1990 DODGE DAKOTA

3 recalls, 88 complaints - 16 TSBs

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

Defect Description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 4X2 PICKUP TRUCK CONVERTIBLES EQUIPPED WITH V6 ENGINES (BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 1988 - JUNE 1990) AND 4X2 PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH THE SHELBY PACKAGE (BUILT OCTOBER 1988 - JUNE 1989). THE FRAME CAN CRACK AT THE STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT AND/OR THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS CA... Read more

Consequence

THE STEERING GEAR CAN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE FRAME RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL ADD REINFORCEMENTS TO THE FRAME AND REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS. IF THE FRAME IS ALREADY CRACKED, THE STEERING GEAR WELD NUTS WILL ALSO BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 27, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVI... Read more

4,000 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

Defect Description

THE FRAME CAN CRACK AT THE STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT AND/OR THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS CAN FRACTURE.

Consequence

THE STEERING GEAR CAN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE FRAME RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL ADD REINFORCEMENTS TO THE FRAME AND REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS. IF THE FRAME IS ALREADY CRACKED, THE STEERING GEAR WELD NUTS WILL ALSO BE REPLACED.

140,000 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: CHRYSLER CORPORATION

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Defect Description

THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.

Consequence

THE LEAKAGE OF OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD CAUSEA FIRE.

Remedy

REPLACE GASKET COVER WITH REVISED COVER, AND RTV SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED IN PLACE OF A GASKET.

634,000 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: CHRYSLER CORPORATION

Complaint Statistics

88 total complaints 5 crashes 3 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
STEERING:RACK AND PINION	17
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION	7
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)	5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP	4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH	3
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT	2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS	2
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR	2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS	2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR	2

Incident date: Apr 1, 2005

DODGE IGNITION SYSTEM LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING.*MR *JB

Incident date: Nov 10, 2001

FIRST TIRE SEPARATION DISCOVERED BY CSAA AUTO SERVICE DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, ON 11/07/01. SECOND AND THIRD TREAD SEPARATION WERE DURING VACATION, WHEN DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY, AT 50MPH, THE TIRES STARTED PRODUCING ROUGH RIDE. STOPPED TO CHECK TIRES, AND NOTICED SEPARATION.*AK (TIRESIZE: LT21575... Read more

Incident date: May 7, 2000

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A RATTLE, THAT SOUNDED LIKE WATER PUMP WAS GOING BAD. NEXT DAY, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD CRASH BANG, FAN BLADE BROKE OFF, CUT RADIATOR HOSE. FAN BLADE HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER FELT LIKE IF THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER HOOD SOME ONE MAY HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED.*AK THE CUS... Read more

Incident date: May 7, 2000

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT EMISSION CONTROL DEVICES MY VEHICLE HAS WHEN IT WAS MANUFACTURED. NEED TO KNOW THIS BY USING MY VIN.

I HAVE HAD TROUBLE FINDING INFORMATION ON ANY UPGRADES, OR MODIFICATION THAT HAVE BEEN DONE TO THE NP231D TRANSFER CASE SINCE DATE OF MANUFACTURE ON 10-89. I HAD TO REPLACE THE RANGE FORK AND RANGE FORK SHIFT HUB AND AM NOW EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES WITH THE REPLACEMENTS. IF I CAN JUST GET SOME FEED... Read more

Incident date: Sep 15, 1998

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MODULE FAILED. I TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. HE COULD NOT OBTAIN REPLACEMENT PART BECAUSE DEALER WOULD NOT PROVIDE IT TO HIM. DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE HAD TO BE BROUGHT INTO THEM FOR RAPAIR. DEALER MECHANIC ADVISED US THAT REPAIR WAS NOT NECESSARY BACAUSE BRAKES WORKED, JUST ANTI-LOC... Read more

VEHICLE PAINT CHIPPING SINCE 1993.

Incident date: Oct 1, 1990

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND DRIVETRAIN SINCE IT CAME OFF THE LOT. THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL WHILE WE STILL LIVED IN THE AREA. HOWEVER, WHEN WE MOVED TO MINNESOTA THE FIRST TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCURRED. 1ST 2ND AND 3RD GEARS WERE REPLACED, THERE WAS... Read more

Incident date: Sep 7, 1994

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE, RESULTING IN COLLISION.

RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR SEPARATED PER THE RECALL NOTICE.

Incident date: Dec 9, 1994

BOLT STRIPPED AND REQUIRED WELDING TO FRAME AT STEERING GEAR.

Incident date: Jun 2, 1994

VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.

RECALL NOTICE SENT ON THE STEERING GEAR, HOWEVER WORK DENIED BY LOCAL DEALER.

Incident date: Dec 6, 1997

VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF PARK RESULTING IN COLLISION.

Incident date: Aug 30, 1998

THE FUEL TANK CRACKED, CAUSING THE FUEL TO SPILL OVER. IF IT WAS TO BECOME A SOURCE OF IGNITION, IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. DEALER WILL REPLACE FUEL TANK. *AK

Incident date: Apr 5, 1998

WHILE LOADING EQUIPMENT INTO BED, 1/2 INCH ALUMINUM RIVET THAT HOLDS TAILGATE CHAIN BRACKET ONTO THE BODY FAILED/RIPPED OFF. (QCAW)

Incident date: Jan 10, 1996

THE TRUCK WAS IDLING IN PARK. THE TRUCK SLIPPED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE AND SLAMMED INTO THE HOUSE. *AK

Crash

Incident date: Jun 11, 1998

CONSUMER COMPLAINTING OF TRANSMISSION OVERDRIVE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WITH ONLY 67,000 MILES OF WEAR, DEALER NOTIFIED AND WILL REPAIR FOR A COST TO THE COSUMER.

Incident date: Sep 7, 1995

STEERING ASSEMBNLY WENT OUT AND VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO HANDLE PROPERLY, CHECK AND WELD RACK AND PINIONS BOLTS, R &I RACK AND PINION, WELD 2 NEW PIECES OF SHEET METAL WHERE BOLTS GO INTO THE FRAME.

Incident date: Mar 16, 1998

OWNER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING STEERING GEAR BOX. BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALER TOLD THEM THEY COULD ONLY GET IT REPAIRED MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, NOT ON SATURDAY. OWNER STATED THAT'S THEIR ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. *AK

FRAME AT STEERING GEAR BOLT STRIPPED OUT.

FRONT STRUT FAILED.

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED.

WIRING UNDER DASH FAILED.

RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE SPLIT.

VACUUM HEAT CONTROL LEAKS.

RADIATOR LEAKS.

MASTER CYLINDER FAILED.

POWER STEERING FAILED.

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

BRAKE ROTORS FAILED.

BRAKE SHOES FAILED.

BRAKE CALIPERS FAILED.

MICHELIN TIRE BLEW OUT FROM TREAD SEPARATION.

Incident date: Nov 25, 1996

TRANSMISSION FAILED THREE TIMES.

Incident date: Jun 1, 1994

TRANSMISSION SLIPPED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

FRONT END MISALIGNED, CAUSING VIBRATION/PULLING.

Incident date: Nov 14, 1996

RACK AND PINION FAILURE.

STEERING LOCKS UP WHEN TURNING AFTER RECALL REPAIRS.

Incident date: Feb 25, 1997

TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH VIRTUALLY NO WARNING. TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN VISUALLY INSPECTED AND SERVICED AS PART OF A SERVICE CALL; NO SIGNS OF FAILURE WERE DETECTED.

BEEN WAITING FOR STEERING PARTS; WAS INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THAT BACK ORDER FOR PARTS HAS BEEN 2 MONTHS OR MORE. 96V094000. *AK

Incident date: Apr 6, 1995

STEERING RACK BOLTS PULLED THROUGH FRAME, RELEASING RACK.

