2001 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

MY TRUCK HAS 31000 MILES AND HAS BEEN HAVING MYSTERIOUS INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN AUG 2001. ORIGINALLY IT WAS LIMITED TO THE DOOR LOCKS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING BY THEMSELVES AT ALL TIMES - WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING, AND WHEN IT IS NOT. ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TAIL LIGHTS WORKING ERRATICALLY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AT LEAST TWO TIMES, AND BOTH TIMES THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT "DUPLICATE" THE PROBLEM, AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS UNTIL THIS MONTH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT COMPLETELY HAYWIRE - THE LIGHTS , LOCKS, WIPERS, DASH LIGHTS ALL QUIT WORKING, AND THE 4WD SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WOULD NOT GO INTO 4WD (ALL OF THIS CONVENIENTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED 4 MONTHS AGO). I TOOK THE TRUCK IN AND THEY SAID THE "CONTROL MODULE" WAS BAD AND THAT IT WOULD COST $500 TO FIX. WHEN I EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS JUST ANOTHER IN A SERIES OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN OCCURRING THROUGHOUT THE WARRANTY PERIOD, AND THAT I THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO WAY TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. MY PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE VERY SIMILAR TO SOME OF THE PROBELMS IN DEFECT INVESTIGATION #S 10072859, 10018654, AND 10106547. *AK

MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK HAS EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE OF ITS POWER CONTROL MODULE (PCM) NOT ONCE BUT TWICE IN 2004. THE ORIGINAL UNIT FAILED 57,500 MILES AND THE SECOND UNIT FAILED AT JUST 7,000 MILES. PCM FAILURE MEANS THAT ELECTRIC POWER IS CUT UNEXPECTEDLY TO THE ENGINE LEADING TO ENGINE FAILURE. IN MY CASE THIS HAPPENED ONCE ON A NARROW HILLY ROADWAY AND THE SECOND TIME IN THE FAST LANE OF A FREEWAY. SUCH FAILURE DO NOT PROVIDE WARNINGS AND HAPPEN SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. IN BOTH CASES LOOSING POWER ALSO MEANT LOOSING BRAKING AND POWER STEERING. WHILE NEITHER INCIDENT RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS FOR ME, THEY COULD EASILY HAVE (PART LUCK & PART SKILL). YET I HAVE SEEN LITTLE REGARDING THIS MATTER. WHAT IS SO SINISTER ABOUT THIS IS THAT THE "BUG" IS DIFFICULT TO TRACE BECAUSE IT RE-APPEARS ONLY RANDOMLY (INITIALLY I THOUGHT THAT I NEEDED A TUNE-UP OR HAD RECEIVED BAD BATCH OF FUEL). THERE IS NO MAINTENANCE REQUIRED OF THIS UNIT AND IT HAS A WARRANTY OF 8/80,000. I HAVE WRITTEN TO DODGE REGARDING THIS MATTER REQUESTING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, AN EXPLANATION OF WHY THESE UNITS FAILED AND THE HAZARDS SUCH FAILURES PLACE THE DRIVER AND FELLOW MOTORISTS INTO. THE MANUFACTURER HAS RESPONDED BUT ONLY IN REGARD TO THE MATTER OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR CAR RENTAL RELATED TO THE SECOND INCIDENT ABOVE WHERE I WAS ON A TRIP. NOTHING HAS BEEN RESPONDED TO WITH REGARD TO THE "RELIABILTY" OF THE UNITS. THE INCIDENT DATE BELOW IS THE INITIAL SITUATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSFER CASE CRACKED DOWN THE MIDDLE. THE FRICTION AND SPARKS CAUSED IT TO CATCH ON FIRE. IT WAS LOOSE AND SEVERED FROM THE MAIN ATTACHMENTS WHICH DUMPED THE OIL ONTOTHE SKID PLATES. *AK *NM

WHEN I RECENTLY TOOK MY 1991 DODGE DAKOTA IN TO HAVE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS REPLACED, I WAS TOLD THE LOWER ONES WERE SHOT, ALSO. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 36,000 MILES ON IT. I ONLY DRIVE ON THE ROAD AND NEVER OVERLOAD MY TRUCK. WHY WOULD THE UPPER BALL JOINTS BE RECALLED AND NOT THE LOWER? THIS CONTINUES TO BE AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.*AK

WHEN BRAKING ANY SPEED, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE LOCKED UP. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO REAR END A VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *NM THE FIRST INCIDENT THE CONSUMER PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND HIT OWN VEHICLE. *TC

ANNUAL VEHICLE INSPECTION OF MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT 2WD VERHICLE (54,000 MILES), PERFORMED ON 03/05/05, NECESSITATED THE REPLACEMENT OF DETATCHED BALL JOINT. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST CONSUMER $2,000 TO BE REPAIRED. *AK

DODGE DAKOTA 2001, CONSUMER REPLACED BALL JOINTS. *BF THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR A 2 WHEEL ALIGNMENT AFTER THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE ALIGNMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE REPLACEMENT. *NM

REPAIRS TO THE UPPER BALL JOINT WAS COMPLETED BY THE CONSUMER PRIOR TO RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER WISHED TO HAVE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS REPAIRED SINCE THEY WERE DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY MANUFACTURER AND DEALER THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

NO PARTS FOR RECALL#04596000 BALL JOINTS. EDDIE DODGE 803-359-2501. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB