1998 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, AND RESUTLING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

LETTER FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER INFORMING ME THAT MY DODGE DAKOTA R/T, ONE OF 7,000 MADE, THAT IT CAN ONLY TOW 2,000 LBS. THEY MARKETING THE TRUCK AT 6,800 LBS AND HAVE OFFERED TO REFUND $300 FOR TOW PACKAGE $0 FOR HD SERVICE GROUP. THE WILL NOT TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY TRUCK. SOME OWNS HAVE BEEN OFFERED A BUY BACK. CHRYSLER IS SPOSE TO CONTACT ME SOON FOR A DEAL BUT, I CAN'T FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY 1998 SPORT TRUCK OF THE YEAR THAT CAN NOW ONLY TOW AS MUCH AS A FORD RANGER. THEN IT WAS RATED HIGHEST IN ITS CLASS FOR TOWING CAPACITY.

DIAMLERCHRYSLER HAS REVISED THE TOWING RATING FOR ALL 1998 AND LATER DODGE DAKOTA R/T TRUCKS FROM 65OO POUNDS TO 2000 POUNDS SAYING THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION CAN DETERIORATE AND HAVE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE . THEY DO NOT INTEND TO REPAIR THE DEFECT AND HAVE ONLY ISSUED A WARNING TO OWNERS NOT TO TOW MORE THAN 2000 POUNDS . THIS IS NOT SATISFACTORY AS THE TRUCK WAS ADVERTISED MARKETED AND SOLD AS BEING CAPABLE TO TOW 6500 POUNDS AND WILL ULTIMATELY RESULT IN DEATH AND/OR INJURY TO A PARTY . *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED SIDE MIRRORS ARE SO LARGE AND PLACED SO HIGH ON DOORS THAT IT CREATES A SEVERE BLIND SPOT WHEN CORNERING WITH VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD ENCOUNTERED NEAR MISSES WITH PEDESTRIANS IN CROSSWALKS AND SMALLER VEHICLES. *AK

BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS COMPLETELY WORN OUT AT LESS THAN 22000 MILES. THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK RATTLED SEVERELY WHENEVER DRIVING OVER AN SURFACE THAT WAS LESS THAN PERFECTLY SMOOTH, AND AT ANY SPEED. THIS TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN OFFROAD EXCEPT VERY OCCASIONALLY, AND EVEN THEN WAS DONE SO WITH GREAT CARE. *AK

DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT CONTACTED NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OVER PAST 7+ MONTHS WITH EITHER NO RESPONSE OR EXTREMELY SLOW RESPONSE. TANSMISSION/BRAKES/SHOCKS/TIRES, AND SEAT BELTS, NOT REPAIRED TO DATE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235 75R15 )

THE BOLT THAT HAD BEEN SECURING THE SHOULDER ANCHOR OF THE SEAT BELT TO THE FRAME WORKED ITS WAY LOOSE ALLOWING THE ANCHOR TO DISENGAGE FROM THE FRAME. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK *ML

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD STAY IN ONLY ONE GEAR. TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. DEALER CONTACTED. REPAIRWORK DONE TO REMEDY PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDED FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ATF LEAKING ONTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER -SMOLDERING/SMOKE FROM UNDER TRUCK. LEAKS APPEAR TO BE FROM TRANSMISSION TAIL SHAFT /DRIVESHAFT YOKE AND FLING ATF ONTO CONVERTER 3 REPAIRS NO SUCCESS A THIS TIME - REPAIRING DEALER NOT SELLING. DEALER I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A FIRE HAZARD, POOR SHIFT QUALITY DUE TO LOSS OF FLUID. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THER EIS A LOUD NOISE AND LEAKAGE IN THE TRANSMISSION, AND VEHICLE STALLS AND JERKS. PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY GO STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK