2000 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

CLUTCH FAILURE (BROKEN CENTER) AFTER ONLY 45000 MILES, ALSO TOOK OUT SLAVE CYLINDER IN THE PROCESS. VEHICLE WAS NOT USED FOR TOWING (OTHER THAN THE OCCASIONAL STALLED CAR), THE DEALER HAD NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE AND CLUTCHES WERE ON A NATIONAL BACK-ORDER STATUS. PROBLEM MANIFEST ITSELF AS A "CANT GET TRANSMISSION INTO GEAR". WAS INTERMITTENT ALSO, PROBLEM WOULD HAPPEN AND NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR 2 MONTHS.*JB

REAR TIRE ON PASSENGERS SIDE STICKS OUT ABOUT 2 INCHES MORE THAN THE DRIVERS SIDE. DEALER CALLED FACTORY. DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS IS NORMAL CONDITION. *NLM

THERE WAS A STRONG GAS SMELL IN CAB WITH ALL WINDOWS CLOSED. I CLOSED THE VENT, BUT IT WAS STILL VERY STRONG AND GETTING WORSE. NO FUEL LEAKS FOUND. THIS HAS OCCURRED 5 TIMES. SEEMS TO BE INTERMITTENT AND NOT DIRECTLY CONNECTED WITH RE/FUELING, OR FUEL TANK LEVEL. I WAS TOLD IT WAS POSSIBLY THE ORVR. SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD COMBINATION FOR A EXPLOSION. *JB

WHEN CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60 AND 75 MPH VEHICLE WOULD SURGE, AND SPEED WOULD INCREASE AND DECREASE. THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. *JB

ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR HOUSING GASKET LEAKING. FACTORY INSTALLED. BOLTS FOUND LOOSE.*JB

THERE SEEMS TO BE A WIND NOISE COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD. IS THIS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE? THE DEALER SAID IT WAS. I DON'T TRUST THE DEALER. *JB

THE SLIDING SEAT BELT CLIP ON THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT OF THE 2000 DODGE DAKOTA EXTENDED CAB LOSES TENSION ON VERY SHORT TRIPS (I.E., 3 MILES OR MORE). THIS LOSS OF TENSION HAS RENDERED THE SEAT UNSAFE FOR TRANSPORTING CHILDREN AND ADULTS BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT STAY SNUG AGAINST A PERSON'S BODY AND LACKS A TENSIONING DEVICE. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND DESPITE MULTIPLE DEMONSTRATIONS OF THE DEFECTIVE CONDITION, THE MANUFACTURER ADHERES TO THE CLAIM THAT THE SEAT BELT OPERATES ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS OR THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT IS NOT MADE FOR TRANSPORTING CHILDREN EVEN THOUGH AN AVERAGE ADULT WOULD NOT FIT FOR LACK OF LEG AND SHOULDER ROOM. NEVERTHELESS, DESPITE THE UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION, MY HUSBAND HAS TRAVELED IN THAT SEAT AND THE SEAT BELT STILL COMES LOOSE. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THAT THE SEAT BELT WILL OPERATE IF POSITIONED AT A PRECISE ANGLE WHICH IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DUPLICATE UNDER NORMAL USE. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE TURNING, MY DAUGHTER'S CAR SEAT FLIPPED BECAUSE THE SEATBELT WAS LOOSE.*JB

THE RIM ON THE SPARE TIRE WAS CRACKED ALTHOUGH THE TIRE HAD NEVER BEEN USED. *NLM

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING SLACK IN THE STEERING COLUMN. ALSO, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS CAUSING THE TIRES TO WEAR UNEVENLY. THERE IS A RATTLING AND SQUEAKING NOISE IN THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE. *AK *JB

RADIO WAS POPPING DURING DRIVE FROM SEATTLE TO MONTANA. AFTER A DINNER BREAK IN IDAHO, ENGINE DIED AFTER DRIVING ACROSS BRIDGE TO GET BACK ON FREEWAY. SMOKE WAS ISSUING FROM HOOD (REAR DRIVERS SIDE OF HOOD) BEFORE COASTING TO A STOP. VEHICLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ENGINE WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED - VEHICILE TOTALLED. FIRE CHIEF (SHOSHONE COUNTY, IDAHO) SAID IT LOOKED LIKE THE FIRE STARTED EITHER IN OR UNDER THE FUSE BOX UNDER HOOD. DODGE SENT A FIRE ENGINEER TO INSPECT VEHICLED BUT WON'T SHARE THE RESULTS.