2001 DODGE DAKOTA Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE MODULE WAS DEFECTIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,000.

APPLIED SERVICE BRAKE TO AVOID ANIMAL ON HIGHWAY AND REAR BRAKE LINE FAILED. AFTER AN INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT ALL OF THE HYDRAULIC LINE IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM SHOULD BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. VEHICLE HAS HAD THE BRAKE FLUID REPLACED EVERY 2 YEARS FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS. THE CORROSION IS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BRAKE LINES AND IS EXTREMELY EXCESSIVE FOR THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND THE CURRENT STATE OF THE SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM IS THAT OF A 20 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. THE CERTIFICATE OF COMPLACENCY FOR THE MATERIAL USED TO FABRICATE THE LINES SHOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE NHTSA. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

DRIVING WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF FORT COLLINS COLORADO AND STOPPING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE FRONT BRAKES ON MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT RELEASE UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS ALLOWED TO SIT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY, WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING, BOTH ROTORS AND PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT AND WEAR. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES WHEN THE BRAKES AGAIN LOCKED UP AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND BEGAN TO SMOKE FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD UP ON THE LEFT FRONT ROTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE REPAIR FACILITY WHERE LEFT FRONT CALIPER WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN, AT WHICH TIME THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LOCKED UP IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE LEFT FRONT HAD. THE REPAIR FACILITY RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM FURTHER AND DISCOVERED VIA IDENTAFIX.COM THAT THE HYDRAULIC LINES AND CALIPERS ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS WAS NOT THE ONLY OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING AT AROUND 70 TO 80,000 MILES. HAD THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE I WAS TOWING MY TRAVEL TRAILER, WHICH I HAD JUST DONE, AND WHEN GOING DOWN A LONG OR STEEP GRADE AT THE VERY MINIMUM IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS OCCURRENCE. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT THAT CHRYSLER CORP. NEEDS TO ADDRESS UNDER RECALL FOR THE AFFECTED MODELS. *TR

Mileage: 77,216

2001 DODGE DAKOTA HAS HAD FRONT BRAKES DRAG/LOCK UP. HAS HAPPENED TWICE, BOTH TIMES THE CALIPERS/ROTORS GOT EXTREMELY HOT AND SMOKED. AFTER FIRST TIME, TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG BUT COULD SEE THAT ROTORS HAD GOTTEN EXTREMELY HOT. AFTER ALLOWING CAR TO SIT FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO GO AWAY. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO TRAVEL INTO A DIFFERENT LANE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FRONT CALIPERS AND BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THE FRONT ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE AND THE SAME REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRENCE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THE TECHNICIAN REGARDING THE EXTENT OF THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.

Mileage: 20,000

FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP OR DRAG ON 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. EXTENSIVE RESEARCH IN THE INTERNET REVEALS NUMEROUS IDENTICAL PROBLEMS 2000-2005 DODGE DAKOTA AND DURANGO. PROBLEM BAFFLES ALL. NO RELIABLE FIX FOUND. BRAKES DRAG AND OVERHEAT, SMOKE, BURST INTO FLAMES, MAY CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL RATTLING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE WITHIN ONE YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CALIBER BRACKETS WERE STRIPPED. THE MECHANIC RE-DRILLED THE CALIBER AND BRACKET AND INSTALLED A LARGE BOLT WITH A LOCK NUT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

Mileage: 85,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, HE COULD FEEL THE BRAKE DRAGGING FROM THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THE FRONT BRAKES WERE NEW AND THAT THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY MALFUNCTIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED TO THE OWNER, HOWEVER THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,615 AND THE CURRENT WAS 62,000.

Mileage: 61,615

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WAS A PULLING SENSATION AND AN ODOR WAS PRESENT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OBSERVED THAT THE WHEELS WERE EXCESSIVELY HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE CALIPERS LOCKING UP, WHICH DAMAGED THE ROTORS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,776 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,876.

Mileage: 59,776

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED WITH 39K MILES I HAD IT FOR A MONTH AND NOTICED VIBRATIONS WHEN BRAKING FROM 50 - 40 MPH. I FIGURED THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE WARPED. AFTER ABOUT A YEAR OF THIS I TOOK THE ROTORS OFF AND INTO A PARTS STORE TO HAVE THEM CHECKED, THEY WERE WARPED AND TOO THIN TO TURN (LATHE). I BOUGHT NEW ROTORS AND PADS, CLEANED AND GREASED THE CALIPER SLIDE PINS AND REASSEMBLED THE BRAKES. AFTER THIS THE BRAKING VIBRATION WENT AWAY. RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND ONCE I GOT TO MY EXIT I NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, ALSO THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT HARD. I PULLED OVER TO FIND THAT THE FRONT BRAKES WERE SMOKING. I JACKED UP THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE (WHEELS OFF THE GROUND) AND FOUND THAT NEITHER WHEEL/TIRE COULD BE TURNED BY HAND. AFTER THE VEHICLE SAT FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS TO COOL DOWN THE WHEELS COULD THEN BE TURNED. TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP THAT CONFIRMED THE BRAKE PAD WEAR INDICATED THAT FOR THE MOST PART THE PISTONS AND SLIDES SEEMED TO BE OPERATING PROPERLY. I AM AN A.S.E. CERTIFIED MASTER MECHANIC AND HAVE NEVER SEEN BRAKES OVERHEAT LIKE THIS AND CAUSE CALIPER LOCK UP. HAPPEN. I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING INHERENTLY WRONG WITH THESE VEHICLES. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

KNOWING THE DAKOTA'S HAVE BRAKE ISSUES, I REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS WITH AFTERMARKET SLOTTED ROTORS IN HOPES THAT THE ROTOR WOULD STAY COOL & NOT WARP. HOWEVER EVEN AFTER ADDING NEW ROTORS I HAVE HAD ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS ONE OR THE OTHER FRONT ROTORS HAVE LOCKED UP. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT I COMPLETELY DRAINED & REPLACED ALL THE BRAKE FLUID W/SYNTHETIC BRAKE FLUID. I HAD NO PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS BEFORE THEY LOCKED UP AGAIN. THIS TIME I REPLACED BOTH CALIPERS, IT'S ONLY BEEN A MONTH EVERYTHING IS WORKING FOR NOW. DODGE SHOULD RECALL! EITHER THERE BRAKE BOOSTER OR CALIPERS ARE FLAWED BECAUSE THE BRAKE CALIPER TEND TO STICK CAUSING OVERHEATING, WRONG TO THE POINT WHERE THE PADS ARE SO HOT YOUR ENGULFING OTHER VEHICLES IN SMOKE!

Mileage: 86,000

CLOCK SPRING - NO HORN - NO DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG HAVE REPLACED 2 SETS OF FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS AND LINES ON THIS TRUCK DUE TO FRONT BRAKES LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING. NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WITH HIS FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND HESITATE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO ALLOW THE FRONT DISC BRAKES TO COOL OFF SINCE THEY WERE DRAGGING. THE BRAKE LINES AND CALIPERS WERE REPLACED AT 50,000 MILES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 64000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30000. THE CONTACT WILL ADD THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE AND PURCHASE DATE.

Mileage: 30,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WITH HIS FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND HESITATE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO ALLOW THE FRONT DISC BRAKES TO COOL OFF SINCE THEY WERE DRAGGING. THE BRAKE LINES AND CALIPERS WERE REPLACED AT 50,000 MILES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 64000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30000. THE CONTACT WILL ADD THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE AND PURCHASE DATE.

Mileage: 30,000

I HAVE A 2001 DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4 PURCHASED NEW AND THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT ROTORS WEAR OUT EXTREMELY FAST. THEY BECOME DAMAGED ON THE INSIDE OF THE ROTOR APPEARING EXTREMELY RUSTED AND AS IF MAYBE THEY OVERHEATED ON THE INSIDE. 64,000 AND THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES. DEALERS DENY THIS IS COMMON , MY BROTHER HAS A 2002 (PURCHASED NEW) AND HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. BALL JOINTS FAILED ON BOTH TRUCKS , STEERING RACK AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL LEAKS ON BOTH . *TR

Mileage: 64,000

2001 DODGE DAKOTA APPLIED BRAKE AND VEHICLE PULLED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT**CW** THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, PRESSURE WAS BEING PLACED ON THE LUGS/SLIDE BARS. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS ALSO QUITE POSSIBLE THE BRAKES COULD BE DELAYED FROM ENGAGING BECAUSE THE BACKING PLATES ARE NOT ABLE TO RIDE UP AND OVER THE WEAR SPOT.*JB THE CONSUMER STATED WOULD LIKE A FULL INVESTIGATION PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 07/23/07 *TR

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

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

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

FRONT ROTORS BECOME HOT AND WARPED. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND ROTORS WERE ROTATED AND PUT BACK ON. RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK AND IT STILL FELT LIKE ROTORS WERE STILL WARPED... A LOT OF SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKE PEDAL. *NM

