2000 Dodge DAKOTA: complaints, problems and recalls

2000 DAKOTA CLUB CAB R/T WITH REAR ABS BRAKES ONLY. COMPLAINT: NEVER HAD WORKING REAR BRAKES, COULDN'T BE FIXED BY DEALER, SOLD BACK TO CHRYSLER. NOW I HAVE DISCOVERED SEVERAL MORE R/T'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM! CHRYSLER/DODGE WON'T OR CAN'T FIX! HOW MANY MORE ARE OUT THERE? REAR WHEELS WILL NOT STOP TURNING UNDER UNDER ANY CONDITION EXCEPT USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. FOUND THIS OUT ON SNOWY STREET WHILE STOPPING. WHEN VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION, THE SPEEDOMETER WAS READING 10 MPH! LOOKED OUT DOOR AT REAR WHEELS AND THEY…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000790 at NHTSA ↗

2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUADCAB - I WAS GOING FORWARD IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I STOPPED THE TRUCK AND PUT IT IN "PARK", ENGINE STILL RUNNING. I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK AND AFTER ABOUT 15 SECONDS IT ENGAGED ITSELF IN REVERSE. IT SMASHED THROUGH A GATE AND I GOT INJURED WHEN I GOT CAUGHT BETWEEN THE GATE AND THE LEFT FRONT FENDER OF THE TRUCK. WHEN THE TRUCK STOPPED I GOT IN AND STILL FOUND IT INDICATING IN "PARK". THE DRIVEWAY WAS LEVEL. I HAVE SINCE BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CONDITION WITH THE GEAR SHIFT JUST SLIGHTLY OUT OF "PARK", PARTICULARLY WITH …

Owner-reported narrative. 16,647 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000865 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING A DEFECTIVE RIM ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO STATED THAT THERE IS A CRACK OF ABOUT TWO INCHES TRUE THE WHOLE RIM AND IS NEVER BEEN USED ALSO SAID THAT THIS IS A SPARE TIRE. MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001210 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING A DEFECTIVE RIM ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO STATED THAT THERE IS A CRACK OF ABOUT TWO INCHES TRUE THE WHOLE RIM AND IS NEVER BEEN USED ALSO SAID THAT THIS IS A SPARE TIRE. MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001211 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN HIT AT 45MPH IN THE FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001304 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE RIM OF THE SPARE TIRE. ALSO STATED THAT IT IS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND THAT THE TIRE WAS NEVER USED. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002436 at NHTSA ↗

MY 2000 DAKOTA R/T HAD NO REAR BRAKES, CHRYSLER BOUGHT IT BACK AND FURNISHED A 03 FOR ME. IT HAS A COMPLETE DIFFERENT BRAKE SYSTEM THAN THE 00 DID. CHRYSLER ADMITTED A PROBLEM. NOW I HAVE CONTACTED SEVERAL OWNERS OF R/T'S 2000 TO 2002 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I KNOW OF AT LEAST 10 R/T'S WITHOUT REAR BRAKES! WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO INVESTIGATE THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED? I'VE COMPLAINED TO DEAF EARS!

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002627 at NHTSA ↗

LACK OF BRAKING BIAS TO THE REAR OF MY 2000 DAKOTA R/T PICKUP. THIS HAS CAUSED MY TRUCK TO GO THROUGH 3 SETS OF ROTORS IN 55, 000 MILES. I HAVE ALSO HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS TO TO THE REDUCED BRAKING. I HAVE SIMILAR TRUCKS BUILT IN 98 AND 99 WITHOUT THIS ISSUE.

Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002638 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 EQUIPPED WITH 4.7L ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY EXPEL FLUID FROM THE FILL TUBE DURING NORMAL TEMPERATURE OPERATION.

Consequence: THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COULD COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM AND IGNITION OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COULD RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL SHORTEN THE VENT HOSE AND ASSURE ADEQUATE CLEARANCE.

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: 2004-12-21 (December 21, 2004)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4X4), IF MOISTURE LEAKS INTO THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINT, EVACUATION OF THE LUBRICANT AND CORROSION OF THE JOINT MAY CAUSE THE JOINT TO WEAR OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THIS COULD CAUSE A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION, WHICH MAY NOT ALWAYS BE HEARD BY THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Consequence: EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE UPPER BALL JOINT MAY ALLOW IT TO SEPARATE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINTS. THIS SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BEGAN ON DECEMBER 21, 2004. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.