1997 Dodge Dakota engine problems

ENGINE

3 DAYS AFTER WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE THE FUEL SYSTEM WENT DOWN. REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND STILL WANTS TO STALL AND ACT LIKE ITS CLOGGED IN THE FUEL LINES. ITS BEEN FLUSHED. WHEN DRIVING IT BOGS DOWN AND CHUGS. IT WANTS TO DIE AND SHUT OFF WHILE YOUR DRIVING THE TRUCK. THE BRAKES ONLY WORK HALF THE TIME. MOST OF THE TIME I CAN'T EVEN STOP UNTIL I'M HALFWAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. REPLACED ALL THE SENSORS AND STILL DOESN'T WANT TO START AND STAY RUNNING. FUEL PUMP KICKS ON, BUT HAS TO RUN EXTRA HARD TO TRY AND KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING.

NHTSA complaint #10706503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

REPLACED RUSTED RADIATOR.

NHTSA complaint #10455930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

REPLACE RUSTED RADIATOR.

NHTSA complaint #10455931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

CATALYTIC CONVERTER INSPECTION. THERE IS A RECALL OUT FOR 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE WITH A 4.0 LITER ENGINE AND 1997 DODGE DAKOTA WITH A 2.5 LITER ENGINE. I HAVE A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA WITH A 3.9 ENGINE AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT ARE IN THE 2 MODELS DESCRIBED ABOVE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER RATTLES.

NHTSA complaint #10174420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

I OWN A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA SLT. THE ENGINE IS A 5.2 V8 WITH ONLY 45,000 MILES MY COMPLAINT STARTED AROUND 40,000 MILES. I AM GETTING A SEVERE SPARK KNOCK AND A TREMENDOUS OIL CONSUMPTION 2.5 QUARTS EVERY TWO HUNDRED MILES. THEY INSTALLED FAULTY ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD PLENUM PAN GASKETS. THROUGH MY EXTENSIVE RESEARCH THERE HAVE BEEN COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS ON THIS. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CHECKED MY GAUGES I HAD A COMPLETE LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME BECAUSE MY ENGINE STALLED!!! THE DODGE DEALER TOLD ME THIS IS VERY COMMON, SO WHY ARE THEY NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY?

NHTSA complaint #10171759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH A KNOCKING AND PINGING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACED DUE TO OIL SLUDGE. THE VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 6/12/2006 -

NHTSA complaint #10158184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

OUR 1997 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK'S ENGINE FAILED THIS PAST FEBRUARY DUE TO THE LACK OF OIL PRESSURE. WE THEN HAD TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE MECHANIC. OUR MECHANIC TOLD US WE NEEDED TO GET A NEW ENGINE PUT IN SINCE OUR ENGINE WAS FULL OF SLUDGE AND HE SAID IT WAS DUE TO THE LACK OF CHANGING OUR OIL. MY WIFE AND I KNEW THIS WAS NOT THE CASE AT ALL SINCE WE ALWAYS HAD THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES AND WE COULD NOT FIGURE OUT HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED. AFTER PAYING $5,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE, WE WERE OUTRAGED AND DID OUR OWN RESEARCH ONLINE ABOUT THE CHRYSLER ENGINES AND FOUND THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE CHRYSLER ENGINES EVERYWHERE. THE ONLY THING WE'VE NOTICED IN OUR RESEARCH IS THAT THE COMPLAINTS ARE STEMMING FROM THE SMALLER 2.7 LITER ENGINES, BUT WE HAVE A 3.9 LITER ENGINE WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. THERE IS CLEARLY A DEFECT WITH THE CHRYSLER ENGINES REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF THE ENGINE. CHRYSLER SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS SINCE THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE PUTTING OUT THE DEFECTIVE ENGINES THAT ARE CAUSING ALL OF THE SLUDGE TO BUILD UP IN THEIR ENGINES!!

NHTSA complaint #10157202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

TWO DRIVER SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKE OFF. THESE TWO BOLTS WHERE HOLDING ON THE HEAT SHIELD. THE HEAT SHIELD DROP DOWN AND WEDGED IT SELF BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND STEERING SHAFT. THE STEERING SHAFT IS NOW SCORED. THE ONLY REASON I FOUND THIS WAS THAT I KNOW WHAT AN EXHAUST LEAK SOUNDS LIKE AND WENT SEARCHING. IF I DIDN'T I WOULD HAVE NEVER FOUND IT UNTIL MY STEERING SHAFT SEPARATED.

NHTSA complaint #10145933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

60,000 MILES TO AND FROM WORK NO ABUSE BALL JOINTS FAILED AND AC HAS LEAK IN DASH,TIMING CHAIN AND IDLER PULLEY MAKES NOISE. RADIATOR LEAKS TRANSMISSION FLUID PLASTIC TANKS ON RADIATOR.

NHTSA complaint #10104913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CONSUMER WAS REPLACING UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS EVERY 35,000 MILES. ALSO, CONSUMER REPLACED THE IDLER ARM. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY THE SUSPENSION PARTS. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANIFOLD PLENUM GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL INTO THE INTAKE. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE GASKET HIMSELF.

