This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2000 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while driving 50 mph, the front wheels locked up. The front calipers needed to be replaced the failure mileage was 140,000 and the current mileage was 165,000. Updated 04/22/11
2000 Dodge Dakota slt. Very low mileage 36,300 events leading to failure: Driving failure: Brake line rusted through to point of failure. First occurrence in this truck. Almost hit another vehicle. Spilled brake fluid on a 2 mile drive to work. Did not know was spilling. Warning light came on only after failure (possible during) correction: Buying parts to fix broken line. Other lines look bad also, may need replaced soon. Have to wait another week for another payday. Should be a safety recall!!!. this happened to my father in his 1999 Dodge Dakota, so this is nothing new.
Brake lines totally rusted out all over truck at 70K;have contacted NHTSA before about terrible oem quality vs rust of brake lines. Please mandate stainless lines and brass or stainless fittings.~ 5$ per car, save 1000's of lives. The present "protection" coatings on steel are truly useless. NHTSA replied they are "too expensive" last time. I checked costs actual quoted cost difference on 25 feet of tubing was about 8$. far more important than anything else you can do.
Rotors turned and then warped/wore set of pads down to bare metal in less than 20,000 miles. Rotors were warped at 32,000 (at time of purchase), 50,000, 63,000, and 80,000. Rear brakes replaced at same interval as front brakes, but hardly any wear was present at time of malfunction of front brakes. All other brake components inspected, no other failures noted. Failure caused an accident due to the brakes giving out. Rwal does not function. No system indication to malfunction. Pulled fuse, and system faults as normal. Extremely poor brake performance/endurance.
The contact owns a 2000 Dodge Dakota quad cab. While driving 55-60 mph, the contact smelled hot brake fluid and noticed that the brake pads were grinding into the rotor. The vehicle was towed to his residence. Upon further investigation, the contact discovered a defect in the knuckle of the vehicle. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 169,000 and current mileage was 169,015.
- San Antonio, TX, USA
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No specific crashes that I am personally aware of, but there have surely been many, possibly attributed to other causes. The failure-severely rusted brake fluid lines which have caused loss of braking. It occurs very frequently in the 'rust belt states', ie Massachusetts for example. Repair involves replacing rusted lines and related parts, usually at substantial cost to vehicle owner. The reason for reporting this problem is that I am a repair shop owner with over 40 years in business, and I am seeing more of this problem every day. It constitutes a substantial percentage of my shop's business.
The contact owns a 2000 Dodge Dakota. While driving 2 mph, the vehicle failed to stop when the brakes were applied. The contact applied the emergency brake in order to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop and the mechanic stated that the metallic brake line was rusted. The mechanic replaced the brake line. The current and failure mileages were 92,000. The consumer stated had 2 front brake lines plus second line between junction blocks replaced by the dealer and after inspection revealed additional rust. Updated 11/20/07
- the contact stated that while driving her 2000 Dodge Dakota (139000 failure mileage) at 50 mph in the light rain, she attempted to go around a slightly sharp curve, but the curve turned out to be sharper than expected. When the contacts applied the brakes heavily the wheels locked, and the contact skidded, hitting the embankment. After the crash, in the process of exiting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the seat belt belt did not tighten to secure the occupant in the seat. As a result, she hit her head on the windshield.
2000 Dodge Dakota constant mechanical failure due to the type of rotors, brake pads, and ball joints they use. They use inferior products that do not last on a vehicle based on normal wear and tear. Have to constantly replace brake pads and rotors about every 20,000 miles. That is not acceptable. Dodge products from the earlier years really suck. I am not sure about the newest models such as 2004 and 2005.
The consumer was driving 15 mph coming out of a drive- thru and the brakes locked up. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer on three separate occasions within the last 6,000 mi. The dealer was supposed to have fixed the problem. However, within the last 7 miles, all four brakes have locked up again. Provide further details.
Fax fm kerrie M. studley (MA) re the defective ball joints on her 2002 Chrysler Dodge Dakota 4X4 quad cab pickup truck, reply attn mark sternman/boston ofc.
2000 Dodge Dakota- sport w/ ex-cab. I just purchased this vehicle through automax in melbourne, fl and overall am quite happy with the vehicle. But, the front brakes are singing a high shrill song to me. I went to www.dodgedakotas.com, and was even more surprised to see the number of complaints on the Dakota braking system. Please, I know from reading the complaints that you have heard about this situation... please act on this!
Consumer complains about brake problems. The rotors warped at 10309 and 15,000 miles the consumer eventually replaced the brake system with an aftermarket system. On one occasion the front brakes started smoking. It was later determined that the caliper had stuck and overheated. Brakes lock up/ smoke, and have even caught on fire. No one seems able to repair them. While driving and wanting to stop, cannot stop. This is a serious problem. Consumer has not been able to drive vehicle for a while.
Front rotors warped after 6 mo./11,000 miles, replaced rotors and pads. Warped again at 15 months, 33,000, but used for additional year+. replaced again at 32 months/60,000. Again warped after 40 mo/73,000, but used 5 months. Replacing again with high performance slotted/drilled and keeping my fingers crossed.
When the consumer made a stop, the vehicle pulled to the left. When the consumer got out of vehicle, she saw the wheels were hot, because the brakes failed to release.
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 were spinning with the brake pedal depressed hard. It's no wonder they can't keep front rotors on these vehicles, they are doing 100% of the stopping!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Donaldsonville, GA, USA