25 of the
240 complaints about the 1994 Dodge Dakota are about the
electrical system — 10% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
161,000 miles.
FRONT LEFT DOOR SNAPPED OFF. I CAN'T OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. ALSO, BOTH SEAT BELTS SNAPPED, THE AIR AND HEAT DOESN'T WORK, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, WHICH AFFECTED THE STEERING. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED THREE TIMED, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE POWER AND THE ENGINE WOULD DIE. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER RATTLED. THERE WAS A ROUGH IDLE AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE, THE TIRES WORE OUT PREMATURELY. ALSO, I HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. THE IDLER ARM IS IN THE PROCESS OF BREAKING, THE IGNITION BROKE AFTER THE KEYS BECAME STUCK, THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND THE BEARING AND BUSHING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10512159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 161,000 milesPlainfield, IN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
NO FAILURE JUST YET. EVERY SO OFTEN THE AIR BAG, ABS LIGHT COMES ON ONCE THAT HAPPENS THE FAN STOPS WORKING, THE POWER WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK. NOW MY HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT WORK AT ALL BUT MY PARKING LIGHTS WILL. I HAVE TRIED TO GET THE DEALER TO FIX IT UNDER A RECALL THEY WON'T DO IT. I KNOW IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10121159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELK Grove Village, ILFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE POWER SUPPLY TO THE MAIN COMPUTER FAILED POSSIBLY CAUSING A FIRE UNDER THE DASH, ENTIRE CAB CAUGHT ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #785957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Warner Robins, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED/HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT/SWITCH SHOWED OVERHEATING DAMAGE AND ALSO MELTED SOME OF THE WIRING IN THE CABLING UNDER THE DASH/COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING BEFORE FAILURE/LOST LIGHTS AT NIGHT
NHTSA complaint #717255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baraboo, WI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
BARE WIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN SHORTED OUT, CAUSING THE COVER TO MELT. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #846977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BAY City, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY EXPLODED AFTER CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND NEITHER HAD ANYTHING POSITIVE TO SAY. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE OR HELP IN THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #844660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dayton, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
THE BATTERY FEED WIRE FAILS AND CAUSES THE FUEL PUMP TO FAIL BY SHORTING OUT THE CHIP,THEREBY RAISING THE COSTS OF REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #707773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Salisbury, NCFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS BLAMED FOR THE FOLLOWING SITUATION. VEHICLE'S OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART FOR SEVERAL HOURS. 15 DAYS LATER, THE GAS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. DRIVER GOT OUT AFTER REALIZING THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE TRUCK RESTARTED ON ITS OWN AND PROCEEDED ACROSS A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #540162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Edmonds, WA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
WHEN ENGINE STARTED UP THE TOP OF THE BATTERY BLEW OFF, CREATING SMOKE.
NHTSA complaint #523084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NHTSA complaint #510653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Edinsboro, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
FRONT WIRING HARNESS APPEARS TO BE TOO SHORT. WHEN WHEEL GOES UP IT BRAKES THE WIRING. *AK WIRES HAVE BROKEN AND TOUCHED OTHER WIRES, IT ALSO PULLS INSULATION FROM WIRES WHERE THEY CONNECT INTO THE MALE PLUG EXPOSING BARE WIRES. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #987220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tomball, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
ORIGINAL BATTERY EXPLODED, CUTTING THROUGH HOOD INSULATION AND SPREADING FRAGMENTS UPON STARTING TRUCK. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #986862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Henderson, NV
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON,THE HEADLIGHTS/NTERIOR LIGHTS/BRAKES LIGHT AND DASH LIGHTS ALL GO OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #985243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elizabeth, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DEFECTIVE WIRING WITHIN WIRING HARNESS OR IGNITION SWITCH CAUSES LOSS OF DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER BLOWER; RENDERS POWER WINDOWS USELESS;AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON.
NHTSA complaint #982290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ST. Louis, MOCrash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
NHTSA complaint #488830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Phenix City, AL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
RECALL #627 MODIFIED BY CARL GREGORY CHRYSLER HAS FAILED RESULTING IN KEY LODGING/LOCKING STEERING COLUMN. DRIVER HAS LOST CONTROL DUE TO FAILURES. TT
NHTSA complaint #974773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waycross, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ABS BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING, SYSTEM FAILS TO STOP. BRAKES REPLACED TWICE. TT CONSUMER STATES BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS FELT SPONGY, IN JUNE THE SHOES AND PADS WERE REPLACED, ONE MONTH LATER A ROTOR WAS FOUND CRAKCED AND WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE PADS, IN SEPTEMBER THE SHOES AND MASTER CYLINDER WERE REPLACED, IN OCTOBER BRAKES DID NOT WORK AT ALL WHEN TRYING TO STOP, THE VERY NEXT THE SAME THING OCCURRED. IDLER ARM FELL OFF, BOTH TIE ARMS WERE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR, THE FRONT END FELL OUT AGAIN WHILE DRIVING CAUSING VEHICLE TO A DITCH, EVEN AFTER REPAIRS THERE IS A POPPING NOISE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO IN FORWARD WHEN PUT IN DRIVE, A SINGLE WIRE IN THE WIRING ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN BURNT BY RUBBING AGAINST THE ENGINE, DEALER REPLACED THE WHOLE WIRING HARNESS. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #972488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pasadena, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TRUCK HAS COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE SHUTTING DOWN AT ANY TIME W/CAUSE NOT REPLICATED @ DEALERS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #971684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Glendale, AZ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. TT
NHTSA complaint #970966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Syra, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
INTERMITTENT STALLING. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #489419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW Baltimor, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TRUCK WILL STALL WITH NO WARNING. PROBLEM EVALUATED AND REPAIRED NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO CHANGE IN CONDITION. TT
NHTSA complaint #964558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Growing Mead, 00
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN VEHICLE IS AT IDLE SPEED/COMPLETE STOP SIGN, IT EXPERIENCES POOR ACCELERATION WHEN TAKING OFF. TT
NHTSA complaint #959923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Growing Mead, 00
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
REPLACED HORN.
NHTSA complaint #959923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lancaster, MA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TRUCK HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP ABOUT TEN TIMES IT BACK FIRE, WILL NOT START TRUCK JUST DIES. TT
NHTSA complaint #959513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.