Mileage: 23,000

AT 32,000 MILES FRONT END VIBRATION WHEN BREAKING. PROBLEM-WARPED ROTORS. CORRECTED BY 'TURNING' ROTORS (RESURFACING). AT 58,000 MILES FRONT END VIBRATION WHEN BREAKING. PROBLEM-WARPED ROTORS. CORRECTED BY 'TURNING' ROTORS. AT 70,000 MILES FRONT END VIBRATION WHEN BREAKING. PROBLEM-WARPED ROTORS. CORRECTED BY REPLACING ROTORS. AT 90,000 MILES FRONT END VIBRATION WHEN BREAKING. PROBLEM-WARPED ROTORS. CORRECTED BY 'TURNING' ROTORS. AT 100,200 MILES FRONT END VIBRATION WHEN BREAKING. PROBLEM-WARPED ROTORS. DEALER SUGGESTS REPLACING ROTORS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM. THE SAME THING OCCURRED ON MY 1997 DAKOTA. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEN THAT THE ROTORS WARP WHEN THEY ARE HOT(FROM USE) AND THEN GET WET. (SO I GUESS I SHOULDN'T USE THE BRAKES IN WET/RAINY CONDITIONS) THE WARPED ROTORS ARE CAUSED BY A DESIGN FLAW, EITHER THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT 'SIZED' PROPERLY (IE INSUFFICIENT STOPPING POWER CAUSING EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD-UP) OR THE ROTORS ARE INFERIOR(METAL GRADE). I BELIEVE MOST OWNERS DO NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THE DODGE DEALERS CONVINCE THEM THAT THIS IS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE TRUCK IS GREAT OTHERWISE. *NM

I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE SEVERAL REPAIR PLACES (BRAKE SPECIALISTS) INCLUDING 2 DEALERSHIPS (MULTIPLE TIMES). THEY TELL ME MY ROTORS ARE WARPED, OR THAT THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG!!! STARTING AT AROUND 20,000 MILES I STARTED GETTING HARD VIBRATIONS IN THE FRONT END, REPLACED ROTORS AND PADS, FIXED PROBLEM. THEN, 5,000 MILES LATER IT STARTED AGAIN, HAD ROTORS TURNED AND REPLACED PADS, FIXED PROBLEM. 5,000 MILES LATER IT HAPPENS AGAIN, I DECIDE TO DEAL WITH IT FOR A LITTLE WHILE. 2,000 MILES OF DRIVING WITH WARPED ROTORS, AND RIGHT FRONT CALIPER LOCKS UP, NEARLY CAUSING A FIRE!!. REPLACED BOTH CALIPERS, ROTORS AND PADS, PROBLEM FIXED AGAIN. PROBLEM RECURS ROUGHLY EVERY 5,000 MILES. I DRIVE VERY CAREFULLY TO ENSURE THAT I AM NOT CAUSING ANY UNDUE STRESS ON THE BRAKE COMPONENTS. THE EXPENSE OF REPAIRING THE BRAKES EVERY 5,000 MILES IS ROUGHLY $200 TO $400 DOLLARS DEPENDING ON WHAT I FIND UPON INSPECTION. I AM AN INDUSTRIAL MECHANIC SO I DO THIS WORK MYSELF. I PURCHASED COPIES OF DAIMLER CHRYSLER MASTER TECH VIDEOS TO MAKES SURE THAT I AM NOT MISSING SOMETHING. I HAVE PURCHASED SEVERAL MANUALS FOR MY VEHICLE , SOME FROM DODGE AND SOME AFTERMARKET IN MY SEARCH FOR A MORE PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS, TO ME AND TO OTHERS AROUND ME WHEN DRIVING. I AM CURRENTLY AT 90,000 MILES AND HAVE DECIDED THAT THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY SOMEONE... I HOPE YOU CAN HELP. *JB

Mileage: 20,000

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ON MY VEHICLE WITH MOPAR PARTS. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 2 YEARS AND HAVE PUT 40,000 MILES ON IT. THE ROTORS ARE ONLY LASTING IN THE AREA OF 10 - 15000 MILES. I SPOKE WITH MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE HAS TOLD ME THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE DODGE DAKOTA AND I BETTER GET USE TO REPLACING THEM OR GET USE TO DRIVING WITH WARPED ROTORS. *NM

TRAFFIC WAS MOVING IN FRONT OF GRACE COVENANT CHURCH, THERE WAS AN OFFICER DIRECTING TRAFFIC. MY HUSBAND PUT ON THE BRAKES AT THE MOMENT HE REALIZED TRAFFIC WAS NOT MOVING ANY LONGER. THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TIRE MARKS ON THE ROAD, IT IS APPARENT THE RIGHT SIDE TIRE LOCKED FIRST (THE TIRE MARK IS MUCH LONGER) THEN THE LEFT SIDE TIRE LOCKED (TIRE MARK ON ROAD MUCH SHORTER). HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT STRUCK THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN THIS ACCIDENT. THE CONCERN IS THAT THIS TRUCK IS BELIEVED TO HAVE ABS WHICH MEANS IT WAS MALFUNCTIONING SINCE THE TIRES LOCKED UP. THE CONCERN IS THIS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT IN THAT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN TIME. IT WAS A HARD IMPACT WHICH IT APPEARS WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE TOTALED. *JB

HAD A SUDDEN STOP IN 100 DEGREE WEATHER, WHEN PULLED OFF, THE TRUCK FELT AS IF IT WERE PULLING A LOAD AND A STRONG BURNING RUBBER SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT END. ENDED UP HAVING IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRONT CALIPERS HAD SEIZED UP. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT CERTAIN AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. TRUCK ONLY HAS 52,000 MILES ON IT. ENDED UP PUTTING ALL NEW BRAKING SYSTEM ON THE FRONT END. A YEAR AGO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, BROUGHT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A SENSOR THAT CONTROLLED THE ABS. CAN'T FIGURE THAT ONE OUT, ONLY HAVE ABS ON THE REAREND, NOT ON THE FRONT. IT IS A SCARY THING WHEN YOU ARE ON THE HIGHWAY AND YOU HAVE THAT BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE IS BELLOWING FROM THE FRONT WHEELS. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS NO FIRE WOULD'VE OCCURRED. TAINED. *JB

Mileage: 52,000

FRONT BRAKES RUBBING ON ROTORS CAUSING BRAKE PADS TO SMOKE. THIS CAUSED THE WARPING OF THE BRAKE ROTORS. REPLACED BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 1 (ONE) MONTH. THIS TIME AFTER SMELLING THE BRAKES AND SEEING SMOKE, I TRIED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD BUT THE TRUCK WOULD BARELY MOVE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. I HAD FOUND THE FRONT LEFT CALIPER MOUNTING BOLT HAD BECOME LOOSE AND STRIPPED THE BOLT HOLE. I HELI-COILED THE HOLE AND LOCTITED THE BOLT IN PLACE.

Mileage: 62,015

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

WHEN BRAKING ANY SPEED, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE LOCKED UP. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO REAR END A VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *NM THE FIRST INCIDENT THE CONSUMER PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND HIT OWN VEHICLE. *TC

Mileage: 81,130

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA WITH A BAD BRAKE SYSTEM. I FEEL THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS INADEQUATE FOR THE WEIGHT OF A DAKOTA. I'M THE SECOND OWNER PURCHASED AT 29,000 MILES. THE FIRST OWNER HAD THE FRONT ROTORS REPLACED UNDER WARRENTY. I NOW HAVE 70,000 MILES AND HAD 4 FRONT BRAKE JOBS. 1ST TIME TURNED ROTORS REPLACED PADS,THAT LASTED ABOUT 10,000 MILES. 2ND TIME REPLACED ROTORS WITH FACTORY ONES,AGAIN LASTED ABOUT 10,000 MILES,3RD TIME REPLACED ROTORS WITH AFTERMARKET VENTED ,TO HELP COOLING, AGAIN LASTED AROUND 10,000 MILES,4TH TIME WAS TODAY I TURNED THE ROTORS. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER AN THEY GIVE ME THE RUN A ROUND SAYING DRIVER HABBIT. *JB

Mileage: 15,000

MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA IS NOW EXPERIENCING ITS THIRD OCCURANCE OF WARPED ROTORS. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 37,000 MILES ON IT. THE PROBLEM REAPPEARS ABOUT EVERY 12,000 MILES. HE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO DEFECT WITH THE ROTORS. I DON'T BELIEVE THEM.*AK AFTER LOOKING AT THE DAKOTA WEB SITE, I FIND THERE ARE MANY OTHER OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM ON ALMOST THE SAME RECURRING TIME SCHEDULE. THE PULSATING CAUSED BY THE WARPED ROTOR COULD AFFECT THE ABS SYSTEM DURING HARD BRAKING. IT IS TIME FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM.

Mileage: 16,000

DODGE DAKOTA, QUAD-CAB, 2001 ? AFTER HEAVY USAGE (I.E. COMMUTER TRAFFIC) FRONT BRAKES SEIZE AND LOCK UP; LEAVING BRAKES ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING. SUSPECT ROTOR WARP FROM THE HEAT OF THE BRAKE PADS THUS RENDERING THE FRONT BRAKES FULLY ENGAGED UNTIL THE ROTOR COOLS. DEALER INSPECTED BRAKES / ROTOR AFTER EACH INCIDENT (3) TO FIND NO OBVIOUS DIRECT CAUSE AND ONLY MADE THE SUGGESTION TO BRING IN FOR SERVICE WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN.*AK

BRAKE ROTORS VERY RUSTED AND DISINTEGRATING WITH METAL FLAKING OFF AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. I DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY WARPING OF THE ROTORS OR SHAKING OF VEHICLE WHEN BRAKING AS OTHERS HAVE. THE BADLY DETERIORATED ROTORS WERE DISCOVERED WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE FOR A CROSS COUNTRY TRIP. AFTER READING OTHER SIMILAR REPORTS REGARDING THE BRAKE ROTORS ON 2001 DODGE DAKOTAS, IT APPEARS THAT DAIMLER-CHRYSLER HAS A PROBLEM WITH THESE BRAKE PARTS AND HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM. *AK

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED BUT IT HAD NEW BRAKES. I HAD IT FOR A MONTH AND DROVE APPROX. 1000 MILES AND THE BRAKE ROTORS BECAME WARPED. I HAD THEM TURNED AND THEY WERE FINE. I DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR APPROX. 5 MORE MONTHS AND 6000 MILES AND THE ROTORS BECAME WARPED AGAIN. THE VIBRATIONS OCCUR VERY BADLY WHEN BRAKING FROM 50 MPH-40 MPH. WHEN BRAKING FROM A HIGHER OR LOWER SPEED THAN 40-50 THERE ARE ONLY MINOR VIBRATIONS. I ALSO HAVE NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SUSPENSION WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS AND GOING OVER A BUMP/CURB(SUCH AS TO ENTER/LEAVE A DRIVEWAY). *JB

Mileage: 29,000

ROTORS ARE WARPING AND BEING SEVERELY SCORED. MY CAPLIPERS WERE BADLY RUSTED WITH IN A YEAR WHICH DID NOT LET IT SLIDE PROPERLY AND CAUSE UNEVEN PRESSURE ON THE PADS. THIS CAUSE A PAD TO DISINTEGRATE WHILE BRAKING. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED MY BRAKE PADS WITH PERFORMANCE FERRO CARBON PADS AND CROSS DRILLED VENTED ROTORS. THE ROTORS NO LONG WARP BUT THEY ARE STILL BEING BADLY SCORED. AND I HAVE TO KEEP A CONSTANT EYE ON PAD WEAR. *JB

Mileage: 20,000

THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED AN OIL TANKER WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED KNEE INJURIES, AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A HAIR LINE FRACTURE TO LEFT FOOT, ANGLE, AND RIBS. SHE ALSO SUFFERED FROM BACK PAINS. THIS WAS THE SECOND COLLISION WHERE THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK *TC THE CONSUMER'S HUSBAND APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE BRAKES FELT LIKE THEY WERE SLIPPING. *SC *JB

Mileage: 47,000

BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO HAVE THE ROTORS TURNED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY.*AK

Mileage: 30,000

I PURCHASED MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA CLUB CAB BACK IN FEB. 2002 AS A DEMO VEHICLE WITH 5000 MILES ON IT. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED TWICE AND HAVE HAD THE DRUMS AND ROTORS REPLACED 4 TIMES DUE TO WARPING. ABOUT EVERY THREE THOUSAND MILES MY DRUMS AND ROTORS NEED TO BE TURNED OR REPLACED.MY TRUCK HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS USED PRIMARILY ON THE HIGHWAY.*AK

I PURCHASED MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA CLUB CAB BACK IN FEB. 2002 AS A DEMO VEHICLE WITH 5000 MILES ON IT. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED TWICE AND HAVE HAD THE DRUMS AND ROTORS REPLACED 4 TIMES DUE TO WARPING. ABOUT EVERY THREE THOUSAND MILES MY DRUMS AND ROTORS NEED TO BE TURNED OR REPLACED.MY TRUCK HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS USED PRIMARILY ON THE HIGHWAY.*AK

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THEY DID NOT RESPOND. AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER RAN INTO THE BUSHES. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

Mileage: 35,561

FACTORY ROTORS ARE DEFECTIVE. ROTORS WARP AT LOW MILEAGE CAUSING PARTIAL BRAKE FAILURE. DAIMLER CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF DEFECT AND CHOOSES NOT TO ADDRESS. *NM

Mileage: 12,000

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY DODGE HAS NOT RECALLED THE DODGE DAKOTAS FOR DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS AND DISC ROTORS. I HAVE SCANNED THE INTERNET AND FOUND A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS I. MY 2001 DAKOTA WAS PURCHASED IN DECEMBER. OF 01 AND HAS 44,000 MILES . I AM 54 YEARS OLD AND THIS WAS MY FIRST NEW VEHICLE. UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS A DODGE. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER DODGE PRODUCT,AND IF ASKED MY OPINION WILL NOT RECOMMEND DODGE TO ANYONE !!!!!!!!! PLEASE SEND THIS TO THE DODGE CORP.*AK

Mileage: 43,500

VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN BRAKE WERE BEING APPLIED AT ANY SPEED. CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSES BY WARPED ROTORS. *AK

Mileage: 14,000

2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB - FAULTY FRONT AND REAR BRAKE DESIGN I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER BY TRAINING. THE FRONT ROTORS AND REAR DISC BRAKES ARE OF POOR DESIGN AND FUNCTION. THEY OVERHEAT, WARP AND BEGIN TO PULSE. THIS OCCURS AS A RESULT OF SMALL BRAKES COUPLED WITH THE LARGE DIAMETER TIRES AND HEAVY WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL BRAKES TWICE WITHIN 3 YEARS (60,000 MILES) AS A RESULT. THESE BREAKS DO NOT BRAKE WELL AND ARE EXTREMELY SOFT. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS AS A RESULT OF THESE BRAKES. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT WHEN COUPLED WITH THIS ABS SYSTEM MOST VEHICLES CONTINUE TO "LOCK-UP" AND SLIDE CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENTS.*AK

2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB - FAULTY FRONT AND REAR BRAKE DESIGN I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER BY TRAINING. THE FRONT ROTORS AND REAR DISC BRAKES ARE OF POOR DESIGN AND FUNCTION. THEY OVERHEAT, WARP AND BEGIN TO PULSE. THIS OCCURS AS A RESULT OF SMALL BRAKES COUPLED WITH THE LARGE DIAMETER TIRES AND HEAVY WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL BRAKES TWICE WITHIN 3 YEARS (60,000 MILES) AS A RESULT. THESE BREAKS DO NOT BRAKE WELL AND ARE EXTREMELY SOFT. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS AS A RESULT OF THESE BRAKES. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT WHEN COUPLED WITH THIS ABS SYSTEM MOST VEHICLES CONTINUE TO "LOCK-UP" AND SLIDE CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENTS.*AK

MAIN CONCERN IS BRAKES. THE FRONT CALIPERS ARE STICKING AND THE ROTORS ARE WARPING WHICH IS CAUSING THE TRUCK TO PULL ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WHEN STOPPING. ON SLICK ROADS THE TRUCK WILL TURN SIDEWAYS ON A FAST STOP AND NOW THEY HAVE TO BE PUSHED ALMOST TO THE FLOOR BOARD TO GET THEM TO WORK. I TOLD THEM SOMETHING WAS WRONG THE DAY I BOUGHT IT AFTER ABOUT 20 MILES OF OWNERSHIP IT TOOK MANY PHONE CALLS AND 8 MONTHS TO GET THEM TO FIX IT AND THE DAY I PICKED IT UP WE DROVE IT AND STILL WAS NOT RIGHT SO THEY KEPT IT 2 MORE DAYS AND LATE IT IS NOT WORKING AGAIN. WINDSHIELD WIPER ON RIGHT SIDE AT VERY END DOES NOT TOUCH WINDOW ON ALL OF THE DAKOTA TRUCKS WHICH WHEN IN USE IT SKIPS ACROSS THE WINDOW. IT MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN USING AND CAN NOT SEE OUT THAT SIDE OF FRONT WINDOW BECAUSE OF THE SKIPPING. THERE ARE MANY OTHER THINGS WRONG WITH THIS TRUCK BUT THE BRAKES, WIPER AND DRIVETRAIN ( MORE SO ON THE BRAKES ) IS A LOT OF PEOPLES PROBLEMS. WITH THE BRAKES LIKE THEY ARE IT MAKES FOR A VERY UNSAFE TRUCK. I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT COULD NOT LIVE WITH MYSELF KNOWING HOW UNSAFE THE BRAKES ARE ON THIS TRUCK. I THINK I GOT A LEMON AND WISH THEY WOULD JUST TAKE THIS TRUCK BACK. IF I KNEW HOW TO DO IT I WOULD. I AM DISABLE AND CAN'T TRUST THIS TRUCK. I CAN SHOW YOU ON THE WEB WHERE MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING BRAKE AND OTHER PROBLEMS. THE FIX THEY CAME UP WITH IS QUALITY AFTERMARKET BRAKE PARTS. I DID NOT BUY A 20K TRUCK TO FIX MYSELF. IT SHOULD AT LEAST LAST A YEAR. I HAVE ANOTHER DODGE TRUCK WITH NONE OF THIS KIND OF PROBLEM AND ITS A 1994 WITH OVER 100000. ALSO THE BACK BRAKES DON'T EVEN FEEL LIKE THEY ARE WORKING. I HAVE ANTI LOCK ON THE BACK BUT NOT THE FRONT AND WHEN THEY TRIED TO FIX THE FRONT I WAS TOLD THEY PUT ANTI LOCK PADS ON IT AND THAT'S NOT WHAT I HAVE. *AK *SC

Mileage: 5,000

MAIN CONCERN IS BRAKES. THE FRONT CALIPERS ARE STICKING AND THE ROTORS ARE WARPING WHICH IS CAUSING THE TRUCK TO PULL ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WHEN STOPPING. ON SLICK ROADS THE TRUCK WILL TURN SIDEWAYS ON A FAST STOP AND NOW THEY HAVE TO BE PUSHED ALMOST TO THE FLOOR BOARD TO GET THEM TO WORK. I TOLD THEM SOMETHING WAS WRONG THE DAY I BOUGHT IT AFTER ABOUT 20 MILES OF OWNERSHIP IT TOOK MANY PHONE CALLS AND 8 MONTHS TO GET THEM TO FIX IT AND THE DAY I PICKED IT UP WE DROVE IT AND STILL WAS NOT RIGHT SO THEY KEPT IT 2 MORE DAYS AND LATE IT IS NOT WORKING AGAIN. WINDSHIELD WIPER ON RIGHT SIDE AT VERY END DOES NOT TOUCH WINDOW ON ALL OF THE DAKOTA TRUCKS WHICH WHEN IN USE IT SKIPS ACROSS THE WINDOW. IT MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN USING AND CAN NOT SEE OUT THAT SIDE OF FRONT WINDOW BECAUSE OF THE SKIPPING. THERE ARE MANY OTHER THINGS WRONG WITH THIS TRUCK BUT THE BRAKES, WIPER AND DRIVETRAIN ( MORE SO ON THE BRAKES ) IS A LOT OF PEOPLES PROBLEMS. WITH THE BRAKES LIKE THEY ARE IT MAKES FOR A VERY UNSAFE TRUCK. I COULD GET RID OF IT BUT COULD NOT LIVE WITH MYSELF KNOWING HOW UNSAFE THE BRAKES ARE ON THIS TRUCK. I THINK I GOT A LEMON AND WISH THEY WOULD JUST TAKE THIS TRUCK BACK. IF I KNEW HOW TO DO IT I WOULD. I AM DISABLE AND CAN'T TRUST THIS TRUCK. I CAN SHOW YOU ON THE WEB WHERE MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING BRAKE AND OTHER PROBLEMS. THE FIX THEY CAME UP WITH IS QUALITY AFTERMARKET BRAKE PARTS. I DID NOT BUY A 20K TRUCK TO FIX MYSELF. IT SHOULD AT LEAST LAST A YEAR. I HAVE ANOTHER DODGE TRUCK WITH NONE OF THIS KIND OF PROBLEM AND ITS A 1994 WITH OVER 100000. ALSO THE BACK BRAKES DON'T EVEN FEEL LIKE THEY ARE WORKING. I HAVE ANTI LOCK ON THE BACK BUT NOT THE FRONT AND WHEN THEY TRIED TO FIX THE FRONT I WAS TOLD THEY PUT ANTI LOCK PADS ON IT AND THAT'S NOT WHAT I HAVE. *AK *SC

Mileage: 5,000

THE BRAKES ON MY DAKOTA HAVE BEEN CAUSING PROBLEMS SINCE THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK NOW HAS ABOUT 20,000 MILES AND THE ROTORS NEED TURNED DOWN AND NEW BRAKES. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM THAT WOULD CAUSE THEM TO GO BAD SO QUICKLY.*AK

Mileage: 18,000

I'M A LITTLE DISTURBED AT THIS PAGE...."NUMBER OF DEATHS"? DOES SOMEBODY HAVE TO DIE BEFORE CONSUMERS ARE PROTECTED? MY COMPLAINT IS FOR THE BRAKES ON MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. I NO LONGER EXPECT MY BRAKES TO STOP ME WHEN I NEED THEM WHICH MEANS TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, I HAD BETTER ALWAYS BE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO STEER AROUND AN OBSTACLE! ON TWO OCCASIONS I CAN REMEMBER, I HAD TO STEER AROUND A STOPPED VEHICLE BECAUSE MY TRUCK WOULD JUST NOT STOP IN TIME. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON MY OWN AND THERE IS ENOUGH EVIDENCE ON THE INTERNET THAT PROVES THERE IS A REAL DEFECT IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM USED ON DODGE DAKOTA TRUCKS FROM 1999 TO 2002 FROM WHAT I'VE READ. WHEN YOU READ OF ONE PERSON COMPLAINING ABOUT WARPED ROTOR'S AND HAVING NO BRAKES WHEN YOU NEED THEM, THAT'S ONE THING. BUT WHEN YOU READ COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS OF THESE SAME THINGS..WHAT HAS TO BE DONE? HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE? OBVIOUSLY IT'S ABOUT MONEY...YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO FIGURE THAT OUT. CHRYSLER WOULD RATHER IGNORE PROBLEMS AND TAKE A HIT ON A COUPLE LAW SUITS EVERY YEAR AFTER SOMEONE DIES. IT MUST BE CHEAPER FOR THEM TO OPERATE THIS WAY BECAUSE OTHERWISE THEY WOULDN'T BE DOING IT. NOW IT'S YOUR JOB TO PROMOTE SAFETY...IS IT NOT? IF IT IS, THEN YOU SHOULD MAKE OUR HIGHWAY'S SAFER BY REMOVING DANGERS FROM THEM..SUCH AS DANGEROUS VEHICLES WITH BRAKES THAT FAIL.*JB

I OWN A DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 2001 5.9 V8 THE BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS SUCKED. THE FRONT ROTORS WARPED OVER AND OVER AGAIN I'M FORCED IN BUYING A BIGGER KIT THAT WILL COST ME $3,000. THE REAR END LEAKS AND THE DEALER SAYS ITS NATURAL. THESE TWO PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN WITH ME FOR 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER DODGE AGAIN. I THINK THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING NOW AND THE STEERING PUMP IS GOING TOO. THE TRUCK HAS 66,000 MILES NOW. IT LOOKS NICE BUT HP , BRAKES AND OVER ALL PERFORMANCE SUCKS. IF I WAS IN THE CREATIVE END WORKING FOR DODGE I COULD IMPROVE THEIR VEHICLES GREATLY. *JB

Mileage: 11,000

PE 03-032 , FRONT SUSP. UPPER BALL JOINT:THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN. *JB THE VEHICLE'S ROTORS WERE ALSO WARPED. *NM

Mileage: 47,390

I OWN A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4 SLE THAT WE PURCHASED NEW. IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, AND WITH ONLY 49000 MILES ON THE TRUCK CURRENTLY, THE FOLLOWING FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED: (1) (FROM FEBRUARY 2004 TO PRESENT) THE FACTORY-INSTALLED EXTERNAL WIRING HARNESS (FOR TOWING A TRAILER) MELTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT, SHORTING OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. (2) BRAKES WOULD PULSATE ANYTIME BRAKES WERE APPLIED. DEALER ATTRIBUTED THIS TO WARPING OF ROTORS AND REPLACED PADS AND TURNED THE ROTORS. DEALER NOTED A SPRING ON DRIVER-SIDE CALIPER WAS MISSING AND REPLACED IT AS WELL. (3) THE HEATER/AC CONTROLS FAILED. (4) WENT FOR STATE INSPECTION AND INSPECTOR FAILED TRUCK DUE TO FAILURE OF UPPER BALL JOINTS AND BRAKES. THE SAME BRAKES I JUST HAD FIXED IN FEBRUARY. PREMATURE FAILURE OF BALL JOINTS ATTRIBUTED TO "TYPICAL PROBLEM FOR DAKOTAS/DURANGOS". WELL IF IT'S TYPICAL, WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL?? THE DEALER HAD NO ANSWERS. FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF CALIPERS NOT RELEASING PROPERLY CAUSING THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS TO "GLAZE". DEALER OPTED TO PICK UP THE TAB FOR THE NEW ROTORS AND THE NEW PADS, ONLY AT MY REQUEST. THE NEW CALIPERS AND BRAKE LINES STILL COST ME $800. AGAIN I'M WONDERING WHY I'M PAYING FOR SO MUCH ON A TRUCK THAT IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WITH ONLY 49000 MILES. (5) UNKNOWN PROBLEM AT STARTUP WHEN ENGINE IS COLD. PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SPUTTER. PROBLEM EXISTS UNTIL ENGINE IS WARM THEN GOES AWAY. TWO DODGE DEALERSHIPS AND NEITHER CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AS THERE IS NO COMPUTER ERROR CODE COMING UP. ALL ITEMS MENTIONED WERE PAID FOR BY ME UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED. HAD ANY OF THESE ISSUES BEEN A RESULT OF NEGLIGENCE, OR LOTS OF MILEAGE, OR HAD THE DODGE DEALERSHIP(S) OPTED TO PAY FOR ITEMS THAT WERE THE OBVIOUS RESULT OF POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP, I WOULDN'T COMPLAIN. BUT, THE FAILURES RELATING TO THE BRAKES COULD QUITE POSSIBLY HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH RISKS MY LIFE AND THAT OF MY WIFE, AND DODGE DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE. *AK

Mileage: 40,687

I OWN A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4 SLE THAT WE PURCHASED NEW. IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, AND WITH ONLY 49000 MILES ON THE TRUCK CURRENTLY, THE FOLLOWING FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED: (1) (FROM FEBRUARY 2004 TO PRESENT) THE FACTORY-INSTALLED EXTERNAL WIRING HARNESS (FOR TOWING A TRAILER) MELTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT, SHORTING OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. (2) BRAKES WOULD PULSATE ANYTIME BRAKES WERE APPLIED. DEALER ATTRIBUTED THIS TO WARPING OF ROTORS AND REPLACED PADS AND TURNED THE ROTORS. DEALER NOTED A SPRING ON DRIVER-SIDE CALIPER WAS MISSING AND REPLACED IT AS WELL. (3) THE HEATER/AC CONTROLS FAILED. (4) WENT FOR STATE INSPECTION AND INSPECTOR FAILED TRUCK DUE TO FAILURE OF UPPER BALL JOINTS AND BRAKES. THE SAME BRAKES I JUST HAD FIXED IN FEBRUARY. PREMATURE FAILURE OF BALL JOINTS ATTRIBUTED TO "TYPICAL PROBLEM FOR DAKOTAS/DURANGOS". WELL IF IT'S TYPICAL, WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL?? THE DEALER HAD NO ANSWERS. FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF CALIPERS NOT RELEASING PROPERLY CAUSING THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS TO "GLAZE". DEALER OPTED TO PICK UP THE TAB FOR THE NEW ROTORS AND THE NEW PADS, ONLY AT MY REQUEST. THE NEW CALIPERS AND BRAKE LINES STILL COST ME $800. AGAIN I'M WONDERING WHY I'M PAYING FOR SO MUCH ON A TRUCK THAT IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WITH ONLY 49000 MILES. (5) UNKNOWN PROBLEM AT STARTUP WHEN ENGINE IS COLD. PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SPUTTER. PROBLEM EXISTS UNTIL ENGINE IS WARM THEN GOES AWAY. TWO DODGE DEALERSHIPS AND NEITHER CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AS THERE IS NO COMPUTER ERROR CODE COMING UP. ALL ITEMS MENTIONED WERE PAID FOR BY ME UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED. HAD ANY OF THESE ISSUES BEEN A RESULT OF NEGLIGENCE, OR LOTS OF MILEAGE, OR HAD THE DODGE DEALERSHIP(S) OPTED TO PAY FOR ITEMS THAT WERE THE OBVIOUS RESULT OF POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP, I WOULDN'T COMPLAIN. BUT, THE FAILURES RELATING TO THE BRAKES COULD QUITE POSSIBLY HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH RISKS MY LIFE AND THAT OF MY WIFE, AND DODGE DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE. *AK

