1997 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

LOUD WHINING BETWEEN 45 TO 50 MPH, REPLACED DIFFERENTAL RING AND PINION GEAR, TO NO AVAIL.

DUE TO DEFECTIVE DRIVESHAFT WHICH WAS OUT OF BALANCE BY 31/2 OUNCE, DIFFERENTIAL AND TRANSFER CASE MALFUNCTIONED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE SHOWS RPMS BUT DOESN'T ACCELERATE AS FAR AS MOVING UP TO SPEED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED & IT MAY BE THE TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION REPAIRS ARE NOT NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY.*AK

THREE INCIDENTS OF LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. 1ST FAILURE AT 16-17K MILES, 2ND AT 36K MI. THESE WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BY DODGE AFTER SOME DENIAL THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM AT ALL. 3RD FAILURE AT 60K MI. DEALER DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH LOWER BALL JOINTS. TWO INDEPENDANT REPAIR SHOPS HAVE VARIFIED LOWER JOINTS REQUIRE REPLACEMENT WITH ONE STATING "VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE OF VERY WORN CONDITION OF ONE BALL JOINT!" UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE ALSO WORN AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE THE FIRE, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF, ON A COUPLE OF TIMES, A CODE 12 WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A MECHANIC FROM THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE CODE MEANT THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I HAVE TWO RECURRING PROBLEMS. 1) I HAD THE TRUCK IN 3 SEPARATE TIMES FOR RATTLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER, SO FAR, REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN AND FAN CLUTCH, BOTH UNDER WARRANTY. ONCE AGAIN, THE ENGINE IS MAKING THE SAME RATTLING NOISE. THIS NOISE STARTED AROUND 58,000 MILES. ALSO, MY ENGINE CURRENTLY HAS AN OIL LEAK. THE DEALER CLAIMS IT IS THE FRONT SEAL. THE DEALER BROKE THIS SEAL WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE SEAL REPAIR. 2) I HAD THE TRUCK IN 3 TIMES FOR ANOTHER RATTLING NOISE IN THE A/C (INTERIOR). THE DEALER CLAIMED THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. THE FOURTH VISIT AND CONVERSATION WITH MANAGER PROVED THAT THE NOISE, IN FACT, WAS NOT NORMAL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPRESSOR. AT THE CURRENT MILEAGE, THE A/C IS ONCE AGAIN MAKING THE SAME NOISE. IN SUMMARY, THE ENGINE IS PRODUCING A RATTLING NOISE. THE A/C IS ALSO PRODUCING A RATTLING NOISE (BOTH ITEMS ARE SEPARATE NOISES AS VALIDATED BY THE DEALERSHIP). *AK

BRAKE CALIPIERS WILL FREEZE AND GET STUCK, CAUSING DAMAGE TO PADS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ON 2/27/2000 I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. MY PROBLEM BEING MY TRANSMISSIOM WILL NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. WHEN IT IS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE THE VECHICLE MAY HESITATE AND NOT MOVE THEN VIOLENTLY SLAM INTO GEAR. ON ONE OCCASION MY NEICE SETTING IN THE BACK SEAT HEAD WAS SLAMMED INTO THE REAR WINDOW GLASS AS THE VECHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. I HAVE A VIDEO TAPE OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILING TO PROPERLY ENGAUGE. I WAS ABLE TO REACH IN THE BACK SEAT TAKE THE CAMERA OUT OF THE CASE INSERT THE BATTERY FILM AND SHOOT A VIDEO OF THE TRUCK SETTING IN GEAR THEN VIOLENTLY LURCHING FORWARD. THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER SAID ON THE SERVICE ORDER "CANNOT DUPLICATE SITITION. I SHOWED HIM THE VIDEO AND HE ADMITTED I HAVE A PROBLEM BUT HE COULDNT HELP ME BECAUSE CHRYSLER WOULD NOT REIMBURSE HIM. *AK

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM PULSATES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO A DISC WHICH IS CORRODED FROM THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLISTERS WHICH HAS CAUSED A HOLE IN THE PLATE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

BROKEN WIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. OWNER HAS HAD THE WIRING FIXED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC.*AK *ML