2003 DODGE DAKOTA Visibility Problems

MY HUSBAND AND I HAD DRIVEN OUR 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE MILES WHEN WE SMELLED SMOKE. MY HUSBAND LOOKED IN OUR REAR VIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM BETWEEN THE CAB AND TRUCK BED NOT FROM THE ENGINE AREA. AT THE SAME TIME, I GLANCED IN THE SIDE MIRRORS AND SAW SOMETHING LIQUID (OR MELTED) DRIPPING BEHIND US ON FIRE IN THE ROAD AND LEAVING A BURNING TRAIL ON THE ASPHALT. WE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER (THANK GOD THERE WAS A SPOT TO DO SO!) BUT HAD NO BRAKES. DUE TO THE SANDY NATURE OF THE DIRT AND SLIGHT UPHILL HE WAS ABLE TO THROW IT INTO PARK. I BAILED OUT MY SIDE AND RAN. RANDY TRIED TO EXIT HIS SIDE, BUT THE FLAMES WERE ALREADY TOO HIGH SO HE LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO GET OUT MY SIDE AS WELL. THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND WHEN RANDY HIT THE GROUND HE NOTICED WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HANGING DOWN AND ON ALSO FIRE. THE TRUCK EXPLODED ABOUT 10 - 15 SECONDS AFTER WE ESCAPED. THIS WAS A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE BOTH INSIDE AND OUT AND WE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THAT WE WERE IN ANY DANGER OR THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TRUCK. *TR

Mileage: 111,000

HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 OF 4 WINDOW CABLES AND MOTORS. TRUCK IS NOW BACK IN FOR THIRD WINDOW IN A SEVEN MONTH PERIOD. WINDOWS ARE HARDLY EVER ROLLED UP OR DOWN. VEHICLE HAS 46000 MILES ON IT, PROVING NOT A LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR. FIRST WINDOW, WAS ROLLING BACK UP, GOT HALF WAY AND FELL DOWN. SECOND WINDOW FELL WHILE IN PARKING LOT AND NO ONE WAS AROUND. THIRD WINDOW FELL WHEN CLOSING DOOR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. WHENEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE BRAKES WOULD PULSATE, OVERHEAT, AND LOCK UP. THE STOPPING DISTANCE WOULD ALSO INCREASE. THE DEALER STATED THAT WET CONDITIONS AND HIGH SPEED BRAKING CAUSED THE ROTORS TO WARP. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE IDLES HIGH AND ROUGHLY WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE ROUGHLY. THERE WAS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 20 SECONDS, BUT THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER APPROXIMATELY FIVE TIMES FOR THESE ISSUES, BUT THE FAILURES STILL PERSIST. ALL THE SENSORS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE IS BECOMING WORSE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS THREE TIMES AND THE CONTACT REPLACED THEM FOUR TIMES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,655 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 11/06/08. *LJ THE ROTORS AND BRAKES WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER THAT WAS NOT LETTING THE REAR BRAKES EVER WORK. THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS BUILT TO DRAIN INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR. THE COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCEPT UPDATES. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED. THE WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 11/06/08. *JB

Mileage: 5,000

WINDOW REGULATOR FAILS WHEN SHUTTING DOOR, DROPPING WINDOW DOWN IN DOOR CHANNEL. WINDOW REGULATOR MUST BE REPLACED. HAS JUST HAPPENED FOR THE 3RD TIME IN PAST 1 YEAR. EACH TIME A DIFFERENT WINDOW OF THIS DAKOTA QUAD CAB PICKUP I PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN NO ACCIDENTS. *TR

Mileage: 92,800

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5-10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD THUD COMING FROM THE AXLE AREA. THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE HEADLIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED COMPLETELY. EVENTUALLY, THE HORN BEGAN TO SOUND INTERMITTENTLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN WIPING AUTOMATICALLY, AND THE LOW FUEL INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND CONTINUED TO CHIME. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT ALL THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V322000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS SWITCH) WAS REFERENCED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,700.

