2004 DODGE DAKOTA Recalls, Complaints & Safety

While driving my 2004 dodge Dakota all the gauges, including the speedometer and the tachometer stopped working. Everything went off although the truck was still running. I had headlights turn signals an emergency flashers nothing else. I don’t know how fast I was going how much fuel I had or if my engine was running hot nothing. This is something that could spook a driver to a point where he/she would be distracted of their surroundings. Possibly causing a serious crash and hurting or killing someone.

Unknown the four wheel drive was out when I purchased it I didn't realize until later that day when I drove it and tried to engage it. It no longer works and it is a safety hazard to even try and turn on it doesn't engage and makes a noise and catches in some sort of way I believe it may have affected the transmission as well. My safety and the safety of others could be at risk if I try and use the four wheel drive and it's needed for hazardous road conditions in my area like snow and ice

MY VEHICLES DRIVE SHAFT FELL OFF WHILE MAKING A STOP AT A RED LIGHT, THE PINON NUT HAD COME LOOSE. IT WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC'S SHOP, MY DAD CAME AND REATTACHED IT. IT STILL MADE A WHIRRING SOUND, AT FIRST I WAS ON THE WAY TO THE MECHANIC FOR WHAT I THOUGH WAS A PINON SEAL LEAK.

TRANS SHIFT SOLENOID CONTROL PACK CODE POPPED UP AND DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY AT ALL

SHIFTER WILL MOVE WITHOUT KEY IN IGNITION. WILL ROLE IN ANY DIRECTION IN ANY POSITION BUT PARK. CAN REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION WHILE RUNNING. WHILE IT'S STILL RUNNING WITH KEY OUT CAN SHIFT AND DRIVE. OTHER TIMES WHEN I GO TO START ENGINE THE KEY WON'T TURN. I HAVE TO HIT THE END OF THE KEY WITH THE PALM OF ONE HAND WHILE THE OTHER TURNS IT. REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS THE FIRST OF THIS YEAR AND VEHICLE ONLY HAD 87000 MILES AT THE TIME. CHANGED BRAKES AND HAD TO HAVE ROTOR TURNED. DRIVER SIDE BRAKE CALIPER PLUNGER HAD MULTIPLE PIECES BREAK OFF GETTING STUCK BETWEEN BREAK PAD AND REMAINING PIECES OF PLUNGER CASTING THE VEHICLE TO PULL LEFT WHILE DRIVING. WHEN APPLYING THE BREAK IT PULL SO HARD IT CAUSED ME TO START GOING INTO ANOTHER LANE BARELY MISSING THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW BECAME DISLODGED FROM THE VEHICLE, FELL TO THE GROUND, AND SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. THE REGULATOR WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE LOCAL DEALER (ROB LAMBDIN'S UNIVERSITY DODGE RAM IN DAVIE, FL) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT OVER THE YEARS, THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW, THREE TIMES ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW, THREE TIMES ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, AND THREE TIMES ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

THE STEERING IS VERY HARD TO TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT AT MOST TIMES. FEELS AS IF THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED, BUT HAD IT INSPECTED BY MECHANIC AND SAYS POWER STEERING PUMP AND BELTS ARE FINE. THIS DIFFICULTY IN STEERING IS ALSO ACCOMPANIED BY A GRINDING TYPE OF NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN BEHIND THE STEEING WHEEL. IT HAS BECOME MORE THAN JUST AN OCCASIONAL ANNOYANCE BUT RATHER A MORE PERMANENT SAFETY ISSUE SINCE MY WIFE IS NO LONGER ABLE TO USE THE TRUCK BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY WITH THE STEERING. PLEASE ADVISE ON WHAT MAY BE THE CAUSE AND IF THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER DAKOTA PICK UPS AND IF THEY HAVE ISSUED A RECALL IN THE PAST TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I AM HOPING TO HAVE THIS RESOLVED QUICKLY SINCE I FEAR IT MAY ONLY LEAD TO SOME TRAGIC OR CATASTROPHIC RESULT. THANK YOU

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHEN THE HEATER WAS ACTIVATED, THERE WAS NO AIR FLOW DISTRIBUTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,448.

THE DRIVER HEADLIGHT QUIT WORKING. I WENT TO THE STORE TO REPLACE IT THINKING IT HAD BURNT OUT. WHEN I REPLACED THE LIGHT IT DID NOT WORK STILL AND THE OLD HEADLIGHT STILL HAD BOTH FILAMENTS PROVING IT WAS STILL GOOD. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER BOTH HEADLIGHTS QUIT WORKING ON ME WHEN I WAS OUT AT NIGHT DRIVING LESS THAN A 10TH OF A MILE FROM HOME. I MANAGED TO NOT GET IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE CTM AND HEAD LIGHT SWITCH WERE BAD HOWEVER THE CTM WAS A "OBSOLETE" PART AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET ME ONE. AFTER THEY RELEASED MY TRUCK BACK TO ME TO DRIVE AS I PLEASE, I WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE AN OLDER CTM FROM A 2003 4X4 AUTOMATIC DAKOTA 4.7L. NOW MY LIGHTS WORK AND I HAVE A "GUARANTEE" FROM THE EBAY SELLER THAT IT WILL WORK FOR 6 MONTHS. I HAVE A SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS VEHICLE AND I CAN NOT TRUST MY HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT GO OUT AT ANY TIME SO I CAN NOT DRIVE IT AT NIGHT IN GOOD CONFIDENCE OR MORAL CONSCIENCE. THE DEALERSHIP LILITHIA DODGE OF ROSEBURG OREGON HAS RECORD OF MY TRUCK BEING IN THEIR POSSESSION FOR MULTIPLE DAYS BEFORE RELEASING IT BACK INTO MY POSSESSION WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING BUT A DIAGNOSTICS TEST.

THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR KEEPS BURNING UP. I HAVE REPLACED THE RESISTOR VARIOUS TIMES AND IT KEEPS BURNING UP. I REPLACED THE BLOWER MOTOR AND THE RESISTOR KEEPS BURNING UP. I HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED FOR AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT AND IT HAS NONE. THE WIRING TO THE RESISTOR ALSO BURNS UP. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MANY OWNERS OF THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE. IN ONE OF THE CASES THE RESISTOR CAUSE A FIRE INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE BURNED DOWN. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING ON THESE VEHICLES FOR A LONG TIME AND IT HADN'T BEEN REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. I AM AFRAID THAT SOMEDAY THE VEHICLE WILL CATCH ON FIRE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I KEEP ON REPLACING THE RESISTOR AND THE HARNESS EVERY TIME IT BURNS AND I'VE ALSO REPLACED THE BLOWER MOTOR. I CAN'T SEEM TO GET ANSWER FROM ANYONE FROM DODGE OR CHRYSLER ON THIS PROBLEM. AT THE TIME THAT THE RESISTOR BURNED DOWN THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ON THE CITY STREETS AT 30 MPH. IT HAS HAPPENED VARIOUS TIMES ON THE SAME RUNNING SENARIO.

DRIVING ON A RAINY NIGHT AND HEADLIGHTS AND WIPERS QUIT WORKING ALL AT ONCE. CENTRAL TIMER MODULE FAILED AND SHUT THE LIGHTS AND WIPERS OFF AS WELL AS INTERIOR LIGHTS AND DOOR LOCKS. ALMOST DIDN'T GET VEHICLE STOPPED WITHOUT WRECKING. LEFT VEHICLE AND CAME BACK DURING DAYLIGHT AND DROVE TO REPAIR SHOP. WHERE LOCATED THE ISSUE WAS A FAILED CENTRAL TIMER MODULE. CONTACTED DODGE AND SAID ITS OUT OF WARRANTY? ITS NOT ABOUT WARRANTY OR NOT IT COULD HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR A FATALITY. STILL HAVE THE OLD CTM IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN LOOKING INTO THE MATTER. WHY WOULD HEADLIGHTS BE RAN THROUGH A MODULE LIKE THIS JUST ASKING FOR TROUBLE.