NHTSA complaint #10103527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

VEHICLE IS MISFIREING AND LOSING POWER. DEALER HAS NO SOLUTION TO PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10086774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

THERE WAS A BALL JOINT PROBLEM. THEY MADE A CLANKING SOUND ALONG WITH A SQUEAL. THE PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR A CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEM. *AK *SC

NHTSA complaint #10074079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

AIR CONDITIONING--STILL WORKS BUT AT TIMES IT SHUTS OF THE UPPER AIR DUCTS AND I HAVE TO SHUT IT OFF ON RESTART IT TO MAKE IT WORK RIGHT. ENGINE--- MAKES A NOISE ( STARTED AT 20,000 MILES) TOOK IT TO A DEALER THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS. AFTER WARRANTY WAS UP TOLD ITS THE TIMING CHAIN.AT 92,000 STILL MAKES THE SAME NOISE POWER WINDOW-- PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT WORK OTHER--1. RADIO (TAPE DECK) TAPE DECK TURNS THE WIND AND REWIND ON BY ITSELF. HAVE TO TURN THE MOTOR OFF AND RESTART TO GET IT TO QUITE. 2.HAVE ALL KINDS OF WIRE PROBLEMS, ALL THE PLASTIC COATING COMES OFF AND WIRES BREAK 3.TAIL LIGHT PLUGS WON'T STAY PLUGGED IN PAINT-- CHIPS EASILY

NHTSA complaint #10070823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

BALL JOINTS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10060284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED AT 77,000 MILES. *AK THE VEHICLE STARTED SQUEAKING OVER SLIGHT BUMPS AND WORSENED TO SQUEAKING ALL OF THE TIME, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO MAKE UNUSUAL NOISES WHEN TURNING, AND COOLANT LEAKED FROM THE ENGINE. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10050284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

TIMING CHAIN BROKE. IT CAUSED DAMAGE TO VALVES AND HEAD.

NHTSA complaint #10039286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

LOW OIL PRESSURE AT IDLE SPEEDS. ACCORDING TO DEALER, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 5.2L V8 ENGINE. FIX IS TO REPLACE THE OIL PUMP AND OIL SENDING UNITAT A COST OF OVER $800.00.

NHTSA complaint #10030859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED DURING COLD WEATHER. WAS SLUGGISH DURING SLOW IDLE. MOPAR MECHANIC SAID THAT COMPLETE REPLACEMENT WOULD COST OVER $1000 AND MAY STILL NOT SOLVE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10021258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TWO FREEZE PLUGS WERE NOT REPLACED IN THE BACK OF THE BLOCK, CHRYSLERS RESOLUTION WAS STOP LEAK, HOWEVER AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC PULLED THE TRANSMISSION TO REPLACE THE FREEZE PLUGS AND FOUND STOP LEAK ALL OVER THE FLY WHEEL AREA, EVEN THOUGH CHRYSLER STATED THAT THEY HAD REMEDIED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #566508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WE DISCOVERED A DEFECTIVE ENGINE ASSEMBLY TICKET #311914 STUFFED NEXT TO THE ENGINE. THE TICKET INFORMATION IS BUILD. NO 107, SHIFT 2, H/T PUNCH G , REJECT 1 DATE 3/5/97 NATURE OF DEFECT #5 M/F INSPECTOR 64274, NATURE OF REPAIR 03052654 NDF. WE CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND WERE TOLD THEY DO NOT SELL TRUCKS WITH DEFECTIVE ENGINES. CAN YOU HELP US FIND OUT WHY OUR DAKOTA PICKUP WOULD HAVE THE INSPECTION COPY OF A DEFECTIVE ENGINE TICKET ROLED UP AND TIED WITH TIE WIRE TICKET ON THE ENGINE?

NHTSA complaint #759462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE ENGINE LIFTERS WOULD TAP. HAD LIFTERS REPLACED TWICE . PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALER CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #8002200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON SEVERAL OCCAISIONS. BRAKE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATES. ABS PULSATION EVEN ON DRY ROADS. FRONT PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED AT APPRX. 40000 MILES. SERVICE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT "DODGE ROTORS DO NOT LAST VERY LONG." ENGINE RATTLE BEGAN ABOUT 30000 MILES. DIAGNOSED AS A HEAT SHIELD RATTELING. SUBSEQUENTLY DIAGNOSED AND A LOOSE TIMING CHAIN.

NHTSA complaint #752568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE IS CAUSING A "PINGING" NOISE WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS PRESSED, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT PAN GASKET WAS SUCKING AIR AND CAUSING EXCESSIVE BURNING OF OIL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.

NHTSA complaint #888596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

HEAD OF A BOLT BROKE FROM BASE OF ENGINE MANIFOLD. CONSUMER NOTICED THIS WHILE DRYING SOME PARTS ON ENGINE. BROKEN PIECE WERE NOT LEAKING ANYTHING YET. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #882982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM VEHICLE , FUEL LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK FUEL SPRAYED WHEEL WELL AREA ADJACENT TO THE FUEL FILL AREA, THE LARGE CRACK IN THE LINE ALLOWED LARGE AMOUNTS OF GAS TO SATURATE TRUCK AND GROUND UNDER TRUCK. CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #877599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #735812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE MAKES A PINGING NOISE WHICH DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR, VEHICLE EXPERIENCING HARD START MOSTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD BUT SOMETIMES WHEN IT IS NOT, IT TAKES MORE TIME THAN IS NECESSARY TO START.

NHTSA complaint #784938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CONSUMER STARTED HEARING A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM BRAKES, ALSO REAR SEAL OIL PAN WAS LEAKING OIL.

NHTSA complaint #872637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.