2000 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS SNAPPING OFF. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 3.9 LITER ENGINES IN THE DODGE TRUCKS. EXHAUST FUMES THEN ESCAPE AND GET SUCKED INTO THE CABIN AREA AND THERE IS ALSO A FIRE HAZARD AS MORE BOLTS SNAP AND THE MANIFOLD SEPARATES FROM THE HEAD.

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT APROX 40 MPH WITH THE WINDOWS UP AND AIR CONDITIONING FAN ON HIGH SPEED, I DIDN'T HEAR AN APPROACHING FIRE TRUCK AS I NEARED AN INTERSECTION. UPON ENTERING THE INTERSECTION, I WAS STARTELED BY THE LOUD BLOW OF THE FIRE TRUCK'S AIR HORN AND IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES SYSTEM ENGAGE IN A VERY PERCULIAR MANNER! IMMEDIATELY UPON FEELING THE BRAKES ENGAGE, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM RELEASED THE BRAKES AND ALLOWED MY VEHICLE TO COAST FORWARD NEARLY 20 YARDS BEFORE THE BRAKES RE-ENGAGED BRINGING MY VEHICLE TO A HALT. IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE SKILLFUL DRIVING OF THE FIRE TRUCK'S OPERATORS (BOTH FRONT AND REAR DRIVERS) WHO SWIRVED AND STEERED AROUND ME, THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS (EVEN FATAL).*AK

UPPER BALL JOINTS PREMATURELY WORE OUT. FELL APART DURING CHANGING OF BALL JOINTS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT WERE BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB THE CONSUMER SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING A DEER. AFTER SWERVING THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE FELL TO THE GROUND AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLID INTO A GUARD RAIL. *JB

I OWN A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB VIN [XXX]. THIS VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 58000 MILES. DURING AN INSPECTION OF MY BRAKES, I DISCOVERED SEVERAL FRONT END PARTS WITH UNACCEPTABLE WEAR. AT MY OWN EXPENSE, I AM REPLACING UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES AS WELL AS BOTH OUTER TIE-ROD ENDS. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE DISCOVERED THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE ANY ACTUAL FAILURE OCCURRED. THE TRUCK IS NOT NEW BUT THESE PARTS SHOULD HAVE NO WHERE NEAR THIS AMOUNT OF WEAR AT ONLY 58000 MILES. I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT I AM ONLY ONE OF MANY THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THESE PROBLEMS WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. I PLAN TO SAVE ALL THE OLD PARTS AS WELL AS MY RECEIPTS IN HOPES THAT EVENTUALLY I MIGHT BE REIMBURSED. *NM UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

VEHICLE VIBRATED SEVERELY WHEN BRAKING FROM 5-65 MPH. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND DEALER DETERMINED THAT FRONT PADS BROKE, AND BOTH FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED.*AK

THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS LEADING UP TO THE UPPER BALL JOINT FAILING, AND THE FRONT LEFT TIRE FOLDING OVER, CAUSING THE TRUCK SLOW QUICKLY AND PULL TO THE RIGHT. SO FAR THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT CALLED WITH ANY REPAIR PRICES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SNAPPED OFF. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT STEERING DID NOT FEEL RIGHT IN THE FRONT END. *TC

2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 52000 MILES DEALER MAINTAINED REGULARLY TURNED INTO PARKING LOT WHERE ENTRANCE CROSSED OVER CITY SIDEWALK, MILD TO MODERATE BUMP, HEARD A LOUD THUMP, THEN GRINDING, AND LOST STEERING CONTROL. STOPPED CAR AND FOUND RIGHT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATED WITH WHEEL ALMOST COMPLETE FLAT ON GROUND. ALLIED DEALER REFUSED TO COVER REPAIR. VEHICLE TOWED, REPLACED BALL JOINT. ~$160 CONCERNED ABOUT THE REST OF BALL JOINTS ON VEHICLE!!!!!!!*AK

I OWN A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB TRUCK, AND WANTED IT TO BE NOTED THAT BOTH FRONT TIRES CAME OFF THE TRUCK DUE TO INNER TIE ROD SOCKET DISCONNECTED FROM MAIN RACK AND VARIOUS BALL JOINT REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THUS FAR, I HAVE NOT CRASHED OR INJURED ANYONE, BUT THAT MAY BE BECAUSE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE TRUCK. *JB