EXTENDED CAB DOORS WILL NOT OPEN WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCESS TIRE CHANGING TOOLS. LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, I'VE DISCOVERED THIS HAPPENS TO MANY DODGE DAKOTA EXTENDED CAB TRUCKS. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.
NHTSA complaint #11404762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 35 MILES AN HOUR UP TO 45 AND THE TIRE CAME OFF. IT CAUSED A 3 CAR ACCIDENT. LUCKILY INO ONE WAS HURT BUT I GOT A CARELESS DRIVING TICKET. I FEEL THE TIRE SNAPPED OFF THE DRIVE TRAIN. IT HAPPENED IN 2006. IT WAS LIGHTLY RAINING BUT THIS SHOULD NOT AFFECT A TIRE COMING OFF COMPLETELY.. I CAN SEND IN POLICE REPORT LATER I PUT IN A REQUEST FOR A COPY BUT I HAVE NOT RECIEVED IT YET.
NHTSA complaint #11088813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING TO THE GROCERY STORE ABOUT 30 MPH NEEDING TO BRAKE AND THE FRONT BRAKES WERE GONE. RIGHT FRONT CALIPER BOLT BROKE THREAD AND THE CALIPER CAME OFF THE SPINDLE, STEERING CAUSED MORE GRINDING AND THEN I THOUGHT OF THE EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE. I HAVE REPLACED THE SAME SPINDLE BEFORE, BUT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE NOW OR BEFORE. I CAN';T FIND A USED/NEW SPINDLE TO REPAIR IT AND IT JUST PASSED INSPECTION.
NHTSA complaint #11046501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SWITCHED INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE WHEELS LOCKED AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM MAKING A COMPLETE TURN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS THAT RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,093.
NHTSA complaint #10865413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ISSUE I AM FIGHTING NOW. AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 55 - 75 INTERMITTENTLY THE TRUCK WILL BEGIN TO VIBRATE. IF YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS IT GETS WORSE. IF YOU THEN APPLY THE BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL BEGINS TO SHAKE ALMOST VIOLENTLY, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSES. IF I SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 30 MPH IT STOPS AND MAY HAPPEN AGAIN QUICKLY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR A WHILE. I HAVE REPLACED THE ROTORS AND CALIPERS AND TIE ROD ENDS AND GOTTEN AN ALIGNMENT. STILL THE ISSUE EXISTS. I HAVE NEW MICHELIN TIRES. I HAVE ALSO ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. I HAVE REPLACED THE ROTORS AND CALIPERS 3 TIMES ALREADY ON THIS TRUCK. IT HAS LESS THAN 13000 MILES ON IT. NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I WILL NEVER, EVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER / DODGE PRODUCT. THIS WAS MY FIRST AND WILL BE MY LAST.
NHTSA complaint #10744075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I'M LEFT WITH A DILEMMA. I OWN A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4. THIS VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WHERE THE TRANSMISSION ELECTRONICALLY SWITCHES FROM 2 WHEEL DRIVE TO 4 WHEEL DRIVE WITHOUT THE DRIVER'S CONSENT. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM ACROSS THE INTERNET WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. WE'VE KNOWN THE TRANSMISSION HAS HAD ISSUES FOR A WHILE, BUT (WARRANTY COMPANY) HAS A THEORY OF CAN'T REPLICATE IT, WON'T FIX IT .AND THAT IS WHAT OCCURRED. ON 3/23 WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH, THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO ELECTRONICALLY SHIFT INTO 4LO FROM 2WD, A SYSTEM THAT SHOULD ONLY FUNCTION UNDER 20MPH. IT FAILED TO ENGAGE, CAUSING GRINDING NOISES FROM THE TRANSAXLE CASE AND A SLOW STOP ON SIDE OF INTERSTATE. UPON LATER INSPECTION BY A IN NETWORK REPAIR FACILITY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO PRODUCE A PCM CODE AND MECHANICALLY COULD NOT BE REPLICATED IN THE 2 HRS AT THE SHOP. WE WERE CHARGED A $112.51 AND SENT ON OUR WAY. TODAY 3/28, IT HAPPENED AGAIN BUT IN WORSE FORMAT, THE TRANSMISSION DID ENGAGE 4LO AT 70MPH AND IT CAUSED REAR WHEELS TO LOCK UP AND FREEZE. WE WERE FORCED TO SWERVE UNDER CONTROL TO A STOP IN THE MEDIAN OF THE INTERSTATE AGAIN. WE IMMEDIATELY HAD A LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE PARTS STORE DRIVE TO US WHERE HE WAS ONCE AGAIN UNABLE TO PULL ANY PCM CODES. HE TESTED THE VEHICLE IN THE MEDIAN AND WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY REPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10702319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE SWAYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS DEFLATED AND WARPED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE HOUSING WAS FRACTURED. THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS REPLACED. TWO DAYS AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS FOUND TO BE DEFLATED AND WARPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE HOUSING AND SENSOR WERE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,200.
