1997 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00V193000 IN 12/01. HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *JB

1997 DODGE DAKOTA CLUB CAB 2 WD PICKUP HAD EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR AT 25,000 MILES SO ALL TIRES REPLACED. TIRES HAD BEEN ROTATED EVERY 7,000 MI. AFTER TIRE REPLACED TOOK TO DODGE DEALER FOR FRONT END ALIGNMENT. DEALER REFUSED BECAUSE THEY SAID FRONT BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACED COSTING $900. WHEN ASKED IF THIS WAS UNUSUAL DEALER SAID NO AND THAT BALL JOINTS COULD WEAR OUT IN 10,000 MILES. I CALLED DAIMLER CHRYSLER TO COMPLAIN AND THEY REFUSED MY REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE SAYING NO PROBLEMS OF THIS TYPE HAVE BEEN REPORTED. THE TRUCK WAS NEVER DRIVEN OFF ROAD, NEVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, ONLY DRIVEN TO WORK AND HOME WITHIN 40 MILES OF MY HOME. TRUCK WAS NEVER ABUSED AND I FEEL THE BALL JOINTS (AND TIRES) SHOULD NOT HAVE WORN OUT IN THIS SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME. I AM AN ENGINEER AND BELIEVE THERE IS A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING PROBLEM THAT LED TO THIS PREMATURE FAILURE. I HAVE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE TRUCK WITHOUT REPLACING THE BALL JOINTS YET SINCE NO ONE HAS TOLD ME THERE IS ANY SAFETY REASON NOT TO. THE TRUCK DRIVES FINE, STRAIGHT, AND EASY. *NLM

THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH HANDLE CAME OFF, WHICH RESULTED IN THE TAIL LIGHTS NOT WORKING. *JB

CLANKING NOISE IN RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. AXLE SEAL BROKE, REPLACED, 3 WEEKS LATER NOISE AGAIN BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PH

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE HAD POPPED, CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO STAY ON. TS

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE VEHICLES' HEADLIGHT GOES OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH 3 TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURS. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. CONSUMER STATES' WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IT FILL LIKE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS KICKING BACK. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ACTING ERRATICALLY, TE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACE 3 COMPUTER MODULES (CENTER TIMER MODULE, PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD MODULE AND AIRBAG MODULE), THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THROUGH THE INTERNET THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR HIS VEHICLE BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE CURRENT RECALL DID NOT FIT THE MECHANICAL SYMPTOMS HIS TRUCK WAS EXPERIENCING. *JG *NLM

NHTSA# 13411-01-V-153-000: CLOCK SPRING MATERIAL, COULD INTERFERE WITH THE CLOCKSPRING RIBBON AND CAUSE AN OPEN CIRCUIT THE DRIVER AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL BECOME DISABLED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL BE ON. CONSUMER STATES HAS THE SAME PROBLEM HIS VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS NOZLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. TS