2000 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

THE TRUCK WAS BEING DRIVEN AT APPROX 25 MI PER HOUR. THERE WAS A LOUD THUMP. SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT OF THE HOOD. I PULLED OVER. FLAMES WERE VISIBLE UNDERNEATH. THE HOOD BLEW OPEN AND FLAMES POURED OUT. IN LESS THAN 4 MINUTES THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED. *TR

ENGINE OVERHEATED RELAY AND RELAY BOARD MELTED. CAN NOT REPLACE RELAY DODGE KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND SELLS A RELAY RELOCATION DEVICE. THIS IS DEFECT AND THEY KNOW IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE POPS. SHE ALSO HEARS A CLANKING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V596000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-35 MPH, THE CONTACT SWERVED TO AVOID A CAT AND STRUCK A TREE AND A PARKED CAR. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE KEY BROKE OFF IN THE IGNITION AND THE TURN SIGNAL WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT'S FACE STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL. AS A RESULT, HER TEETH WENT THROUGH HER LIP, HER FACE WAS BRUISED, SHE SUSTAINED A BLACK EYE, AND HER RIGHT HAND WAS CUT AND SWOLLEN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED HOT BRAKE FLUID AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE GRINDING INTO THE ROTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A DEFECT IN THE KNUCKLE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 169,015.

NO SPECIFIC CRASHES THAT I AM PERSONALLY AWARE OF, BUT THERE HAVE SURELY BEEN MANY, POSSIBLY ATTRIBUTED TO OTHER CAUSES. THE FAILURE-SEVERELY RUSTED BRAKE FLUID LINES WHICH HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF BRAKING. IT OCCURS VERY FREQUENTLY IN THE 'RUST BELT STATES', IE MASSACHUSETTS FOR EXAMPLE. REPAIR INVOLVES REPLACING RUSTED LINES AND RELATED PARTS, USUALLY AT SUBSTANTIAL COST TO VEHICLE OWNER. THE REASON FOR REPORTING THIS PROBLEM IS THAT I AM A REPAIR SHOP OWNER WITH OVER 40 YEARS IN BUSINESS, AND I AM SEEING MORE OF THIS PROBLEM EVERY DAY. IT CONSTITUTES A SUBSTANTIAL PERCENTAGE OF MY SHOP'S BUSINESS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS WARMING UP FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES, THE SERVICE CAP ON THE RADIATOR HOSE RUPTURED. THE VEHICLE IS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 117,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA WITH COOPER DISCOVERY A/T TIRES (TIRE SIZE P215/75/R15). SHE OBSERVED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS VERY LOW ON ALL FOUR TIRES. THE MECHANIC STATED THE TIRES WERE CRACKED AND WOULD BE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN AIR. IN ADDITION, HE STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AS OF MAY 23, 2008, THE MECHANIC HAD NOT REPAIRED OR REPLACED THE TIRES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES AND THE VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.

WE BOUGHT A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT IN JANUARY 2008. EVER SINCE WE'VE HAD IT, IT'S RPM GOES UP TO 3 1/2 TO 4 RPMS BEFORE IT SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND AND FROM SECOND TO THIRD. AT FIRST, IT WAS WHEN WE WOULD FIRST LEAVE OUR PARKING LOT, AND NOW IT DOES IT ALMOST ALL THE TIME. WE BOUGHT IT AT KUNES IN DELAVAN, WISCONSIN AND THEY SAY THAT IT'S NORMAL. WE'VE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE OR KNOWN ANYBODY WHO HAS EVER HAD THAT HAPPENED TO. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 67,000 MILES ON IT. IF THIS IS NORMAL WHY IS IT GETTING WORSE THE MORE WE DRIVE IT. *TR

TIMING COVER HOUSING THAT ALSO HOUSES WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT, HAS POOR CASTING QUALITY WHERE COOLANT ENTERS HOUSING FROM LOWER RADIATOR HOSE RESULTING IN EROSION OF MATERIAL AND ULTIMATELY LEAKS OUT RADIATOR FLUID. AFTER SPEAKING WITH CHRYSLER CORPORATE, THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO FURNISH PARS FOR REPAIR OR LABOR TO COMPLETE REPAIRS. EVEN WITH HAVING INFORMATION THAT AN AVERAGE OF 24 PARTS PER WEEK ACROSS U.S. ARE BEING ORDERED AND REPLACED THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO ACT UPON THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE MADE DUE TO POOR PRODUCT QUALITY FOR ENGINE COMPONENTS THAT ARE ESSENTIALLY NON-CONSUMABLE. *TR