NHTSA complaint #10593117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014, DURING A TRIP FROM SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA TO LARAMIE, WYOMING, WE SUFFERED TWO BLOWOUTS OF GOODYEAR WRANGLER TIRES IN SIZE P265 70 R16. IN EACH INSTANCE THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE TIRES WERE WELL MAINTAINED AND PROPERLY INFLATED. AT 10:00AM, TRAVELING 65MPH ON INTERSTATE 35, NORTH OF DES MOINES, IOWA WE SUFFERED THE FIRST BLOWOUT. THERE WAS A LOUD WHUP, WHUP, WHUP NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. WE WERE ABLE TO SAFELY REDUCE SPEED AND PULL OVER. WE DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL. WE HAD THE DAMAGED TIRE REPLACED IN AMES, IOWA AT A GOODYEAR DEALER. AT OUR NEXT STOP, I CHECKED THE AIR PRESSURE IN ALL 4 TIRES. THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS AT 32 PSI. I INFLATED THE LEFT REAR TIRE TO 40 PSI TO MATCH THE OTHER 3 TIRES. WHILE TRAVELING 75 MPH ON INTERSTATE 80, EAST OF LARAMIE AT 11:00PM WE SUFFERED THE SECOND BLOWOUT. AGAIN THERE WAS A LOUD WHUP, WHUP, WHUP NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. I REDUCED SPEED AND ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE WHICH SENT THE TRUCK INTO A WILD FISHTAIL SKID. WE CRASHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL AND THE VEHICLE WAS RENDERED INOPERABLE. WE GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK AND SURVEYED THE DAMAGE. IT WAS THEN WE DISCOVERED THAT A PORTION OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE INNER TUBE OF THE TIRE WAS EXPOSED BUT STILL INFLATED. AFTER THE CRASH I WAS MADE AWARE OF A RECALL BY GOODYEAR OF THEIR WRANGLER TIRES. WHILE THE TIRES DESCRIBED ABOVE DO NOT FALL INTO THE DOT NUMBERS OF THE RECALL, I WOULD ASK THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE FURTHER AND BROADEN THE RANGE OF RECALL AS THE BLOWOUT THAT CAUSED OUR CRASH APPEARS TO BE THE SAME AS THE BLOWOUT THAT CAUSED A CRASH IN TEXAS THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATHS OF TWO COLLEGE STUDENTS ON AUGUST 01, 2011.
NHTSA complaint #10576087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE PURCHASED SEVERAL TIRES FOR THIS VEHICLE, AND THE PROBLEM IS MAINLY IN THE FRONT. I HAVE HAD IT ALIGNED AS REQUIRED AND IT CONTINUED TO EAT THE TIRES IN A VERY FEW MONTHS. I RECENTLY (WITHIN THE LAST 6 - 8 MONTHS) HAD THE BRAKES, ROTORS, IDLER ARM, BUSHINGS AND OTHER ITEMS REPLACED THAT DEALT WITH THE STEERING AND THE BRAKING OF THIS VEHICLE AND IT IS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, IT WILL POP, AND WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES IT WILL GRAB, RELEASE THEN GRAB AGAIN. THE BRAKES ARE NOT MAKING A NOISE AND I KNOW WHEN NEW BRAKES ARE INSTALLED THAT THEY HAVE TO ALLOWED TO MAINTAIN THEIR FIT, HOWEVER, ONCE THEY MAINTAIN THEIR FIT, THEY SHOULDN'T START GRABBING. WHEN I HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKES IN A HURRY THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND IT CONCERNS ME THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP IN TIME. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 4 OR 5 YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #10535760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WAS DRIVING AT LOW RATE OF SPEED ON SIDE ROAD. BEGAN TO SMELL BURNING TIRE SMELL. PULLED OVER AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY HOT, SMOKING, DRIPPING BURNING WHITE PLASTIC LOOKING MATERIAL ONTO DISK. GOT BACK IN AND DROVE TO MOTHER-IN-LAW'S HOUSE, APPROX THREE MILES. STILL HOT AND APPEARED CLOSE TO BURSTING INTO FLAME. TIRE AND WHEEL SMOKING AND STINKING. BROTHER IN LAW HIT CALIPER WITH A HAMMER TO MAKE IT RELEASE. HAS NOT RECURRED.
