2002 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVE SHAFT FELL OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON A PAVED SECONDARY ROAD IN CLEAR DRY CONDITIONS, DAMAGING THE TRANSFER CASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE SHOP. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. UPDATED 10/25/06. *JB

WITHIN 29,500. TOTAL MILES COVERED IN 4.5 YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN 5 EPISODES WHEN EITHER THE FRONT LEFT OR FRONT RIGHT BRAKE PARTIALLY SEIZED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VEER TO ONE SIDE UPON APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES, AND EMITTED SMOKE. TWO DEALERS HAVE OFFERED NO PLAUSIBLE CAUSE OR REMEDY. ORIGINAL BRAKE PADS, BOTH FRONT AND REAR, AND THE FRONT DISCS AND READ DRUMS WERE FOUND TO BE BADLY WORN AT A MERE 20,000. MILES OF LIGHT SERVICE RESULTING IN ALL PADS BEING REPLACED AND THE ROTORS AND DRUMS BEING TURNED. NOW AT 29, 500. MILES THE FRONT ROTORS ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF WARPAGE. OK, I'M NOT AN EXPERT, BUT I'VE DRIVEN ABOUT 15 VEHICLES OVER A TOTAL OF A MILLION MILES AND MY FEELING IS THAT THESE BRAKES ARE UNDERSIZED AND CONSTANTLY RUN TOO HOT. THE SHORT BRAKE LIFE IS NOTHING SHORT OF ASTOUNDING. AS THE DEALERS SEEMS STUMPED, MY NEXT MOVE IS TO INSTALL RACING BRAKES ON THE FRONT COMPLETE WITH MULTIPLE PISTON CALIPERS AND DRILLED AND SLOTTED ROTORS. I'M BETTING THAT THE SMOKING EPISODES WILL STOP. ONE LOOK AT THIS VEHICLES COMPLAINTS IS ALL THE NHTSA SHOULD HAVE TO SEE THAT THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM, HERE. *JB

THE LIGHTS ON MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA STARTED FLASHING AND A FEW DAYS LATER MY LIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS AND POWER DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING. I HAVE HAD 3 DIFFERENT AUTO MECHANICS LOOK AT IT AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. MY TRUCK HAS 40,900 MILES ON IT AND NO WRECKS OF ANY KIND. MY TRUCK IS AN AUTOMATIC. *JB

2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB BOTH UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS FAILED ON BOTH SIDES. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HEARD A NOISE EVERY TIME SHE WENT OVER BUMP. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL GARAGE, THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. FINALLY, AFTER NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE THE NOISE ANY LONGER, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER ESTABLISHMENT WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS ACTIVATED, THE HAZARD LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP.

DODGE DAKOTA AND DURANGO YEARS 2000 TO 2003 THAT I KNOW OF FROM ME AND MY FRIENDS. I HAVE A 2002 DAKOTA AND WHEN THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES ENGAGE THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD DO TO ENGINE IDLE SPEED MOST LIKELY FROM BOOSTER VACUUM DUMP OFF. I AM A ASE CERTIFIED MECH AND I UNDERSTAND HOW THE ABS BRAKES ARE SUPPOSE TO REACT WHEN APPLIED. MY FRIEND HAS AN EARLIER MODEL DURANGO AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH WITH 46,500 KILOMETERS A STRONG FUEL ODOR HAD BEEN NOTICED GAS GAUGE DROP FROM JUST UNDER THREE QUARTERS TO BELOW HALF .COMPLAINT ABOUT FUEL SYSTEM AND REALLY BAD GAS MILEAGE. AND CARBON RESIDUE ON EXHAUST SEEM TO HAVE BEEN IGNORED BY DEALER. *NM

2002 DODGE DAKOTA PU TRUCK HEADED EAST ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WENT OUT OF CONTROL, LEFT THE ROAD, FLIPPED ONCE & LANDED UPSIDE DOWN IN THE MEDIAN. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE APPEARED CHEWED UP. THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL CAME COMPLETELY OFF FROM ITS MOUNTING & THE HUBCAP WAS STILL ON THE RIM. THE WHEEL WAS PLACED IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK WHEN IT WAS TOWED AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *NM UPDATED 06/27/06 *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING. THE ROAD WAS DRY AND THE BRAKING CONDITION WAS NORMAL. THE CONTACT FURTHER STATED THE BRAKES FELT SLUGGISH, AS IF RIDING ON A FLAT TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MASTER CYLINDER, ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.

2002 DODGE DAKOTA PURCHASED NEW 10/2001. MARCH 2004 NOTICED GRINDING NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. BRAKES WERE METAL AGAINST METAL. DEALER REPLACED ROTORS AND PADS (AND CHARGED FOR SERVICE) AT 20940 MILES. MARCH 2006, NOTICED PULSING WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. DIFFERENT SERVICE CENTER SAID ROTORS WERE RUSTED AND REPLACED; ALSO CLEANED AND ADJUSTED REAR BRAKES AND PERFORMED FRONT CALIPER "SLIDER SERVICE." MILEAGE 40239. I BELIEVE BRAKES SHOULD LAST MORE THAN TWO YEARS AND/OR 20000 MILES. *JB