1998 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER BRAKES AND STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

THE ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE INOPERATIVE. *JB

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT IDLING FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THE FLOOR BOARD OVER HEATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DUE TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD BECOME EXTREMELY HOT. SEVERAL ITEMS THAT WERE LEFT ON THE FLOOR MELTED, WHICH INCLUDED SOME PORTIONS OF THE SEAT BELT. *JB

THE FRONT 4 WHEEL DRIVE CV SHAFT BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO PULL HARD TO THE RIGHT. *JB

PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG HAD BEEN REMOVED, DEALERSHIP DID NOT INFORM CONSUMER BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *JB..*AK

NAR 02/28/2003 MR THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM. *CB

I HAD CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACE LAST SUMMER BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTIVE . I HAVE AN EXHASUST LEAK KNOW AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID I HAVE 3 BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST 65 TO 75 DOLLARS APIECE TO FIX. I WORK FOR DAIMLER CHRYSLER AT TWINSBURG STAMPING AS A MACHINE REPAIRMAN. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF EXHAUST BOLTS JUST BREAKING.I BELEIVE THERE IS A PROBLEM HERE THEY OUGHT TO FIX. THERE MORE PEOPLE AT WORK THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THANK YOU

CONSUMER STATE THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE WHEN APPLIED THE BRAKES AT 35MPH. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND REPLACES THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS. AGAIN AT 10 MILES WILL REPLACE ROTORS AND PADS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON MY DAKOTA KEEPS FALLING APART. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT 4 OR 5 TIMES NOW (THE FIRST TIME WAS NOT LONG AFTER I HAD BOUGHT THE VEHICLE). EACH TIME THEY PUT A NEW CONVERTER ON, IT FALLS APART WITHIN A YEARS TIME. I ASKED THEM ABOUT IT AND THEY BLAME IT ON FAULTY MANUFACTURING OF THE CONVERTER. I KNOW OTHER DAKOTA OWNERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND ARE GIVEN THE SAME STORY (JUST FAULTY MANUFACTURING). I E-MAILED DODGE, BUT THEY DIRECTED ME TO THE DEALER. IS ANYONE BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS? MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, I AM A SINGLE PARENT AND CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR A NEW CONVERTER WHEN THIS NEW ONE FALLS APART. I SEE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS IS ANYTHING BEING DONE??? MY BRAKES ALSO MAKE A TERRIBLE NOISE WHEN IT IS COLD AND/OR RAINS OR IF IT IS FOGGY. THE DEALER SAID "OH, ITS JUST MOISTURE" BUT THERE IS REALLY NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR BRAKES. WHEN IT IS RAINING, IT SEEMS THAT THE BRAKES DON'T WORK AS THEY SHOULD AND THE ANTI-LOCK DOES NOT SEEM TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. ONE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE ENGINE RACES AFTER THE TRUCK HAS SAT OVERNIGHT OR WHILE I AM AT WORK, AND IT TAKES AWHILE BEFORE IT IDLES AT THE NORMAL RPM. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, IT IS JUST THE COLD AIR SOLENOID. WHAT HAS NHTSA CONCLUDED IN REGARD TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER? OR ARE YOU THE WRONG CONTACT? DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WONDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER REPLACED THE TIE RODS, BALL JOINTS, UPPER CONTROL ARM. CONSUMER STATES SIX MONTHS LATER PROBLEM REOCCURED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR