2000 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

THE DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCKING INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT ACTIVATING THE POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH. THERE IS ALSO A CLICKING SOUND FROM THE POWER DOOR LOCKS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ANOTHER DRIVER TURNED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING 35-40MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BUT THE VEHICLES COLLIDED IN A NEAR HEAD ON POSITION. THE CONTACT WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. THE POLICE TOOK A REPORT AT THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BACKING OUT OF AN ANGLED PARKING SPACE, THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WOULD NOT TURN. THE CONTACT DETERMINED THE OUTER TIE ROD CAME APART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING UPPER BALL JOINT RECALL (04V-596000)THAT CAUSED POSSIBLE COLLISION AND DEATH OF PASSENGER. *TS *NM

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN MY 2000 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK. SHE HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. FORTUNATELY SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP (SHE OF COURSE LOST ALL POWER ASSIST TO THE STEERING AND BRAKES). THE DEALERSHIP DENIED MY EXTENDED WARRANTY CLAIM SO I PURCHASED A REBUILT ENGINE BLOCK AND I AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING IT INSTALLED. THERE WAS EXCESSIVE SLUDGE BUILDUP IN THE MANIFOLD AND A PISTON ROD HAD BROKEN. *NM

2000 DODGE DAKOTA CONSTANT MECHANICAL FAILURE DUE TO THE TYPE OF ROTORS, BRAKE PADS, AND BALL JOINTS THEY USE. THEY USE INFERIOR PRODUCTS THAT DO NOT LAST ON A VEHICLE BASED ON NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. HAVE TO CONSTANTLY REPLACE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ABOUT EVERY 20,000 MILES. THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. DODGE PRODUCTS FROM THE EARLIER YEARS REALLY SUCK. I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THE NEWEST MODELS SUCH AS 2004 AND 2005. *NM

WHEN THE TRUCK IS STARTED THE REAR DRUM BRAKES HAVE A TENDENCY TO LOCK UPON FIRST BRAKING. ABS DOES NOT ENGAGE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. BRAKE OPERATION NORMAL AFTERWARDS. HAD AN ASE MECHANIC ADJUST DRUMS PROBLEM RETURNED FOUR MONTHS LATER. FRONT ROTORS HAVE WARPED TWICE. FIRST TIME THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS/25K MILEAGE. ROTORS WERE REPLACED AGAIN 2 YEARS LATER/50K MILEAGE. REAR DRUMS ARE NOT ADJUSTING PROPERLY. *JB

WHEN THE TRUCK IS OFF FOR SEVERAL MINUTES OR MORE, IT TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS FOR THE ENGINE TO START. THIS STARTED WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 5 YRS OLD WITH ABOUT 70,000 MILES ON IT. IT WILL START IMMEDIATELY IF IT HAS JUST BEEN TURNED OFF. I SUSPECT A LOWERING OF GAS LINE PRESSURE WHEN THE ENGINE IS OFF. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH. IT STRUCK A TREE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. HOWEVER, HE SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. A MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AIRBAG SENSOR FUNCTIONED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT BY THE COMPUTER CODES. HE STATED THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE IMPACT. THIS DETERMINATION WAS MADE BASED ON THE DATA COLLECTED BY THE REPRESENTATIVE. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

THE 2000 4 WD DODGE DAKOTA WITH THE 4.7 ENGINE THAT WE OWN AND BOUGHT NEW (LAST TIME...) HAD AN OIL PUMP FAILURE AT 60K MILES. THE DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE FOR A WEEK TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM CITING SLUDGE BUILD UP AND LACK OF MAINTENANCE AS THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE AND THE REASON FOR THE LONGER THAN QUOTED REPAIR TIME. ORIGINALLY THE QUOTE WAS FOR 6-8 HOURS PLUS THE COST OF THE PUMP WHICH ALSO CAME IN HIGHER THAN QUOTED, WE ENDED UP PAYING MORE THAN TWICE THE QUOTED HOURS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PUMP. THE "SLUDGE" BUILD UP PROBLEM BOTHERS ME BECAUSE IT IS REPORTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET WITH OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM IN THE 4.7 MAGNUM ENGINE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE PICK UP TUBE OF THE PUMP WAS BLOCKED WITH SLUDGE, HENCE THE OIL PUMP FAILURE. WELL THAT IN IT SELF IS ALL UNDERSTANDABLE HOWEVER, WHY DOES IT MAKE SLUDGE...? THREE YEARS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE WHILE CHANGING THE OIL I HAPPENED TO HAVE DISCOVERED A SLIMY SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE OIL FILL SPOUT ON THE ENGINE, ASKED THE SERVICE FOLKS AT THE DEALER ABOUT THIS CONDITION AND THE REPLY WAS YES, THIS IS A KNOWN CONDITION, COME IN FOR THE RETROFIT TO CURE THIS "MOISTURE" PROBLEM IN THE 4.7 ENGINE. THE SERVICE DEPT DID INDEED INSTALL THIS BAFFLE AND CAP AND I ASKED THEN IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CONDITION. NO WAS THE REPLY. SO, MY CONTENTION IS THAT THE AFOREMENTIONED OIL SPOUT SLUDGE PROBLEM WENT HAND IN HAND WITH THE SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. I FEEL THAT THE OIL PUMP FAILURE ON THIS VEHICLE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE GIVEN TO MILES ON THIS, A WELL MAINTAINED ENGINE AND I WOULD LIKE FOR CHRYSLER TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR FULLY AND TO INVESTIGATE THE RELIABILITY AND FAILURE TREND IN THIS ENGINE AND SLUDGE MAKING TENDENCIES LEADING TO THESE FAILURE. RAD. *NM