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON TOOK IT TO DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS CLOCK SPRING WENT BAD ,I HAD IT REPLACED WITH NEW ONE . I HAD TO BRAKE FAST TO AVOID HITTING AND AIR BAG CAME ON AGAIN. THESE THINGS COST 100.00 WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?

I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND COULD NOT GET MY HEADLIGHTS TO TURN ON. ALL CONNECTIONS AND BULBS WERE CHECKED BY A MECHANIC AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN TRACED TO THE CTM (CENTRAL TIMING MODULE). THESE UNITS ARE ON NATIONWIDE BACK ORDER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND A SERIOUS REPLACEMENT ISSUE IF PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR HEADLIGHTS AND THE PART IS ON AN UNKNOWN BACK ORDER SITUATION.

WHILE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND ENGINE RUNNING, I NOTICE SMOKE AND BURNING SMELL OF PLASTIC COMING FROM BLOWER FAN MOTOR UNIT. PLEASE TELL ME IS THERE ANY TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM FROM OTHERS. ENGINE SIZE 3.7L V6.

WIRING TO BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR GETS SO HOT IT MELTS THE WIRE COVERING AND THE PIGTAIL. IN THE LAST 2 YEARS, HAVE REPLACED THE PIGTAIL 3 TIMES, THE WIRING ONCE, THE RESISTOR TWICE, THE BLOWER MOTOR ONCE, AND THE WHOLE FAN UNIT ONCE. JUST BURNT UP AGAIN WHILE AIR CONDITIONER WAS RUNNING. IT HAS ALSO BURNT UP WHILE USING THE HEATER IN WINTER.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V313000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

ISSUE WITH THE STEERING, APPEARED TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE PUMP. OCCURRED AT ABOUT 50K MILES, 6 YRS. WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WOULD GET HARD LIKE THE PUMP HAD FAILED, AND THEN WITHOUT WARNING, WOULD RETURN TO THE POWER ASSIST AND OVER STEER DUE TO THE PRESSURE I WAS ALREADY EXERTING. THIS TOOK PLACE AT ALL SPEEDS AND UNDER CITY AND HIGHWAY CONDITIONS. VERY DISCONCERTING. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK OF THIS I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY DETERMINED IT WAS A FAILING FLUID CONTROL VALVE IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND REPLACED IT. IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I HAD PURCHASED BUT WOULD HAVE COST OVER $1500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING DUE TO COST. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT UNPLUGGED THE SERVO MOTOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000.

SMELL OF BURNT WIRE/PLASTIC. BLOWER CONTROL SWITCH WOULD NOT WORK (BLOWER MOTOR WOULD NOT RUN). BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR AND PIGTAIL CONNECTION WERE MELTED AND FUSED TOGETHER. THIS WAS IN 2010, IT IS NOW 2015 AND I JUST HAD THE SEVENTH RESISTOR PUT IN WITH THE FIFTH PIGTAIL. THE TIME BEFORE THIS LAST NIGHTMARE, I ALSO HAD THE BLOWER MOTOR REPLACED IN CASE IT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE RESISTOR AND PIGTAIL CONNECTION ISSUES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE ACCELERATING AT A LOW SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, WHILE A STOP, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, STRUTS, CONTROL ARMS, IDLE ARMS, CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

