2001 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 20,000 MILES. KNOWN ISSUE ON DODGE DURANGOS THAT SHARE THE SAME SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. BALL JOINTS ARE THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE WHEELS IN LINE AND FAILURE COULD RESULT IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT. *NM

WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS BEING USED,MY 2001 DAKOTA QC WILL SURGE. THE TACHOMETER WILL JUMP A LITTLE AND THE VEHICLE WILL JERK SLIGHTLY. THE PICKUP HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 6 WEEKS WITH NO ANSWERS!*AK

WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB AT NIGHT, ALL OF THE LIGHTS (EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR) STARTED FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY. THIS COULD EASILY STARTLE THE DRIVER OR THE DRIVERS OF OTHER VEHICLES, AND COULD LEAVE THE VEHICLE WITH NO LIGHTS. DEALER DIAGNOSIS REVEALED A BAD CENTRAL TIMER MODULE (CTM) WHICH CONTROLS THE LIGHTING SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE. ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE GATHERED ON VARIOUS DODGE FORUMS REVEALED SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THIS SAME PROBLEM. DAIMLER CHRYSLER SHOULD BE QUERIED ON HOW MANY OF THESE MODULES THEY ARE REPLACING ON 1998-2004 DODGE DAKOTAS.

WHILE SITTING INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO FALL BACKWARDS. DRIVER DROVE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE SEAT. *AK

WHILE SITTING, INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO FALL BACKWARDS. NO INJURIES REPORTED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRAME TO SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A WORN OUT PART. *AK

BRAKE ROTORS WARPING ON 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. CAUSE UNEVEN WHERE ON BRAKE ROTOR AND EVENTUAL REPLACEMENT LESS THAN 10K.

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY LOCKED UP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED THEM FIVE TIMES. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

DODGE DAKOTA ROTOR WARPS. I HAVE LESS THAN 16,000 MILES AND THE CAR BEGAN SHAKING UPON APPLYING BRAKES. INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD MY ROTORS WERE WARPED. OFFERED TO TURN AT MY EXPENSE. NO OTHER SOLUTIONS OFFERED. RESEARCHED PROBLEM AND FOUND TO BE WIDESPREAD. TAKING VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER. ALSO LIFTGATE IMPROPERLY LATCHES UNLESS SLAMMED HARD. A/C BLOWER MOTOR WENT OUT IN WINTER AND WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR WINDOWS.

FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AT 50,000 MILES.*AK THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN ON A TEST DRIVE AND THE NOISE COULD BE HEARD FROM THE LEFT FRONT BEARING. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS PLAY IN THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING. THE HUB AND BEARING WERE REPLACED. FOUR MONTHS LATER THERE WAS A HUMMING NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND PLAY IN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING. *NM