1999 Dodge Dakota equipment problems

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

I OWN A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA V-8 MAGNUM 5.2L, IT ONLY HAS 138,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN I BOUGHT IT IT ONLY HAD 76,600 MILES. IN THAT LITTLE TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS TWICE, AND THE RACK AND PINION, AND THE WATER PUMP, THE THERMOSTAT, THE POWER STEERING PUMP, THE TIE RODS, AND THERE IS SO MUCH MORE WRONG. WHY AM HAVING TO REPLACE THESE THINGS TWICE IN SUCH LITTLE MILEAGE? AFTER READING UP ON IT THROUGH THE INTERNET I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE PROBLEMS, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS, WHY IS THERE A RECALL ON THE 2000, & 1998 BUT NOT 1999? I AM OUT SO MUCH MONEY AND HAVE ALMOST WRECKED MY TRUCK TWICE BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS, ONCE WITH 6 KIDS IN THE CAR WITH ME AND AGAIN WITH MY 3 KIDS. THIS NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BEFORE SEVERAL PEOPLE GET HURT OR WORSE, DIE!!!

NHTSA complaint #10287467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN. AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE NEW, WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR AND SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A CLUNKING NOISE WHICH GOT LOUDER AND FASTER AS I ACCELERATED THE DEALER COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS. AFTER PICKING IT UP THE UMTEENTH TIME, THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE, I DROVE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP DEMANDING THEY FIGURE IT OUT. THEY PUT THERE QA TECH ON IT AND DISCOVERED IT WAS THE DRIVE SHAFT. THAT WAS REPLACED AND I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, THE TIRES PREMATURELY WEARING, BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THEY WERE REPLACED IN DECEMBER 07 THE LAST TIME, LESS THAN A YEAR BEFORE THE LAST TIME, ALONG WITH NEW TIRES. IT IS NOW APRIL 11, 2008 AND I WAS JUST TOLD AFTER SERVICING THE VEHICLE THEY NEED REPLACED AGAIN AND THE TIRES ARE WEARING. THE AIR CONDITIONING FAILED SEVERAL TIMES, THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WEAR BI-ANNUALLY AND DON'T STOP PROPERLY, AFTER ABOUT 60,000 MILES, THE COMPUTER WENT ON THIS VEHICLE, LEAVING ME STRANDED MANY, MANY TIMES. IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS AND THEY COULDN'T DETECT THE PROBLEM, EVEN AFTER MY PERSONAL MECHANIC TOLD THEM WHAT IT WAS. I HAD TO HAVE THIS FIXED ON MY OWN BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT STICKS AND IS DIFFICULT TO UNFASTENED, THE PAINT ON THIS VEHICLE IS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE FROM EVERYWHERE BUT THE SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE ARE RIDICULOUS AND REALLY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. HOW MANY DEATHS ARE YOU WAITING FOR TO OCCUR BEFORE YOU MAKE THE MANUFACTURER ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR DEFECTS??? IS IT GOING TO TAKE A DEATH TO OCCUR AND CHRYSLER TO BE SUED FOR THEIR NEGLECT AND FAULTY EQUIPMENT?????

NHTSA complaint #10224180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE. SUBJECT ON AIR CONDITIONER COOLING PERFORMANCE DETERIORATING AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF OPERATION.

