  THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY DODGE 2001 QUAD CAB HITS ON THE HOOD AS THE WIPERS GO BACK AND FORTH MOTION. THIS IS LEAVING A WEAR MARK IN THE METAL ON THE HOOD FROM WHERE IT CONTINOUSLY HITS. I INFORMED MY DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE VECHICLE AND THEY LAUGHED AT ME. THE PROBLEM IS STILL TAKING PLACE SINCE I BOUGHT THE VECHILE IN 2001. *AK

• 12/27/2004· SUSPENSION

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER. AFTER A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE, BUT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED FOR STALLING. HOWEVER, MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK

• 12/27/2002· TIRES

  THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTISIDE AND THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE SIDE THREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. ALL FOUR TIRES AND INCLUDING THE SPARE WAS REPLACE. THE TIRE WAS A GOODYEAR WRANGLER ST/P21575R15 PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

• 12/27/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THIS TRUCK WAS SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF BRAKE ROTOR WARPAGE. THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY INDEPENDENT GARAGE. *AK

• 12/24/2003· SUSPENSION

  BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS ON MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA ARE DISPLAYING CHARACTERISTICS OF EXCESSIVE WEAR. GREASE IS LEAKING OUT AROUND THE BALL JOINTS AND A POPPING SOUND COMES FROM THE FRONT LEFT OF THE VEHICLE UNDER HARD BRAKING. IT ALSO "POPS" WHEN I TURN ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT. THE BALL JOINTS ARE NOT FITTED WITH GREASE FITTINGS, SO I CANNOT LUBRICATE THEM MYSELF.

• 12/23/2006· SUSPENSION

  I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY ONLY THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON THE 2000-2004 DAKOTAS IS COVERED IN THE RECALL AS THE LOWER BALL JOINT ARE THE SAME DESIGN WHERE THERE IS NO WAY TO GREASE UP THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND IT WOULD LEAD TO THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE UPPER BALL JOINTS? *NM

• 12/23/2005· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE SEVERAL REPAIR PLACES (BRAKE SPECIALISTS) INCLUDING 2 DEALERSHIPS (MULTIPLE TIMES). THEY TELL ME MY ROTORS ARE WARPED, OR THAT THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG!!! STARTING AT AROUND 20,000 MILES I STARTED GETTING HARD VIBRATIONS IN THE FRONT END, REPLACED ROTORS AND PADS, FIXED PROBLEM. THEN, 5,000 MILES LATER IT STARTED AGAIN, HAD ROTORS TURNED AND REPLACED PADS, FIXED PROBLEM. 5,000 MILES LATER IT HAPPENS AGAIN, I DECIDE TO DEAL WITH IT FOR A LITTLE WHILE. 2,000 MILES OF DRIVING WITH WARPED ROTORS, AND RIGHT FRONT CALIPER LOCKS UP, NEARLY CAUSING A FIRE!!. REPLACED BOTH CALIPERS, ROTORS AND PADS, PROBLEM FIXED AGAIN. PROBLEM RECURS ROUGHLY EVERY 5,000 MILES. I DRIVE VERY CAREFULLY TO ENSURE THAT I AM NOT CAUSING ANY UNDUE STRESS ON THE BRAKE COMPONENTS. THE EXPENSE OF REPAIRING THE BRAKES EVERY 5,000 MILES IS ROUGHLY $200 TO $400 DOLLARS DEPENDING ON WHAT I FIND UPON INSPECTION. I AM AN INDUSTRIAL MECHANIC SO I DO THIS WORK MYSELF. I PURCHASED COPIES OF DAIMLER CHRYSLER MASTER TECH VIDEOS TO MAKES SURE THAT I AM NOT MISSING SOMETHING. I HAVE PURCHASED SEVERAL MANUALS FOR MY VEHICLE , SOME FROM DODGE AND SOME AFTERMARKET IN MY SEARCH FOR A MORE PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS, TO ME AND TO OTHERS AROUND ME WHEN DRIVING. I AM CURRENTLY AT 90,000 MILES AND HAVE DECIDED THAT THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY SOMEONE... I HOPE YOU CAN HELP. *JB

• 12/23/2003· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  ON DECEMBER 19, I WAS GETTING MY TIRES ROTATED ON MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 2WD AT MY LOCAL MECHANIC. HAVING HEARD ABOUT THE BALL JOINT ISSUE THE NIGHT BEFORE ON THE NEWS, I HAD HIM CHECK MY BALL JOINTS TO SEE IF THEY WERE ANY GOOD. HE SAID "DON'T TAKE ANY LEFT TURNS!" I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY DEALER BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE 35,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. ON TUESDAY DECEMBER 23, 2003, MY LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE UPPER RIGHT BALL JOINT.