Mileage: 65,700

25JAN06 TELL DODGE DEALER THAT PASS WINDOW INOP FROM PASS SIDE SWITCH WORKS FROM DRIVERS SIDE SWITCH. DODGE REPLACE SWITCH. 20APR06 TELL DODGE DEALER PASS WINDOW INOP FROM PASS SIDE BUT WORKS FROM DRIVERS SIDE. DODGE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. PERSISTS UP TO 7DEC07, HOPEFULLY MY MECHANIC FOUND THE TROUBLE. 1DEC07 "SERVICE 4WD" LIGHT CAME ON 3DEC07 CALLED TO GET APPTMT FOR TRUCK 4DEC07 REMOTE DOOR ENTRY WOULDN'T WORK OR DOOR LOCK FOR ALL DOORS ON DRIVER ARM REST, WINDSHIELD WASHER AND WIPER PULSE WOULDN'T WORK 5DEC07 HEADLIGHTS DID NOT COME ON DURING EVENING TRAFFIC COMMUTE, TURN SIGNALS WORKED 7DEC07 TAKE TRUCK TO SHOP FINDS SHORT TO GROUND IN CIRCUIT TO INTO LIGHTS (FUSE#1) PNK WIRE NEAR PARKING BRAKE PETAL, REPLACE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE (P/N 56049072AL). *TR

Mileage: 47,250

25JAN06 TELL DODGE DEALER THAT PASS WINDOW INOP FROM PASS SIDE SWITCH WORKS FROM DRIVERS SIDE SWITCH. DODGE REPLACE SWITCH. 20APR06 TELL DODGE DEALER PASS WINDOW INOP FROM PASS SIDE BUT WORKS FROM DRIVERS SIDE. DODGE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. PERSISTS UP TO 7DEC07, HOPEFULLY MY MECHANIC FOUND THE TROUBLE. 1DEC07 "SERVICE 4WD" LIGHT CAME ON 3DEC07 CALLED TO GET APPTMT FOR TRUCK 4DEC07 REMOTE DOOR ENTRY WOULDN'T WORK OR DOOR LOCK FOR ALL DOORS ON DRIVER ARM REST, WINDSHIELD WASHER AND WIPER PULSE WOULDN'T WORK 5DEC07 HEADLIGHTS DID NOT COME ON DURING EVENING TRAFFIC COMMUTE, TURN SIGNALS WORKED 7DEC07 TAKE TRUCK TO SHOP FINDS SHORT TO GROUND IN CIRCUIT TO INTO LIGHTS (FUSE#1) PNK WIRE NEAR PARKING BRAKE PETAL, REPLACE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE (P/N 56049072AL). *TR

Mileage: 47,250

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 30 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING SOUND. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A TIE ROD NEEDED REPLACEMENT. CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, EVEN AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE. *AK *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REFUSED REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL. *JB

RECALL 04V216000/WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE MOTOR: AFTER THIS RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE CONSUMER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATES, THAT WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN IN INCLEMENT CONDITIONS IT CAUSES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THE HEADLIGHT TO STOP OPERATING. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK

Mileage: 37,200

WINDSHIELD NO TOP RUBBER, WINDSHEILD BECOMING LOOSE. *AK

Mileage: 30,000

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN REFERENCE TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. *NM RECALL# 04V216000. THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *SC

04 V 216 000/WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE MOTOR: THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET THIS RECALL REPAIRED BECAUSE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO GET THE PARTS. *JB

RECALL 04V216000 CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. CONSUMER WAS WAITING OVER A MONTH AND THE DEALER WAS STILL UNABLE TO GET THE PARTS NEEDED TO HONOR THE RECALL NOTICE.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 04V216000 CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. SERVICE MANAGER TERRY SOTUS. *AK

VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. *MR THERE WERE BACKFIRES AT TIMES, THE PEDAL WOULD BARELY MOVE AT STOP SIGNS, WHEN BACKING OUT, THE VEHICLE WOULD STAY IN SECOND GEAR FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO LET OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL THEN SHIFT INTO HIGH GEAR, SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE, THEN AS SOON AS IT STARTED TO MISFIRE, THE VEHICLE WOULD DROP TO OVERDRIVE, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE, THERE WAS A WHINE AND OR HOWL IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AROUND 50 MPH, THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD NEVER COME ON, SOMETIMES THE SHIFT LEVER WOULD BE PLACED IN PARK AND THE VEHICLE WOULD START, AT TIMES WHEN SHIFTING TO REVERSE OR DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE AND THE WOULD HAVE TO BE JERKED AROUND ON THE SHIFT LEVER, THE HEATER CONTROLS WERE INOPERATIVE, AND THERE WERE NOISES WHEN THE LIGHTS ON THE RADIO WERE TURNED ON. THE VALVE ON THE TRANSMISSION WAS CHANGE AND HELPED THE VEHICLE, BUT SOMETIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED UP OR DOWN IN GEAR IT WOULD BE A PROBLEM. *SC *JB

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS LIFTED OFF THE WINDSHIELD WHEN TRAVELING OVER 60 MPH. *PH THE WIPERS COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED TO KEEP THE BLADES FROM HITTING THE WINDSHIELD FRAME. THE DEFROSTER AIR FLOW DOES NOT KEEP THE WINDSHIELD CLEAR OF FROZEN ICE OR SNOW. THE CONSUMER HAS SEVEN DODGE DAKOTA'S RANGING FROM 1994-2003 AND THEY ALL HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *NM

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS LIFTED OFF THE WINDSHIELD WHEN TRAVELING OVER 60 MPH. *PH THE WIPERS COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED TO KEEP THE BLADES FROM HITTING THE WINDSHIELD FRAME. THE DEFROSTER AIR FLOW DOES NOT KEEP THE WINDSHIELD CLEAR OF FROZEN ICE OR SNOW. THE CONSUMER HAS SEVEN DODGE DAKOTA'S RANGING FROM 1994-2003 AND THEY ALL HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *NM

2003 DAKOTA QUAD CAB. IN COLD TEMPERATURES BELOW 15F THE FLUID SPRAYERS WILL FREEZE. CAUSING LOW TO ZERO VISIBILITY IN WINTER WEATHER DRIVING. WHEN TRUCK IS PARKED AND WARMED UP FOR 10-15 MINS FLUID WILL SPRAY FOR AS LONG AS YOU WANT, AFTER YOU STOP IT POOLS UP IN THE TIPS OF THE SPRAYERS, AND WILL FREEZE ONCE YOU MOVE AGAIN. THE HOSE'S ARE ALSO NOT INSULATED TO PROTECT FROM THE COLD SO THEY DON'T FREEZE AS WELL. THIS CAN AND WILL CAUSE ZERO VISIBILITY, CAUSING THE DRIVE TO NOT BE ABLE TO SEE AND POSSIBLY GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. *CB

Mileage: 17,605

ON 2003 AND 2004 DODGE VEHICLES, THE PIECE OF TRIM AND WEATHER STRIPPING ARE NOT BEING PUT AT THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE GAP BETWEEN THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THE CAR BODY RANGES FROM NONE TO 3/8 INCH WIDE BY 1/2 INCH DEEP. WATER COULD GET IN THIS GAP AND FREEZE CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO COME LOOSE, CRACK, OR SHATTER. WATER EXPANDS AS IT FREEZES AND THE PRESSURE FROM THE EXPANSION COULD CAUSE SEVERE PROBLEMS IF THE WINDSHIELD CAME LOOSE, CRACKED, OR SHATTERED WHEN DRIVING. WATER IS NATURALLY GOING TO COLLECT IN THIS GAP EITHER FROM RAIN, CAR WASHING, OR SNOW MELTING. THE MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE WOULD CAUSE THE WATER TO FREEZE FASTER IN BELOW FREEZING CONDITIONS. I NOTIFIED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER AND THEY SAID TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER, WHICH I DID AND THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS DONE BY THE FACTORY STARTING WITH THE 2003 MODEL YEAR. CUSTOMER SERVICE AT DAIMLER-CHRYSLER ACTS AS IF YOU ARE BOTHERING THEM WITH PROBLEMS LIKE THIS BUT I FEEL IT COULD BE A REAL SERIOUS PROBLEM IN THE COLDER NORTHERN STATES LIKE OHIO. THE GAP RUNS THE FULL WIDTH OF THE BODY. THANKS.*AK