2001 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

THE UPPER BALL JOINTS HAVE BECOME LOOSE, CAUSING FRONT END TO PRODUCE A LOUD THUMPING NOISE. *AK *MR

UPPER BALL JOINTS ON 2001 DODGE DAKOTA BOTH BALLJOINTS FILLED AT AROUND 100,000 MI. OF HIGHWAY DRIING. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINT SEPERATED FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SWERVED WILDLY INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, DUE TO RIGHT FRONT TIRE BEING ON ITS SIDE UNDER THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS FINALLY BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL AND TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD.

FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE ON 2001 DOSGE DAKOTA WITH 43,980 MILES ON ODOMETER.

WEBMASTER FOIA REQUEST ALL COMPLAINT/NOTICES/DOCUMENTS OR WARNING BETWEEN NHTSA ND DAIMLER CHRYSLER RE: PROBLEMS MALFUNCTION, FAILURES OF THE UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK FOR MY 2001. (NAR) *PH *CB *JB

TIRES, GOOYEAR WRANGLERS. COMING APART ON THE SIDEWALL ABOUT 1/2 INCH FROM THE RIM. FIRST SET WERE REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS WITH THESE NEW ONES AS WELL. AM I TO EXPECT A BLOW OUT TO GET SOME ATTENTION TO THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING BRAKES WAS SMELLED. THERE WAS A LARGE PLUME OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WELL, AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE TRUCK HAD TO BE STOPPED FOR FEAR OF FIRE OR INJURY. DODGE STATES THAT THE FRONT LEFT CALIPER SEIZED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE RELATIVELY NEW FRONT ROTORS AND PADS I PURCHASED. LAST JULY, APPROXIMATELY 7 MONTHS AGO, THE TRUCK'S RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER SEIZED, CAUSING A SIMILAR SITUATION ONLY ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. DODGE REFUSES TO ADMIT FAULT IN SUPPLYING FAULTY PARTS TO CUSTOMERS. BRAKE CALIPERS SHOULD NOT FAIL UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AFTER 36,000-42,000 MILES. AFTER NUMEROUS OTHER MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE I HAVE LOST COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN IT, AND BELIEVE IT TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD.*AK

2001 DODGE DAKOTA PICK UP BALL JOINST WORE OUT AT 54000 MILES, HAD 1998 DAKOTA ALSO BOUGHT NEW , ALL BALL JOINTS WORE OUT AT 40000 MILES, SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM CHRYSLER HASNT FIXED FOR SEVERAL YEARS.*AK

MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 4W ANTILOCK BRAKES DON'T PROVIDE ADEQUATE BRAKING. VEHICLE DOES NOT BRAKE ADEQUATELY DURING "PANIC" STOPPING. THE ANTILOCK FEATURE RELEASES THE BRAKES LONG BEFORE IT SHOULD. ABS ENGAGES BUT ALLOWS TOO MUCH "FREE-WHEELING" WHICH ALLOWS VEHICLE TOO MUCH TRAVEL. I HAVE SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS. THE LAST TIME THIS HAS CAUSED A REAR END CRASH IN MY TRUCK AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND COST 11,000.00. REPLACING THE AIR BAGS COST 8,500.00. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO 3 LOCAL DEALERS AND THEY SAID THE ABS IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. THE LAST DEALER I TOOK IT TO I TALKED TO THE TECH. HE SAID IT IS A BAD DESIGN. HE ALSO SAID THE MASTER CYLINDER VACUUM CHAMBER IS TO SMALL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND ALL 2001 AND NEWER TRUCKS SHOULD BE RECALLED. I HAVE HAD ANTILOCK BRAKES ON SEVERAL OF MY PREVIOUS VEHICLES BUT THIS TRUCK HAS THE WORST BRAKES EVER. WE NEED A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT TO FORCE DODGE TO FIX DEFECT!! *LA

BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE MAKING NOISE, WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. I ONLY HAVE 29000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. *LA