• 12/23/2003· SUSPENSION

  I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION OF THIS TRUCK SINCE SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED IT NEW IN MARCH 2001. IT HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER 6 TIMES, AND THEY HAVE REPLACED MANY PARTS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. THE FRONT END MAKES A LOUD BANGING/POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING OR GOING OVER BUMPS. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE TIRE IS GOING TO FALL OFF THE TRUCK! MANY OTHERS I KNOW HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY NEED TO ISUE A RECALL ON THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BEFORE SOMEBODY IS EITHER SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED!

• 12/22/2011· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH WHEN ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD AREA WHICH THEN IGNITED INTO A FIRE. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED AND WAS ABEL TO EXIT THE VEHICLE SAFELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SENSOR TIMER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE WAS PENDING AN INVESTIGATION. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 104,300.

• 12/22/2003· SUSPENSION

  LEFT/DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT.THE FRONT WAS MAKING A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE BALL JOINT WAS FOUND TO BE BAD WITH ONLY 34000 MILES ON TRUCK.*AK

• 12/21/2012· POWER TRAIN

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V077000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

• 12/21/2004· SUSPENSIONCrash

  WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH FRONT BALL JOINT PUNCTURED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THIS FORCED THE VEHICLE INTO A DITCH. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER OF THE BALL JOINT FAILURE AND REPAIRED IT. *AK

• 12/21/2004· STEERING

  I HAVE HAD A CRUNCHING TYPE NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS, 18 MONTHS AGO MY TRUCK WENT IN FOR A NEW HEATING CORE TO THE DODGE DEALER AND I MENTIONED IT AND THEY SAID THEY TOOK A QUICK LOOK AND IT WAS PROBABLY MY SHOCKS MAKING THE NOISE. IT HAS MADE THE SAME NOISE SINCE THEN AND I HAVE NOT REPLACED MY SHOCKS. I RECENTLY TOOK MY TRUCK INTO REPLACE THE SHOCKS AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE BALL JOINTS ARE THE PROBLEM NOT THE SHOCKS. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM ON DODGE DAKOTAS AND IT IS WELL KNOWN. HE SAID IT IS BOUND TO FAIL AND COULD CAUSE DEATH. 2 TIMES IV HAD THE FRONT END DRIFT SEVERLY TO THE RIGHT AND HE SAID THIS IS THE PROBLEM>*AK

• 12/21/2003· SUSPENSION

  BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE BALL JOINTS HAVE NO WAY TO GREASE THEM SO THEY WILL FAIL. I REPLACED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WITH A 3 PARTY JOINT THAT HAS A GREASE FITTING SO THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO USE MY TRUCK SAFELY. *AK

• 12/20/2004· SUSPENSION

  I HAVE A 2001 DAKOTA 2 WHEEL DRIVE WITH A BAD FRONT SUSPENSION. IT ONLY 54000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE HAD THE BUSHING REPLACED THREE TIMES AND NOW THEY TELL ME I NEED UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS, BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS, AND A R/F HUB BEARING. UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE VERY LOOSE. I WAS WONDERING WHY I AM ALWAYS FIXING THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO TO GET THIS PROBLEM SOLVED. I HEARD THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE DAKOTA'S, BUT NOT THE TWO WHEEL DRIVE. COULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO/ THANKS, STEPHEN. *AK

• 12/20/2004· SUSPENSION

  WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE LOST CONTROL WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK.....*AK

• 12/20/2004· SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN

  I HAVE A 2001 DODGE, DAKOTA, QUAD CAB, 4X4. SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRENTY EXPIRED(36000MI.), I DEVELOPED A POPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING OVER BUMPS. SENSE THEN IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. I HAD IT INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD IT WAS OK, JUST TYPICAL TRUCK NOISE DUE TO BUMPS. AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BALLJOINTS, I HAD IT RE-INSPECTED (MANY MILES LATER) ONLY TO FIND THAT I AM LUCKY THAT A WHEEL HAS NOT CAME OFF (BAD JOINTS). ALSO, IF THE TRUCK SETS OVERNIGHT (OR 1 OR MORE DAYS)WHEN YOU FIRST CRANK THE TRUCK AND PUT IN GEAR(REVERSE) THE TRANSMITION WILL SLIP. TOOK TO THE DEALER WHILE STILL UNDER WARRENTY THEY SAID IT WAS TYPICAL THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WOULD DRAIN DOWN AND THAT YOU HAD TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL FOR A FEW SECONDS TO LET THE CONVERTER FILL BEFORE PUTTING IN GEAR. I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM!*AK

