1997 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

MY 1997 DODGE DAKOTA CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, WITH THE ONLY WARNING BEING THE STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE, WHILE BEING DRIVEN DOWN THE ROAD.

WHILE DRIVING ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE LANE, DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THEY DID NOT WORK AND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE LEFT SIDE SEAT BELT CAME APART. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK, AND KNEE INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO A HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK...DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION NOTIFIED CONSUMER THAT THEY COULD NOT VERIFY ANY TYPE OF SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE AND DENIED CONSUMER'S CLAIM. A POLICE REPORT WAS ON FILE. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE AT 30 MPH BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUMP THE BRAKES AND COAST THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIRS SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE MAIN BRAKE LINE, WHICH LEADS TO THE REAR BRAKES, RUSTED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD ENDS WORE OUT COMPLETELY. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE WHEELS WILL FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING. *AK *NM

ALLDATA HAS PROVIDED ME WITH INFORMAYION ON MY 1997 DODGE DAKOTA C/ CAB, IT SHOWS A GENERAL RECALL WITH A TBA # 727 FOR PAINT CHIPPING. I ALSO HAVE INFORMATION THAT THE SAME YEAR AND FACTORY VIN # HAS A RECALL ON THE SAME CONDITION OF THE PAINT BUT ONLY FOR RED TRUCKS, MINE HAPPENS TO BE GREEN. BUT THE PAINT ON MY TRUCK IS PEELING LIKE A 30 YEAR OLD HOUSE. THE PRIMER IS FINE, WHICH FROM TALKING TO OTHER PROFESSIONALS IN THE AUTO PAINTING BUSINESS HAVE INFORMED ME THAT IF THE PRIMER IS NOT CLEANED OR DRIED PROPERLY BEFORE THE PAINT IS LAID DOWN, IT WOULD CAUSE THE PAINT TO LATER CHIP AND PEEL, LIKE MINE DOES. I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN HAVING DODGE LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND TRYING TO AVOID A DEER CONSUMER SWERVED AND VEHICLE ENDING UP CRASHING INTO A FENCE. UPON IM[PACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

NHTSA RECALLS CAMPAIGN 00V199000 AND 00V193000; DAIMLER ISSUED TWO RECALLS ON THE FUEL TANK AND THE BRAKE HOSES. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS DUE TO VIN, BUT IT LEAKED FUEL AND HAD TROUBLE BRAKING. *AK

AT 28000 MILES, BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WEAR. RECENTLY AT 48000 WHEN TAKEN TO GET ALIGNED, THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS DUE TO WEARING ON THE LEFT SIDE AND A BROKEN RIGHT SIDE BALL JOINT. *JB

A KNOCKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DROVE TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *JB *SC

THE VEHICLE'S BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. *NM THE VEHICLE'S FRONT BRAKES ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER LEARNED OF A RECALL FOR BALLJOINTS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY A SERVCE REP THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE MODEL YEAR. *NM