Mileage: 40,687

I OWN A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4 SLE THAT WE PURCHASED NEW. IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, AND WITH ONLY 49000 MILES ON THE TRUCK CURRENTLY, THE FOLLOWING FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED: (1) (FROM FEBRUARY 2004 TO PRESENT) THE FACTORY-INSTALLED EXTERNAL WIRING HARNESS (FOR TOWING A TRAILER) MELTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT, SHORTING OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. (2) BRAKES WOULD PULSATE ANYTIME BRAKES WERE APPLIED. DEALER ATTRIBUTED THIS TO WARPING OF ROTORS AND REPLACED PADS AND TURNED THE ROTORS. DEALER NOTED A SPRING ON DRIVER-SIDE CALIPER WAS MISSING AND REPLACED IT AS WELL. (3) THE HEATER/AC CONTROLS FAILED. (4) WENT FOR STATE INSPECTION AND INSPECTOR FAILED TRUCK DUE TO FAILURE OF UPPER BALL JOINTS AND BRAKES. THE SAME BRAKES I JUST HAD FIXED IN FEBRUARY. PREMATURE FAILURE OF BALL JOINTS ATTRIBUTED TO "TYPICAL PROBLEM FOR DAKOTAS/DURANGOS". WELL IF IT'S TYPICAL, WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL?? THE DEALER HAD NO ANSWERS. FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF CALIPERS NOT RELEASING PROPERLY CAUSING THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS TO "GLAZE". DEALER OPTED TO PICK UP THE TAB FOR THE NEW ROTORS AND THE NEW PADS, ONLY AT MY REQUEST. THE NEW CALIPERS AND BRAKE LINES STILL COST ME $800. AGAIN I'M WONDERING WHY I'M PAYING FOR SO MUCH ON A TRUCK THAT IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WITH ONLY 49000 MILES. (5) UNKNOWN PROBLEM AT STARTUP WHEN ENGINE IS COLD. PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SPUTTER. PROBLEM EXISTS UNTIL ENGINE IS WARM THEN GOES AWAY. TWO DODGE DEALERSHIPS AND NEITHER CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AS THERE IS NO COMPUTER ERROR CODE COMING UP. ALL ITEMS MENTIONED WERE PAID FOR BY ME UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED. HAD ANY OF THESE ISSUES BEEN A RESULT OF NEGLIGENCE, OR LOTS OF MILEAGE, OR HAD THE DODGE DEALERSHIP(S) OPTED TO PAY FOR ITEMS THAT WERE THE OBVIOUS RESULT OF POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP, I WOULDN'T COMPLAIN. BUT, THE FAILURES RELATING TO THE BRAKES COULD QUITE POSSIBLY HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH RISKS MY LIFE AND THAT OF MY WIFE, AND DODGE DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE. *AK

Mileage: 40,687

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK TWO WEEKS BEFORE TALKING TO THE DEALER, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS WERE COMING APART AND COULD NOT BE TURNED. (DEFECTIVE STEEL, BIG CHUNKS OF METAL MISSING, LAMINATED STEEL) THE DEALER STATED THAT IT SEEMED LIKE POCKETS WERE IN THE ROTORS. *SC *JB

Mileage: 21,000

ROTORS WARPED AT 25000 MILES. HAD DEALER REPLACE ROTORS WITH BREMBO ROTORS AND PADS WITH RAYBESTOS CERAMIC PADS. RECEIVED FROM DEALER AFTER REPLACEMENT- BRAKES DRAGGED. TOOK BACK TO DEALER TWICE- FINALLY, DEALER DISCOVERED THAT ABS SYSTEM IS NON-FUNCTIONAL. DC PAID FOR THE PARTS TO REPAIR SYSTEM- LABOR WAS MY EXPENSE ( I HAD TIMED OUT OF WARRANTY). DEALER SAYS THAT NEW PADS ARE CRACKED FROM DAMAGE DONE AFTER REPAIR. HAVE TO REPLACE PADS. *AK

Mileage: 29,289

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB AND WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR, AND NEARLY CAUSED ME TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER THEY STATED TO ME THAT THE THE BRAKE PAD WAS SHEARED OFF BY THE RIVETS, CAUSING A METAL TO METAL CONTACT WITH THE ROTOR.*AK

Mileage: 50

2001 DODGE DAKOTA HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN AND BRAKES.*MR THE CONSUMER HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, REVERSE, ETC. THE REAR TIRE ON THE RIGHT SIDE STUCK OUT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVESHAFT SEEMED TO HAVE ALOT O SLACK IN IT. THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN MAKING SHARP SLOW TURNS. THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE IN THE STEERING AND REAR END WHEN TURNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS. THE BRAKE, ROTORS, CALIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED BETWEEN 55-8000 MILES. *NM

BRAKE ROTORS WARPING ON 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. CAUSE UNEVEN WHERE ON BRAKE ROTOR AND EVENTUAL REPLACEMENT LESS THAN 10K.

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY LOCKED UP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED THEM FIVE TIMES. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

DODGE DAKOTA ROTOR WARPS. I HAVE LESS THAN 16,000 MILES AND THE CAR BEGAN SHAKING UPON APPLYING BRAKES. INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD MY ROTORS WERE WARPED. OFFERED TO TURN AT MY EXPENSE. NO OTHER SOLUTIONS OFFERED. RESEARCHED PROBLEM AND FOUND TO BE WIDESPREAD. TAKING VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER. ALSO LIFTGATE IMPROPERLY LATCHES UNLESS SLAMMED HARD. A/C BLOWER MOTOR WENT OUT IN WINTER AND WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR WINDOWS.

Mileage: 15,400

FRONT ROTORS "WARPED" AT 13K. ROTORS TURNED. PROBLEM PERSISTED AND HAD TO BE TURNED AGAIN AT 31K. 61K HAD FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED. BRAKE ASSEMBLY FELL APART IN MECHANICS HANDS. 72K PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS AND DEALER SUGGEST HAVING ROTORS TURNED EVERY 3K MILES. HUH?? *AK

Mileage: 13,000

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY FWD. I HAD REPLACED MODULE/CONTRLO, ANTI-LOCK BRAKE,TRASFER CASE GEAR AND THE MODULEFOR THE TRANSFER CASE.AND THE SHIFT MOTOR (VACUUM). AND ALSO THE PROPELLER SHAFT, WITH UNIVERSAL JOINTS REPLACED ALSO. AND TO TOP IT OFF MY FWD SERVICE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN,ALSO I HAVE NO LOW GEAR IN FWD LIGHT IS BLINKING.AND FRONT END STILL MAKES NOISE. I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. *AK

Mileage: 57,987

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED BRAKES LOCKED UP. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED ROTORS, BOOSTER POWER UNIT, CALIPERS, MASTER CYLINDER AND PADS. VEHICLE WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 3

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED BRAKES LOCKED UP. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED ROTORS, BOOSTER POWER UNIT, CALIPERS, MASTER CYLINDER AND PADS. VEHICLE WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 3

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED BRAKES LOCKED UP. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED ROTORS, BOOSTER POWER UNIT, CALIPERS, MASTER CYLINDER AND PADS. VEHICLE WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 3

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED BRAKES LOCKED UP. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED ROTORS, BOOSTER POWER UNIT, CALIPERS, MASTER CYLINDER AND PADS. VEHICLE WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 3

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED BRAKES LOCKED UP. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED ROTORS, BOOSTER POWER UNIT, CALIPERS, MASTER CYLINDER AND PADS. VEHICLE WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 3

WHILE DRIVING, A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING BRAKES WAS SMELLED. THERE WAS A LARGE PLUME OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WELL, AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE TRUCK HAD TO BE STOPPED FOR FEAR OF FIRE OR INJURY. DODGE STATES THAT THE FRONT LEFT CALIPER SEIZED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE RELATIVELY NEW FRONT ROTORS AND PADS I PURCHASED. LAST JULY, APPROXIMATELY 7 MONTHS AGO, THE TRUCK'S RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER SEIZED, CAUSING A SIMILAR SITUATION ONLY ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. DODGE REFUSES TO ADMIT FAULT IN SUPPLYING FAULTY PARTS TO CUSTOMERS. BRAKE CALIPERS SHOULD NOT FAIL UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AFTER 36,000-42,000 MILES. AFTER NUMEROUS OTHER MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE I HAVE LOST COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN IT, AND BELIEVE IT TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD.*AK

