2005 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

I HAVE A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA SLT. I PURCHASED IT IN 10/2005. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRUCK SINCE I FIRST BOUGHT IT. RECENTLY I HAD TO REPLACED THE TIRE RODS, SWAY BAR AND LINKAGE, BRAKES, CALIPERS, AND ROTORS. TWO DAYS AFTER I HAD ALL OF THESE THINGS FIXED I NOTICED THAT THE TRUCK WAS STILL SHAKING AND MAKING A LOT OF NOISE. WHEN I BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO DODGE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR AXLE IN THE TRUCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT WHEN THE TRUCK WAS MANUFACTURED THE WRONG SIZE AXLE WAS PUT IN THE TRUCK. THIS CAUSED ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS. I WAS TOLD THAT OTHER PARTS ARE DAMAGED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AND REPAIRED.(REAR BRAKE SHOES, FRONT DISC ROTORS) I WAS TOLD THAT THE AXLE PART IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT I HAVE TO PAY THE $100 DEDUCTIBLE. I WAS TOLD THAT EVERYTHING ELSE THAT IS DAMAGED (DUE TO THE AXLE) AND REQUIRES REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT IS NOT COVERED BECAUSE IT IS CONSIDERED "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR". I WAS GIVEN A QUOTE OF SOMEWHERE AROUND $400. (DEPENDING ON LABOR) MY COMPLAINT IS SIMPLE, I AM BEING FORCED TO PAY FOR DAMAGED PARTS ON MY TRUCK THAT ARE DIRECTLY CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURES ERROR. A PROBLEM THAT CAN BE PROVED TO BE THE MANUFACTURERS FAULT. I WAS SOLD A VEHICLE THAT HAD THE WRONG AXLE INSTALLED. WHICH THEN CAUSED ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS. WHEN I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE MANUFACTURES MADE THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. THEY DID NOT. THEY SOLD ME A TRUCK WITH THE WRONG PART INSTALLED. NOT ONLY IS THIS WRONG BUT THERE SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS. IF THE WRONG SIZE AXLE IS IN MY TRUCK, THERE ARE OTHER TRUCKS THAT ALSO HAVE THE WRONG SIZE AXLE INSTALLED. IT IS DANGEROUS AND SUSPICIOUS. I THINK IT IS EVEN SAFE TO SAY THAT IT IS FRAUD TOO! SELLING TRUCKS THAT HAVE THE WRONG PARTS INSTALLED AND THEN MAKING PROFIT FROM THE REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS. SOUNDS LIKE FRAUD TO ME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING FOR APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN MINUTES WITH THE HEATED SEATS ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMANATING FROM HER VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, SHE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MODERATE DAMAGE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HEATED SEAT MECHANISM WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE COMPONENT WAS NOT DEFECTIVE. IN ADDITION, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILED INCIDENT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 99,000. UPDATED 03/17/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/17/09. *JB

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT(POWER) HEATER BURNT PADDING AND SCORCHED SEAT FABRIC. VEHICLE WAS LEFT IDLING TO WARM UP. I RETURNED TO FIND SMOKE COMING FROM SEAT. I FOUND WIRING CONNECTOR AND UNPLUGGED HEATER. *TR

THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY HAD A TRUCK LIKE MINE COME IN FOR THE SAME REASON, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR. THEY SAID THAT THE SENSOR KEEPS THE BAGS FROM DEPLOYING WHEN IN A WRECK. *TR

BOUGHT A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA WITH 61,000 MILES ON IT...WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH AFTER PICKING UP MY CHILD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE PULLED ME RIGHT OFF THE ROAD ALMOST INTO A DITCH WHERE I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO COME TO A STOP AND GET OUT. TO HEAR THAT MY TIRE IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. THE TIE-ROD HAD BROKE AWAY AND I LOST CONTROL, IF I HAD BEEN GOING ANY FASTER I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE ROLLED THE VEHICLE AND MAY HAVE INJURED MY FAMILY OR OTHER PEOPLE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHERE HE HAD TOLD ME THESE MODELS DO NOT HAVE A NIPPLE TO LUBE THE TIE-RODS SO THEY BREAK OFTEN. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AS COULD HAVE MY MOTHER AND 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER OR EVEN SOMEONE ELSE ON THE ROAD. A VEHICLE WITH 61000 MILES SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THESE ISSUES. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET HURT OR EVEN WORSE KILLED! *TR

LEFT FRONT STEERING ROD END BROKE INTO TWO PIECES CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION, IT BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARDS ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE KNOCKED DOWN THE CONTACT, TRAVELED ACROSS THE STREET, AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS DAMAGED AND THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V460000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE SPEED AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 10/07/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/08/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT LEASED A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT AUTHORIZE THE DEALER TO REPLACE ANY PARTS SINCE THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST DID NOT PROVIDE AN ERROR CODE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A BANG AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE STRUCK TWO PARKED VEHICLES. THE DRIVESHAFT WAS PULLED OUT AT THE SCENE AND THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID ON THE GROUND. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE LEAF SPRING SNAPPED OFF. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY SERVICE AND WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS IN A CRASH, THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY INSTRUCTED HIM NOT TO GO TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 12,000. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF UPDATED 09/11/08

I USED MY DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB TO PULL MY 5,000 LB TRAVEL TRAILER ON VACATION AT THE TIME. THE TRUCK WAS VERY UNSTABLE AND UNSAFE WHILE PULLING THE TRAILER TO AND FROM PIGEON FORGE, TENNESSEE. THE ENGINE IS A 4.7 V8 RATED AT 230 HP AND 290 LB FT. TORQUE. I PURCHASED THE TOWING OPTION PACKAGE WITH THE TRUCK. IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE RATED FOR 7,000 LBS. DAIMLER CHRYSLER FALSIFIED THE TOWING ABILITY OF THIS ENGINE / TRANSMISSION SET UP BY OVERSTATING ITS TOWING CAPABILITY. I BASE MY ACCUSATION ON THE FACT THAT CHRYSLER RETOOLED THIS 4.7 V8 ENGINE FOR 2008. IT IS NOW RATED AT 302 HP AND 329 LB FT. TORQUE YET STILL ITS MAXIMUM TOWING CAPABILITY IS STILL RATED AT 7,000. COMMON SENSE WOULD DICTATE THAT IMPROVED ENGINE SHOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO TOW MORE WEIGHT SINCE IT NOW HAS MORE HORSEPOWER AND MORE TORQUE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE TRUCKS ON THE HIGHWAY THAT MAY BE TOWING AN UNSAFE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT SINCE CHRSYLER OVERSTATED THE TOWING ABILITY OF THE 2005 TRUCKS WITH THE 4.7 V8. I HAVE HAD MY TRUCK IN THE SHOP FOUR TIMES FOR REPAIRS AND THEIR ONLY SOLUTION IS TO TOW LESS WEIGHT. I BELIEVE THEIR OVERSTATEMENT OF THE TOWING ABILITY OF THE VEHICLE WARRANTS A GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION FOR SAFETY REASONS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR KILLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THE TRUCK HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY YARD FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. *TR