I BOUGHT MY DODGE DAKOTA BRAND NEW FROM A DEALER. I STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH IT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE. I'LL BRIEFLY LIST THESE FAILURES. WHILE DRIVING IN VERY COLD WEATHER (WINTER). I WAS DRIVING WITH THE HEATER ON, A LARGE VOLUME OF ENGINE COOLANT CAME POURING OUT OF THE DASHBOARD HEATER VENTS. THIS WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. WITHIN THAT SAME YEAR THE FUEL GAUGE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHENEVER THE GAS TANK BECAME HALF EMPTY. AT THIS POINT THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD DROP TO ZERO FUEL, CORRECTS WHEN GAS CAP IS TIGHTENED OR FUEL IS ADDED. PLASTIC PIECE BROKE OFF IN TRANSMISSION AT ~ 52,000 MILES, I HAD IT REPLACED AND NOW HAVE A CRACK IN EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH CAUSED THERMOSTAT FAILURE, WATER PUMP FAILURE AND LEAKING OF ALL OF THE ENGINE COOLANT. UNABLE TO WELD THE MANIFOLD AND MECHANIC HAD TO INSTALL HEAT SHIELD TO PREVENT ALL OF THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. NOW WHEN I START THE VEHICLE IS SOUNDS LIKE IT MIGHT EXPLODE! THIS HORRENDOUS NOISE SOFTENS AFTER A FEW MINUTES. I DON'T RUN THE HEATER ANYMORE AS I SMELL A VERY STRONG ODOR OF EXHAUST FUMES WHEN HEATER FAN IS ON. VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY SHUTS OFF WHEN IDLING AT ~500RPM.

INTERMITTENT STEERING. SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, STEERING WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER . NOW THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. SOMETIMES IT WILL HAPPEN THEN AFTER DRIVING AWHILE IT WILL CLEAR UP. BUT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM. CHECKED POWER STEERING FLUID,AIR PRESSURE. LOOKED AT OTHER FORUMS FOR THIS COMMON PROBLEM. CONSENSUS IS THE STEERING RACK AND/OR THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. WENT AND HAD STEERING RACK AND LOWER SHAFT REPLACED AND IT CURED THE PROBLEM ABOUT 97 PERCENT. DODGE SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR SAFETY REASONS AS THIS COULD INVOLVE FATALITIES . *TR

GOT IN VEHICLE AND STARTED TO DRIVE WHEN I NOTICED MAKING A TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RETURN TO CENTER. THE STEERING WAS REAL HEAVY LIKE THE POWER STEERING WAS FAILING. CHECKED POWER STEERING FLUID-IT WAS OKAY,TIRE PRESSURE WAS OK. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE STEERING GOT BETTER. SINCE THAT INCIDENT THE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COMES AND GOES. I WENT ON THE WEB AND FOUND OUT HOW MANY MORE 2004 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE STEERING PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE IN THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND/OR THE STEERING RACK. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS SAFETY PROBLEM OR A CLASS ACTION. ALSO THE 2004 DAKOTA BALL JOINTS WENT OUT AT 60000 MILES AT MY EXPENSE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2003 DAKOTA BALL JOINTS BEING BAD BUT NOT 2004. I HAD BOUGHT A 1993 DAKOTA BRAND NEW AND BOUGHT THE 2004 DAKOTA BRAND NEW BUT I MIGHT HAVE TO RECONSIDER GOING TO ANOTHER MAKE IF THE STEERING DOES NOT GET REMEDIED BY DODGE. *TR

DRIVER SEAT RECLINE WHEN DRIVING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

THE STEERING IS HARD WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD. . WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IS STIFF AND HARD TO TURN AND DOES NOT GO BACK TO A NEUTRAL POSITION. YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO STRAIGHTEN IT OUT. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR A HOUR THE STEERING IMPROVES. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME VEHICLE. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW OPENED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE GLASS BECAME STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE REGULATOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,803.

