2003 Dodge DAKOTA: complaints, problems and recalls

PURCHASED A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD 4X4. DAY OF DELIVERY THE SALESMAN NOTICED THE REAR MAKES A LOUD SQUEEKING NOISE WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE AND BACKING. TOOK IT IN FOR INSPECTION AND THEY ADJUSTED THE REAR BRAKES. WE HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE MOST RECENT THEY REPLACED PADS ALONG WITH SOME ADDITIONAL ADJUSTEMENTS. WE DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND IT DID IT THIS TIME GOING FORWARD. NOW IT DOES IT IN EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER IT IS A DESIGN PROBLEM BUT THE MANUFACTU…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008061 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN THE VEHICLE MADE A TURN OR BACKED UP, THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE NOISE COULD BE CAUSED BY RUST ON THE BRAKES. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 6 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019620 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN THE VEHICLE TURNED OR BACKED UP, THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE NOISE COULD BE CAUSED BY RUST ON THE BRAKES. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 6 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019621 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN THE VEHICLE MADE A TURN OR BACKED UP THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE NOISE COULD BE CAUSED BY RUST ON THE BRAKES. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 6 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019622 at NHTSA ↗

THE ENGINE OVER HEATED EXCESSIVELY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY 1 WEEK OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 500 MILES. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022393 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND THE TIRES BOUNCED UP AND DOWN. *AK *CB *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022984 at NHTSA ↗

WATER POURING INTO PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD THAT SOAKS AND RUINS CARPETING. UNKNOWN SOURCE, FIREWALL AREA.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025554 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER TAPPED THE GAS PEDAL ,AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. CONSUMER RESET CRUISE CONTROL, AND 2 MILES LATER VEHICLE ACCELERATED AGAIN WHILE IN CRUISE CONTROL. *AK *TS

Owner-reported narrative. 935 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026375 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2002-12-02 (December 2, 2002)

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE (CTM) HAS AN IMPROPERLY SIZED CIRCUIT BOARD TRACE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE RIGHT HEADLAMP LOW BEAM TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Consequence: IF THE LIGHTS FAIL, A VISIBILITY PROBLEM COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CTM. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 23, 2002. 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: 2003-10-10 (October 10, 2003)

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THE HEADLAMP AND DASH WIRING HARNESS MAY BE CHAFED BY THE ACTUATION OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THIS COULD RESULT IN ABNORMAL OPERATION OF THE WIPERS, TURN SIGNALS, HORN OR LIGHTING SYSTEMS.

Consequence: THIS COULD AFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY, COULD PREVENT A DRIVER FROM SOUNDING A WARNING BY USING THE HORN, AND, WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS ARE INOPERATIVE, THE DRIVER CANNOT USE THEM TO SIGNAL INTENT TO TURN, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REROUTE THE WIRE HARNESS AND REPAIR THE HARNESS IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 3, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-992-1997.

Reported: 2004-05-05 (May 5, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE MOTOR MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO WATER INTRUSION THAT COULD CAUSE INTERNAL CORROSION AND RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE LOSS OF FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPING CAPABILITY.

Consequence: DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2004. OWNERS 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.