Mileage: 42,780

MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 4W ANTILOCK BRAKES DON'T PROVIDE ADEQUATE BRAKING. VEHICLE DOES NOT BRAKE ADEQUATELY DURING "PANIC" STOPPING. THE ANTILOCK FEATURE RELEASES THE BRAKES LONG BEFORE IT SHOULD. ABS ENGAGES BUT ALLOWS TOO MUCH "FREE-WHEELING" WHICH ALLOWS VEHICLE TOO MUCH TRAVEL. I HAVE SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS. THE LAST TIME THIS HAS CAUSED A REAR END CRASH IN MY TRUCK AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND COST 11,000.00. REPLACING THE AIR BAGS COST 8,500.00. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO 3 LOCAL DEALERS AND THEY SAID THE ABS IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. THE LAST DEALER I TOOK IT TO I TALKED TO THE TECH. HE SAID IT IS A BAD DESIGN. HE ALSO SAID THE MASTER CYLINDER VACUUM CHAMBER IS TO SMALL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND ALL 2001 AND NEWER TRUCKS SHOULD BE RECALLED. I HAVE HAD ANTILOCK BRAKES ON SEVERAL OF MY PREVIOUS VEHICLES BUT THIS TRUCK HAS THE WORST BRAKES EVER. WE NEED A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT TO FORCE DODGE TO FIX DEFECT!! *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, MOST OF THE TIME THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND. THE DEALER HAD TRIED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AT LEAST 5 TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. THE MASTER CYLINDER/ROTORS AND CALIPERS WERE REPLACED. *AK WHEN THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DISENGAGED, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT PRESENT. THE PROBLEM RETURNED WHEN THE ABS RE ENGAGED.THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. A REPAIR ATTEMPT WAS MADE 8 TIMES. *CB

Mileage: 9,765

WHILE BRAKING FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO PULSATE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 30,000

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE TRUCK WOULD VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE ROTORS WERE ROTTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT. *LA

Mileage: 23,500

WARPING OF BRAKE ROTORS ON DODGE DAKOTAS. I'VE OWNED 2 DAKOTAS - BOTH HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT ROTORS WARPING AT LOW MILEAGE WITH LIGHT USE. *LA

AT 21000 MILES, I NOTICED A CLANKING SOUND IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE DEALER CHECKED IT OUT, THE BRAKE PAD CLIPS HAD RUSTED AWAY AND ONE ROTOR HAD EXCESSIVE WEAR. HOWEVER, CHRYSLER REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS, WHICH COST OVER $400.00. *LA

Mileage: 21,000

MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA HAS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE ROTORS WARPING AND THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ADMIT TO THIS BEING A PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THOUSANDS OF OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. MY ROTORS HAD TO BE TURNED AT 15,000 MILES, AND THEY NEED IT AGAIN AT 40,000 MILES. *JB

Mileage: 15,000

DURING NORMAL DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE FACES OF BOTH ROTORS BROKE OFF INTO PIECES, WHICH CAUSED AN UNCONTROLLABLE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK *JB

Mileage: 14,900

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING THE BRAKE ROTORS WORE OUT, WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE ROTORS WERE SEVERELY WARPED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE LIKE DRIVING ON A WASHBOARD WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE DEALER DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY. *SCC *JB

Mileage: 19,000

FRONT DISC BARKES - ROTORS WARPED AT 38,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING BADLY WHEN BRAKING AND STOPPING TIME WAS GREATLY AFFECTED DUE TO THIS CONDITION. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE ONLY WAY TO REMOVE THE SHAKING WAS TO TURN THE ROTORS AT A COST OF $170. DEALER ALSO INDICATED THAT PADS ONLY HAD 45% WEAR AND ADVISIED THAT THIS CONDITION WOULD NOT CAUSE ANY PROBLEMS AND TO JUST WAIT UNTIL PADS ARE WORN ENOUGH TO WARRANT A BRAKE JOB. I REPLACED PADS AND ROTORS IMMEDIATELY AS THIS CONDITION IS DANGEROUS AND COMMON TO THIS VEHICLE. I FEEL A RECALL OF THE FRONT ROTORS IS IN ORDER. THIS CONDITION AFFECTS STOPPING TIME!!

Mileage: 38,000

FRONT BRAKES HAVE ALREADY BEEN TURNED ONCE AND ARE IN NEED AGAIN AT 39000 MILES. THE ABILITY TO STOP WITHIN A REASONABLE DISTANCE HAS DIMINISHED AND IS CAUSE FOR GREAT CONCERN. NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE STOCK VEHICLE HAVE BEEN MADE. *NLM

Mileage: 17,000

WARPED ROTORS. *AK

MY DODGE DAKOTA HAS HAD THE ORIGINAL ROTORS WARP AT 14000 MILES, THEY WERE TURNED ONCE AND AGAIN AT 23K THEY WARPPED. I HAVE NOW INSTALLED NEW NAPA PREMIUM LIFETIME WARRANTY ROTORS AND THEY LASTED 600 BAFORE WARPAGE. I HAVE REPLACED THE CALIPERS IN THE EVENT THEY WERE NOT RELEASING ALL THE WAY YET STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. PERHAPS DODGE HAS A LACK OF VENTILATION ON THE DAKOTA ROTORS. SEEMS LIKE A RECALL PROBLEM!*AK

Mileage: 14,000

MY DODGE DAKOTA HAS HAD THE ORIGINAL ROTORS WARP AT 14000 MILES, THEY WERE TURNED ONCE AND AGAIN AT 23K THEY WARPPED. I HAVE NOW INSTALLED NEW NAPA PREMIUM LIFETIME WARRANTY ROTORS AND THEY LASTED 600 BAFORE WARPAGE. I HAVE REPLACED THE CALIPERS IN THE EVENT THEY WERE NOT RELEASING ALL THE WAY YET STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. PERHAPS DODGE HAS A LACK OF VENTILATION ON THE DAKOTA ROTORS. SEEMS LIKE A RECALL PROBLEM!*AK

Mileage: 14,000

FRONT ROTOR WARPING.AK

Mileage: 69,000

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY ANTI LOCK BRAKES. BRAKES WILL LOCK UP,CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER STATES BRAKE ROTORS ARE WEARING, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES,VEHICLE WILL HAVE HEAVY VIBRATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

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

THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE WEARING AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THERE WAS HEAVY VIBRATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE POWER STEERING UNIT HAD BROKEN AND THE ROTORS AND DRUMS WERE BADLY WARPED. *SCC *JB

Mileage: 37,000

WARPED FRONT ROTORS AT 13,900 MILES. ROTORS REPLACED $400. REAR BRAKES CHECKED CLEANED ADJUSTED $85. CHRYSLER TOLL FREE "ASSISTANCE" REFUSED ANY HELP. SAID NOTHING COULD BE DONE AND NONE ELSE I COULD SPEAK TO. CLEARLY A DESIGN/ENGINEERING PROBLEM WITH THE DAKOTA BRAKES. *AK

Mileage: 13,900

SEVERE BRAKING PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH WARPED ROTORS. ROTORS WILL WARP EVERY 10-20 ,000 MILES DUE TO REAR BRAKE FAILURE. THIS PROBLEM IS A VERY DANGEROUS ONE. ESPECIALLY ON WET PAVEMENT.*AK

Mileage: 20,000

THE BRAKES BEGAN PULSATING AND SHAKING TRUCK WHEN STOPING AROUND 10000 MILES. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ROTORS AND DRUMS WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. AT 22000 MILES THE BRAKES AGAIN BEGAN PULSATING WHEN STOPPING. THE BRAKES WERE NOT UNDER WARRENTY AND HAD AFTER MARKET ROTORS AND PADS PLACED ON THE FRONT. NOW AT 32000 MILES THE SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURING AGAIN AND A FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CALIPER SIEZED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

THE BRAKES BEGAN PULSATING AND SHAKING TRUCK WHEN STOPING AROUND 10000 MILES. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ROTORS AND DRUMS WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. AT 22000 MILES THE BRAKES AGAIN BEGAN PULSATING WHEN STOPPING. THE BRAKES WERE NOT UNDER WARRENTY AND HAD AFTER MARKET ROTORS AND PADS PLACED ON THE FRONT. NOW AT 32000 MILES THE SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURING AGAIN AND A FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CALIPER SIEZED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4. FRONT ROTORS KEEP WARPING. SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN STOPPING. I KNOW SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH DAKOTAS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 32,900

2001 DODGE DAKOTA WARPED BRAKE ROTORS @ 22,000 MILES & 35,000 MILES. *AK

Mileage: 23,823

FED UP WITH WARPED ROTORS ON MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. I HAVE HAD MY ROTORS TURNED TWICE AND THEY ARE WARPED AGAIN. MY DAKOTA HAS ONLY 44K MILES ON IT. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND UNSAFE!*AK

WARPED ROTORS AFTER 18,000 MILES...HAD VEHICLE IN THREE TIMES TO INSPECT BRAKES...EACH TIME THEY TURNED THE ROTORS...*AK

Mileage: 10,000

METAL ON FRONT BRAKE PADS IS DETERIORATING. AS A RESULT THERE IS A SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END WHILE DRIVING. *AK

Mileage: 30,000

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 THE BRAKES VIBRATE SO BAD THEY SHAKE ME IN THE SEAT, THIS STARTED ABOUT 20,000 MILES. DODGE SAYS IT ONLY COVERS BRAKES TO 12,000 MILES. AFTER LOOKING AT ALL THE COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE NET WITH THE SAME PROBLEM , IT SEAMS DODGE HAS A PROBLEM. WE NEED THIS FIXED AS A RECALL. *NLM

Mileage: 20,000

BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AND WERE RESURFACED AT 15400 MILES. DURING BRAKING THE TRUCK BOUNCED AND THE STEERING GYRATED LEFT AND RIGHT SEVERELY. TRUCK NOW HAS 29000 (APPX) MILES AND THE ROTORS HAVE WARPED AGAIN. SAME VIBRATION AND STEERING WHEEL GYRATIONS. DANGEROUS TO STOP QUICKLY. *JB

Mileage: 29,000

THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WORN WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB.....*AK

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *TS. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE BRAKE PAD HAD DELAMINATED FROM THE BACKING PLATE AND FALLEN OUT. *JB

Mileage: 9,041

BRAKES SHAKE WHEN BRAKING. *NLM

Mileage: 25,000

WHILE DRIVING ABS BRAKES FAILED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. ABS LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY WAS ON. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABS BRAKES FAILED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. ABS LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY WAS ON. *AK