WHILE DRIVING, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO GO STRAIGHT DUE TO BOLTS HOLDING STEERING COLUMN TO FRAME FRACTURING, CAUSING STEERING COLUMN TO DETACH FROM FRAME, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, NO ACCIDENT, HAS BEEN FIXED, *AK CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 96V094 AFTER REP... Read more

Incident date: Dec 20, 1996

TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL AND THE VEHICLE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE READY BY 3 ON DEC.20, 1996,BUT THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T HAVE THE PARTS.

Incident date: Dec 23, 1996

TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO PARTS. *AK

OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE, CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. RECALL #96V094000. *AK

Incident date: Nov 20, 1996

RACK AND PINION STEERING BOLTS CAME LOOSE AND CAUSED A LOSS OF STEERING, THE TWO MOUNTING BOLTS BROKE. *AK CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL96V094 AND TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, DEALER STATED THE RACK AND PINION HAD CRACKED, A MECHANIC STATED IT WAS BROKE IN BETWEEN THE TWO MOUNTING BOLTS, CONS... Read more

Incident date: Jan 6, 1994

OWNER HAD RECALL NOTICE ON ABOVE VEHICLE FOR THE RACK&PINION STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE, DEALER DID REPLACE PART BUT OWNER STATES THAT HER STEERING COLUMN WENT OUT WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAYJUST MISSING HER NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY. *AK

Showing 50 of 88 complaints.

Technical Service Bulletins, 1990 DODGE DAKOTA

16 manufacturer communications from 15 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
061000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	2
220000 SEATS	2
072100 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP	1
180000 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	1
161000 STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS	1
062000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM	1
353400 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.	1
034000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS	1

103000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB

220000 SEATS

SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT

114000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT

162000 STRUCTURE:BODY

SUBJECT ON THE CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *MJS

220000 SEATS

INFORMATION ON CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT

034000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

INFORMATION REGARDING FRONT BRAKE CALIPER MOUNTING TO STEERING KNUCKLE THREAD REPAIR. *TT

353400 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

INFORMATION ON INSTALLATION OF RADIO TRANSMITTING EQUIPMENT. *AK

061000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TIMING CHAIN NOISE. *TW

062000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

VARIOUS CAR OWNER'S HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN USING ENGINE COOLANTS MADE WITH PROPYLENE GLYCOL INSTEAD OF ETHYLENE GLYCOL. *YC

060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CONCERNS WITH ENGINE COOLANT USAGE. *NLM

102000 POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

INFORMATION ON TRANSMISSION COOLER REVERSE FLUSHING WITH COOLER BYPASS KIT INSTALLED. *NLM

161000 STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

DIFFICULT TO CLEAN LIGHT COLORED "CHALKY" RESIDUE FROM PLASTIC BODY COMPONENTS THAT ARE MOLDED IN BLACK. *TW

180000 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

BULLETIN SUPERSEDES TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 08-16-95, DATED APR. 14, 1995. IF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR **REPEATEDLY** PRESSES AND RELEASES THE SET BUTTON WITH THEIR FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR (A 'LIFT FOOT SET' TO BEGIN SPEED CONTROL OPER

