2003 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

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