FRONT BRAKES HAVE SEVERE VIBRATION AFTER ONLY 8000 MILE, PROBABLY DEFECTIVE ROTOR. SAW NUMEROUS COMPLAINT OF THE SAME LISTED. RECALL SHOULD BE DONE. *JB

Mileage: 7,800

TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO SHIFT ERRATICALLY, DESPITE BEING SEEN BY TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS. THE TCM SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE. REPROGRAMMING IT DOESN'T SEEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE FACTORY TSB HAS BEEN DONE TWICE BUT HAS FAILED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES LURCH UP INTO 2ND GEAR AT LOWER SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING OR DOWN TO 1ST FROM 2ND WITHOUT WARNING DESPITE TRAVELING AT A CONSTANT SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. AFTER 22500 MILES THE VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED A MODERATE TO SEVERE PROBLEM WHEN BRAKING. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO HOP IN THE FRONT END DURING BRAKING AND THE BRAKES SEEM TO LOOSE EFFECTIVENESS MOMENTARILY. CLOSER INVESTIGATION REVEALED BOTH FRONT SHOCKS HAD FAILED. THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. NO LEAKS, NORMAL PAD AND ROTOR WEAR, NO GROOVES ON ROTOR, THE FRONT SHOCKS WERE REPLACED BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE THE BRAKING HOPPING PULSATING PROBLEM. *JB

Mileage: 21,500

THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED BECAUSE OF HEAVY RUST AND DETERIORATION.*AK *JB

FRONT BRAKE GRINDING WHEN HOT AND CONTINUAL REAR BRAKE DRUM WARPAGE. DEALER HAS TURNED THE DRUMS ONCE AND I HAVE HAD IT DONE INDEPENDANTLY TWICE. WARPAGE CONTINUES WITHIN 5-7000 MILES.

Mileage: 7,000

FRONT BRAKE GRINDING WHEN HOT AND CONTINUAL REAR BRAKE DRUM WARPAGE. DEALER HAS TURNED THE DRUMS ONCE AND I HAVE HAD IT DONE INDEPENDANTLY TWICE. WARPAGE CONTINUES WITHIN 5-7000 MILES.

Mileage: 7,000

FRONT BRAKE GRINDING WHEN HOT AND CONTINUAL REAR BRAKE DRUM WARPAGE. DEALER HAS TURNED THE DRUMS ONCE AND I HAVE HAD IT DONE INDEPENDANTLY TWICE. WARPAGE CONTINUES WITHIN 5-7000 MILES.

Mileage: 7,000

FRONT BRAKE GRINDING WHEN HOT AND CONTINUAL REAR BRAKE DRUM WARPAGE. DEALER HAS TURNED THE DRUMS ONCE AND I HAVE HAD IT DONE INDEPENDANTLY TWICE. WARPAGE CONTINUES WITHIN 5-7000 MILES.

Mileage: 7,000

FRONT BRAKES BEGAN TO SHUDDER AT APPROXIMATELY 18K MILES. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO WESTMINSTER DODGE IN BOSTON, MA. AND WAS QUOTED $400 FOR REPLACEMENT OF FRONT ROTORS AND PADS. AFTER DOING RESEARCH I REALIZED BRAKE ROTORS SHOULD NOT WARP AT ONLY 18K MILES. I DRIVER 50/50 HIGHWAY/CITY AND DO NOT BRAKE UNLESS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. AT APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE PAD BEGAN TO RATTLE IN THE CALIPER. I CONTACTED DODGE AND THEY REFUSE TO COVER ANY OF THESE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. DODGE NEEDS TO REALIZE THEY HAVE AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM WITH THEIR BRAKE ROTORS AND REPLACE THEM. SCC ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****770861

Mileage: 18,000

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH (POSSIBLY)THE BALL JOINTS. WHILE HE IS DRIVING THERE IS A CLUNKING SOUND THAT GETS WORSE WHEN TURNING ON CURVES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND IS UNABLE TO HELP. TS OTHER PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWED: THE VEHICLE WILL SLIDE/SKATE OVER ANY BUMP/UNEVEN SURFACE AND CORNER, NOISE IN FRONT END/PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL/PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON-FOUND EVAP LEAK, BAD GAS CAP, REAR BRAKE DRUMS ARE HOPPING, ABS LIGHT ON, INTERNAL MAIL RELAY AND VALVE PLUG SHORTED, AND FRONT INNER BRAKE PAD SPRING CLIPS BENT OUT OF SHAPE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTS THE FOLLOWING: REFUND OF THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, LESSEN THE BANK PAYMENTS FOR THE TIME OF USE, AND APPLY A REFUND TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW DODGE RAM. SCC

COMPLAINED TO WOODS DODGE IN BREVARD NC ABOUT NOISE IN FRONT AND SLIGHT BUMP IN BRAKES AT 12000 MILES. DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL DUE TO THE TYPE OF BRAKES PADS USED AND SAID TO DRIVE IT. WE DROVE IT UNITL IT HAD 24000 MILES AT WHICH TIME THE BUMPING BECAME A SHAKE DURING BRAKING. I SUSPECTED WARPED ROTORS AND THE DEALER CONFIRMED SAME. THE DEALER TRIED TO CHARGE ME FOR THE REPAIR AND ALSO STATED THAT THE PADS WERE BAD DUE TO THE BAD ROROR. I DISAGREED WITH THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND DODGE USED SUBSTANDARD ROTORS THAT HEATED EASILY. IF WATER WAS SPLASHED ON THE ROTORS THEY WOULD WARP. THIS WOULD BE ESPECIALLY PRESENT IN VECHICLES DRIVEN IN THE MOUNTAINS. I CONTINUED TO ARGUE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER BUT HE STILL CHARGED ME FOR THE REPAIR BUT DID REDUCE THE CHARGE SOME. NOW AT 37000 MILES I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC DID RECOMMEND THAT I BUY AN AFTERMARKEY ROTER SINCE THE DODGE ROTOR WAS NO GOOD! WOW WHAT A COMMENT FROM A DODGE DEALERSHIP. ANYWAY THIS IS A DANGERIOUS SITUATION SINCE THE WARPED ROTORS COULD HEAT UP AND CRACK CAUSING A WHEEL LOCK UP. THE WARPAGE CAN ALSO CAUSE REDUCED STOPPING ABILITY. I THINK IF YOU LOOK INTO THIS FURTHER THAT YOU WILL FIND OTHER INFO WHERE THE ROTORS HAVE TO BE TURNED FREQUENTLY BUT DEALERS WHO ARE LINING THEIR POCKETS DUE TO A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND SUBSTANDARD PARTS. IF THESE ROTORS ARE SO THIN OR OF MATERIAL THAT WARP THIS EASILY THEN THEIR SHOULD BE A RECALL AND BETTER ROTORS INSTALLED ONTO THESE VEHICLES. *AK

FRONT ROTORS ARE WARPED, I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN AND DODGE SAID EVERYTHING WAS OKAY THEN THEY CHARGED ME FOR THEIR TIME. THE VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AND THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE.*AK

WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES WITH SOME FORCE, THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK SUDDENLY VEERED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT, THE TRUCK THEN VEERED DANGEROUSLY IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. THE DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE DRY PAVEMENT AND CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO BRING THE TRUCK UNDER CONTROL. THE ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO RUST AND DETERIORATION. *TT

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND WITHOUT WARNING WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION.*AK WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND TRUCK CRASHED INTO THE CONSUMERS HOUSE. *YH

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

I HAVE BEEN TO MY DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS AND THEY HAVE TOLD THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL LOCATION AND TRAVEL CHANGED WITH THE 2000 YEAR MODELS AND THAT MINE IS "NORMAL". THE PROBLEM AND MY CONCERN IS THAT ONE CAN PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL ANDINITIAL POSITION AND TRAVEL MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO THEN HIT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT THE END OF THE STROKE. THIS HAPPENED TO ME ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND LUCKILY NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES HAVE OCCURRED WITH ME OR MY VEHICLE. AT MY DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE A COUPLE OTHER DODGE MODELS WHERE THE SAME COMPLAINT HAS BEEN MADE. I KNOW THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM AND THAT THERE WILL BE ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF IT. I ALSO FEAR THAT BECAUSE THIS IS A 15-PASSENGER VAN, IT IS OFTEN USED BY SCHOOLS AND DAYCARE TO TRANSPORT LOTS OF SMALL CHILDREN. I DON'T EVEN WANT TO THINK ABOUT THE CATASTROPHIC POSSIBILITIES OF ONE OF THESE VEHICLES PULLING UP TO LARGE GROUPS OF SMALL CHILDREN. *AK PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DEMONSTRATE THE PROBLEM FOR ANYONE.