061000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

OIL LEAK DIAGNOSIS OF THE REAR MAIN BEARING AREA. *TW

072100 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

IMPROVED FUEL PUMP. *TW

NHTSA Safety Investigations, DODGE DAKOTA

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2006

Clutch Interlock Switch Malfunction

On December 16, 2104, Chrysler Group LLC submitted a Safety Recall Report to NHTSA describing a defect in the clutch ignition interlock switches in approximately 66,819 model year (MY) 2006 through early-2007 Dodge Ram Trucks, Dodge Dakota, and Mitsubishi Raider vehicles equipped with manual transmi... ssions and built between July 1, 2005 and July 31, 2006 (NHTSA Recall No. 14V-795, Chrysler Recall No. P80), including 38,969 MY 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 vehicles that are part of the subject vehicle population for PE14-013.Chrysler's Safety Report states that:1) the clutch ignition interlock switch return springs may experience fatigue failure due to material issues; 2) if the return springs are broken, the switch contacts may not reflect actual clutch pedal position; and 3) the failures could result in a vehicle experiencing unintended movement if the ignition is cranked when the clutch pedal is not being pressed.Chrysler's recall remedy will replace the clutch ignition interlock switch on all affected vehicles with a switch with a more robust design.On May 19, 2014, ODI opened PE14-013 to investigate clutch ignition interlock failure in MY 2004 through 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks with manual transmissions, based on two MY 2006 complaints and one MY 2004 complaint.One of the MY 2006 complaints involved a fatality that occurred when a young child was able to start a MY 2006 Ram 3500 truck that was parked with the transmission in gear, without depressing the clutch.The diesel engine started and the vehicle moved forward under power running over another child resulting in fatal injuries.ODI's analysis of failure data from all sources identified a total of 14 complaints and 16 warranty claims for the subject vehicles.Thirteen (13) of the complaints and all 16 warranty claims were for the 38,969 MY 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks that were included in 14V-795.The single complaint that was outside the scope of Chrysler's recall was the MY 2004 ODI complaint identified in the opening resume for PE14-013.Further analysis of this incident indicates that the cause of the clutch switch failure in this vehicle was spring damage caused by hydraulic fluid leakage from the clutch master cylinder into the switch.The field data did not show any other similar incidents of switch failures caused by clutch master cylinder leakage. This investigation is closed based on Chrysler's recall.Read more

EA, Open , Model Year: 2005

STEERING WHEEL AND STEERING SHAFT BOLTS

ON MARCH 9, 2006 ODI UPGRADED PRELIMINATRY EVALUATION PE05-056 TO ENGINEERNING ANALYSIS EA06-004 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF LOOSE OR MISSING STEERING SHAFT COUPLING BOLTS AND STEERING COLUMN RETAINING BOLTS IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 THROUGH 2006 DODGE DURANGO SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MY 2005 THRO... Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2005

STEERING WHEEL AND SHAFT BOLTS

ON OCTOBER 26, 2005 ODI OPENED PE05-056 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF LOOSE OR MISSING STEERING WHEEL OR STEERING SHAFT COUPLING BOLTS IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 AND 2005 DODGE DURANGO SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MY 2005 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCKS MANUFACTURED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC).DURING... Read more

EA, Closed , Model Year: 1997

UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION

DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) IS RECALLING THE TARGET POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 600,000 MY 2000 THROUGH 2003 DURANGO AND DAKOTA VEHICLES WITH FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE TO REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINTS WITH REDESIGNED PARTS THAT DO NOT HAVE THE JOINT INTEGRITY CONCERNS AND HAVE SUBSTANT... Read more

DP, Closed , Model Year: 1995

FRAME CRACKS

MR. EDWARD W. BAILEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION BY LETTER, UNDATED, REQUESTING THAT AN INVESTIGATION BE CONDUCTED INTO THE MATTER OF A FRAME CRACK IN HIS 1995 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK.THE PETITIONER ALLEGES THAT THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE... Read more

EA, Closed , Model Year: 2000

FRONT SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE

ALLEGE THAT THE FRONT SAFETY BELT ANCHOR BOLTS DISENGAGE FROM THEIR MOUNTING POINTS OR ARE FOUND TO BE LOOSE.

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2000

STOP LAMP SWITCH

ALLEGED THAT ELECTRICAL FAILURE OF THE BRAKE STOP LAMP SWITCH MAN RESULT IN STOP LAMPS NOT ILLUMINATION DURING SERVICE BRAKE APPLICATION, AND THE VEHICLE'S CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM MAY FAIL TO DISENGAGE

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2000

FRONT SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE DISENGAGEMEN

ALLEGED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT SAFETY BELT ANCHORS DISENGAGE FROM MOUNTING POINTS

RQ, Open , Model Year: 1994

STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN