2001 DODGE DAKOTA Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING WHEN AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON. THIS WAS DUE TO THE FAN CLUTCH NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, OIL PRESSURE GAUGE IS BROKEN IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND SO IS NOT REPORTING OIL PRESSURE ACCURATELY. THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT GAUGE CLUSTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO REPAIR THIS. *KB

Mileage: 215,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CENTRAL TIMING MODULE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART THE IGNITION LIGHTS FLASH WHEN HE REMOVED THE KEY, THE HORN BLOWS, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD GET THE PART BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT WILL ARRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 179,000.

Mileage: 178,000

THE HEAT QUIT WORKING IN OUR 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. IT WOULD NOT WORK ON ANY OF THE BLOWER SETTINGS. I BEGAN LOOKING UP POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM. I REPLACED THE FUSE, AND IT STILL DIDN'T WORK. I ALSO REPLACED THE RESISTOR. WHILE LOOKING ONLINE FOR OTHER OPTIONS, I REALIZED THAT MANY VEHICLES FROM DODGE FROM THAT YEAR AND SURROUNDING YEARS HAD A COMMON PROBLEM. EVERYONE HAD MENTIONED THE WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED. SURE ENOUGH, I WENT AND CHECKED AND IT WAS MELTED JUST BEFORE WHERE THE RESISTOR PLUGS IN. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

COOLANT WAS LEAKING NEAR CAP, COULD NOT REPLACE BECAUSE DEALER CLOSED ,DEALER ONLY PART,TRIED DUCT TAPE FOR TEM. FIX UNTIL DEALER OPENED, DID NOT STOP LEAK, WAS STILL WET AT CAP GAVE CAP A TWIST TO INSURE TIGHTNESS,,, PLASTIC HOUSING SUFFERED MAJOR FAILURE, SPLIT APART AND COVERED ME WITH SCALDING COOLANT,2ND DEGREE BURNS ON 10% OF ME.. BEWARE IF YOU HAVE THE 2.5 L ENGINE THEN YOU HAVE THIS SETUP. ALL DODGE NEEDED TO DO IS MAKE THAT THIN PLASTIC PIECE OF JUNK A BIT THICKER. *TR

Mileage: 114,349

MY VEHICLE WAS RECALLED BUT THE DAY I WAS GOING TO BRING IT IN THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING AND THE MOTOR IS NO MORE GOOD. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS GOOD AND IT WAS GOING ON FOR A WHILE. MY FATHER CHANGED THE HEAD GASKETS BUT IT DID NOT HELP. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

STUDS ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD BROKE CAUSING EXHAUST GASES TO ENTER THE CAB OF THE TRUCK. *TR

Mileage: 106,711

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE SALES LOT, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THEY FILED BANKRUPTCY AND WERE CLOSED DOWN. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V555000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR ONE ISSUE UNDER THE RECALL, BUT ANOTHER ISSUE HAD TO BE REPAIRED FOR $700 AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE SHE WAS THE SECOND OWNER, SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,289. UPDATED 09/10/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED EVEN AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED, HE IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE GEAR SHIFT. UPDATED 09/11/08*JB

Mileage: 85,289

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN SHUTTING OFF AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE DOOR HINGES BEGAN COMING APART ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, AND THE MIDDLE OF THE DOOR ALSO BEGAN TO RIP. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS UNTIL AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE CONTACT WELDED THE DOOR IN PLACE; HOWEVER, IT HAS BEGUN TO COME APART AGAIN AND WILL NOT REMAIN LOCKED. THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS ALSO COME OFF TRACK. THE CONTACT HAD TO ADD GLUE TO SECURE THE WINDOW IN PLACE. IN APRIL OF 2008, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE RELATED TO THE EMISSION PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK. THE RECALL REPAIR HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED. THE CONTACT HAS PHOTOS. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,997. UPDATED 05/28/08 *BF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP WAS LOOSING PRESSURE AND THE RADIATOR OVERFLOW HOSE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 05/27/08

Mileage: 10,000

2001 DODGE DAKOTA AND THE NOT ABLE TO BE REMEDIED AND INADEQUATE 4.7L ENGINE. *TR

Mileage: 88,400

ENGINE STALLING AND / OR FAILURE SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING SOMETIMES AT STARTUP. I HAVE HAD THIS 2001 DODGE DAKOTA FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS THIS PROBLEM WILL OCCUR AT ANYTIME. EACH TIME I WOULD TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC THE TRUCK WOULD BE RUNNING GOOD AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THEY HAVE SCANNED THE ENGINE AND FOUND NO FAULTS. I HAVE READ OF MANY CUSTOMERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEMS AND I JUST CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL BY THE CHRYSLER CORP. ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

HEATER CORE HAS GONE OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME CAUSING HOT COOLANT TO BE LEAKED ON MY FEET IN THE CAB AND FOGGING THE WINDOWS SEVERELY WHILE DRIVING. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY MODEL YEAR DAKOTA. RESEARCH ALSO SHOWS THAT ONCE YOU HAVE THE PROBLEM THEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN FREQUENTLY WITH NO FINAL FIX. I FEEL THIS IS DANGEROUS AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE A PERMANENT FIX. MY FIRST FAILURE WAS AT 58K MILES AND NOW MY SECOND IS AT 69K. *JB

Mileage: 69,035

I BOUGHT A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 4WD A MONTH AGO. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, TIMING CHAIN, WATER PUMP AND NOW THE TRANSFER CASE HAS GONE BAD. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 55000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE ONLY MADE ONE PAYMENT ON THE TRUCK AND HAVE PAID THE REPAIR SHOP OVER $1500 IN REPAIR COSTS. THEY ONLY TIME THAT I HAVE GOT TO DRIVE THE TRUCK IS TO THE REPAIR SHOP EXCEPT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, A TRUCK WITH LOW MILES LIKE THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT THIS TIME PUT THEY COULDN'T MAKE ANY PROMISES. WE PAID FOR EVERYTHING ELSE TO GET FIXED AND I REFUSE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING ELSE. I PAID $10,000 FOR A TRUCK THAT I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE, I'M ACTUALLY SCARED TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. APPARENTLY DODGES ARE PIECES OF CRAP TO PUT IT POLITELY. *JB

Mileage: 55,000

I BOUGHT A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 4WD A MONTH AGO. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, TIMING CHAIN, WATER PUMP AND NOW THE TRANSFER CASE HAS GONE BAD. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 55000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE ONLY MADE ONE PAYMENT ON THE TRUCK AND HAVE PAID THE REPAIR SHOP OVER $1500 IN REPAIR COSTS. THEY ONLY TIME THAT I HAVE GOT TO DRIVE THE TRUCK IS TO THE REPAIR SHOP EXCEPT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, A TRUCK WITH LOW MILES LIKE THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT THIS TIME PUT THEY COULDN'T MAKE ANY PROMISES. WE PAID FOR EVERYTHING ELSE TO GET FIXED AND I REFUSE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING ELSE. I PAID $10,000 FOR A TRUCK THAT I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE, I'M ACTUALLY SCARED TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. APPARENTLY DODGES ARE PIECES OF CRAP TO PUT IT POLITELY. *JB

Mileage: 55,000

BOUGHT THE TRUCK USED AND THE TEMPERATURE AND OIL PRESSURE GAUGE STARTED TO FLUCTUATE AND ENGINE KILLED OVER. NOW, REPAIR SHOPS ARE STATING THAT THEY ARE NOW SEEING THIS PROBLEM QUITE FREQUENTLY FOR THE 4.7L DODGE DAKOTA ENGINES BECAUSE OF THE OIL PAN PROXIMITY TO THE ENGINE. REPAIR SHOPS STATED A NEW/REBUILT ENGINE IS NEEDED: ~$3,500-$5,000 JUST FOR THE ENGINE AND ~$1,000 FOR LABOR! *JB

