1998 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

WHEN RUNNING THE A/C AND STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT, THEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART, AND CAR JUST QUITS. *AK

ELECTRIC WINDOWS FAILED. I TRIED TO REPLACE THE CIRCUIT BREAKER, BUT IT WAS SO HOT IT BURNED MY FINGERS. THE CIRCUIT BREAKER STAYED HOT AS LONG AS THE IGNITION WAS ON. I HAD TO REMOVE THE CIRCUIT BREAKER AND DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS PARTIALLY OPEN FOR 2 DAYS. AFTER 2 DAYS, THE WINDOWS BEGAN TO WORK AS NORMAL. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING BROKEN.

1. NOISE WHEN RELEASING THE CLUTCH BEGAN DURING A VACATION TRIP IN JUNE 1999, WITH APPROXIMATELY 15,500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. OVER THE PAST 3 MONTHS THE NOISE HAS BECOME WORSE. THE PROBLEM IS BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER WHO SOLD ME THE TRUCK. THEY SAID IT WAS A BEARING IN THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. EVEN THOUGH THE WARRANTY FOR THE CLUTCH IS ONLY 1 YEAR THE DEALERSHIP IS FIXING IT FOR ME AT NO CHARGE. 2. THE ORIGINAL CAB ISOLATORS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE TRUCK MAKING A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHENEVER I TURNED A CORNER OR ENTERED/EXITED A DRIVEWAY. AFTER THE FIRST REPLACEMENT THE CLUNKING STILL OCCURRED SO THE TRUCK WENT BACK IN THE SHOP WHERE THE DEALER "SHAVED" THE ISOLATORS. THAT DIDN'T HELP SO THE TRUCK WENT BACK A THIRD TIME AND ANOTHER SET OF CAB ISOLATORS WERE INSTALLED AND THE CLUNKING SOUND DID NOT OCCUR AGAIN. TO GET THIS REPAIR RIGHT REQUIRED 3 TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND A TOTAL OF 14 DAYS IN THE SHOP. 3. A LEAK OF TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS DETECTED DURING AN OIL AND FILTER CHANGE ON A VACATION TR

SURE WISH THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOTIFY THE OWNERS OF SUCH VEHICLES WHEN THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT SO WE CAN MAKE THE DECISION AS TO IF IT APPLIES TO OUR VEHICLE OR NOT...THE AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS DO IT THAT WAY...I KNOW..I WORK FOR THE BOEING AIRCRAFT COMPANY

WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE CUTS OFF. ALSO WHILE IDLING, GIVING VEHICLE GAS OR STOPPING AT INTERSECTIONS, VEHICLE ALSO CUTS OFF. *AK

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED, AND VEHICLE IS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID. DEALER SAID THAT THEY NEEDED FLUID. THEY PUT FLUID IN AND IT LEAKED OUT INTO THE DRIVEWAY. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR/ NO INJURIES AND NO COLLISION, THE TRUCK HAD TO BE TOWED. *AK

SEAT HINGE TORE FLESH OFF MY COUSINS LEFT INDEX FINGER TO THE BONE. HE NEEDED TO GET 7 STITCHES

DODGE INCORRECTLY OR FALSELY ADVERTISED AND INFORMED PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS OF THE DAKOTA R/T THAT THE TOWING CAPACITY WAS 6400#. OVER ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE, THEY SENT A SIMPLE FORM LETTER STATING THAT THE SAFE CAPACITY WAS ACTUALLY 2000#. IN SPITE OF THIS, THEIR WEBSITE AND PRODUCT INFORMATION STILL INDICATES THE CAPACITY TO BE EITHER 6400# OR OVER 8000# DEPENDING ON THE SOURCE. WHILE CONTINUING TO DECEIVE NEW CUSTOMERS, THEY ALSO ARE STONEWALLING CURRENT OWNERS WHO ARE ATTEMPTING TO INDIVIDUALLY DEAL WITH DODGE REGARDING CORRECTIVE ACTION, BUYBACKS, ETC. I AM AWARE OF AT LEAST ONE REPORTED ACCIDENT IN NEW MEXICO ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE INCORRECT CRITICAL INFORMATION NOT BEING DISCLOSED TO OWNERS AND DEALT WITH BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER CORP.

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

DAKOTA R/T TOWING ISSUE---CHRYSLER CORP. HAS LOWERED THE TOW RATING ON THE DAKOTA R/T MODELS FROM 6400 LBS. TO 2000 LBS.. AT FIRST THEY TOLD ME IS WAS THE SPEED RATING OF THE TIRES. WHEN I ASKED WHY THEY DO NOT JUST CHANGE THE TIRES THEY TOLD ME IT WAS IN THE LOWERED SUSPENSION THAT COULD CAUSE FRAME FAILURE. I BELIEVE IT IS TIME FOR CHRYSLER TO OFFICALLY SAY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I ALSO HAVE A 1997 DAKOTA WORK TRUCK AND I BOUGHT THE 1998 DAKOTA R/T TO USE AS A TOW VEHICLE FOR MY CLASSIC CAR. CHRYSLER HAS OFFERED TO BUY BACK THE TRUCK BUT I WOULD LOSE ABOUT $3500 IN COSTS AND INTEREST. I AM NOT INTERESTED IN LOSING ANY MONEY ON THIS TRUCK BECAUSE CHRYSLER MADE A MISTAKE. LIKE I SAID EARLIER IT IS TIME FOR CHRYSLER TO OFFICALLY SAY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE APPRECIATED. CHARLIE HINES