1999 Dodge DAKOTA: complaints, problems and recalls

1999 DODGE DAKOTA R/T PICKUP REAR BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE. THEY DO NOT HOLD ADEQUATELY. WHEN THE TRUCK IS JACKED UP OFF THE GROUND AND PUT IN GEAR THE REAR BRAKES WILL FAIL TO HOLD THE WHEELS STOPPED ONCE THE ENGINE REACHES APPROXIMATELY 1000 RPM. THEY SHOULD HOLD THE WHEELS UP TO 2600 RPM. THIS CAUSES UNSAFE BRAKING, EXCESS WEAR AND WARPING OF THE FRONT ROTORS. I AM AWARE OF OTHER R/T OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND AT LEAST ONE HAS HAD THEIR TRUCK BOUGHT BACK BY DODGE RATHER THAN DEAL WITH FIXING THE PROBLEM. MY LOCAL DEALER REFUSES TO DO ANY…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000785 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER ADVISED THAT ENGINE HAS FAILED TWICE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER DIAGNOSED BOTH INCIDENTS AS THE OIL PUMP CLOGGING DUE TO OIL BEING TURNED TO SLUDGE. FIRST INCIDENT WAS IN 09/01. 2ND INCIDENT IN 12/02. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002285 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MIRRORS ON VEHICLE HAVE A MAJOR BLIND SPOT. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002417 at NHTSA ↗

TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. THE TRUCK HAS 47,078 MILES. TOO IT IN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEED AN ENTIRE NEW TRANSMISSION OR THEY COULD REPAIR IT FOR $100.00 LESS THEN A FACTORY REBUILT TRANSMISSION. I DON'T FEEL AS THOUGH A TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE SLIPPING WITH ONLY 47,000 MILES ON IT. THE SERVICE MAN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE FRONT CLUTCH PISTON WAS WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM. HAVE YOU HAD ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS? I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE DUE TO THE LOW MILES. I FEEL AS THOUGH IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT.

Owner-reported narrative. 46,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003066 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES' AUTOMACTIC TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING GEARS. THIS RESULTED IN OTHER PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION BURNING OUT.(PARTS UNKNOWN). THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE RUBBER SEALS GOING BAD. THERE IS A TIS BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004475 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT FIVE TIMES SINCE PURCHASING MY DAKOTA (54,000 MILES) AS A NEW VEHICLE FROM A DODGE DEALERSHIP IN '98. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REASON FOR THE CONSTANT WEARING OF THIS ITEM. IT HAS BECOME A VERY EXPENSIVE MAINTENANCE ITEM.

Owner-reported narrative. 54,834 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005321 at NHTSA ↗

I HAD TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE , $650.00, IN MY 1999 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT 4X4. THIS IS ABSURD SINCE THE VEHICLE MILEAGE IS ONLY 54834 MILES. I CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER THEY STATED THE FAILURE WAS UNFORTUNATE AND THAT THEY WILL LOG-IN MY COMPLAINT.

Owner-reported narrative. 54,834 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005324 at NHTSA ↗

E-BRAKE RUBBING AGAINST FRAME. INFORMED DEALER WHO PUT A RUBBER HOSE OVER CABLE. HOSE FELL OFF 20 MILES LATER. E-BRAKE WILL EVENTUALLY WEAR THROUGH AND FAIL. *JB *NLM ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****755550

Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007046 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: 2001-04-11 (April 11, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN VAN, WAGON, PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Consequence: IF THE RETRACTOR DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, IT WILL NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECT OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 20, 2001. 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: 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.