Mileage: 94,500

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK. THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A NOISE, AND THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 48,900. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE COIL SPRING CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE HEAD GASKET . THE MECHANIC STATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. *AK

Mileage: 48,985

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED, THE DEALER NOTICED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE SWITCH AND CLEANED IT WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. UPDATED 11/30/2006 - THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE DEALER DETERMINED THERE WAS A VACUUM LEAK. THE WHEEL CYLINDER LOCKED UP. *NM

Mileage: 33,400

LOSS OF ENGINE COMPRESSION, WHICH RESULTED IN THE #3 CYLINDER MISFIRING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYING ON AND NOT ABLE TO RESET. VEHICLE WAS AT THE MECHANICS SHOP FOR 2 WEEKS. AFTER RECEIVING VEHICLE BACK, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. WHEN THE PROBLEM OF THE #3 CYLINDER MISFIRE WAS DETECTED, IT WAS CAUSED BY 2 VALVES BEING BENT, WHICH ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC WAS DUE TO A CARBON BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE. VEHICLE IS AND ALWAYS WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND NEVER HAD ANY SORT OF MECHANICAL PROBLEM. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND PURCHASED NEW IN 2001, ONLY HAD 63,000 MILES ON IT. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP PARTS DEPARTMENT, THE 4.7L ENGINE IS KNOWN FOR A CARBON BUILD UP AROUND 50,000 MILES OR SO AND THE PROBLEM THAT I HAD WAS NOT AN UNCOMMON ONE. WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT WAS ONE OF THE KINKS THAT DODGE NEVER COULD CORRECT. GEE THANKS! I CORRECTED THE PROBLEM MYSELF, HOWEVER, I TRADED IT IN ON A 2006 TOYOTA TUNDRA. IT'S NO WONDER WHY THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY IS IN SUCH POOR SHAPE! *NM

Mileage: 63,213

2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUADCAB BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AGO, FROM THIS DATE, 09/15/06. BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ON. AFTER CHARGING ME $500.00 + FOR A TUNE-UP, CLEANING THE INJECTORS, AND REPLACING AN OXYGEN SENSOR, THE DEALERSHIP STILL COULD NOT MAKE THE TRUCK RUN SMOOTHLY. THEY ENDED UP TELLING ME THAT IF I LEFT IT WITH THEM FOR A WEEK OR SO THAT THEY COULD POSSIBLY DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AND IT WAS PROBABLY GOING TO ENTAIL THEM REMOVING THE HEADS AND WOULD BE A MINIMUM OF $1,000.00. I WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT MY FRONT END NEEDED TO BE ALIGNED. I JUST PUT THE TIRES ON LAST SUMMER, HAD ALL THESE PROBLEMS CHECKED BY ANOTHER MECHANIC. FRONT END DID NOT NEED ALIGNING BUT THEY DID DETERMINE THE PROBLEM WITH RUNNING ROUGH. SEEMS THAT DUE TO A CARBON BUILD-UP INSIDE THE CYLINDER, SOME CARBON ACTUALLY GOT INTO THE #3 CYLINDER AND CAUSED THE VALVE TO BEND SLIGHTLY. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND IT ONLY HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE NEVER RAN IT HOT, WITHOUT OIL AND ALWAYS MAKE SURE I MAINTAIN MY MAINTENANCE ON IT. LAST YEAR, MY FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED, AT $900.00 WHICH IN TURN RUINED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS. THE DEALERSHIP THEN TOLD ME THAT THE BOOTS IN THE CALIPERS WERE DRY ROTTED. I LIKE THE TRUCK BUT IT SEEMS AS IF SINCE I PAID IT OFF 3 YRS. AGO, I HAVE HAD SOME SORT OF MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH IT EVERY YEAR SINCE THEN. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS VEHICLE TO ANYONE, UNLESS THEY WERE A MECHANIC. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT A LOT OF IT IS DUE TO POOR WORKMANSHIP. WHAT A SHAME, IT IS NO WONDER WHY THE U.S. AUTO INDUSTRY IS IN SUCH BAD SHAPE. *JB