NHTSA complaint #10200441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

MY SON ESCAPED DANGER WHEN THE TRANSMISSION/TORQUE CONVERTER OF HIS 1999 DODGE DAKOTA WENT OUT ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. AFTER REPLACING THAT AND HEADING BACK HOME, HIS U JOINTS AND WHEEL BEARINGS WENT OUT ALMOST CAUSING ANOTHER WRECK. THESE WERE ALL REPAIRED. SO FAR $3000 IN REPAIRS IN A MONTH. THEN THE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO AS HE WAS DRIVING. NOW THE OIL PUMP NEEDS REPLACED. ALONG WITH THE TIE END RODS, THE TIMING CHAIN, AND THE SERPENTINE. HE'D ALREADY HAD THE TOTAL BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACED THIS SUMMER. HAVING ALL THE RECEIPTS SHOWING REGULAR OIL CHANGES, THE WARRANTY COMPANY REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE OIL PUMP BECAUSE OF SOME SLUDGE IN THE PUMP. NOW I FIND FROM RESEARCHING ON THE COMPUTER THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN DURANGOS AND DAKOTAS. WE'VE PUT $5000 IN THIS TRUCK IN LESS THAN ONE MONTH. THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO ADMIT THE FLAWS IN THIS VEHICLE. THEY HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY HERE. WE ARE JUST GLAD HE WAS NOT INJURED OR KILLED. BUT WE'VE PUT OVER $5000 IN A '99 VEHICLE - WHICH IS UNFAIR WHEN THE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED TO THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10147155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

I HAVE A 99 DODGE DAKOTA WITH 59,000 MILES. I AM CURRENTLY HAVING MY SECOND 4WD TRANSFER CASE REPLACED. FIRST REPLACEMENT WAS AT 41,000 MILES. I USE MY 4WD APPROX 20 TIMES A YEAR AND FOR SHORT DISTANCES. I HAVE REPLACED THE U JOINTS TWICE, THE A/C COMPRESSOR ONCE DUE TO IT BEING LOCATED IN A TERRIBLE PLACE. OH, LETS DISCUSS THE BALL JOINTS AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10107773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

REPLACEMENT OF BALL JOINTS AND ADDITIONAL PARTS THAT WERE WORNOUT, AND THE TRUCK HAD ONLY 68,000 MILES, $900 REPAIR COSTS, DEFINITELY A HAZARD THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVERTED BY THE MANUFACTURER, AND I WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMNT FOR MY PROBLEM THAT ALOT OF VEHICLES OF CHRYSLER-DAILMER DODGE DAKOTA P/UHAS HAD.

NHTSA complaint #10067832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

COMPUTER CONTROLS, LOUD SPARK KNOCK UNDER MODERATE ACCELERATION, UPDATED OSFTWARE ON PCM EXHAUST/EMISSION, LOUD POPPING SOUNDS (BAD CONVERTER) SUSPENSION, LOUD POPPING FROM RIGHT FRONT SIDE UPON SHIFTING, BRAKING, EXITING AND ENTERING VEHICLE, REPL RIGHT UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS, ALIGNMENT

NHTSA complaint #10068837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

1999 DODGE DAKOTA.I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE NEW IN LATE 1998. IN THE FIVE YEARS I HAVE OWNED IT, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TWO BALL JOINTS IN THE RIGHT FRONT. CURRENTLY, A METAL-ON-METAL SQUEAK EXISTS IN THE RIGHT FRONT, AND I BELIEVE IT IS A BALL JOINT. I HAVE LUBRICATED ALL PIVOT POINTS AND JOINTS, BUT CANNOT LUBRICATE THE BALL JOINTS. THE SQUEAK STILL EXISTS. HERE HAS BEEN NO INCIDENT AS OF THIS DATE. I ONLY FILLED IN THE INCIDENT DATE BELOW WITH TODAY'S BECAUSE IT IS A REQUIRED FIELD.

NHTSA complaint #10060438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:WRECKER AND WHEEL LIFT DEVICES

DODGE HAS DENIED ME COMPENSATION FOR A 69% REDUCTION IN TOWING CAPACITY THAT WAS OFFERED TO OTHER OWNERS SOLELY BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED. IT WAS PURCHASED 3 MOS. OLD WITH 3K MILES BEFORE THE REDUCTION WAS ANNOUNCED. I HAVE NEVER BEEN OFFICALLY NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUE TO TOW 2000+ LBS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT CAN THE NHTSA DO TO HELP DOGDE UNDERSTAND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES?

