1997 Dodge DAKOTA: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. CONSUMER STATES' WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IT FILL LIKE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS KICKING BACK. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001129 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE VEHICLES' HEADLIGHT GOES OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH 3 TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURS. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001288 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE HAD POPPED, CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO STAY ON. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004439 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE SEAT BEAL FAILED,DRIVER SIDE.

Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004966 at NHTSA ↗

CLANKING NOISE IN RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. AXLE SEAL BROKE, REPLACED, 3 WEEKS LATER NOISE AGAIN BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PH

Owner-reported narrative. 53,980 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007548 at NHTSA ↗

THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH HANDLE CAME OFF, WHICH RESULTED IN THE TAIL LIGHTS NOT WORKING. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009939 at NHTSA ↗

1997 DODGE DAKOTA CLUB CAB 2 WD PICKUP HAD EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR AT 25,000 MILES SO ALL TIRES REPLACED. TIRES HAD BEEN ROTATED EVERY 7,000 MI. AFTER TIRE REPLACED TOOK TO DODGE DEALER FOR FRONT END ALIGNMENT. DEALER REFUSED BECAUSE THEY SAID FRONT BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACED COSTING $900. WHEN ASKED IF THIS WAS UNUSUAL DEALER SAID NO AND THAT BALL JOINTS COULD WEAR OUT IN 10,000 MILES. I CALLED DAIMLER CHRYSLER TO COMPLAIN AND THEY REFUSED MY REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE SAYING NO PROBLEMS OF THIS TYPE HAVE BEEN REPORTED. THE TRUCK WAS NEVER DRIV…

Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010191 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00V193000 IN 12/01. HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012446 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-07-17 (July 17, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS BUILT WITH 2.5L ENGINES. SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE TUBE AND THE POWER STEERING HOSE.

Consequence: A PUNCTURE OF THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE TUBE CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING FORCE AT THE FRONT WHEELS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE TUBE AND POWER STEERING HOSE FOR WEAR. IF WEAR IS EVIDENT, THE BRAKE TUBE AND/OR POWER STEERING HOSE WILL BE REPLACED. A POWER STEERING STANDOFF BRACKET WILL BE INSTALLED ON ALL VEHICLES TO ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE TUBE AND POWER STEERING HOSE IS MAINTAINED.

Reported: 2000-07-17 (July 17, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS. SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE REAR AXLE VENT HOSE AND THE BRAKE HOSE.

Consequence: A PUNCTURE IN THE REAR BRAKE HOSE WILL RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING FORCE AT THE REAR WHEELS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR BRAKE HOSE FOR EVIDENCE OF WEAR. WORN BRAKE HOSES WILL BE REPLACED. THE REAR VENT HOSE WILL BE SHORTENED BY 3 INCHES AND A CLIP WILL BE INSTALLED TO ASSURE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE AXLE VENT LINE AND BRAKE HOSE IS MAINTAINED.

Reported: 2000-07-17 (July 17, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS WITH A 131 INCH WHEELBASE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE FUEL LINE AND THE CAB UNDERBODY.

Consequence: THIS CONTACT CAN RESULT IN WEAR, AND AFTER EXTENDED CONTACT, COULD CAUSE A PERFORATION IN THE FUEL LINE, RESULTING IN LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR PROPER CLEARANCE. FUEL LINES THAT EXHIBIT INADEQUATE CLEARANCE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A REDESIGNED FUEL LINE THAT WILL ASSURE PROPER CLEARANCE.

Reported: 2001-05-08 (May 8, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS. SOUND DEADENER MATERIAL INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL COULD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE COVER AND HOUSING. NOTE: THE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS WERE BUILT AT THE WARREN ASSEMBLY PLANT ("S" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 16, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; ST. LOUIS NORTH ASSEMBLY PLANT ("J" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 19, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; LAGO ALBERTO ASSEMBLY PLANT ("M" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 23, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; AND SALTILLO ASSEMBLY PLANT ("G" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 23, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000. IMPORTANT: VEHICLES THAT HAVE ALREADY HAD THE PROPER CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THIS RECALL. IN ADDITION, 1997-2000 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD A SUSPECT REPLACEMENT CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THIS RECALL.

Consequence: WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE MATERIAL COULD INTERFERE WITH THE CLOCKSPRING RIBBON AND CAUSE AN OPEN CIRCUIT. THE DRIVER AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL BECOME DISABLED, AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 18, 2001. ALSO SOME 1997-200 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES THAT, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE HAD A SUSPECT REPLACEMENT CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 1997-05-16 (May 16, 1997)

THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT DESIGN ALLOWS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT UPON VEHICLE IGNITION SHUT DOWN.

Consequence: UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED MODULE.