2003 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

THE BALL JOINTS ON MY 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB TRUCK BEGAN MAKING NOISE AT ONLY 5000 MILES. THE SERVICE MANAGE AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL, BUT THERE IS NO MAUNFACTURER-AUTHORIZED REPAIR FOR IT. I AM WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES . *AK

VEHICLE STALLED WHEN DRIVEN AT 50 MPH OR GREATER. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT LEAST 4 TIMES. *JB

WHILE VEHICLE WAS GETTING A REGULAR CHECK UP CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT, AND THE NUT HOLDING THEM TOGETHER WAS STRIPPED COMPLETELY. *AK THERE WAS ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR SEVEN WEEKS EARLIER. THE DEALER CHECKED THE FRONT END FOR NOISE AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. *SC

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NEITHER DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM NOR REPAIR IT. *AK *NM

DURING COLD WEATHER IT IS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST TWO TURNS. DRIVER HAS TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE DRIVING TO GET THE POWER STEERING TO FUNCTION. DEALER SAYS THIS IS POSSIBLY A NORMAL OCCURRENCE DURING COLD WEATHER. *AK

AT CERTAIN TIMES THE ENGINE OMITS A HIGH PITCH WHISTLE WHEN DRIVING. THE NOISE COMES AND GOES PERIODICALLY AND AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. *JB

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE THERE WAS A MOANING NOISE IN THE REAR BRAKES. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE AWARE OF THE NOISE BUT WERE UNABLE TO FIX IT. *JB

(FRONT END SUSPENSION PROBLEM) THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN CHECKED THREE TIMES WITH NO IMPROVEMENT BECAUSE OF THE UNSTABLE BALANCE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THAT THE CONSUMER CHANGE THE TIRES AND SHOCKS AND PLACE SAND BAGS ON IN THE VEHICLE TO STABILIZE THE BALANCE. *AK *SC *JB

MY 03 DAKOTA'S AXLE AIR BREATHER CAME LOOSE DUE TO A FAULTY MOUNTING CLIP. AS A RESULT THE CAP AT THE END OF THE TUBE, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT WATER (DUE TO SUBMERGING OR SPLASES FROM RIDING IN THE RAIN) BECAME INVERTED AND SERVED AS A RESERVOIR TO SUCK UP WATER INTO THE AXLE. DODGE CLAIMS THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT SUBMERSION. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN IN MORE THAN A FEW INCHES OF RAIN WATER FROM THE STREET.*AK

2003 DODGE DAKOTA WITH 19,000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINTS WILL NEED REPLACING VERY SOON. *CB