1998 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE FELT A LOT OF PLAY IN HIS STEERING WHEEL AND IT WOULD NOT LOCK IN PLACE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. HE ALSO HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE NOISE COULD ALSO BE HEARD WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MOVED BACK AND FORTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW STEERING COLUMN/ARMATURE DUE TO THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 80,000.

THE PAINT IS COMING OFF OF MY TRUCK. I HAVE SEEN QUITE A FEW TRUCKS ON THE ROAD WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. A REPAIR SHOP NEAR MY HOUSE SAYS HE HAS SEEN THIS OFTEN, ALSO. HE SAYS THE PRIMER USED IS PROBABLY THE CAUSE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE COASTED ACROSS THE PARKING LOT BEFORE THE CONTACT COULD APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED AT LEAST THREE LINES AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT OTHERS MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A LATER DATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 89,249. UPDATED 09/15/08 *BF UPDATE 09/24/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAG SENSOR ACTIVATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE BROUGHT IN TO BE PLACED ON A DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,069 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,900.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DECELERATING FROM 40 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE SKIDDED APPROXIMATELY 50-60 FEET. THE CONTACT REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND AFTER REAPPLYING IT, THE BRAKES WORKED CORRECTLY WITHOUT SKIDDING. HIS WIFE ALSO STATED THAT THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN RAINY WEATHER. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,858 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000. UPDATED 01/17/08 *BF UPDATED 01/17/08 *TR

MY TIRES HAVE BEEN WEARING ON THE OUTSIDE FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, I HAD THE TRUCK LOOKED AT AND ALL BALL JOINT UPPERS AND LOWERS ARE BAD. THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 90,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN TO AND FROM WORK FOR THE LAST 5 1/2 YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED IT. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE IS READY TO GIVE WAY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. THE BALL JOINTS HAVE COMPLETELY WORN OUT AND ALSO HAS A VERY NOISY LIFTER IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DRIFTS IN AND OUT OF LANES AT ANY SPEED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. HE WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL ON THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S MODEL, BUT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 03/14/08. *LJ THE SHIFTER DIDN OT STAY IN PARK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DECELERATING AT 3 MPH THE BRAKES FAILED. THE BRAKE LINE WAS COMPLETELY COVERED WITH RUST AND CORRODED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RUST WAS A NATURAL PHENOMENON AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 107,000. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. WHEN I BROUGHT IN THIS VEHICLE FOR THE MANDATORY SAFETY INSPECTION IN 2006 I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE MANIFOLD BOLTS HAD BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE VEHICLE TO PASS THE SAFETY INSPECTION. WITHOUT REPLACING THE BOLTS IT WOULD BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. COST TO ME WAS $561.18. I HAD THE REQUIRED SAFETY WORK COMPLETED. THIS YEAR I BROUGHT THE SAME VEHICLE IN FOR THE REQUIRED SAFETY INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE WARN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS THE SAFETY INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE HAS 63,736 MILES ON IT. I TALKED WITH SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT BALL JOINTS SHOULD BE WARN OUT AT THIS LOW MILEAGE. I ALSO WENT TO THE CONSUMERS AFFAIRS COMMISSION WEB SITE AND THERE WAS NUMEROUS ARTICLES REGARDING THE PROBLEMS WITH THE DODGE DAKOTAS SUSPENSION AND STEERING ASSEMBLIES. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE DEFECTS WITH THESE PARTS. ANY HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED. *NM

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HIS 1998 DODGE DAKOTA, AT A SPEED OF 25 MPH IN DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL GAVE NO RESISTANCE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TAKE LONGER THAN USUAL TO COME TO A STOP. IN ORDER TO AVOID A COLLISION CONTACT HAD TO STEER THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GRASS MEDIAN. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE PICTURES IF NEEDED. *JB