2002 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE HEATER STOPPED WORKING IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HEATER FAN RESISTORS MELTED AND THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTED TO THE HEATER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER FURTHER STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL. A YEAR PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE HEAT RESISTORS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE CLEANING OUT THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE DRIVE GEAR SHIFT WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT OWNS THREE OTHER DODGE DAKOTA'S AND NONE OF THEM HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 40,000. UPDATED 01-11-08. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE PARTS BROKEN IN THE STEERING COLUMN. UPDATED 12//12/07

BRAKE PROBLEMS WHICH I BELIEVE ARE RELATED TO ABS SYSTEM ON 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB WITH FACTORY INSTALLED TOWING PACKAGE. I AM RUNNING THE THIRD SET OF DISC BRAKE ROTORS ON THE FRONT AND SECOND SET OF DRUMS ON THE REAR WITH JUST OVER 97,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON THIS TRUCK. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS OR DAMAGE TO THIS VEHICLE. *TR

FUEL MILEAGE 02 DAKOTA 4X4 3.9 LV-6 GETS 15 MPG. I HAD A 96 AND 99 DAKOTA 4X4'S ORDERED NEW AS WELL WITH SAME ENGINE, TIRES, AND DRIVE TRAIN RATIO AS THE 02 THAT GOT 21 MPG. I KNOW OF A 99 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE WITH 4.0 L WITH SAME TIRES AND DRIVE TRAIN RATIO GETS 21 MPG. WHY DOESN'T THE 02 GET BETTER? *JB

REAR DIFF IN MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA FAILED AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. *JB

2002 DODGE DAKOTA UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE. IT SEEMS THAT THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #04V596000 ONLY COVERED FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4X4) VEHICLES BUT THE SAME PROBLEM EXIST ON TWO-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES ALSO. MY VEHICLE HAS 84,000 MILES AND BOTH BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACING. THE REPLACEMENT PART IS THE SAME ON BOTH TWO OR FOUR WHEEL DRIVES. *TR

AFTER ONLY 5 YEARS AND LESS THAN 22,000 MILES, THE FRONT HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES FROM THE FRAME TO THE CALIPER FAILED FROM INTENSE RUSTING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE ROAD. AVOIDANCE OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF LUCK. THE INTENSE RUST RATE IN THE FORWARD WHEEL WELL ALSO CAUSED BRAKE PAD RELEASE FAILURES WHICH CAUSED INCREASING CONTINUOUS DRAG AND OVERHEATING OF THE BRAKE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY. NO OBSERVATION OF THE PROBLEM BY DEALER DURING BALL JOINT RECALL WORK JUST 9 MONTHS PRIOR TO FAILURE. OWNER REPLACED HYDRAULIC LINES ON BOTH SIDES. OWNER IS NOW CONCERNED WITH POSSIBLE FAILURE OF FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS DUE TO UNUSUAL RUST RATES. *TR

DRIVER SIDE BRAKES FROZE WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED ON A VEHICLE THAT ONLY HAS 24,460 MILES ON IT

CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH FRONT BRAKES. HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AT 35,552 MILES (SEE ODI #10200119), HAD TO TURN THOSE ROTORS AT 46,295 MILES (SEE ODI #10200122), HAD TO REPLACE FRONT BRAKES AT 50, 230 MILES (SEE ODI #10200127), HAD TO REPLACE FRONT LEFT CALIPERS AT 51,116 MILES (SEE ODI #10200129). TWO WEEKS AFTER REPLACING THE CALIPERS, DROVE SHORT DISTANCE (ALL HIGHWAY MILES). WHEN I STOPPED THE TRUCK, STRONG BRAKE SMELL COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT END. I LET THE CAR SIT FOR A WHILE AND CONTINUED ON. NOW IT'S INTERMITTENT. CALIPERS APPEAR TO BE STICKING AGAIN - INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE PULLS AND BRAKES FEEL INCONSISTENT LIKE THEY ARE COMING ON WAY TOO HARD BUT THEN PULSING. *TR

CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH FRONT BRAKES. IN JULY 06, ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH ONLY 35,552 MILES ON THE TRUCK (SEE ODI #10200119). IN MARCH 07, THE NEW ROTORS HAD TO BE TURNED AT 44,6295 MILES (SEE OD #10200122). IN MAY 07, VIBRATIONS IN THE FRONT END RETURNED AND THERE WAS A STRANGE RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKES AT 50,230 MILES (SEE ODI #10200127). I DROVE THE VEHICLE ABOUT 17 MILES (ALL HIGHWAY MILES). WHEN I STOPPED, SMOKE WAS ROLLING OUT OF THE FRONT LEFT SIDE AND THERE WAS A STRONG BRAKE ODOR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY. TECHNICIAN INDICATED IT WAS STICKING CALIPERS. TECHNICIAN REPLACED FRONT LEFT CALIPER. TOTAL COST $121. (NOTE - DEALER DID NOT CHARGE ME FOR LABOR ON CALIPER REPLACEMENT.) *TR