Mileage: 62,950

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, A WHISTLING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER THE HOOD. UPON CHECKING, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE HOSE CONNECTED TO THE INTAKE PLENUM WAS BROKE AND HAD SPLIT AT THE END ALONG THE MOLD MARK AND WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. THERE WAS ENOUGH SLACK TO CUT BACK TO A GOOD SECTION OF THE HOSE AND IT WAS REATTACHED. A WEEK LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THAT A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT HOSE WAS ALSO SPLIT AT THE END. THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP CUT THE HOSE BACK TO A GOOD SECTION AND REATTACHED THE HOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED BUT THE CLAIM WAS DENIED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - AS OF 9/15/06 THE HOSE THAT ATTACHES TO THE INTAKE PLENUM HAS STARTED TO CRACK AGAIN. *NM

Mileage: 32,976

2001 DODGE DAKOTA PICK UP, LOSS OF STEERING, RESULTING IN A OFF THE ROAD CRASH AND ROLLOVER WITH INJURIES. (ONE MOMENT LATER COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DEATHS.) *JB

JUST BOUGHT A DAKOTA TRUCK 2 WKS AGO, SECOND DAY ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND CAR KEPT STALLING WHEN DRIVING, IT COMPLETELY TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT ALSO DOES NOT CHANGE GEAR; IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET GOING. THIS HAPPENED 1/18/06. ON 2/10/06 I NOTICED AN IDLING SOUND RIGHT AFTER BREAKING AND IT DIDN'T WANT TO STOP. VERY UNSAFE DRIVING WITH CHILDREN. UNCERTAIN OF ITS BRAKES AND THE COMPLETE SHUT OFF OF TRUCK & OR STALLING WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO CHRYSLER AND WANTED TO CHARGE $170. FOR DIAGNOSTIC WORK 2 WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT IT. WHY HAVEN'T THEY RECALLED THESE TYPE OF UNSAFE VEHICLES? *NM

ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2005, I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM FINDLAY, OH, I WAS ABOUT 37 MILES FROM HOME WHEN THE CHECK GAUGES LIGHT CAME ON AND THE OIL PRESSURE GAGE DROPPED TO 0. I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY INTO A PARKING LOT AT WHICH TIME THE TRUCK WOULDN'T START. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE DUE TO SLUDGE BUILD UP CAUSED BY IMPROPER MAINTENANCE. I CHANGE MY OIL ON A REGULAR BASIS. I HAVE A DODGE NEON WITH OVER 120,000 MILES AND MY PREVIOUS CAR WAS A 1987 CHEVY NOVA WITH OVER 199,000 MILES. *NM

Mileage: 61,300

CONSUMER STATES: THAT ABS LIGHT, ENGINE LIGHT, AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. THE CLUTCH PACKED IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS HALF INCH LONG , AND ITS JOB IS TO HOLD THE CLUTCHES AND LEMON SLIPPED DIFFERENTIAL, AND IT FAILED. IT CAME OUT AND SHREDDED SPEED SENSOR IN REAR DIFFERENTIAL. *AK

Mileage: 56,982

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. *AK

Mileage: 62,910

WHEN COLD MY 2001 DAKOTA STUTTERS FROM 2300 TO 2500 RPM. WHEN I TALK TO OTHER DAKOTA OWNERS THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS FOR SOMEONE NOT INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS RELEASED, THE ENGINE IDLED HIGH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB WHEN MOVING SLOWLY OR ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO IDLE HIGH A WHILE BEFORE IT WOULD IDLE DOWN. THE VEHICLE'S THROTTLE SENSOR AND AIR SENSOR WERE REPLACED. *NM

2001 DODGE DAKOTA EQUIPPED WITH A 4.7 LITER EIGHT CYLINDER ENGINE WITH 46024 MILES BEGAN TO HAVE A LIGHT KNOCK. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO METROLINA DODGE WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SPUN A ROD, DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH A EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT I WAS INFORMED THAT THE DAMAGE WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY BECAUSE THE OIL HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED BY DODGE CERTIFIED MECHANICS. MY HUSBAND AND FATHER HAVE CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3500 MILES, BUT ACCORDING TO THE PEOPLE AT METROLINA IF DODGE DID NOT PERFORM ALL THE MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE THEN THE WARRANTY IS VOIDED. MY HUSBAND WENT TO METROLINA DODGE TO HAVE THE SERVICE WRITER SHOW HIM THE SLUDGE BUILD UP THAT THEY WERE TELLING ME ABOUT. WHILE HE WAS THERE THE SERVICE WRITER KEVIN ST.CLAIR TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL 4.7 AND 2.7-LITER ENGINES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. KEVIN SAID THAT IT WOULD COST $6500.00 TO REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT, ONE ROD, AND THE BEARINGS. *JB

Mileage: 46,025

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SLUDGE BUILT UP. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH AN ALARM SOUNDED WARNING THE CONSUMER TO CHECK THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. OIL PRESSURE GAUGE REGISTERED VERY LOW OIL PRESSURE. CONSUMER CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL WITH THE DIP STICK AND FOUND IT TO BE UP TO PAR. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND A SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE. A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. *AK

Mileage: 85,000

I PUCHASED THIS TRUCK USED WITH 12,500 MILES.IT HAS A REAR WINDOW LEAK,I HAVE YET TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.IT ALSO HAS SOME PAINT FLAWS.I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS CAP WHICH CAUSED A ENGINE CODE LIGHT.WHEN I WENT TO LOCAL DEALER TO SOLVE CODE PROBLEM,I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD NO WARRANTEE.DODGE ADVERTISES OTHERWISE.

Mileage: 12,450

BLOWER MOTOR FIRST INOPERABLE AT 7566 MILES. CURRENTLY IN FOR SERVICE FOR THE 12TH TIME FOR THIS PROBLEM. I LIVE IN MINNESOTA - WHEN MOTOR GOES OUT I CANNOT DEFOG OR DEFROST WINDOWS. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS POSSIBLY RELATED INCLUDE: HEADLIGHT ACCESSORY PANEL GOING OUT, HVAC CONTROL LIGHTS GOING OUT, DOOR ALARM MALFUNCTIONING, AND CIGARETTE LIGHTER INOPERABLE. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 44,XXX MILES. BLOWER MOTOR PROBLEM IS AT TIMES INTERMITTENT WITH LONGEST TIME BETWEEN COMPLETE FAILURES BEING TEN MONTHS. DEALER HAS TRIED REPLACING BLOWER MOTOR, RELAY, FUSES, WIRING HARNESS, DUCT WORK, ETC.

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S ENGINE.*MR WHEN USING THE DEFROST OR A/C, THE ENGINE PUMP DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE SEAT BELT WAS INSTALLED IMPROPERLY AND ALSO THE WHEEL BEARING WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD A HOSE WOULD BE PLACED ON THE RETAINING BOLT.*TS *JB

Mileage: 36,000

FRONT BRAKES CLUNK WHEN APPLIED,DEALER REPLACED ROTORS. TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT PROPERLY,DEALER ORDERED AND REPLACED NEW VALVE BODY. LOWER ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED,BECAUSE OF VALVE TAPPING. A/C HAS BAD ODOR WHEN ON. FRONT END SQUEAKED AROUND BOOTS FRONT END HAS BAD KNOCKING SOUND. 2 GOODYEAR TIRES SLOW LEAK. PROBLEMS STARTED AT 1,254 MILES, AND KEEP GOING AT 26,000 MILES. *AK

Mileage: 1,254

EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, WHILE USING THE A/C, I HAVE NOTICED A BAD ODER.HIS ODER IS NOTICABLE ONCE THE A/C HAS COOLED DOWN THE INTERIOR. I WOULD DESCRIBE HE ODER AS A "POWDERY CHEMICAL" SMELL. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICAL IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTAINANCE, I ASKED ABOUT IT AND WAS TOLD "WE WIL LOOK IN TO IT" AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL UNRESOLVED. I WANT TO KNOW IF THIS SMELL IS DANGERUS BECAUSE I HAVE TWO YOUNG INFANTS AS WELL AS MY WIFE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT. *AK

Mileage: 200

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO SLUDGE. *AK

Mileage: 32,000

THE VEHICLE BACK FIRED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. *NLM

NOISY VALVE TRAIN ON 2001 DODGE DAKOTA WITH 3.9 ENGINE. THE ROLLER TAPPETS WERE CHANGED BY THE DEALER, BUT THEY ARE STILL NOISY. ALSO IN COLD WEATHER THERE IS A SHRILL WHISTLING SOUND AT SLIGHT THROTTLE PRESSURE. THE DEALER SAID DODGE WAS WORKING ON IT. WONDERED IF ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THINGS? THERE IS NO SAFETY PROBLEM THAT I KNOW OF, JUST CONCERN OF RELIABILITY.

WITH ONLY 48K MILES ON MY TRUCK, I HAD TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. THE PROBLEM WAS OIL SLUDGE THAT BUILT UP AROUND THE VALVES AND BLOCKED THE FLOW OF OIL. THE BLOCKING OF THE FLOW OF OIL PREVENTED THE REST OF THE ENGINE FROM BEING PROPERLY LUBRICATED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO CEASE. *NLM

Mileage: 48,980

I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A TUNNEL IN BOSTON AND MY TRUCK SUDDENLY DIED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER FAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT WAS STILL IN THE TRAVEL LANE. THE ODOMETER WAS FLASHING "NO BUS" AND ALL THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE ON. THE VEHICLE SHOWED NO MECHANICAL SIGNS OF FAILURE PRIOR TO STALLING AND MADE NO NOISE WHEN STALLING - IT JUST DIED. AFTER BEING TOWED OUT OF THE TUNNEL (30 MIN. AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLING), I ATTEMPTED TO START THE TRUCK AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD NO SERVICE APPOINTMENTS FOR ONE WEEK. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THEN, TODAY (MARCH 21), THE TRUCK DIED AGAIN IN THE SAME TUNNEL ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. THIS TIME, IT STARTED UP AFTER 5 MINUTES BEFORE THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND DODGE SEEMS UNINTERESTED IN FIXING IT PROMPTLY. *JB

Mileage: 31,050

THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. *JB THE WINDOW HAD FALLEN ON THE CONSUMER FOOT. SCC

Mileage: 50,000

ENGINE IDLE DROPS AND ALMOST STALLS WHEN SITTING AT TRAFFIC SIGNALS OR TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS. ENGINE ALSO IDLES ROUGHLY. MILEAGE HAS DROPPED FROM 15-16 MPG IN THE CITY; DOWN TO 12-13 MPG IN THE CITY. THE DEALER HAS FLASHED THE ENGINE'S COMPUTER 2 TIMES SINCE AUGUST 2002. BUT, NEITHER FLASH HELPED THE PROBLEMS LISTED ABOVE. TO THE CONTRARY, THE CITY MILEAGE HAS DROPPED TO 11-12 MPG IN THE CITY. MY TRUCK HAS APPROXIMATELY 22,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. DT

WHILE DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAY ALLUMINATED, DEALER NOTIFIED NOW SPARACTICALLY COMES ON. TS

