1998 Dodge DAKOTA: complaints, problems and recalls

I HAD CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACE LAST SUMMER BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTIVE . I HAVE AN EXHASUST LEAK KNOW AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID I HAVE 3 BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST 65 TO 75 DOLLARS APIECE TO FIX. I WORK FOR DAIMLER CHRYSLER AT TWINSBURG STAMPING AS A MACHINE REPAIRMAN. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF EXHAUST BOLTS JUST BREAKING.I BELEIVE THERE IS A PROBLEM HERE THEY OUGHT TO FIX. THERE MORE PEOPLE AT WORK THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THANK YOU

Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005007 at NHTSA ↗

PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG HAD BEEN REMOVED, DEALERSHIP DID NOT INFORM CONSUMER BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *JB..*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009364 at NHTSA ↗

1998 DODGE TRUCK DAKOTA. TRANSFERED TO TIS. *PH *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011801 at NHTSA ↗

THE FRONT 4 WHEEL DRIVE CV SHAFT BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO PULL HARD TO THE RIGHT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011899 at NHTSA ↗

NAR 02/28/2003 MR THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM. *CB

Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014753 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT IDLING FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THE FLOOR BOARD OVER HEATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DUE TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD BECOME EXTREMELY HOT. SEVERAL ITEMS THAT WERE LEFT ON THE FLOOR MELTED, WHICH INCLUDED SOME PORTIONS OF THE SEAT BELT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015395 at NHTSA ↗

THE ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE INOPERATIVE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017209 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD AND STAYED ON. THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM RESURFACED. THE CONSUMER SAW RECALL 01V-153000 WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING DEALER THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN THE RECALL, BUT IT HAS THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR. CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR COST OF REPAIRS. *JB *CB

Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020260 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: 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: 1997-10-07 (October 7, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS (2 WHEEL DRIVE ONLY). THE FRONT BRAKE HOSES OR ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) SENSOR WIRE MAY BE ABRADED AT THE FRONT WHEELS BY CONTACT WITH A FRONT WHEELHOUSE SPLASH SHIELD.

Consequence: PROLONGED BRAKE HOSE CONTACT CAN CAUSE A PARTIAL LOSS OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. PROLONGED ABS SENSOR WIRE CONTACT CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF ABS FUNCTION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TRIM THE FRONT WHEELHOUSE SPLASH SHIELDS AND THE BRAKE HOSES AND ABS SENSOR WIRES WILL BE INSPECTED. IF EVIDENCE OF ABRASION IS FOUND ON ANY HOSE OR ABS WIRE, THEY WILL BE REPLACED.

Reported: 1998-09-08 (September 8, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH BOLTS THAT WERE NOT PROPERLY HARDENED. THE BOLTS WERE USED TO ATTACH THE CAB AND THE CORE SUPPORT TO THE FRAME.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN ALLOW THE CAB TO SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE BOLTS WITH PROPERLY HARDENED BOLTS.