1997 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

BALL JOINT FAILURE.........HAD TO REPLACE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS IN MARCH 2005, AND NOW IN DECEMBER 2007, I AM HAVING TO REPLACE UPPER BALL JOINTS AGAIN. BALL JOINTS IN 1997 DODGE DAKOTA ARE A DEFECTIVE DESIGN, AND WEAR OUT TOO QUICKLY. *TR

DURING 200, SQUEAK IN FRONT END BECAME LOUDER AND LOUDER. HAD TO HAVE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT. TRUCK HAD 95,000 MILES. 2 YEARS LATE SAME PROBLEM WITH SQUEAK IN FRONT END BECAME LOUDER AND LOUDER. NEEDED TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED AGAIN. ONLY ABOUT 10,000 MILES ON TRUCK THIS TIME. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTS OUT OF GEAR WHEN THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE FEATURE IS ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE BEGAN SINCE THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. HE CALLED THE DEALER, BUT BECAME ILL AND WAS UNABLE TO RETURN THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR BEFORE THE THIRTY DAY WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE RECEIVED A NEW STATE INSPECTION IN SPITE OF THE BRAKE AND BALL JOINT ISSUES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE FEATURE DISENGAGES WHILE DRIVING AND THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE COMPLETELY WORN, MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE WHEEL HUB WAS REPLACED AND THERE WAS NO BRAKE LINING ON THE REAR AXLE. THE BRAKE CABLES WERE REPLACED AS WELL. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 116,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE LEAVING HIS DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH IN AN ATTEMPT TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE CONTACT USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE CONTACT OBSERVED BRAKE FLUID ON THE ENGINE AND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE SHOP MECHANIC STATED THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LINE RUSTED WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE REPAIR ORDER STATED THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTY AND ANY ONE OF THEM COULD HAVE FAILED. *AK UPDATED 2/13/2007 - *NM

TL* - THE CONTACT' OWNS 1997 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED THAT BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT BRAKE REPAIR FACILITIES, AND BOTH STATED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT STAYED ON DUE TO THE SENSOR, WHICH MEANT THAT THE ABS WERE TURNED OFF. THE SENSOR WAS LOCATED ON THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR FACILITIES DIDN'T KNOW WHY THE SENSOR WAS FAILING. WHEN THEY INSPECTED THE BRAKES THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES IN WET CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE HAD A DIFFICULTY STOPPING, CAUSING IT TO SLIDE.*AK

CATALYTIC CONVERTER INSPECTION. THERE IS A RECALL OUT FOR 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE WITH A 4.0 LITER ENGINE AND 1997 DODGE DAKOTA WITH A 2.5 LITER ENGINE. I HAVE A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA WITH A 3.9 ENGINE AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT ARE IN THE 2 MODELS DESCRIBED ABOVE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER RATTLES. *NM

I OWN A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA SLT. THE ENGINE IS A 5.2 V8 WITH ONLY 45,000 MILES MY COMPLAINT STARTED AROUND 40,000 MILES. I AM GETTING A SEVERE SPARK KNOCK AND A TREMENDOUS OIL CONSUMPTION 2.5 QUARTS EVERY TWO HUNDRED MILES. THEY INSTALLED FAULTY ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD PLENUM PAN GASKETS. THROUGH MY EXTENSIVE RESEARCH THERE HAVE BEEN COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS ON THIS. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CHECKED MY GAUGES I HAD A COMPLETE LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME BECAUSE MY ENGINE STALLED!!! THE DODGE DEALER TOLD ME THIS IS VERY COMMON, SO WHY ARE THEY NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY? *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT THREE QUARTERS OF WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND FLUID WAS ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE BRAKE LINES THAT GO TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE IS LOCATED IN A SALT BELT STATE. THE MECHANIC INSTALLED NEW PIPING.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE VEHICLE WHICH STARTED IN THE BEGINNING OF JUNE 2006. THERE WAS RECALL #00V199000 REGARDING FUEL LEAKAGE HOWEVER THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THE VIN OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH A KNOCKING AND PINGING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACED DUE TO OIL SLUDGE. THE VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 6/12/2006 -*NM