TRUCK T-BONED ANOTHER AT ~25MPH. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED CAUSING BROKEN HAND TO DRIVER. *TR

Crash 1 injured

PAINT PEELING, RUST ON REAR FENDERS AND OTHER SPOTS. *TR

STEERING WAS LOOSE AT FIRST BUT BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN AT ANY SPEED.CHANGED THE RACK,WITH SAME PROBLEM. I THAN CHANGED THE STEERING PUMP WITH LITTLE TO NO SUCCESS. *TR

NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA AT THE BEGINNING OF APRIL. THE STEERING IS STIFF AND HARD TO TURN. IT REQUIRES ASSISTANCE TO BRING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO CENTER. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SPEED YOU ARE GOING. IT SEEMS TO GET BETTER AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING BUT AFTER SITTING FOR A WHILE THE PROBLEM IS BACK. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK LAST YEAR AS A SECOND VEHICLE AND NOW REGRET DOING SO. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. 4/14/14 THEY REPLACED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, FRONT ROTORS AND POWER STEERING PUMP. THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. 4/24/14 THEY REPLACED THE STEERING RACK. $2,300.00 LATER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. IT IS GOING BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 5/14/14 BUT I HAVE MY DOUBTS THE PROBLEM WILL BE FIXED AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS AND HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED A CASE MANAGER. I AM WAITING TO HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. I DO NOT WISH TO SPEND ANYMORE MONEY TRYING TO FIX A DESIGN FLAW IN THEIR STEERING COMPONENTS. THE STEERING POSES A SAFETY ISSUE AND I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING IT VERY FAR. *TR

AT VARIOUS TIMES THE BRAKES SEEM TO LOCK UP WHEN COMING TO A STOP QUICKLY. THIS NEVER HAPPENS WHEN BRAKING NORMALLY, ONLY WHEN NEEDING TO BRAKE QUICKLY AND HARD. ALSO HAPPENS AT TIMES DURING NORMAL BRAKING, BUT THEN NEEDING TO ACCELERATE, THEN BRAKING AGAIN QUICKLY. THIS IS DANGEROUS IN WET WEATHER AS THE BRAKES LOCK MOMENTARILY AND THE TIRES HYDROPLANE, IT APPEARS TO BE THE REAR BRAKES DOING THIS, THEY RELEASE QUICKLY BUT THE MOMENTARY LOCK-UP IS DANGEROUS. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO DIDN'T FIND A CAUSE FOR THIS, BUT SAID MAYBE THE ABS WAS PERIODICAL FAILING, AS IT ONLY HAPPENS SPORADICALLY; BUT USUALLY WHEN NEEDING TO BRAKE HARD AS IN AN EMERGENCY. I'VE NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL ORDERS ON MY VEHICLE AND HAVE LIVED AT SAME ADDRESS SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. *TR

THE HORN STOPPED WORKING, I TOOK IT TO A NON-DEALER MECHANIC WHO FOUND THE HORNS THEMSELVES OPERATIONAL WHEN APPLYING AN EXTERNAL RELAYED VOLTAGE TO THEM AND NO FUSES BLOWN, HE THOUGHT IT MAY BE A SHORT IN SYSTEM. HORN WOULD NOT WORK ON MANY OCCASIONS, THEN ONE DAY IT WORKED, THE NEXT DAY IT DID NOT. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER IT WOULDN'T WORK, I HAVE A TILT STEERING WHEEL SO I MOVED IT TO AN UPRIGHT POSITION, THE HORN STARTED WORKING, I PUT THE TILT WHEEL BACK DOWN AND IT STILL WORKED. THE NEXT DAY THE HORN WOULDN'T WORK EVEN IF MOVING THE TILT STEERING UP OR DOWN. IT SEEMS AS IF THERE MAY BE AN INTERMITTENT SHORT OF SOME KIND IN THE WIRING FOR THE HORN IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT HAS AN AIR BAG SO IT ISN'T AN EASY INVESTIGATION. I HAVEN'T TAKEN IT TO A DEALER AS CHRYSLER WAS CLOSING OUTLETS AND I HAVEN'T FOUND ONE TO USE YET. *TR

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. RK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD FAIL AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE. IN WARMER TEMPERATURES, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD EASILY MOVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE BUT WOULD EXHIBIT DIFFICULTIES IN RETURNING TO A STRAIGHT POSITION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH OVER A RAILROAD TRACK, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DROPPED ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,480.

THE STEERING IN MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK WOULD GET STIFF WHILE TURNING AND THEN WOULD TURN EASY THEN BACK TO STIFF. IT IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL THE TRUCK WHILE MAKING TURNS. THE STEERING IS LIKE VERY UNSTABLE AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ARE THERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE I SEE THAT THERE IS ALOT OF THIS HAPPENING TO THESE TRUCKS? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK FAILED AND BEGAN TO LEAK GASOLINE FUEL. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

WHILE PARKED MY BLOWER MOTOR WIRING TO THE RESISTOR JUST WENT. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME IT HAS DONE THIS. NOW I AM WITH OUT A TRUCK AND ITS SNOWING AND COLD SO IT US INOPERABLE! I HAVE SEEN PLENTY OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING! THANK GOD I WAS NOT DRIVING WITH MY KIDS IN THE TRUCK WHEN IT WENT. THE WIRING MELTED SO THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO TO REPLACE THE RESISTOR SO I HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE WIRE HARNESS. THIS IN NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THESE TRUCKS! SOMETHING NEEDS DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OVER THIS. *TR

A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE HAS THE EXACT SAME TRUCK AND HIS WHOLE TIRE FELL OFF GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. HE THANK GOD DID NOT GET HURT OR HURT ANYONE ELSE IN THE PROSESS. HE TOLD ME THAT IN 2004 THEIR WAS A RECALL ON THE BALL JOINTS OF THIS VEHICLE. I BOUGHT MY TRUCK FROM A PRIVATE OWNER AND DO NOT HAVE A RECALL NOTICE OF MY OWN, IS THERE A WAY NOW THAT I AM THE 2ND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE THAT I CAN STILL HAVE THIS RECALL BE TAKEN CARE OF AT A DEALERSHIP BEING THAT IT IS UNDER 10 YEARS WITHIN THE RECALL TIME LIMIT. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE WHAT HAPPENED TO MY FRIEND HAPPEN TO ME. THANK YOU. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN THEN UNEXPECTEDLY THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL COLLAPSED DUE TO A FRACTURED BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CEMENT POST IN A PARKING LOT. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V596000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT); HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Crash

ON FEB.15, 2012 WAS DRIVING AND WENT TO MAKE A TURN AND THE AFTER A QUARTER OF THE WAY INTO THE CURVE THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN, CAUSING ME TO ALMOST HIT THE CAR SETTING AT THE LIGHT. AND SINCE THAT TIME THE STEERING IS HARDEST TO TURN WHEN COLD AND EASIER WHEN WARM. THE STEERING WHEN IT IS COLD IS STIFF WHEN YOU ARE A QUARTER THE WAY INTO THE CURVE AND THEN RELEASES THEN HARD AGAIN ALL IN THE SAME TURN, MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT MAKES YOUR VEHICLE SWERVE AND BECOME RECKLESS. DODGE NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE DEFECTIVE STEERING PARTS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT BECAUSE OF POOR DESIGN AND LACK OF LUBRICATION POINTS CAUSING THE FAILURE. PLEASE MANDATE THAT THEY ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *TR

AROUND OCTOBER STARTED HAVING TROUBLE WITH STEERING WOULD BE TIGHT THEN LOOSEN UP IF IT WAS WARM. WHEN IT GOT COLDER IT GOT VERY HARD TO STEER. CHANGED THE RACK THEN EVERY TIME YOU WOULD TURN IT WOULD PULL TIGHT AND LET LOOSE AND MAKE TRUCK SWERVE. FIGURED MOST HAVE GOTTEN A DEFECTIVE PART CHANGED STEERING RACK AGAIN. SAME PROBLEM DECIDED TO CHANGE STEERING PUMP THIS TIME. SO MUCH FOR THAT IT DIDN'T HELP EITHER NOW I HAVE A WHINING NOISE ON TOP OF THE TIGHT STEERING. I HAVE ALREADY PUT ALOT OF MONEY INTO IT AND NOTHING SEEMS TO BE WORKING!!!!!!!!! *TR