NHTSA complaint #733606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

TOW RATING LOWERED FROM 6400LBS TO 2000LBS

NHTSA complaint #714252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:WRECKER AND WHEEL LIFT DEVICES

VEHICLE GETS SQUIRELLY WHEN TOWING TRAILER 5000 POUNDS)WITHIN RATED 6000 WHEN PURCHASED

NHTSA complaint #714297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TRAILER HITCHES

I WAS RECENTLY NOTIFIED THAT THE TOW RATING OF THE DODGE DAKOTA R/T ONLY WAS LOWERED FROM 6400 LBS TO 2000 LBS. I FOUND OUT ON A WEBSITE. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS TRUE, THAT IT WAS LOWERED IN FEB 99 AND I WOULD RECEIVE A LETTER IN THE MAIL REGARDING MY OPTIONS. THEY WOULD NOT TELL ME WHY IT WAS LOWERED. I ASKED IF IT WAS A SAFETY OR PERFORMANCE ISSUE. THEY WOULD NOT SAY. IT TOOK 2 MONTHS TO GET THE LETTER AND ALL IT WAS A YELLOW CARD TO PUT IN MY OWNER'S MANUAL SAYING THAT THE TOW CAPACITY WAS NOW 2000 LBS. ALL THE LITERATURE I HAVE ALONG WITH MY OWNER'S MANUAL SAYS 6400 LBS AND APPARENTLY, CHRYSLER IS STILL ADVERTISING 6400 LBS.

NHTSA complaint #710006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TRAILER HITCHES

TRUCK WAS ADVERTISED TO BE ABLE TO TOW 6400LB AS EQUIPED, LETTER WAS SENT STATING TOWING WAS NOW MAX OF 2000LB.

NHTSA complaint #710011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

WHEN I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK (JAN. 99) THE TOW RATING WAS 6400 LBS. RECENTLY, DIAMLER CHRYSLER CORP. SENT ME A CARD TO INSERT INTO MY OWNERS MANUAL THAT SAYS 2000# IS ALL THIS VEHICLE WILL TOW SAFELY. WHAT THEY DON'T EXPLAIN IS WHY THE TOW RATING IS DECREASED! IT SEEMS TO ME IF DC IS CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY ASPECT OF THIS ISSUE THAN THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED DURING THEIR OWN TESTING BEFORE RELEASE TO THE CONSUMER. THIS IS THE SECOND MODEL YEAR THAT THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN IN PRODUCTION AND THEY JUST NOW REALIZED THERE IS A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THERE ORIGINAL ADVERTISED TOWING FIGURE? WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS TRUCK THAT DC DOESN'T WANT TO TELL IT'S LOYAL CUSTOMERS ABOUT? I HAVEN'T TRIED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER BUT SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THE SAME MODEL TRUCK HAVE AND DC IS BEING VERY TIGHT LIPPED CONCERNING THE REDUCED TOWING ISSUE, BASICALLY THEY WOULD RATHER "BUYBACK" THE VEHICLE THAN SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE CAUSE FOR THE WEIGHT REDUCTION.

NHTSA complaint #709894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

MANUFACTURER LOWERED TOW CAPACITY FROM ADVERTISED 6400LBS TO 2000LBS

NHTSA complaint #709851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:WRECKER AND WHEEL LIFT DEVICES

WHEN I ORIGINALLY BOUGHT THE DAKOTA R/T, I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD TOW UP TO 6400LBS. I JUST FOUND OUT FROM OTHER SOURCE THAT THE TOWING WAS REDUCED TO 2000LBS. CALLED CHRYSLER SENDING SOME LETTER AND A YELLOW CARD. IS THIS A SAFTY ISSUE?

NHTSA complaint #708547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

MANUFACTURER WHO SOLD VEHICLE, AND ALSO OWNER'S MANUAL STATE THAT VEHICLE CAN PULL UP TO 6000 TOWING POUNDS, BUT IT CAN ACTUALLY PULL ONLY 2000 POUNDS .

NHTSA complaint #841491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:WRECKER AND WHEEL LIFT DEVICES

REDUCED THE TOWING CAPACITY WITHOUT NOTIFICATION OF OWNERS.SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #706907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.