FRONT ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE DUE TO VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AND SHAKING OF EHICLE. ROTORS WERE WARPED, AT THIS TIME ROTORS NEED REPLACEMENT AGAIN. *AK

AROUND 16,000 MILES, I NOTICED THE PULLING AND PULSATING OF THE BRAKES WHEN I APPLIED PRESSURE TO THEM EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. TOOK THE TRUCK INTO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED AND THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS WERE CRACKED. THEY CHARGED US FOR MACHINING THE FRONT ROTORS BUT REPLACED THE REAR DRUMS UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE BACK, NOTICED THAT THEY STILL ACTED WARPED. RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WITHIN A WEEK AND THEY REPLACED THE DRUMS AGAIN BECAUSE THEY FOUND THEY WERE ALSO WARPED. RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AGAIN BECAUSE OF SAME SYMPTOMS WITHIN A WEEK AND THEY TURNED THE DRUMS AGAIN BECAUSE THE 2ND REPLACEMENT ONES WERE ALSO WARPED. AT THAT TIME THE FRONT BRAKES WERE ALSO SQUEAKING, SO THEY ATTEMPTED TO CLEAN AND LUBE CALIPERS. DID NOT FIX THE NOISE IN THE FRONT ROTORS AND THE REAR DRUMS ARE STILL FEELING WARPED. WILL ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE DEALER AGAIN FOR FURTHER REPAIRS BUT FEAR WILL BE CHARGED AS WE WERE THE FIRST TIME FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE BRAKING SYSTEMS IN THE DODGE DAKOTA'S.*AK

AROUND 16,000 MILES, I NOTICED THE PULLING AND PULSATING OF THE BRAKES WHEN I APPLIED PRESSURE TO THEM EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. TOOK THE TRUCK INTO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED AND THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS WERE CRACKED. THEY CHARGED US FOR MACHINING THE FRONT ROTORS BUT REPLACED THE REAR DRUMS UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE BACK, NOTICED THAT THEY STILL ACTED WARPED. RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WITHIN A WEEK AND THEY REPLACED THE DRUMS AGAIN BECAUSE THEY FOUND THEY WERE ALSO WARPED. RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AGAIN BECAUSE OF SAME SYMPTOMS WITHIN A WEEK AND THEY TURNED THE DRUMS AGAIN BECAUSE THE 2ND REPLACEMENT ONES WERE ALSO WARPED. AT THAT TIME THE FRONT BRAKES WERE ALSO SQUEAKING, SO THEY ATTEMPTED TO CLEAN AND LUBE CALIPERS. DID NOT FIX THE NOISE IN THE FRONT ROTORS AND THE REAR DRUMS ARE STILL FEELING WARPED. WILL ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE DEALER AGAIN FOR FURTHER REPAIRS BUT FEAR WILL BE CHARGED AS WE WERE THE FIRST TIME FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE BRAKING SYSTEMS IN THE DODGE DAKOTA'S.*AK

FRONT ROTORS STARTED WARPING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS BUT WAS NOT APPARENT UNTIL AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE WWW IT IS APPARENT THAT DODGE WILL NOT ADMIT THE DEFAULT IN HEAT DISSIPATION AND I WILL PURCHASE AFTER MARKET ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. THE BRAKING WITH SUCH A RAPID DEGRADATION IN THE ROTORS IS A HAZARD AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET HURT. *AK

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY TO MEET THE NORMAL DEMANDS OF EVERYDAY DRIVING. ROTORS REQUIRE TURNING EVERY 5,000 MILES. NO FACTORY IMPROVEMENT AVAILABLE. ONLY CHOICE IS TO REPLACE WITH AFTER-MARKET PARTS. DEALERS ONLY OFFER EXCUSES, BLAME DRIVING STYLE. (I AM VERY EASY ON BRAKES. MANY OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM). *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE WILL JERK/PULSATE AND SURGE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

PLEASE VISIT WEB SITE: WWW.DODGEDAKOTAS.COM AND GO TO "FORUMS" AND SEARCH UNDER "BRAKE PROBLEMS" FOR SUPPORTING CASES OF ROTOR FAILURE. I NOTICED MY FRONT BRAKES PULSATING AT APPROXIMATELY 16,000 MILES. I DRIVE 90% HIWAY WITH VERY LITTLE CITY TRAFFIC. I DRIVE VERY CONSERVATIVELY. (NO HARD BRAKING) RECENTLY WHILE EXITING THE HIWAY I APPLIED MY BRAKES AT 45MPH AND HAD TREMENDOUS PULSATING INSTANTLY WHICH CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO LOSE IT'S BRAKING ABILITY. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BUT IT PROMPTED ME TO GET THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER EXPECTING THEM TO FIND A REASON AS TO WHY THE ROTORS ARE WARPED AFTER VERY LITTLE USE. THEY TOLD ME THAT "THEY DON'T MAKE BRAKES THE WAY THEY USED TO". AFTER VIEWING THE WEB SITE NOTED ABOVE; IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THERE IS A UNDERDESIGNED ROTOR USED ON DODGE DAKOTAS AS THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO DISIPATE THE HEAT GENERATED DURING NORMAL DRIVING. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME AN ACCIDENT. I DO NOT WANT TO BE DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT HAS INFERIOR BRAKE DESIGN OR MATERIALS. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT I CAN GET BETTER ROTORS AND PADS FROM AFTER MARKET MANUFACTURER'S. WHY DOESN'T DODGE USE THOSE? AS A VOLUNTEER FIREMAN I GO TO MANY ACCIDENT SCENES. I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE BECAUSE OF A CHOICE BY THE MANUFACTURER, DODGE, TO USE LESS EXPENSIVE BRAKING COMPONENTS. BY THE WAY THE DODGE DURANGO IS ALMOST IDENTICLE TO THE DAKOTA YET HARDLY HAS ANY BRAKE ISSUES. SOUNDS LIKE THAT VEHICLE IS EQUIPED WITH THE PROPER COMPONENTS. I HAVE MY WARPED ROTORS AND BREAK PADS TAKEN OFF MY DAKOTA IF YOU'D LIKE TO USE IN YOUR INVESTIGATION. I AM SURE THAT THE ROTOR IS NOT PROPERLY DESIGNED FOR THE NORMAL STOPPING REQUIREMENTS OF THE DOAGE DAKOTA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. JAMES BUCKLEY. *AK

BETWEEN 30 AND 50 MPH WHEN APPLYING NORMAL BRAKE PRESSURE THE VEHICLE SHUDDERS VIOLENTLY SOMETIMES ALMOST UNCONTROLABLY. IT STARTED AT ABOUT 12K MILES. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THERE IS A PROBLEM!. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON WET PAVEMENT ABS BRAKES SYSTEM FAILED TO ACTIVATE WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

THIS TRUCK WAS SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF BRAKE ROTOR WARPAGE. THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY INDEPENDENT GARAGE. *AK

AT 10,500 MILES, TRUCKS BEGAN JITTERING AND SHAKING REALLY BAD. UPON INSPECTING FRONT ROTORS, MAJOR SCARRING HAD OCCURRED. BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP, REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 11,106 MILES. WARRANTY LIKELY WILL NOT COVER REPLACEMENTS WHEN THESE FAIL, AS ALL RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THEY WILL. DODGE NEEDS TO REPLACE THESE FAULTY ROTORS, AS THEY ARE A HAZARD TO NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT ALSO WHOEVER MAY BE NEAR ME WHILE I'M DRIVING. DEALER STATED THAT THEY KNEW OF NO OTHER DAKOTA'S WITH THIS PROBLEM.*AK (TIRESIZE: 16)

THE LEFT FRONT DISC BRAKE WAS EITHER LOCKED OR THE CALIPER WAS COMPRESSED ENOUGH THAT IT WAS HOLDING THE PAD ON THE DISC. THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT SLIGHTLY. I STARTED TO NOTICE AN ODD ODOR. AFTER SEVERAL MILES, I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL. I PULLED OFF AND NOTICED THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS SMOKING A LOT. THE WHEEL WAS VERY HOT. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO FAIR OAKS DODGE. THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND TEST DROVE IT BUT, THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY DID NOT SEE ANY SIGNS OF OVER HEATING ON THE BRAKE (NO DISCOLORATION OF THE ROTOR OR CRACKING ON THE PAD). I AM RELATIVELY CERTAIN THAT THE BRAKE CALIPER WAS LOCKED UP AND NOT RETRACTING FROM THE DISC PROPERLY.*AK

PULSATING BRAKES,HOPS ENOUGH TO FEEL VIBRATION IN DRIVER SEAT. FELT LIKE VECHICLE WAS NOT GOING TO STOP WHEN BRAKES APPLIED.*AK

I FEEL THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT BRAKES HAS TO DO WITH THE NEW ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS VERY SCARY BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT TAKES A FEW SECONDS TO DOWN SHIFT AND THAT MAY LEAD ME INTO HAVEING AN ACCIDENT. THE SEAT IS A BIG COMFORT ISSUE SEEING THAT IS WHERE YOU SIT TO DRIVE. THE ENGINE IDLE MAKES ME FEEL LIKE THE TRUCK IS GOING TO STALL OUT AND I WILL HAVE TO RESTART IT NOT GOOD IF YOU ARE SITTING IN A LINE OF MOVEING CARS

WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL FADED TO FLOOR, NO BRAKING ACTION, AND VEHICLE REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. MILEAGE AT THAT TIME WAS 8000. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE ABOUT $ 1000.00 CONSUMER INJURED LEG AND NERVE SYSTEM. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES, CANNOT DUPLICATE, CANNOT REMEDY. DODGE DISTRICT MANAGER SAID THIS WAS NOT DANGEROUS ENOUGH TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT. *AK

DEALER HAS HAD AN INDEPENDENT COMPANY CHECK THE PROBLEM AND DID WORK TO THE BRAKES CHANGING THE ORIGINAL SITUATION TO APPEAR THAT THEY WERE IN BETTER WORKING CONDITION WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE INDEPENDENT COMPANY. THE BRAKES ARE STILL UNSAFE.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING SEVERE FRONT ROTORS WARPING EVERY 2,500 MILES OR LESS. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND HAD ROTORS TURNED ON TWO OCCASIONS AND REPLACED ROTORS ON ONE OCCASION, ALONG WITH REPLACING PADS AND HARDWEAR. STILL UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY FURTHER DETAILS CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, FRONT END OF VEHICLE PULLS SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT, DEALER CAN NOT IDENTIFY CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK CONTROL ARM WAS REPLACED. CALIPERS WERE REPLACED. DEALER FOUND AIR LEAK WITH THE GAS TANK AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, THIS WAS CAUSING THE ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *SLC

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