1999 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

UPON STARTING MY 1999 DODGE DAKOTA, IT IMMEDIATELY WENT FULL THROTTLE AND LURCHED FORWARD, BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE. WAS PLACED IN REVERSE AND VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY WENT BACKWARDS IN FULL THROTTLE. STILL UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH BRAKES, HIT AN OAK TREE WHICH TOTALLY WRECKED THE TRUCK. NOTE: THE TRANSMISSION WAS STILL IN "PARK" WHEN TRUCK WENT FORWARD. THINGS HAPPENED SO FAST THAT MY WIFE, WHO WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK, DID NOT THINK TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION. *TR

I OWN A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA V-8 MAGNUM 5.2L, IT ONLY HAS 138,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN I BOUGHT IT IT ONLY HAD 76,600 MILES. IN THAT LITTLE TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS TWICE, AND THE RACK AND PINION, AND THE WATER PUMP, THE THERMOSTAT, THE POWER STEERING PUMP, THE TIE RODS, AND THERE IS SO MUCH MORE WRONG. WHY AM HAVING TO REPLACE THESE THINGS TWICE IN SUCH LITTLE MILEAGE? AFTER READING UP ON IT THROUGH THE INTERNET I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE PROBLEMS, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS, WHY IS THERE A RECALL ON THE 2000, & 1998 BUT NOT 1999? I AM OUT SO MUCH MONEY AND HAVE ALMOST WRECKED MY TRUCK TWICE BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS, ONCE WITH 6 KIDS IN THE CAR WITH ME AND AGAIN WITH MY 3 KIDS. THIS NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BEFORE SEVERAL PEOPLE GET HURT OR WORSE, DIE!!! *TR

1999 DODGE DAKOTA HAD BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED. NOW THE CONSUMER HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LINE AND WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT ANY RECALL INFORMATION FOR THIS VEHICLE. *NJ THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE BRAKE LINE LOOKED A LITTLE WORN. WITHIN A WEEK AFTER THE BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS WERE REPLACED THE BRAKES WENT OUT. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO HIS MECHANIC AND HAD THE BRAKE LINE REPLACED. *JB

DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. WEAR OF BALL JOINTS RESULTED IN PREMATURE, RAPID DESTRUCTION OF A SET OF TIRES DUE TO INNER SHOULDER WEAR. SET OF 4 TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 1/2 OF EXPECTED TREAD LIFE. TOTAL REPAIR COST DUE TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF BALL JOINTS, INCLUDING NEW TIRES, WAS $1384.93 CONDITION OF BALL JOINTS WAS HAZARDOUS AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT THROUGH SUSPENSION OR TIRE FAILURE. CONDITION WAS ALSO DIFFICULT TO NOTICE, AS THE WEAR WAS ON INNER SHOULDER OF FRONT TIRES. THE BALL JOINT AND TIRE WEAR WAS NOT IDENTIFIED DURING A THOROUGH INSPECTION BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AT 60586 MILES OR BY A DODGE DEALERSHIP DURING 60,000 MILE SERVICE PERFORMED AT 60789 MILES. DODGE IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY HAZARD OF THE FRONT BALL JOINTS ON THESE VEHICLES, HOWEVER DID NOT NOTIFY ME OF THE CONDITION. I AM THE ORIGINAL VEHICLE OWNER, AND THESE ARE ORIGINAL MILES. DODGE HAS DECLINED TO ASSIST IN THE COST OF REPAIR. *TR

INTAKE MANIFOLD PAN GASKET WAS LEAKING. THIS PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED DURING AN INSPECTION BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, CONFIRMED AND REPAIRED BY A DODGE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN DESTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE DAKOTA WAS RUNNING WELL. REPAIR COST $664.72. DODGE WAS AWARE OF THIS WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, AND ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THE YEAR I PURCHASED THE TRUCK. DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS CONSIDERED DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE, DODGE DID NOT NOTIFY ME AND SUGGEST THAT I HAVE THE VEHICLE TESTED WHILE STILL ON WARRANTY. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. DODGE HAS DECLINED TO ASSIST IN THE COST OF REPAIR. *TR

WATER PUMP FAILED. DUE TO RECENT FAILURES ON THIS DODGE DAKOTA, I HAVE ALSO BECOME AWARE THAT WATER PUMP FAILURES WERE COMMON ON DAKOTAS. THIS FAILURE MODE WAS KNOWN TO DODGE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY DODGE. *TR

SHAKY STEERING WHEEL, SHAKY VEHICLE,LEFT FRONT TIRE CUPPING, WEARING UNEVENLY. ALIGNMENT SHOP CANNOT ALIGN, SAID BALL JOINTS ARE DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE UNSAFE, NOW PARKED AWAITING DISPOSITION FROM MFGER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH OR LESS, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD THUMPING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE INTENSIFIED WHENEVER A TURN WAS MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE BALL JOINTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED YEARS LATER AND THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AT 59,244 MILES. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE CHRYSLER BALL JOINTS DO NOT HAVE GREASERS, WHICH THE NEW REPLACEMENT BALL JOINTS HAVE ALONG WITH A LIFETIME WARRANTY. HE BELIEVES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. THE FIRST TIME THE BALL JOINTS FAILED, THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THEM WITH CHRYSLER PARTS. HE BELIEVES THAT THIS IS WHY THEY FAILED A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,904 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 59,244. UPDATED 05/26/09 *BF THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS AT HIS EXPENSE. UPDATED 05/28/09.*JP

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA. THE VEHICLE HAS HERITAGE TRAIL TRAC AP TIRES, SIZE 235/75/R15 (NA). WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CONSTANT SLOW AIR PRESSURE LEAK IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. IN ADDITION, THE TIRE EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRE HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT. IN JUNE OF 2008, THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. IN SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER OF 2008 AND AGAIN IN JANUARY OF 2009, THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN TAKEN TO GET SERVICED PROFESSIONALLY. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, A CLICKING SOUND IS HEARD COMING FROM THE WHEELS. THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE FAILED FIVE TIMES BEFORE WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS CURRENTLY THE SIXTH OCCURRENCE AND THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE SOME ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.