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED ENGINE STALLS AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATES WHILE APPLYING BRAKES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

VEHICLE WILL START TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIES THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING. PROBLEM GETS WORSE WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, BUT THE REPAIRS DO NOT WORK . CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE CAIPLERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ALSO THE VEHICLE WAS REALIGNED, ALSO THERE WAS AN OIL AND TRANSMISSIN LEAK.*JB

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER TURNS ON AIR CONDITIONER AND IT WAS BLOWING HOT AIR. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

ENGINE STALLING WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP OR WHILE APPLYING ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM A STOP POSTION. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE CHECK ENGINE / MIL (MALFUNCTION IGNITION LIGHT) COMES ON & THE TRUCK RUNS ROUGH & THE GAS MILEAGE GOES DOWN TO HALF THE NORMAL AMOUNT. THE 1ST TIME WAS 11 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE & HAS HAPPENED APPROX. EVERY 3 TO 4 MONTHS SINCE. THE SPARK PLUGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AFTER FINDING 1 CRACKED, THE RIGHT SIDE HEAD WAS REPLACED DUE TO WARPING & THE #1 FUEL INJECTOR REPLACED.

VEHICLE IS LOSING POWER WHEN CONSUMER IS DRIVING, AND WHEN TOWING OBJECTS, CONSUMER WILL LOSE POWER AGAIN. VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO SHUT OFF. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL, AT TIMES THE VEHICLE WILL STALL WHEN ACCELERATING TO PASS, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE AND THE DEALER CAN NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *SLC

1-11-2002 OIL PRESSURE PROBLEMS. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER..DONALSON MOTOR COMPANY IN SILSBEE, TEXAS. AFTER 2 DAYS THEY PHONED ME TO TELL ME THE ENGINE HAD SUFFERED A "CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE". THE CAUSE WAS "DIRTY OIL". I RUN ROYAL PURPLE-A HIGH DOLLAR SYNTHETIC OIL. THE PRICE TAG FOR ALL OF THIS WAS 5600.00. I TOOK A OIL SAMPLE TO THE MAUFACTURER TO HAVE TESTED. BOTH CHEMISTS THAT TESTED THE OIL REPORTED THE VISCOSITY OF THE OIL WAS INTACT. THE OIL WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE. I TOOK THIS BACK TO DONALSON AND WAS TOLD THE OIL WAS THE CAUSE. I FOUND AN MECHANIC WHO GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF 3300.00 FOR THE SAME ENGINE. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY TRUCK DONALSON INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD DO THE WORK FOR 3000.00. THEY HAVE HAD MY TRUCK FOR 1 MONTH AND 19 DAYS, I WENT TO PICK IT UP AND THE AIRCONDITIONER WAS NO LONGER BLOWING COLD AIR(I DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE). I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THEM AND WAS TOLD THAT THE AC HAD BEEN CONTAMINATED WHILE REBUILDING THE MOTOR AND IT WOULD COST SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO FIX!!!. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE WILL START TO FAIL, AND WILL NOT PULL. HAD TO SHUT VEHICLE DOWN AND RESTART. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FRONT END WAS SLIGHTLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE MOTOR HAS A PROBLEM WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPS FOR A MOMENT AT A LIGHT OR SIGN, IT WILL SHUDDER AND CHOKE . *YH

EIMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM. IN SHOP 8 TIMES OR ABOUT EVERY TWO WEEKS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS TO NO AVAIL.*AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AND COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTSDOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

SERVICE 4WD LIGHT BECAME ILLUMINATED, HOWEVER VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH 4WD, AFTER THE LIGHT BECAME ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL AT IDLE, CHRYSLER IS SUPPOSED TO BE RELEASING A FLASH FOR THE PROBLEM, VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE 1-5-01 TO TRY AND REPAIR PROBLEM, POSSIBLE ENGINE OR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *SLC