NHTSA complaint #10503141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE INSPECTING THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE PRESSURE THE VALVE STEM FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE VALVE STEM AND TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
NHTSA complaint #10465854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON 9 JULY 2012, I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO T J TIRE AND SERVICE IN RICHLANDS, NC. I WAS THERE TO HAVE TIRES INSTALLED ONTO MY TRUCK. THE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A VERY BAD SITUATION WITH MY VALVE STEMS AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PERFORM THE INSTALL WITH THE CURRENT VALVE STEMS. THE PROBLEM WITH THE VALVE STEM IS THAT THEY WERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND WERE BREAKING AND FRAGMENTING APART. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED CHRYSLER CORPORATION TO SEE IF THERE WAS A TSB OR A RECALL. THEY RESPONDED THAT THERE WAS NOT ONE IN EFFECT OR PENDING. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VALVE STEM IT WAS FOUND TO BE COMPOSED OF AN ALUMINUM STEM, BRASS VALVE CORE AND A CAP OF UNKNOWN METAL/ALLOY. THIS COMBINATION OF DISSIMILAR METALS ON A COMPONENT EXPOSED TO WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS IS NOT ADVISABLE. THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN THE DISSIMILAR METALS AND INCREASED RATE OF CORROSION. THIS COMPONENT IS SUBJECT TO FAILURE AND WOULD POSE A SIGNIFICANT RISK AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #10465276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER ONLY 62,000 MILES MY BALL JOINTS ARE SHOT. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS IN THE PAST AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BALL JOINTS. THIS IS NOT ALOT OF MILES TO WEAR DOWN BALL JOINTS ON A TRUCK, IT IS OBVIOUS THERE IS A DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10423197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WENT TO ROTATE MY TIRES ON MY 2007 DODGE DAKOTA WHICH ONLY HAS 11,773 MILES ON IT. UPON REMOVAL OF THE RIM AND TIRE THE STUD FOR THE LUG NUT SNAPPED OFF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THE ONLY ONE TO PUT THE RIMS AND TIRES ON BEFORE I WENT TO ROTATE THEM. THE STUDS THAT HOLD THE RIM AND TIRE ON ARE DEFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY. IT HAPPENED ONCE SO FAR. THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE, I AM FIGHTING WITH THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT NOW FOR GETTING THIS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, SINCE THE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #10352767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LUG NUTS WERE FAULTY. THE MECHANIC STATED THE LUG NUTS WERE DESIGNED WITH A METAL COVERING THAT MADE THE NUTS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE ABILITY OF CHANGING THE TIRE IN AN EVENT OF A FLAT OR BLOWOUT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,010. UPDATED 08/12/10 *BF UPDATED 08/17/10
NHTSA complaint #10336803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING, HEARD CLUNKING NOISE THAT SEEMED TO COME FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE APPEARED NORMAL, INCLUDING THE WHEELS. I CHECKED UNDER HOOD AND UNDER FRONT END AND FOUND NOTHING BROKEN, MISSING OR LEAKING AND CONTINUED DRIVING. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL LATER FELL OFF WITH ALL STUDS SHEARED OFF. ALSO, ONE LUG NUT ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS MISSING AND SEVERAL OTHERS WERE FOUND TO BE LOOSE, WITH SEVERAL STUDS CRACKED. BOTH WHEELS HAD BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED AND TIGHTEN SOME MONTHS EARLIER. TO CORRECT, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS REPLACED. ALL STUDS ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS AND ALL LUG NUTS WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE FELL ONTO THE LEFT FRONT ROTOR.
NHTSA complaint #10283378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
GROANING OCCURS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE MOVES IN REVERSE AND THE WHEEL IS TURNED ONE ROTATION LEFT. ALSO RECENTLY, A LOUD SQUEAL HAS OCCURRED ON FORWARD VEHICLE MOVEMENT. I AM CONCERNED WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OF BALL JOINT FAILURE AND VEHICLE SAFETY.
NHTSA complaint #10254328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.