• 12/20/2003· SUSPENSION

  2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD-CAB 4X4. I HAD ONE UPPER BALL JOINT REPLACE AT 37,863 MILES. THE REMAINING BALL JOINTS ALSO SEEM TO BE FAILING. THERE IS SIMILAR NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. AFTER VIEWING A PROGRAM ON CBS NEWS, I FELT IT WOULD BENEFICIAL TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM. *LA

• 12/19/2004· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED BUT IT HAD NEW BRAKES. I HAD IT FOR A MONTH AND DROVE APPROX. 1000 MILES AND THE BRAKE ROTORS BECAME WARPED. I HAD THEM TURNED AND THEY WERE FINE. I DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR APPROX. 5 MORE MONTHS AND 6000 MILES AND THE ROTORS BECAME WARPED AGAIN. THE VIBRATIONS OCCUR VERY BADLY WHEN BRAKING FROM 50 MPH-40 MPH. WHEN BRAKING FROM A HIGHER OR LOWER SPEED THAN 40-50 THERE ARE ONLY MINOR VIBRATIONS. I ALSO HAVE NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SUSPENSION WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS AND GOING OVER A BUMP/CURB(SUCH AS TO ENTER/LEAVE A DRIVEWAY). *JB

• 12/19/2003· SUSPENSION

  BALL JOINTS. MY 2001 DAKOTA QUAD CAB WAS ONLY ONE YEAR OLD WHEN MY BALL JOINTS STARTED SQUEEKING. NOW TWO YEARS OLD AND THEY ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED AND WORN. *AK

• 12/19/2003· STEERING

  WBZ, CHANNEL 4 IN BOSTON, HAD A REPORT ABOUT PROBLEM WITH BALL JOINTS ON DODGE DAKOTA'S. *AK

• 12/18/2003· SUSPENSION

  THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS BOTH WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

• 12/18/2003· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE TWO WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE.*AK

• 12/18/2003· SUSPENSION

  BALL JOINTS ON 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB HAVE GONE OUT.*AK

• 12/17/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,INTERIOR LIGHTING,EQUIPMENTCrash

  RECALL ID # 03V389000: ON 2001 DODGE DAKOTA WIRING HARNESS REROUTING/REPAIR RECALL ID#09EO12000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING RECALL ID#09EO25000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING HEADLIGHTS THE 2001 DODGE DAKOTA WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH TURN SIGNALS ,TAIL LIGHT, DASH LIGHTING, & RADIO FAILURE I HAVE TALKED TO 20 OR 30 DAKOTA OWNERS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION &SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

• 12/17/2009· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER ON AND THEN BACK OFF. ALSO ALL GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL HAVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HE WAS AWAITING THE CONCLUSION OF THE TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

• 12/17/2004· SUSPENSION

  MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB, FOR ABOUT 2 1/2 YEARS WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END. NOW A RECALL ON THE BALL JOINTS HAS COME IN AND DODGE WILL NOT EVEN LOOK AT OUR VEHICLE UNTIL THE RECALLS GO IN THE MAIL. I HAVE BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE CALLED WITH THIS COMPLAINT, I AM SCARED SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME AND MY FAMILY BUT DODGE JUST TELLS ME TO STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE. HOW CAN I DO THAT WHEN IT IS MY ONLY ONE AND I CANT GET TO WORK OR MY KIDS TO SCHOOL.. PLEASE HELP IN THIS. MY HUSBAND CAN GIVE MORE INFO IF NEEDED PLEASE CALL HIM AT 707-689-2333 IF YOU NEED MORE INFO. *JB

• 12/16/2003· SUSPENSION

  I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKODA QUAD CAB PICKUP THAT HAS ONLY 91,233 MILES ON IT THAT BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE SHOT ALREDY. I AM NOT SURE WHAT YEAR THE DODGE PEOPLE CAME OUT WITH THE BALL JOINTS AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS AS BEING ONE PIECE AND THIS MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PREMATURE FAILURES. MY DAYLY TRAVEL IS ABOUT 75 MILES PER DAY TO WORK AND HOME. THE ROADS ARE ASPHALT AND CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION. THE ROAD WAYS ARE IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION. I DRIVE ABOUT 100 FEET IN MY DRIVE TO GET TO THE HARD ROAD AND NEVER GET OFF THE ROAD OTHER THAN TO MY CARPORT.*AK

• 12/15/2007· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN

  I HAVE A 2001 DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4 PURCHASED NEW AND THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT ROTORS WEAR OUT EXTREMELY FAST. THEY BECOME DAMAGED ON THE INSIDE OF THE ROTOR APPEARING EXTREMELY RUSTED AND AS IF MAYBE THEY OVERHEATED ON THE INSIDE. 64,000 AND THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES. DEALERS DENY THIS IS COMMON , MY BROTHER HAS A 2002 (PURCHASED NEW) AND HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. BALL JOINTS FAILED ON BOTH TRUCKS , STEERING RACK AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL LEAKS ON BOTH . *TR

• 12/15/2004· SUSPENSION

  FRONT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK THE FAULTY BALL JOINTS CAUSED ABNORMAL WEAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *NM

• 12/15/2004· STEERING

  WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING PARKED IN REVERSE UNEXPECTEDLY CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO STEER OR MOVE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STEPPED OUT TO LOOK AT FRONT WHEELS AND NOTICED THAT EACH WHEEL WAS FACING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIE ROD BROKE OFF.*AK THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR INSPECTION TWICE, WAS TOLD BY DEALER THERE WA SNO WAY TO TELL IF TIE RODS WERE DEFECTIVE DUE TO RUST. *AK

• 12/14/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

  WHEN NEEDING TO BRAKE QUICKLY, THE BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION. I ASSUME IT IS AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MALFUNCTION, AND HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, MOSTLY DURING THE NEED TO BRAKE QUICKLY. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A WAY TO MANEUVER AROUND THE OBSTACLE (CAR, PEDESTRIAN, ETC..), BUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE DAY COMES THAT I DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO AND A PERSON GETS HIT, BECAUSE OF DEIMLER-CHRYSLER'S LACK OF MORALS TO MAKE RIGHT WHAT THEY DID WRONG, AND NOT RECALL THIS POOR DESIGN. IT DOES NOT FEEL GOOD KNOWING THAT YOU PUT ON YOUR BRAKES, AND YOU CAN'T STOP...VERY HELPLESS, AND NERVOUS. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS NOW, TO SAVE A LIFE. HOPEFULLY THIS COMPLAINT ALONG WITH THE NUMEROUS OTHERS WILL RAISE A RED FLAG, AND SOMETHING WILL BE DONE.*AK

• 12/13/2011· VISIBILITYFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WITH THE HEATER IN ACTIVATION AND SUDDENLY THE HEATER FAILED TO OPERATE. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A STRONG BURNING ODOR AND SMOKE EMITTING INTO OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE HEATER BLOWER RELAY WIRES MELTED. THE FAILURE CAUSED PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE HEATER BLOWER RELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000.

• 12/13/2004· STEERING,SUSPENSION

  2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB WAS SERVICED ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR CLUNKING IN THE FRONT END WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS AND DURING TURNS. SEVERAL PARTS WERE REPLACED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY BUT DEALERSHIP INSISTED THAT BALL JOINTS AND CV JOINTS WERE FINE. THEY ALSO STATED THAT NO OTHER COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN FILED AND THAT THERE WAS NOT A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM BECAME APPARENT WITHIN THE FIRST 17,000 MILES AND CONTINUES TO PERSIST.*AK

• 12/13/2004· STEERING

  I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE 4X2 DAKOTA'S ARE NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. MY 2001 RT HAS ALWAYS MADE A POPING SOUND WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS AND IS STARTING TO "WANDER" AND PULL TO THE LEFT. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN VERY HARD ON TIRES. LAST TIME IN, DEALER SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. OF COURSE THAT WAS JUST BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. ALL DAKOTAS SHOULD BE COVERED BY THIS RECALL, NOT JUST THE 4X4 MODELS.*AK

• 12/13/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CONSUMER STATED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, THE POWER SWITCHES, AIR BAGS, AND HORN VBECAME INOPERABLE. *AK

• 12/12/2021· SEATS

  The driver seat moves on its own about 2 inches forward and backwards.no accident has happened.